Notice of Investigation and Record Requests, 61732-61736 [2020-21649]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 190 (Wednesday, September 30, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61732-61736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21649]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Notice of Investigation and Record Requests

AGENCY: Office of the General Counsel, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department publishes a letter, dated September 15, 2020, 
notifying Binghamton University of an investigation and request for 
records and transcribed interviews.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Shaheen, U.S. Department of 
Education, Office of the General Counsel, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 
6E300, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 453-6339. Email: 
[email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1-800-
877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department publishes this letter, dated 
September 15, 2020, notifying Binghamton University of an investigation 
under 20 U.S.C. 1094 to determine if Binghamton's conduct related to 
events occurring between November 14 and November 19, 2019, as more 
particularly set forth in Appendix A, violated applicable statutory, 
regulatory, or contractual provisions. The letter to Binghamton 
University is in Appendix A of this notice.
    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, 
audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may 
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 
Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view this 
document, as well as all other documents of this Department published 
in the Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To 
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at 
the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

Reed D. Rubinstein,
Principal Deputy General Counsel.

Appendix A

September 15, 2020

President Harvey Stenger SUNY-Binghamton, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 
13902-6000

via electronic mail

Re: Notice of 20 U.S.C. 1094 Investigation/Request for Records and 
Transcribed Interviews/Binghamton University

Dear President Stenger:

    The U.S. Department of Education (``Department'') has become 
aware of facts suggesting representations made by Binghamton 
University (``Binghamton''), part of the State University of New 
York, promising, inter alia, institutional protection for free 
speech and free inquiry rights are misleading to students, parents, 
and consumers in the market for education credentials. Instead, 
there seems to be evidence suggesting Binghamton selectively applies 
its stated policies and procedures to discriminate against students 
based on the content of their speech and their decision to associate 
with groups such as the College Republicans and Young Americans for 
Freedom/Young America's Foundation (``YAF''). Consequently, the 
Department is opening an investigation to determine if Binghamton's 
conduct related to events occurring between November 14 and November 
19, 2019, as more particularly set forth below, violated applicable 
statutory, regulatory, and/or contractual provisions.
    The reported facts are as follows:
    On November 14, 2019, beginning around 10:00 a.m., fewer than 
ten Binghamton students who were members, associated with, or 
supporters of a recognized Binghamton University student group 
called ``College Republicans'' began ``tabling'' using two folding 
tables displaying fliers and other promotional materials in a common 
area of campus used to promote on-campus speeches, activities, and 
political causes. The College Republicans handed out fliers 
promoting a November 18, 2019, lecture by the prominent economist, 
Dr. Arthur Laffer. Other literature from a different organization 
supporting the Second Amendment but unrelated to the College 
Republicans was displayed on a nearby table. At approximately 2:00 
p.m., approximately 200 persons surrounded the College Republicans 
and their tables, shouting threats and obscenities. They allegedly 
destroyed the College Republicans' materials and tables and 
attempted to chase them away. See Matthew Benninger, ``Binghamton 
University says `provocative' displays by political student 
organizations led to campus protest'' (Nov. 18, 2019), https://wbng.com/2019/11/18/binghamton-university-says-provocative-displays-by-political-student-organizations-led-to-campus-protest/. 
Contemporaneous video footage demonstrates the University's police 
did not impede or prevent the conspirators' violence and 
intimidation. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X2-96gt9MI. \1\
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    \1\ On November 14, 2019, less than thirty minutes before the 
College Republicans began tabling, a shooter at a California high 
school killed two fellow students and injured three others before 
killing himself. On November 18, Binghamton's Vice President for 
Student Affairs, Brian Rose, imputed knowledge of this shooting to 
the College Republicans without any evidence the College Republicans 
knew or could have known of it at the time they commenced their 
protected activity. He said: ``The [College Republicans'] display 
included provocative posters with gun imagery, this being the same 
day as the Saugus High School shooting [so] the [College 
Republicans] intended to be provocative.'' See Benninger, supra 
https://wbng.com/2019/11/18/binghamton-university-says-provocative-displays-by-political-student-organizations-led-to-campus-protest/. 
The Department is concerned because Rose's statement seemingly 
contextualizes the police's failure to stop the threats, 
intimidation, and violence, and provides reason to believe 
Binghamton may harbor systemic bias and animus toward students with 
Republican or conservative political views.
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    Preliminary information suggests these persons were acting in 
concert pursuant to a conspiracy. Contrary to law, the express 
object of this conspiracy was to injure, oppress, threaten, or 
intimidate the College Republicans in the free exercise or enjoyment 
of their First Amendment rights. See 18 U.S.C. 241; 42 U.S.C. 
1985(3). Reported social media messages confirming the conspiracy's 
purpose included, inter alia, ``[y]eah there's not that many but f-- 
em [sic] up anyways'' and ``[t]oday on the spine Trump supporters 
are actively advocating for the Trump administration and gun 
violence. Join us at 2 as we disrupt this disgusting space that 
Binghamton has allowed students to create and protect the racism, 
homophobia, and xenophobia that has erupted from Trump and his 
supporters''. See Editorial, ``To protect free speech, SUNY 
Binghamton must throw the book at these

