Technician received email statements regarding the policy draft from Student Legal Services, Student Senate President Pro Tempore Taquan Dewberry and Javier Limon, President of the UNC Association of Student Governments.
In a statement, Michael Avery, an attorney at Student Legal Services, said Student Legal Services would likely be forced to close if the draft proposal were to be approved.
“While the full scope of the proposed UNC Policy Manual change is not yet certain, the prevailing understanding is that if approved, the Student Legal Services program would be terminated. We have expressed our concerns and are working closely with University leadership, who are making every effort to demonstrate to the Board of Governors the vital benefits this program provides to the students of NC State. We will continue to monitor all available information as this matter unfolds,” the statement read.
Avery highlighted Student Legal Services’ outreach and services provided to students in the statement.
“Student Legal Services operates as a general practice law office, assisting students and student organizations with a wide variety of legal issues,” the statement read. “Our goal remains consistent: to help students make informed choices and resolve legal problems with minimal disruption to their lives and education. We remain hopeful that we can continue providing high-quality legal counsel to the NC State community.”
Student Legal Services saved students an estimated $1 million in legal fees in 2025.
Javier Limon, President of the UNC Association of Student Governments and a member of the UNC System Board of Governors, provided the following statement to Technician.
“The proposed UNC System regulation raises important questions about how student fees are used to support student life and essential services on our campuses. At this stage, the policy remains a draft, and campuses across the system are still in the process of submitting feedback for the System’s consideration,” the statement read. “While I do not yet have comprehensive details on how the regulation would ultimately be implemented, nor the timeline, there is concern that overly restrictive or inflexible requirements could lead to unintended disruptions. This includes potential impacts on graduate assistants, engagement, and campus services, as well as on student organizations and programs that rely on student fee support to sustain campus life.”
Limon said he intended to continue conversations with university officials regarding the proposed policy.
“I am actively working to meet with campus administrators, student leaders, and System Office officials to better understand these potential effects and to ensure transparency as this conversation continues. My focus is on balancing accountability for student fee dollars with the flexibility campuses need to maintain strong student services, meaningful involvement opportunities, and the campus communities students expect and deserve, and I would oppose any measure that puts these fundamental aspects of campus life at risk,” the statement said.
Taquan Dewberry, Student Senate President Pro Tempore, stated his opposition and concern regarding the proposal in a statement to Technician.
“After reviewing the policy, I believe that, if and when enacted, it will have a detrimental impact on our student body. The loss of access to Student Legal Services is deeply concerning and represents a significant departure from the values we claim to uphold as a campus community both here and across our system,” the statement said. “Presently, the student activities fee supports a wide range of essential services, including Student Government, which directly reinvests funds back into the student body through the biannual appropriations process. Increased restrictions on the amount of funding student organizations are eligible to receive will only further strain an already overburdened appropriations system.”
“Without doubt, if this policy is passed, it will be hurtful to the state of our student body,” the statement continued.
