“The law school takes no official position on this or any other ballot measure,” Law School Dean Robert Klonoff said. “The opponents of Measure 50 who are improperly using the law school name to further their cause must stop this activity immediately.”
Earlier this week, Lewis & Clark confronted another political action group about its misuse of the School’s name in a recent anti-Measure 49 letter that was mailed to voters across Oregon. In that case, the group Oregonians in Action used the law school name on the return address. Lewis & Clark has demanded that the group send a letter clarifying that the mailing did not represent Lewis & Clark Law School.
“With election day almost upon us, we believe it is necessary for both campaigns to rectify the situation so that voters may cast their ballots without being under the false impression that Lewis & Clark Law School has taken a position,” Klonoff said.
Like the anti-Measure 49 mailing, the anti-50 commercials cite James Huffman, former law school dean and current professor, and his opposition to the given measure. Numerous voters have expressed concern about the implication that Huffman’s opinion represents the Law Schools’ official position.
“In fact,” Klonoff said, “this law school has no official position on the merits of Measure 50. Professor Huffman, like all our faculty members, is free to speak his mind on political matters. But no one should mistake his personal views with my views or the view of this institution.
“Fair debate requires that all participants represent their ideas with integrity and sincerity,” Klonoff said. “The misuse of our name for partisan political purposes violates that fundamental principle. It is deeply troublesome that these groups would mislead voters in an attempt to garner support on these controversial issues.”