[[Page 61733]]

bullies'' (Nov. 19, 2019), https://nypost.com/2019/11/19/to-protect-free-speech-suny-binghamton-must-throw-the-book-at-these-bullies/. 
These social media strongly suggest that many of the conspirators 
agreed to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate the College 
Republicans because of and/or to prevent their exercise of 
constitutional rights, and many of the persons who acted pursuant to 
that conspiracy, were Binghamton students.
    On November 15, 2019, YAF's General Counsel contacted Binghamton 
attorney Barbara Scarlett seeking assurances Binghamton would 
protect students' constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and 
association during an upcoming lecture by Dr. Arthur Laffer. 
Scarlett refused to provide any such assurances. Consequently, YAF 
hired two protective agents from Pinkerton Consulting & 
Investigations, Inc. (``Pinkerton'') to protect Dr. Laffer.
    On November 18, 2019, Dr. Laffer was scheduled to give his 
lecture.
    On that day, Vice President Rose issued a statement in his 
official capacity blaming College Republicans and ``another group 
known as Turning Point'' for displaying ``provocative'' posters and 
intending to be ``provocative.'' He said Binghamton's response ``was 
and will be guided by principles and values related to safety, 
equity, free expression and reason.'' He said the conspirators who 
pulled down the College Republicans' tables ``acted in a manner that 
may have violated University rules. In the context of the incident 
and in keeping with the principles and values noted above, the 
University did not seek to identify or charge any protesters.'' 
(Emphasis added.) He said, apparently referring to criticism 
regarding Binghamton's failure to protect a student political 
organization duly recognized by Binghamton and their First Amendment 
rights from conspiratorial violence and intimidation: ``We 
acknowledge the larger political context in our country that is 
polarizing our society. It is unfortunate that interests external to 
the campus have seized upon this incident and attempted to 
mischaracterize it to feed their own narrative and to attempt to 
influence our response. We will not be responding to those external 
voices or altering our approach as a result of external pressure.'' 
(Emphasis added.) Rose never mentioned the First Amendment. See ``A 
message from Vice President for Student Affairs Brian Rose'' (Nov. 
18, 2019), https://www.binghamton.edu/president/statements.html.
    Also, on that day, representatives of the College Republicans 
and YAF met with Binghamton police and administrative personnel to 
discuss lecture security. The police advised of social media posts 
threatening lecture disruptions (widely-published images included 
those of Dr. Laffer receiving the Medal of Freedom from President 
Trump, with black boxes blocking the eyes of both Dr. Laffer and the 
President, and calling for protesters to ``Come out and support BING 
PLOT, gathering voices to speak out against College republicans 
[sic] and Turning Point USA (angry and middle finger emojis) come 
out to lecture hall 8!!!at 6:45pm to hear the LIES they are feeding 
republicans !!!!we must put an end to this clownery. See you there 
(more emojis)).'' Another social media post with the same images 
included the message ``COLLEGE REPUBLICAN AND TURNING POINT [sic] 
HAVE INVITED ARTHUR LAFFER, AN ECONOMIST/LIAR WHOSE THEORIES HAVE 
BEEN USED TO JUSTIFY TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH, AND RAISES ON THE POOR. 
F-- THIS & THEM.'' The post was captioned ``LET'S SHOW UP, SPEAK 
OUT, AND DISRUPT.'' These conspiratorial threats to disrupt the 
lecture and violate ``republicans'' and ``TURNING POINT'' members' 
civil rights included threats by the Binghamton, New York 
``Progressive [sic] Leaders of Tomorrow (``BING PLOT'').\2\
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    \2\ BING PLOT is an ``anti-capitalist'', ``radical'', and 
violent organization aiming to ``create a culture of high-quality 
accomplices [sic] willing to put their bodies . . . on the line in 
the pursuit of justice.'' See https://www.facebook.com/BingPLOT/. 
For example, on October 14, 2019, PLOT halted Binghamton's Columbus 
Day Parade and several of its members were arrested and criminally 
charged. See Amy Hogan, ``Binghamton Mayor Condemns Community Group 
PLOT, Challenges Other Elected Officials To Do The Same'' (Oct. 15. 
2019), https://www.wicz.com/story/41184593/binghamton- mayor-
condemns-community-group-plot-challenges-other-elected-officials-to-
do-the-sa.
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    Binghamton told the College Republicans and YAF the lecture was 
being moved to a different hall to provide better egress if 
university police decided it was necessary to remove Dr. Laffer from 
the lecture. However, notwithstanding clear evidence of a conspiracy 
