Around budget season, the contracts financed by the ASUO tend to be surrounded by the most major controversy and critique: Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group, Lane Transit District and the athletic department contract are among a few of such contracts.
But one contract, which doesn’t see as much attention, quietly goes about assisting students with landlord/tenant issues and keeping first-time minor in possession charges from having long-term influence over student’s lives.
The ASUO Legal Services office provides legal consultation on these and other issues to any student who pays the incidental fee.
“Maybe we’re just not sexy; I know we’re appreciated though,” Legal Services Director Ilona Koleszar said.
Koleszar said the office deals with three primary types of cases: landlord/tenant conflicts, criminal misdemeanors and family law. The office has also dealt with employment issues, smaller contracts, personal property theft and changing names.
“We’re expected to know a bit about anything students come in with,” Koleszar said. “Some things we know by rote.”
As students leave for winter break, Legal Services said they should know that though it will run on shorter hours, it will continue to run during the vacation.
Even as the term comes to an end, the office still stays busy.
According to the office, there has been a spike in driving under the influence cases recently. Additionally, there’s been a recent spike in other cases due to a “perfect storm” of influences: namely, the economy and job market sending more people to return to school.
“We’re getting people coming in for smaller claims now, because it’s counting more now,” Koleszar said.
ASUO President Amelie Rousseau said she appreciates the work the office does.
“I think the best thing I’d say is it’s a good example of what students as a collective can provide for,” Rousseau said. “We are able to provide legal support for everyone on campus.”
Rousseau added that, as a contract, the service can provide the best of both worlds, featuring both student oversight and office independence.
With the University’s football team on the verge of a perfect season, facing Auburn University in the BCS National Championship Game, Koleszar said they have faced a lot more noise disturbance cases this term. She mentioned one house they heard about that made a lot of noise whenever the Ducks scored.
“There was a lot of scoring, so there’s a lot of hollering,” Koleszar said.
As the end the term comes closer, the office wants to remind students of the impact of DUI and MIP charges. While an MIP may be expunged from a student’s record depending on the court a student is charged in, a DUI cannot be expunged, meaning it will remain on a student’s record.
Additionally, the MIP affects the Oregon driving code, and if one is convicted of an MIP, even if they have a non-Oregon driver’s license, that other state can suspend a student’s driving privileges.
“I think we’re doing a good thing to keep students in school; some things can really keep you out of school,” Koleszar said. “A little knowledge is powerful. (With the landlord and tenant issue) if it does happen again, they have an idea how to deal with it on their own. We hope that this will extend into the rest of their life.”
Clark Kissiah, ASUO Athletics and Contracts Finance Committee member in charge of the Legal Services contract, did not respond for comment.
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