Students Seek to Shape Policy Through Fellowship Research

william w. knight law centerThe Public Law and Policy Program served as home to three student fellowship programs this past year. These fellowships, while distinct in focus, provide law students exceptional opportunities to impact policy through scholarship and education.

Six students, two from each class, served as Public Law and Policy Fellows: Andrew Baker, Taylor Kinch, Zach Metzger, Victoria Redman, Jacob Sweet, and Bryan Williamson. The O’Connell Fund, in honor of Justice Kenneth O’Connell, supports this fellowship which affords students the opportunity to spend the year researching self-selected public policy issues.

The Fellows research culminates in a presentation of papers to individuals with expertise in the areas of research. Guests included Legal Counsel for Association of Oregon Counties Rob Bovett; Bob Chandler (’98), Owner of Tactics; Courtney Flathers, Field Representative for Senator Jeff Merkley; former Eugene City Attorney Glenn Klein (’82); and BRING Executive Director Carolyn Stein.

The Hans Linde Fellowship, in honor of former Oregon Supreme Court Justice Hans Linde, supports research at the intersection of law and public policy that spans multiple jurisdictions. The 2018-19 Hans Linde Fellow Lauren Lewis tackled the topic of managing environmental impacts of Arctic cruise tourism.

Lauren presented her research at the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (PIELC) in a session with Whit Sheard, Director of the Ocean Conservacy’s International Arctic Program. She also authored a law review comment, Unicorns of the Sea: Narwhals and Arctic Cruise Ship Tourism, 20 Or. Rev. Int’l L. 583 (2019).

The Minoru Yasui Fellowship, honoring Presidential Medal of Freedom winner Minoru Yasui, was held by Weston Koyama for the third year in a row. As a fellow, Weston organized multiple events educating others about Minoru Yasui and discrimination against Japanese Americans during World War II.

Events included a lecture by Civil Rights Attorney Peggy Nagae, Righting Wrongs and Healing from Injustice: The Legacy of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. Weston also arranged a screening of the documentary Never Give Up: Minoru Yasui and the Fight for Justice for law students and community members.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
2 comments on “Students Seek to Shape Policy Through Fellowship Research
  1. Amazing, Your blogs are really good and informative. I got a lots of useful information in your blogs. Guests included Legal Counsel for Association of Oregon Counties Rob Bovett; Bob Chandler (’98), Owner of Tactics; Courtney Flathers, Field Representative for Senator Jeff Merkley tax and estate lawyer; It is very great and useful to all. Keeps sharing more useful blogs…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Skip to toolbar