by persons with a history of violence and lawlessness to violate the 
civil rights of College Republicans' and YAF's members,
    Binghamton informed the College Republicans and YAF it was also 
providing an adjacent room, connected by a doorway to the lecture 
hall, where ``protesters'' would be allowed to gather.
    Dr. Laffer arrived at a nearby airport en route to the lecture. 
Upon disembarking from his plane, he and two aides were intercepted 
by two university police officers at the airport.\3\ They informed 
him of their security concerns for the event, discussed social media 
posts threatening to disrupt the event, and asked him to abandon his 
speaking commitment and return to his plane. Dr. Laffer refused and 
affirmed his commitment to give the lecture as planned.
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    \3\ Customarily, university officials greet visiting dignitaries 
like Dr. Laffer upon arrival at the university. On this occasion, 
unique in Dr. Laffer's decades of lecturing experiences at American 
universities, not a single Binghamton administrator or faculty 
member welcomed him publicly or privately. Since the event, not one 
Binghamton (or other SUNY) administrator or faculty member has 
communicated publicly or privately with Dr. Laffer.
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    At approximately 6:30 p.m., roughly an hour before the lecture, 
Binghamton officials informed the Pinkerton agents that they 
expected Dr. Laffer's lecture to be disrupted by PLOT and the 
``College Progressives.'' University police officers informed the 
agents that if the anticipated disruption neared the podium, the 
Pinkerton agents would be ordered to remove Dr. Laffer from the 
lecture venue. The police officers also instructed Dr. Laffer's 
driver to remain with the vehicle to facilitate Dr. Laffer's escape 
if the anticipated disruptions occurred.
    Shortly thereafter, the doors opened to the lecture hall. 
Hundreds of students and non-students filled the hall, including 
many conspirators. Dozens wore masks and clothing with indicia of 
PLOT affiliation, including armbands, pins, and red shirts. 
Conspirators remained standing, blocked access to seating, and stood 
in the aisles. Facilitated by Binghamton, the room adjacent to the 
lecture hall also filled with conspirators. Upon information and 
belief, the object, purpose, and intention of the conspirators' 
agreement were combined action to deny and intimidate Dr. Laffer, 
YAF members, College Republican members, and other community members 
in the exercise of their First Amendment and other constitutional 
rights. Also, upon information and belief, Binghamton had both 
actual and constructive knowledge of the wrongs conspired to be done 
and about to be committed. It also had the power to prevent or aid 
in preventing the commission of the same, yet it appears to have 
neglected or refused so to do. See 42 U.S.C. 1986.
    YAF and the College Republicans asked for assistance from the 
University police officers in getting attendees seated. A university 
police officer made a single announcement about the fire code and 
requested that attendees be seated. Binghamton took no further 
action to enforce the request or to inform the crowd that 
disruptions of Dr. Laffer's lecture would be inappropriate, a 
violation of the University's policies, illegal, or the subject of 
University discipline. While many officers were present, they 
remained standing against the walls of the room--making no effort to 
bring order to the room.
    At 7:30 p.m., the College Republicans' President introduced Dr. 
Laffer, first announcing to all attendees that all comments or 
questions should occur at the end of Dr. Laffer's lecture, 
specifically welcoming the comments of those who may wish to express 
disagreement. Dr. Laffer went to the podium and, within seconds, 
conspirators in the second row began shouting to prevent him from 
speaking. One emerged from the side of the hall to hand a bullhorn 
to the shouting protester, thereby preventing Dr. Laffer from being 
heard. Others joined in the hostile display, drowning out Dr. Laffer 
and denying other students the right to hear his views. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTqlmDar_hg.
    Instead of making a good faith effort to restore order to allow 
the lecture to continue, university police ordered Dr. Laffer's 
removal by the Pinkerton agents. This ended the lecture, allowing 
the conspirators to unlawfully deny and intimidate Dr. Laffer and 
the students who came to listen in the exercise of their First 
Amendment rights. Only after the protester with the bullhorn fell 
from the chair on which he/she was standing did the university 
police approach the leading protester around whom other protesters 
then formed a human barricade. Conspirators from the adjacent room 
(provided by Binghamton to facilitate their activities) flooded the 
lecture hall and joined

