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The Brown Spectator
TypeNewspaper
PublisherAlex Shieh
Editor-in-chiefBenjamin Marcus
Managing editorGray Bittker
Founded1984
HeadquartersProvidence, Rhode Island
Circulation2,000[1]
Websitebrownspectator.com

The Brown Spectator is a newspaper of conservative and libertarian political writing published by students at Brown University. It was originally the product of a student independent project and first published in 1984 "as a two-page offering of student writing on brightly colored paper".[2]

It was revived in 1986 as a Brown University, student-run opinion journal that published articles of both national and campus concern that other publications ignored. It was produced by Jennifer Polli and Karen Engel, and described itself as "alternative journal" of conservative thought.[2]

After disappearing for some time, The Brown Spectator was re-revived by Stephen Beale[3] during the 2002–2003 school year and functioned as Brown University's only journal of conservative and libertarian thought.[3] The Brown Spectator ran with a wide array of political and non-political topics ranging from campus issues to national issues, as well as music reviews and political cartoons but ceased publishing again in 2014.

In 2025 the Spectator was re-founded by Alex Shieh, Benjamin Marcus, and Gray Bittker.[4] In March 2025, Shieh had, on behalf of the soon-to-be revived Spectator, emailed over three thousand university administrators asking them to describe their job functions for an article about administrative costs, the rising cost of tuition, and DEI programs the Trump Administration alleged were illegal.[5] Many noted similarities between Shieh's email and a similar email sent to federal employees by Elon Musk, the de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency.[6] In response, Brown University launched disciplinary proceedings against Shieh, which some criticized as violations of the freedom of the press. Brown stated that the issue was not related to free speech, while Shieh said the charges were retaliatory.[7] The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression called the disciplinary charges "nonsensical" and Musk called them "unreal".[8] Congressman Troy Nehls wrote an open letter to university president Christina Paxson condemning the charges against Shieh.[9]

In May 2025, Fox News reported that Kirsten Wolfe, a university administrator, had launched disciplinary charges against the entire board of directors of The Brown Spectator for allegedly violating Brown's trademark policy, for including the word "Brown" in the paper's name. The Spectator's editors argued they were protected by the doctrine of descriptive fair use, and questioned why Wolfe hadn't also charged The Brown Daily Herald. In response to the charge, Shieh ran a 30-second commercial in the Providence market criticizing Wolfe by name and accusing her of retaliation.[10] Shieh won his disciplinary hearing, was found not responsible for the charges against him, and faced no punishment.[11] In June, Shieh testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust; subsequently House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan demanded Brown release all internal memos pertaining to the disciplinary investigation into Shieh and The Brown Spectator and issued a subpoena for documents related to Brown's tuition pricing.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About Us". The Foundation of Intellectual Diversity. Archived from the original on October 20, 2009. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Encyclopedia Brunoniana - Brown Spectator". www.brown.edu.
  3. ^ a b "Brown Spectator". Archived from the original on November 6, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
  4. ^ "Bloat@Brown creator, Brown Spectator board cleared of student conduct violation charges". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  5. ^ "Channeling DOGE, a Brown U. Student Asked Administrators: What Do You Do All Day?". The Chronicle of Higher Education. March 24, 2025. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  6. ^ Caraccioli, Gabrielle (April 2, 2025). "Brown University student faces potential discipline amid creation of AI admin database". WJAR 10. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  7. ^ Buttacavoli, Abbey (April 24, 2025). "Brown University student who sent DOGE-style emails to administrators faces discipline". WJAR 10. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  8. ^ "With $500 million at risk, Brown University escalates probe of student journalist for mini-DOGE | Just The News". justthenews.com. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  9. ^ Elkind, Elizabeth (May 2, 2025). "Brown University in GOP crosshairs after student's DOGE-like email kicks off frenzy". Fox News. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  10. ^ Guidice, Rachel del (May 7, 2025). "Brown University charges board of The Brown Spectator for name, use, trademark violations, holds hearing". Fox News. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  11. ^ "Brown University student who sent DOGE-style email says he won disciplinary hearing". WJAR 10. May 14, 2025. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  12. ^ "House Republicans subpoena Brown in Ivy League price-fixing probe". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
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