Hundreds of students a year have been left without any form of free school-sponsored legal counsel, following the University's failure to renew the contract of long-time Penn State legal consultant Jose Texidor, due to budget cuts.

"[Student Affairs officials] weren't forward with their contracts," said Texidor, who for the past decade had been the free consultant offered through the university's Student Legal Assistance program.

Texidor had been working within a 10-month contract system but the Student Affairs office had not shown interest in renewing his contract this fall.

"I said [to Penn State] it's obvious you aren't putting any real credibility into the position so maybe it's time I leave," added Texidor.

Texidor also serves as a senior lecturer in crime, law, and justice at Penn State.

Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig told the Collegian yesterday "it was a personnel decision based on cost cuts."

Texidor serviced somewhere between 700 to 1,000 students a year as a free legal consultant, a prolific output thanks in large part to former Student Affairs vice president William Asbury's intent on making him a well-known asset to the Penn State community.

Texidor said he was featured for years in the Collegian's annual "Who's Who" feature, which gave him great exposure to help those in legal trouble.

Over the past four years he said he had received less publicity, but still instructed between 500 and 600 students a year on how to build a case.

"A lot of times I would get students who said 'I had no idea this service existed,'" said Texidor. "I'm really disappointed that the students don't have this service anymore."

Texidor said he handled many interesting cases in his time as legal consultant, including cases in which graduate students were sexually harassed by Penn State professors. Texidor also helped to exonerate a graduate student facing sexual harassment charges.

More than 75 percent of the students to whom he gave advice were then able to defend themselves in court situations ranging from the District Magistrate to Judicial Affairs, he said.

Though he did not specify exactly how much he was paid as the free legal consultant, the amount was approximately $22,000 to $25,000 a year, enough to make Texidor consider looking for work elsewhere.

"I'm a religious person," said Texidor. "I see this as the Lord telling me it's time to move on."