[[Page 61734]]

the disruption. For approximately an hour, the protesters continued 
to occupy the lecture hall.
    On November 19, 2019, the College Republicans received email 
notification that its status as a chartered student organization was 
being suspended for failure to obtain proper approval prior to its 
November 14, 2019, tabling.
    There is no record of Binghamton investigating, disciplining, or 
imposing any penalty on or sanctioning any other students or student 
organization involved in any of the above-described events.
    In exchange for the annual payment of approximately at least 
$10,201.00 in tuition and fees, Binghamton promises students that 
they will have the freedom to speak, learn, challenge, and dissent. 
These promises are not merely aspirational goals but rather are 
representations to students, parents, and consumers intended to 
create reliance and induce attendance. Binghamton's problematic 
representations include but are not limited to:
     Binghamton fosters ``open dialogue.'' See https://www.binghamton.edu/about/mission-vision-values.html#.
     Binghamton requires all members of the University 
community to conduct themselves ``lawfully, maturely and 
responsibly, and to share the responsibility of maintaining 
standards of behavior that are essential to the smooth functioning 
of the institution.'' See https://www.binghamton.edu/student-handbook/policies/
     The ``full exercise of First Amendment rights is 
encouraged and protected.'' See https://www.binghamton.edu/student-handbook/policies/.
     ``Conduct that interferes with or threatens the 
operation of the University or the rights of others, either in or 
out of the classroom, is not condoned''. See https://www.binghamton.edu/student-handbook/policies/.
     ``Every member of the University community has a right 
to feel secure in person and property and has the responsibility to 
respect and protect the rights of others.'' See https://www.binghamton.edu/student-handbook/policies/.
     Dissent and demonstrations must occur ``in an orderly 
and peaceful manner.'' See https://www.binghamton.edu/student-
handbook/policies/
demonstrations.html#~text=Students%20are%20free%20to%20voice,normal%2
0functioning%20of%20the%20University.
     Students must ``conduct themselves in a manner that 
supports and respects the rights of others''. See https://www.binghamton.edu/student-handbook/pdfs/accessible-version-of-student-code-of-conduct-2020-21.pdf.
     Binghamton demands ``respectful discourse, allowing all 
members to express themselves in a manner that enables others to 
feel personally safe and emotionally secure both in and out of the 
classroom.'' See https://www.binghamton.edu/student-handbook/pdfs/accessible-version-of-student-code-of-conduct-2020-21.pdf.
     Binghamton promises ``[t]he safety of our students and 
the entire campus community'' is the ``highest priority'' and its 
police ``are fully empowered, state law enforcement officers trained 
to address the unique needs of the University campus'' with 
``comprehensive programs and procedures to help every member of the 
University community remain safe.'' See https://www.binghamton.edu/about/campus-safety.html.
     Binghamton has generally applicable conduct rules, and 
these rules will be enforced consistently for ``any conduct system 
to be credible, consistency must be a central element.'' 
Specifically, ``Rule #8'' provides ``[e]ndangering, threatening, 
causing, or attempting to cause physical harm to any person or 
causing reasonable apprehension of such harm'' and may lead to 
sanctions including a period of disciplinary/final probation, 
suspension or expulsion, educational intervention(s), and a loss of 
housing. ``Rule #19'' provides ``disorderly conduct,'' which 
includes disrupting a classroom and blocking access to a roadway, 
office, or building, may lead to sanctions based on ``the level of 
disruption, the impact on the learning environment, the duration of 
the disruption, and safety concerns.'' See https://www.binghamton.edu/student-conduct/resources/1920_sanctioning_guidelines.pdf.
     Binghamton is ``absolutely committed to upholding free 
speech'' and ``will not tolerate efforts to disrupt or shut down 
gatherings where academic and personal freedoms are being 
exercised.'' ``An end-of-the-year message from President Harvey 
Stenger'', (Dec. 23, 2019) https://www.binghamton.edu/president/statements.html
     ``As an institution of higher education, freedom of 
speech is fundamental to our core mission; academic inquiry and the 
