With attending Brown’s annual price approaching six-digit numbers, sophomore Alex Shieh wants to know where it all is. In particular, he wondered what the school’s thousands of non-teacher staff were doing every day. So he sent them a threshold-style email asking this exact question.
Now, he faces disciplinary action.
"This is an increase in tuition fees," Shieh told Fox News in a story released on April 4.
As shown on the school’s website, the figure reflects direct costs associated with attending Brown’s year, including tuition, fees and food and housing allowances. First time students charge an additional $100. Brown has 7,272 undergraduate enrollment.
To illustrate what he believes is administrative inflation, Shieh compiled a database of 3,805 non-teacher staff, according to Fox News. In an email, similar to the email sent to federal workers by Elon Musk’s government efficiency division, he asked them: “What do you do all day?”
Shieh said only 20 people responded - some answered - he was disciplined shortly after college.
Shieh said in a follow-up story published on April 30: “Brown accused me of wrong statements.
"Brown also accused me of violating its IT policy of publishing Brown's employee data," Shieh said. A website was created to determine Brown's wasteful spending at Brown and published the names and names of employees. Shieh insists on providing all information publicly to Brown Daily Herald.
However, Brown University expressed a different view.
"Although this issue has been publicly reported as a free speech issue, it is definitely not," a university spokesperson told Fox News. "At the center of Brown's review, it focuses on improper use of non-public brown data, non-public data systems and/or violations of law or policy for individual employees."
Do you agree that Shieh's approach is a suitable way to investigate waste, which is something many of us deal with in our daily lives, including our personal finance.
These are three simple ways to cut down on your own waste in your life in 2025.
Auto insurance is a major regular fee, and many people pay without realizing it. According to Forbes, the average cost of full coverage auto insurance is $2,149 per year (or $179 per month).
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However, rates can vary greatly depending on your status, drive history, and vehicle type, and you may pay more than necessary.
Instead of sticking with the same provider, you can try to spend a few minutes comparing quotes from multiple insurance companies to ensure you get the best deal.
Over time, bank fees can quietly emptie your financial situation. In fact, many traditional banks will issue charges if you don’t keep your minimum balance and other actions like overdrafts.
On the other hand, online banks often offer lower fees (or none at all) because their overhead costs are the same as those of physical institutions.
Many online banks also offer high interest checks and savings accounts, allowing you to earn more idle cash.
Monthly utility bills – electricity, water and heating – can add up quickly, but small changes can lead to substantial savings over time.
You can switch to an LED bulb when not in use, unplug the device, and use a smart thermostat to reduce heating and cooling costs. Simply switching to LED lighting can save an average home $225 per year energy cost, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
You may also want to consider sealing your home and adding insulation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that by doing so, homeowners can save about 15% of heating and cooling costs, or on average their total energy costs are 11%.
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is without any warranty of any kind.