Loyola’s College of Law will host its annual Race Judicata on March 31 in Audubon Park. The event will benefit the Boys Hope/Girls Hope of New Orleans and the students who participate.
Last year, the race generated $9,000 that directly benefited the Boys Hope/Girls Hope, a private non-profit organization dedicated to helping disadvantaged children with academic potential find safe long-term homes as well as private college preparatory education.
The man handling the reins for the race is Chris Gross, a second-year College of Law student and a counselor for Boys Hope/Girls Hope. A native of New Orleans and graduate from the University of New Orleans, he has worked at Boys Hope/Girls Hope for three years. Also a member of the law school’s St. Thomas Moore service organization, Gross mediates cooperative service events such as the Race Judicata.
“The race had been around for a while, but it had lulled a little bit,” he said.
The Student Bar Association and the St. Thomas More service organization are the school’s main sponsors.
“This is the law school’s main service project,” Gross said. “It’s something the entire law school rallies around.
“Two years ago we had a little over 300 (paid runners). Last year there was a little bit of a drop,” Gross said.
Many sponsors are local law firms and businesses who donate $1,000 to have their name on T-shirts and banners.
“Our goal for this year is 500 paid runners, but a lot of participants buy tickets for donations,” Gross said.
“We say that $15 is not a lot of money, and it includes food vendors and kegs,” Gross said.”It’s a great networking and socializing opportunity for anyone, even if they aren’t law students.”
Many law firms, businesses and organizations participate and create professional connections and service opportunities. Student organizations are also given a chance to promote themselves and expand service ventures.
STAR RUNNER DRUMS UP INTEREST
Cross country champion Matt Cagigal placed second in the 5-km race last year. The year before, he had come in third – history senior Richard Bouckaert, his teammate, was second.
“I remember we just ran because we didn’t have track practice that day,” Cagigal said of his first experience running the event.
The finance senior has participated in the Race Judicata for two years and encourages Loyola’s undergraduate students to get involved.
“It was a Loyola event, so we thought it would be good to get involved,” Cagigal said. “It’s close to campus, and it’s in the prettiest park in the city.”
Cagigal is president of the Beggars fraternity and vice president of public relations for the Inter-Fraternity Council and wants to raise awareness for the race through Greek Life.
“To be honest, I ran last year’s race in my Beggars jersey,” Cagigal said.
He has discussed his interest in promoting race participation among Loyola’s fraternities at IFC meetings and with the Law School Chaplain.
“We want to get the fraternities involved in the race, and then they can tell the sororities to do it,” Cagigal said.
Because the law school’s promotional efforts are directed toward the Broadway campus, few students on the main campus are aware of the event, Cagigal said.
“It’s nothing big; we want to put up flyers, just some eyeshot on campus,” Cagigal said.
Cagigal wants to help promote the race to all undergraduates, Greek or otherwise.
“I met a lot of people at the race; there is a lot of networking opportunity and definitely an opportunity to meet people in the Loyola community,” Cagigal said. “I would think for a student considering the law school in the future, it would be a great way to form connections.”
Nicole Mundy can be reached at [email protected].