exchange of ideas rest on the principle that all have a right to 
express their beliefs.'' ``A message from President Stenger'' (Nov. 
15, 2019) https://www.binghamton.edu/president/statements.html 
(emphasis in original).
    The facts regarding Binghamton's conduct during the subject time 
are not fully developed. Therefore, it is unclear whether 
Binghamton's actions and omissions were due to management failures; 
political bias and animus against College Republicans, YAF, and 
political conservatives; or other factors. Regardless, those actions 
and omissions suggest serious reason for the Department to be 
concerned that Binghamton's many representations about free speech 
and student conduct to students, parents, and consumers in the 
market for education certificates may be false, erroneous, or 
misleading, in violation of 20 U.S.C. 1094(c)(3)(B) and 34 CFR 
668.71(c). Therefore, the Department's Office of Postsecondary 
Education, in consultation with the Department's Office of the 
General Counsel, is opening this investigation.
    As you are aware, the Secretary may commence a fine proceeding, 
among other measures, if the Department ultimately concludes 
Binghamton has made substantial misrepresentations about the nature 
of its educational program. The Department is aware of the 
challenges posed by COVID-19 to institutions of higher education. 
However, the critical gravity of Binghamton's representations 
compels the Department to move this investigation forward with all 
appropriate speed.
    The Department requests Binghamton produce the requested 
records, make available the identified employees for transcribed 
interviews under oath, and answer the specified questions in 
accordance with the deadlines specified below. See 20 U.S.C. 
1094(a)(17); 20 U.S.C. 1097a; U.S. v. Morton Salt, 338 U.S. 632, 
642-63 (1952); U.S. v. Powell, 379 U.S. 48, 57 (1964); Oklahoma 
Press Pub. Co. v. Walling, 327 U.S. 186, 216 (1946); see also U.S. 
Dep't of Educ., Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 85 FR 3190, 3213 
n.137 (Jan. 17, 2020) (``The Department notes that public and 
private institutions also may be held accountable to the Department 
for any substantial misrepresentation under the Department's 
borrower defense to repayment regulations''); Standard Form 424B; 
Executive Order 13864, Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and 
Accountability at Colleges and Universities, 84 FR 11401 (Mar. 21, 
2019); and Final Rule: Direct Grant Programs, State-Administered 
Formula Grant Programs, Non Discrimination on the Basis of Sex in 
Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial 
Assistance, available at https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/freeinquiryfinalruleunofficialversion09092020.pdf (Sept. 9, 2020). 
Please be advised the Department considers your answers to these 
requests to be matters within the jurisdiction of the executive 
branch of the Government of the United States for the purposes of 18 
U.S.C. 1001. Accordingly, Binghamton should make every effort to 
answer our requests fully and completely.

I. Records Production

    Please produce the following records within twenty-one (21) 
calendar days:
    1. All records concerning, regarding, referring to, or relating 
to the events of November 14 through 19, 2019, as described above. 
The relevant time for this request is January 1, 2019 to the 
present.
    2. All records concerning, regarding, referring to, or relating 
to the content of and statements made in ``A message from Vice 
President for Student Affairs Brian Rose'' (Nov. 18, 2019) https://www.binghamton.edu/president/statements.html and ``A message from 
President Stenger'' (Nov. 15, 2019) https://www.binghamton.edu/president/statements.html. The relevant time for this request is 
November 13, 2019 to the present.
    3. All records concerning, regarding, referring to, or relating 
to actual or potential discipline of any student and/or any sanction 
of an organization due to or arising out of any statement, action, 
or conduct during or related to the events of November 14 through 
19, 2019, described above. The relevant time for this request is 
November 14, 2019, to the present.
    4. All records concerning, regarding, or relating to PLOT 
(a.k.a. Progressive Leaders of Tomorrow), the College Republicans, 
and Young Americans for Freedom/Young American's Foundation. The 
relevant time for this request is June 1, 2016, to the present.
    5. All records concerning, regarding, or relating to Jeffrey 
Coghlan. The relevant time

