The NC Board of Governors is considering cutting the legal services offered to students attending NC colleges and universities within the UNC system: affecting more than a quarter of a million of students. The apparent benefit is to relieve students of more financial burden, although on average students pay less than $20 a semester for access to these services ( i.e. Duke: $15, UNCCH: $8, NCSU: $8). The end of this access would only create an even more exclusive environment in education as it prejudices against low-income adults and international students. Life continues on outside of campus, and when universities and colleges do not offer support then students cannot succeed in the classroom.

Regardless of financial benefit, student legal services are an invaluable resource to students that are unfortunate enough to be involved in legal disputes or issues. These services can be used by all students for something as small as a tenant-landlord dispute to something as life-changing as citizenship for an international student. College is a student’s first venture out into the world as an adult, whether they are just 5 miles away from home or 5,000. It’s an isolating experience even with comprehensive support from home, though many students do not have this luxury. If misfortune finds them, they should not be expected to stay afloat while still learning the world and their place in it. This is why legal services were instated: to give our young people a chance to do their absolute best. 

I am not a NC college student, nor am I alumni of a public NC school. I have never personally used the legal services offered by these institutions and I surely do not have access to them now. So why do I care? Several years ago, I worked at a large public NC university as a research technician. In that role I worked with some amazing people, every one of them talented and intelligent in different ways. One of these people whom I have grown close with over the years came to me with this issue in distress. This friend of mine is facing their legal aid being taken away before their application for citizenship can be processed. And I thought: ‘Here is this extraordinarily bright young person who is researching ways to help humanity– which they may not be able to implement because their university is failing them.’

There are so many injustices in the world that are big, small and everything in between. It is easy to get lost in the cacophony of voices asking for help, especially when one of them is your own. But these voices, these voices that will soon be the collective voice of the world, are ones that you can easily help. I urge you to sign this petition to inform the NC Board of Governors that legal services are not a compromise for NC students. We must speak out against this decision that will impact student life in personally and financially devastating ways. Every student, regardless of race, class, or nationality, should have the support they need to finish school; you can help them get it. 

Your name is more powerful than you think. 

I thank you on behalf of every student now and every student to come.