Mardi Gras party to aid Gulf hurricane victims.

Byline: Lewis Taylor The Register-Guard

Partying might seem like an odd way to help the victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, but on this Fat Tuesday, a group of University of Oregon Law School students are hoping a Mardi Gras bash will indirectly benefit those in need.

"If we could help out just one person, that would make this a success," said Jeremy Yeager, a UO law student and member of the local chapter of the Student Hurricane Network, a national group seeking to provide pro bono legal services for hurricane victims.

Yeager's group hopes today's fundraiser at a campus bar will support sending students to the Gulf Coast. The UO will send 10 law students to the region for spring break.

Once there, they will try to handle everything from insurance claims to unlawful evictions to criminal justice cases. Students pay their own way for the trips, which also are being scheduled for summer break. For many, Yeager says, it's an opportunity to help those in need and build career credentials.

"It's something that needs to be done," said Yeager, who hopes to provide assistance with insurance claims. "It feels good to help out."

Paul Tassin, another UO law student, spent his winter break doing legal research and volunteer work in New Orleans. One of the projects he worked on was forestalling the city from bulldozing houses without notifying the owners, he said.

"My big concern is with the criminal justice system," Tassin said.

"The public defender system has pretty much collapsed .... There are people who have been in custody since the storm."

Both Tassin and Yeager are New Orleans natives who transferred to the UO from Loyola University in fall 2005 after Hurricane Katrina shut down the city. Both expect to return to their home school in fall 2006.

Until then, they plan to do what they can to help rebuild the city from afar.

`Since I've been (in Oregon), I've just been pulling my hair out not being able to do anything,' Tassin said.

`For me (this program) is personal.'

Not everyone in the Student Hurricane Network has a direct connection to New Orleans, and not all the students are headed to the Big Easy. Because many of the evacuated New Orleans residents are still living elsewhere, organizers are encouraging students to visit Miami; Houston; Austin, Texas; Birmingham, Ala.; Memphis, Tenn.; and other cities.

The program, which is active at 51 different colleges and universities, plans to send more than 500 students out on spring break volunteer trips.

FAT TUESDAY EVENT

A fundraiser for the Oregon Student Hurricane Network. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Hurricanes (rum and citrus drinks) and Mardi Gras beads will help send UO Law students to the Gulf Coast.

When: 7 tonight

Where: Fathoms, 790 E. 14th Ave., Eugene

CAPTION(S):

UO law students and Katrina refugees Jeremy Yeager (left) and Paul Tassin are helping plan tonight's fundraiser for hurricane victims.