PORTLAND, Ore. — Reed College students and alumni are grappling with the recent revelation that a campus security official provided federal investigators with personal information about a former student, ultimately resulting in his arrest. The disclosure has sparked significant backlash, particularly given the college’s reputation for inclusivity and its progressive values.
According to court records unsealed last week, FBI agents arrested Robert Jacob Hoopes, a 24-year-old Reed alumnus, on July 25. The records detail how Gary Granger, the college’s director of community safety, accessed an internal database containing personal information about students and alumni to hand over Hoopes’ name, address, and phone number. This cooperation allegedly occurred without a warrant or subpoena.
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Hoopes, described by friends as a lifelong pacifist with strong Quaker principles, has been charged with aggravated assault on a federal officer and damaging federal property, reports KATU. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a violent protest at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in South Portland on June 14. During the incident, classified as a riot by Portland Police, Hoopes allegedly threw rocks, one of which injured an ICE agent by causing a two-inch gash to the agent’s face. Hoopes pleaded not guilty during his court appearance on July 28.
Reed College Alumna Outcry and Leadership Response
The decision to share Hoopes’ private information without apparent legal backing has ignited furor among Reed College’s alumni and current students. Katie Rempe, head of the alumni association, emphasized the breach of trust.
“Sharing someone’s information without a subpoena or warrant is completely unacceptable,” Rempe told OPB. “If that’s what happened, then he cannot be trusted to be in that position.”
Reed College President Audrey Bilger addressed the controversy in an open letter last week. She confirmed that the college was unaware of the events until they were reported in the media. Furthermore, Bilger stated that the security director acted “apparently without a warrant or subpoena” and announced the launch of a formal investigation.
Granger has reportedly been removed from daily responsibilities pending the investigation. Granger was unavailable for comment, with an automatic email reply indicating an extended absence from the office. Bilger assured the community that interim arrangements were in place, but spokespeople for the college declined to confirm whether Granger had been placed on leave.
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The incident has prompted many students and alumni to delete their personal details from the private database Granger accessed. The database, primarily designed to create networking opportunities and maintain alumni connections, is password-protected but now faces scrutiny for its vulnerability to improper use.
A Progressive Campus Under Scrutiny
Reed College, ranked the third-most liberal campus in the United States by The Princeton Review this year, has long been associated with its politically progressive environment and values of intellectual independence. The security director’s actions, perceived to contravene the college’s principles, have left many questioning the institution’s commitment to protecting its community members.
President Bilger has not elaborated on how college leaders determined investigators lacked proper legal documentation to request Hoopes’ information. However, the school’s leadership has pledged to examine not only the situation itself but also its broader implications for trust and campus standards.
