BREAKING: Department of Education to Investigate Tong Case

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The U.S. Department of Education headquarters.

According to documents obtained by activist group Campus Reform, the United States Department of Education (DOE) will be investigating the disciplinary actions taken by Fordham University against Austin Tong, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center ’21.

As of Aug. 21, the DOE has issued an official request for transcribed interviews from University President Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., Lincoln Center Dean of Students Keith Eldredge, Assistant Director of Residential Life Kelly Sosa and the Department of Public Safety.

Fordham initially took disciplinary action against Tong in mid-July for two Instagram posts that were deemed to violate the university code of conduct relating to bias and threats/intimidation. Tong subsequently filed a lawsuit against Fordham on July 23 disputing the decision.

As of Aug. 10, the DOE issued a separate brief stating it would require Fordham to disclose and report statutorily defined gifts, contracts, and/or restricted and conditional gifts or contracts from or with a statutorily defined foreign source(s).

This is a developing story; check back for updates.