PORTLAND, Ore. — Reed College has terminated its long-serving director of community safety, Gary Granger, following his disclosure of alumni information to the FBI without a subpoena or warrant. This decision has sparked significant debate within the college community, raising questions about privacy, protocol, and external influence.
Why Reed College Dismissed Its Community Safety Director
Reed College President Audrey Bilger and Vice President for Student Life Karnell McConnell-Black informed the college community via email about a “change in leadership” within the community safety department. The announcement came after Granger shared an alumnus’s personal details with the FBI, igniting controversy over the college’s data privacy policies.
Granger’s termination was effective October 1, reports OregonLive.
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Granger, who served the college for over 15 years, defended his actions, claiming he merely provided the FBI with the alumnus’s local address and phone number from the college’s alumni directory. He asserted that he had released information related to other cases to police many times before and accused the college of yielding to political pressure from wealthy alumni donors.
“If I had assisted someone who had been the victim of a hate crime, I would still be working,” he said.
Implications of the Incident for Privacy and Safety
The alumnus in question, Robert Jacob Hoopes, was arrested by FBI agents on July 25. Investigators used facial recognition software alongside publicly available images to identify Hoopes as a suspect in a case involving an assault on a federal officer at an ICE facility.
The FBI’s investigation into Hoopes is rooted in an incident on June 14, where a federal officer sustained injuries from a rock thrown during a protest at the ICE building in South Portland. The use of facial recognition technology by the FBI and the subsequent sharing of information by Granger have raised concerns regarding surveillance and privacy rights.
Related Article: How Schools Can Protect Student Privacy in the Age of Video Surveillance Monitoring
The college’s website states that directory information, including names, addresses, and phone numbers, is not to be released to third parties unless required by law. However, Granger noted that such information could be disclosed without prior written consent of a student, according to college policy.
Robert Jacob Hoopes, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated assault on a federal employee and depredation of federal property, remains free pending trial. The case continues to unfold, with college authorities and students alike closely monitoring its progress and outcomes.
