Black Law Students Gathering For Habitat Project

Hours before Ohio State and UC meet on the football field Saturday, teams of students from the two universities' law schools will team up to try and make a difference in one of Cincinnati's most troubled neighborhoods.

The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) of the UC College of Law is sponsoring "Habitat for Humanity Weekend 2002." A total of 50 law students are expected to volunteer their labor on a project constructing four Habitat for Humanity homes on Mohawk Street in the city's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. They will be on site - between 288 and 294 Mohawk St. - on Saturday, Sept. 21 from 8:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m.

Law students from a number of BLSA chapters around the region were invited to participate. The majority will be students from either UC or Ohio State. Approximately 30 UC law students have signed up, along with 10 expected down from Ohio State. Other law schools participating include Salmon P. Chase, University of Dayton, University of Kentucky, Indiana University, Capital University and Ohio Northern.

"In light of the racial turmoil going on in the city, we wanted to do something to let the young kids see a large number of black students doing something positive in their neighborhood. We want to be positive examples to children, to let them know that if we can do it, so can they if they're willing to concentrate on education," says Ebony Tregre, president of the UC chapter of BLSA.

"It is also instilling in our members that we should reach out in service as part of a commitment to the community," adds Tregre. "If we encourage our members to participate in community service as students, hopefully the value of service will continue on as a commitment when we become attorneys."

The day will conclude with a mixer for all the students and members of the Cincinnati legal community Saturday night. This is the first Habitat for Humanity project for UC's BLSA.