USG to Implement Student Legal Services
USG Senate passed a resolution outlining a plan to prevent students from losing the free services provided by the Student Housing Legal Clinic. SHLC was established in 1999 to provide free legal advice and representation to students with landlord-tenant concerns. However, in June of 2009, SHLC will lose its permanent funding. Since the Ohio Revised Code requires that legal services be funded through a student fee, USG approved the implementation of an optional $40 annual fee.
This fee will also increase the number of attorneys and services available to students. The current legal services significantly lag behind those of other Ohio benchmark institutions. The executive branch has worked extensively with the Office of Student Life to draft a detailed proposal on how the funds collected from the fee will be allotted and how the new services will be organized.
In addition to legal advice for landlord-tenant disputes, USG is asking that the new services also include legal advice for misdemeanor crimes, consumer transactions, domestic matters, property crimes, wills, and stalking orders. They are also asking that a review committee be created to oversee the operations of the Student Legal Services.
President Peter Koltak will continue to take all necessary steps to see that this proposal is approved by university administration and the Board of Trustees.