OPINION: Opting into the Center for Legal Services is worth the cost- and here’s why

Cara Finnegan is a junior studying Sociology and an opinion writer for The New Political.

Please note that these views and opinions do not reflect those of The New Political.

Going to college is an experience that many high schoolers dream about, often calling to mind imagery from movies like Project X and Animal House. Athens invokes imagery that so many dream of when they think about going to college. More specifically, Ohio University is known for its booze and bars on the bricks of Court Street and Mill Street. 

Many students, like myself, have noticed an increased presence in uniformed officers doing walkthroughs of bars, and maintaining a presence on the street, especially next to Hangover Easy Diner and the Sunoco Gas Station. For students who are not of age, this can be incredibly scary. Officers often do walk-throughs of the bars and stop bar-goers to ask for their IDs. For those who are not of age, being stopped and asked for an ID can be a scary situation. 

With increases in police presence at bars and on the streets at parties, stricter community guidelines from the university, and party shutdowns due to the Athens City Nuisance Party Law, Ohio U students are facing increasing likelihood of being arrested while out for a night on the town. 

With increases in student engagement in the social scene, more and more students consume alcohol underage, as most Ohio U students don’t turn 21 until their junior or senior year. While underage drinking is no secret, recent crackdowns by Athens Police have students at increased risk of arrest if their behavior isn’t legal. Athens Police Chief Nick Magruder, in an investigative piece by The Athens Post, claims that underage drinking is Athens PD’s biggest issue. 

The claim that underage drinking is the Athens Police Department’s biggest issue is an alarm bell for Ohio University students to take precautions to protect themselves if they are to be arrested while out and about. There is an inexpensive, accessible way for students to be protected if they face a criminal charge: opting into the Center for Student Legal Services. 

With a flat fee of only $15 dollars per semester, opting into the Center for Student Legal is a fiscally responsible choice. If those who are enrolled require representation or legal advice, they will not pay any additional fees on top of the $15 per semester. 

Many attorneys charge for a rate of around $200 per hour, which is not in any way accessible to the average college student, much less the average person with a living wage. As a proud board member for this organization, I have seen the positive impacts it has had on clients due to its low cost and effective representation. The CSLS is a much better alternative to paying an obscene amount of money for representation or legal advice that will often yield the same result: a diversion program for first-time offenders. 

Given increases in police presence in Athens, and the obscene cost of legal representation, the choice for students is simple: opt into the Center for Legal Services or pay the price.