Pepperdine Wants
Name Removed From Yes on 8 Ad

Pepperdine University president Andrew Benton wants all references to his school to be removed from the first Yes on 8 advertisement, which premiered on Monday, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The commercial, which is running throughout California, features Pepperdine law professor Richard Peterson warning that if the ban on marriage equality is not passed on November 4, people could be sued over their personal beliefs, churches could lose their tax exemption, and gay marriage could be taught in public schools. The school's name and Peterson's title appears in text on the screen.

"The reference to Pepperdine must disappear," Benton told the Times. While Benton stressed that he didn't wish to infringe on Peterson's First Amendment right to free speech, he does not want to give Californians the idea that the professor represents the views of the university.

A spokesperson for the Yes on 8 campaign said the reference to Pepperdine will be removed. (The Advocate)