Oregon Hillel had no part

in Commentator theft
Your editorial “MISSING: First Amendment Freedoms” (ODE, March 13) about missing copies of a particularly offensive edition of the Oregon Commentator was right on the mark regarding the importance of protecting First Amendment freedoms. Together with that, I am very concerned with your inclusion of Oregon Hillel as one of the organizations which “might be considered a suspect in this case” by listing us two sentences later as one of the “plenty of people who could have motive” as an offended party.
You then proceed to state that “the rumors we’ve heard sound so proud, it’s almost as though people want to be associated with the act.” I have no idea what rumors you are hearing, but I can assure you that Oregon Hillel is neither associated with, nor proud of this act — and I am disappointed that your editorial board would presume or imply that we might be, and do so based on speculative rumors without consulting anyone from our organization.

Hal M. Applebaum

executive director

Oregon Hillel