UW-Madison Students Make Case For University-Provided Legal Counsel

When graduate students of color at the University of Wisconsin-Madison met with Chancellor Rebecca Blank on Tuesday to talk about the racial climate on campus, one of their requests was for the university to invest in legal counsel for students.

The UW-Madison is the only university in the Big Ten that does not provide such legal counsel. At other universities, student legal services provide guidance on things like landlord tenant problems and arrests.

The Coalition of Graduate Students of Color discussed what’s needed to tackle the heated racial climate on campus with Blank and other administrators. Graduate student Jacqueline Forbes said a legal service would help students know their rights.

“We have other peers of color who’ve needed legal counsel because of racial discrimination that happened with police, policing and other entities in Madison. King Shabazz’s arrest solidified it for us,” said Forbes.

UW senior King Shabazz was pulled out of class and arrested two weeks ago accused of vandalism. Forbes and others, including the chancellor and police chief, say Shabazz’s arrest was mishandled.

The students have asked Chancellor Rebecca Blank to create a committee to explore UW-Madison providing student legal services. UW-Madison Director of Community Relations Everett Mitchell supports their proposal.

“As a lawyer, I can’t help but understand how important it is that despite your degree level, if you don’t have the expertise and know how to defend yourself, especially against an experienced attorney or system, you’ll find yourself mismatched,” said Mitchell.

Blank said she needs to do more research before making that commitment.

In addition to requesting a student legal service, the Coalition of Graduate Students of Color called for the university to publicly post their campus climate change proposals, secure additional mental health resources for students of color, and for King Shabazz to graduate on time this May.