Reed College Probes Alumni Data Sharing with FBI

Reed College Investigates Unauthorized Disclosure of Alumni Information to FBI

Reed College is currently looking into an incident where its director of community safety reportedly shared information about an alumnus with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) without a subpoena or warrant, according to a memo from President Audrey Bilger addressed to the college community. Bilger learned about the disclosure through media reports, highlighting a serious breach of protocol and privacy.

The situation came to light after The Oregonian/OregonLive reported on a federal affidavit that detailed how FBI investigators used facial recognition technology to identify a suspect involved in an incident at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in South Portland. On June 14, the suspect threw a rock that struck a federal officer in the face. The investigation led to the arrest of Robert Jacob Hoopes, an alumnus of Reed College.

According to the affidavit, the FBI used facial recognition software and a photo from The Oregonian/OregonLive along with a photo from Reed College to track down the suspect. The community safety director provided the FBI with the suspect's full name, address, and phone number, which ultimately led to his arrest.

President Bilger emphasized that the college is launching a thorough investigation into this matter. She stated that the inquiry will be conducted with urgency and fairness by a third-party investigator. Two assistant directors of community safety have been appointed to take over the acting director roles while the investigation is ongoing.

Gary Granger is listed as the community safety director on the college’s website. An attempt to contact him for comment resulted in an email bounce back indicating he is currently out of the office.

The affidavit reveals that FBI investigators identified a tattoo on the suspect’s forearm in surveillance footage. They found a matching photo published by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Using commercially available facial recognition software, the FBI matched the image with a photo from a Reed College event called "Canyon Day" in April 2023. This photo showed a man with a similar build and appearance, including the same tattoo. The software also uncovered an Instagram account that revealed the suspect's name, Jacob Hoopes.

Bilger’s memo reassured the college community that Reed prioritizes the privacy and rights of all members, including students, faculty, staff, and alumni. She acknowledged the concerns raised by recent events and affirmed that the college is treating the matter with the seriousness it deserves. The institution provides regular training to staff on policies to ensure that information is managed responsibly and in accordance with legal requirements and institutional values.

Reed College’s website states that it does not release directory information, such as names, addresses, and phone numbers, to third parties unless required by law. However, it notes that such information may be disclosed without prior written consent under certain circumstances.

Federal officers arrested Hoopes, 24, at his home on Friday morning. His defense lawyer, Matthew McHenry, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf for charges of aggravated assault on a federal officer and damaging government property. A magistrate judge ordered Hoopes’ release from custody pending trial, subject to GPS monitoring, a geographical restriction around the ICE building, no possession of weapons, a mental health evaluation, and adherence to prescribed medication.

Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. You can reach her at 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com, or follow her on X @maxoregonian, Bluesky @maxbernstein.bsky.social, or LinkedIn.