After Debate, Montana Regents OK Naming Law School for Donor

The Montana Board of Regents voted Friday to rename the University of Montana law school in recognition of a $10-million gift, turning back one member’s protest over a lack of public participation in the naming-rights process, the Missoulian reports. The gift will be used in part to create a program in consumer law and protection at what is now the Alexander Blewett III School of Law.

Mr. Blewett, a lawyer from Great Falls, Mont., graduated from the Montana law school, as did his father and his two sons. Regent Martha Sheehy, who in a board meeting Thursday lauded the Blewett family for the donation but raised questions about conferring permanent naming rights for the gift without public input, abstained from Friday’s 5-0 vote in favor of the university’s request for the name change.