The judge, though, noted that she had been instructed by the schools' public relations staff not to discuss the T-shirts.
In general, influencer marketing encompasses everything from old-school public relations (PR) and celebrity spokesperson outreach to some of the smarmiest link-building efforts you've ever seen.
Thomas M. Kelly, the head of school, declined to comment directly on Mr. Lin's statements, but a spokesman for the school's public relations firm said: "If what Mr. Lin has told The New York Times is true, the conduct in which he says he engaged was appalling.
Mr. Landa was the school's public relations director from 1960 to 1975 and, for the next 10 years, its executive vice president for development and public affairs.
The funds are sold exclusively through investment advisers, and the firm -- wary of hot money -- belongs to the Howard Hughes school of public relations.
He obtained his degree from the leading French school for public relations, making useful contacts while working as an intern in several government ministries.
In a strong indicator of the political undertones of the argument taking shape, the school's public relations firm is closely tied to Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader from Kentucky, noted the Democratic strategist Adam Parkhomenko.
"People sought him out not just because of what he could do for them but to keep their competitors away from him," said Dr. Otto Lerbinger, chairman of the school of public relations at Boston University.
Another good way to determine the strength of a school's public relations department is by examining the professors in the department.
Alan Adcock, the superintendent for business at the Massapequa schools, said public relations firms' efforts have helped promote a positive appearance of the district, where the budget passed in one vote.