[[Page 61735]]

for this request is November 1, 2019, to the present.
    6. All records concerning, regarding, or relating to John 
Restuccia. The relevant time for this request is June 1, 2016, to 
the present.
    7. All records concerning, regarding, or relating to Jon Lizak. 
The relevant time for this request is June 1, 2016, to the present.
    8. All records concerning, referencing, or relating to the 
Stipulation of Settlement and Discontinuance Pursuant to Rule 41(A), 
Center for Bio-Ethical Reform v. Black, 1:13-cv- 00581-RJA-HBS 
(W.D.N.Y. June 2, 2017), ECF No. 30 (Exhibit A).
    9. All records of the University police concerning, referring, 
or relating to Dr. Laffer, College Republicans, Young Americans for 
Freedom/Young America's Foundation, College Progressives, PLOT, 
Jeffrey Coghlan, John Restuccia, Jon Lizak, Pinkerton Consulting & 
Investigations Inc. (a.k.a. Pinkerton), and the events of November 
14-19, 2019, as described above. The relevant time frame for this 
request is January 1, 2018, to the present.
    10. A true copy of Binghamton's safety plan in support of Dr. 
Laffer's lecture and all records concerning, regarding, or relating 
thereto. The relevant time frame for this request is November 1, 
2019, to the present.
    11. A list of Binghamton employees who determined (a) Dr. 
Laffer's lecture should be moved to a larger hall, (b) that the 
adjacent hall would be provided for those opposing Dr. Laffer's 
lecture, and (c) that Dr. Laffer would be ordered removed if his 
lecture was disrupted by protesters.
    12. A list of all Binghamton employees responsible for or 
involved in Binghamton's decision not to seek to identify or charge 
any ``protesters'' involved in the events of November 14, 2019.
    13. All records about, concerning, or noting meetings with 
University officials and University police officers about the 
College Republicans, Young Americans for Freedom/Young America's 
Foundation, College Progressives, or PLOT, including all records 
shared, distributed, or discussed at such meetings. The relevant 
time for this request is June 1, 2016, to the present.
    14. All records of any student organization, including a 
chartered student organization, that was suspended, disciplined, or 
otherwise reprimanded. The relevant time frame for this request is 
June 1, 2016, to the present.
    15. All records of any policies or statements regarding the 
provision of security at events organized by any student 
organizations, including chartered student organizations. The 
relevant time frame for this request is January 1, 2018 to the 
present.
    Your production should utilize the following procedures:
     For purposes of this request, records shall be produced 
in their entirety, without abbreviation, modification, or redaction, 
including all attachments and materials affixed thereto.
     All records should be produced in the same order as 
they are kept or maintained in the ordinary course, or the records 
should be organized and labeled to correspond to the categories of 
the records requested.
     If the request cannot be complied with in full, it 
shall be complied with to the extent possible, with an explanation 
of why full compliance is not possible. Any document withheld in 
whole or in part due to privilege, or for any other reason, shall be 
identified on a privilege log submitted with response to this 
request. The log shall state the date of the document, its author, 
his or her occupation and employer, all recipients, the title and/or 
subject matter, the privilege claimed, and a brief explanation of 
the basis of the claimed privilege.
     Records shall be produced in electronic form instead of 
paper productions. Records shall be delivered as delimited text with 
images and native files. Alternatively, all records derived from 
word processing programs, email applications, instant message logs, 
spreadsheets, and wherever else practicable, shall be produced in 
text searchable PDF format. Spreadsheets shall also be provided in 
their native format. Audio and video files shall be produced in 
their native format, although picture files associated with email or 
word processing programs shall be produced in PDF format along with 
the document it is contained in or to which it is attached.
     Other than native files produced along with TIF images, 
records should be sequentially numerically indexed (a.k.a. Bates 
stamping) and reference should be made to the request to which the 
records are responsive (e.g., Item 1). All files produced shall be 
numerically identified within the range that the file contains 
(e.g., University-00001-University-000050).
     Searches for records in electronic form should include 
searches of all relevant mobile devices, hard drives, network 
drives, offline electronic folders, thumb drives, removable drives, 
records stored in the cloud, and archive files, including, but not 
limited to, backup tapes. Do not time stamp or modify the content, 
the create date, or the last date modified of any record and do not 
scrub any metadata (other than to numerically index, as described 
above). Electronic records should be produced in native format. For 
emails, please place responses in one .pst file per employee. For 
.pdf files, please provide searchable file format and not image file 
format.
     All email searches should be conducted by the agency's 
information technology department, or its equivalent, and not by the 
individuals whose records are being searched. Please provide the 
name and contact information of the individual(s) who conducted the 
search, as well as an explanation of how the search was conducted.
     Should you have any questions about the method or 
format of production please contact the undersigned to coordinate.
    As used in this Notice of Investigation and Records Request:
    ``Record'' means all recorded information, regardless of form or 
characteristics, made or received, and including metadata, such as 
email and other electronic communication, social media posts, texts, 
word processing documents, PDF documents, animations (including 
PowerPointTM and other similar programs) spreadsheets, 
databases, calendars, telephone logs, contact manager information, 
internet usage files, network access information, writings, 
drawings, graphs, charts, photographs, sound recordings, images, 
financial statements, checks, wire transfers, accounts, ledgers, 
facsimiles, texts, animations, voicemail files, data generated by 
calendaring, task management and personal information management 
(PIM) software (such as Microsoft Outlook), data created with the 
use of personal data assistants (PDAs), data created with the use of 
document management software, data created with the use of paper and 
electronic mail logging and routing software, and other data or data 
compilations, stored in any medium from which information can be 
obtained either directly or, if necessary, after translation by the 
responding party into a reasonably usable form. The term ``recorded 
information'' also includes all traditional forms of records, 
regardless of physical form or characteristic

