PILP Fiction Auction Raises Over $60,000, Funding 11 Student Summer Stipends

On March 7, the Legal Research Center (LRC) was transformed into a book-themed celebration for this year’s PILP Auction, which featured the theme “PILP Fiction: Ban the Fascists and Save the Books”. Attendees embraced the spirit of the evening by dressing as characters from banned books, including iconic figures like Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird.

The event served a dual purpose: celebrating the role of literacy in resisting fascism and raising the financial support necessary to fill the “justice gap”. This year, the auction successfully sold 55 banned books to attendees. Professor Bill Chin and Professor Meg Garvin served as lively hosts for the live auction, keeping the energy high throughout the evening. The Auction team led by Co-Directors Abbee Mortenson and Jack Flaningam announced that the event had raised approximately $60,000.

These funds are vital to the mission of PILP, a student-led organization dedicated to empowering public interest law students through education and funding.The proceeds helped PILP fund 11 summer stipends for L&C students. These stipends make it feasible for students to pursue unpaid public interest work over the summer, providing essential legal services to the community that might otherwise be out of reach. Notably, one of these awards was made possible through a partnership with the Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) and the Oregon State Bar (OSB) to fund a rural summer judicial clerkship opportunity for a student.

The evening also featured a poignant moment during the golden ticket raffle. After 27 years of supporting PILP’s efforts, Reggie Raiford was announced as the winner, a highlight that drew cheers from the “small army” of volunteers and attendees alike. As the law school looks forward to another year of advocacy and service, the success of “PILP Fiction” ensures that the next generation of public interest lawyers can continue their work this summer.