Free legal assistance program back on table

Members of the Student Government Association’s Executive Council have been working on bringing back a free legal assistance program for students.

The program, originially conceived by former Student Body President Levar Stoney (’04), puts a local attorney at the disposal of JMU students.

"We’re all very excited to get the free legal assistance program up and running again here at JMU," said senior JohnAlex Golden, vice president of academic affairs. "It’s important that students recognize and are aware of their rights and have access to legal assistance in a variety of areas of everyday life.

"We’re in the process of drafting up what we’d like to see from the program and are hoping to put it into effect as quickly as possible."

Five bills of contingency were passed to the Student Government Association finance committee Tuesday. The bills will be represented to the SGA in two weeks with any amendments made by the finance committee.

The Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society proposed a bill asking for $750 from contingency. They will use $500 for the Ian Kincheoloe Memorial Scholarship and $200 for the Tri-Beta Induction Ceremony.

Intervarsity Christian Fellowship proposed a bill asking SGA to allocate $3,000 from contingency to be used for conference fees, which would pay for about 70 students.

Madison Project submitted a bill asking for $4,000 from contingency to cover the cost of studio fees, including mixing, tracking and the making and production of a Madison Project CD.

The Madison International Association and La Unidad Latina proposed a bill asking for $4,000 from contingency for speaker fees to bring Alina Fernandez, the daughter of Fidel Castro, to speak.