II. Transcribed Interviews

    Please make the following individuals available for transcribed 
interviews:
    1. President Harvey Stenger
    2. Vice President for Student Affairs Brian Rose
    3. Chief of Police John Pelletier
    4. A duly authorized corporate designee to testify regarding 
Binghamton's (a) representations, as specified above, and (b) the 
contents and application of its policies or practices regarding free 
speech, free inquiry, and the First and Second Amendments to the 
U.S. Constitution.
    5. The university police officers who appeared at the airport to 
meet Dr. Laffer on November 18, 2019.
    6. The university police officers in command (including onsite 
command) of the security effort relating to Dr. Laffer's lecture.
    7. The university police officers in command (including onsite 
command) regarding the events of November 14, 2019.
    If Binghamton asserts attorney-client or attorney-work product 
privilege for a given record, then it must prepare and submit a 
privilege log expressly identifying each such record and describing 
it so the Department may assess the claim's validity. Please note 
that no other privileges apply here. Your record and data 
preservation obligations are outlined at Exhibit B.
    This investigation will be conducted by the Department's Office 
of the General Counsel with support from the Office of Postsecondary 
Education. Your legal counsel will be contacted by Paul R. Moore, 
the Department's Chief Investigative Counsel, to schedule the 
transcribed interviews, and by the Office of the General Counsel's 
electronic discovery attorney, Kevin D. Slupe, to arrange for 
records transmission. Additionally, please be advised that by copy 
of this letter we are referring Binghamton to the U.S. Department of 
Justice's Civil Rights Division for such additional investigation 
and action as may be appropriate.
    Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
    Sincerely yours,
Robert L. King
Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education
Enclosure (Exhibits A and B)

[[Page 61736]]

cc: John B. Daukas, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General 
Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice
Reed D. Rubinstein, Principal Deputy General Counsel delegated the 
Authority and Duties of the General Counsel
Paul R. Moore, Chief Investigative Counsel
Kevin D. Slupe, Special Counsel Chancellor
Jim Malatras
The State University of New York
[FR Doc. 2020-21649 Filed 9-29-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P