More students have been using ASMSU-sponsored services - such as legal counsel, copying and fax machines and interest-free loans - since last year, but student government leaders say they are still working to get the word out.

"The more people we can service the better," said Andrew Schepers, chairperson of ASMSU's Student Assembly. "That just gives us more reason to expand our services."

ASMSU's Student Legal Services has had 100 more clients this month than at this point last September, ASMSU's Director of Legal Services Selam Ghirmai said.

The department has three attorneys and three law clerks that provide students with free legal counsel and representation in court on most district court criminal and civil cases, excluding felonies.

Last year, 2,960 clients sought help from Student Legal Services, and Ghirmai said she hopes to increase that number.

"We're certainly getting put to good use here," she said. "We are really working hard at promoting ourselves and making sure students take full advantage of their resources."

Finance sophomore Matt Pletkovic said he has used the free legal service and heard about it through friends who had used it.

"It was very helpful," Pletkovic said. "I was able to deal with my situation without having to deal with other people."

Through ASMSU's Student Defender Program, which is separate from its Student Legal Services program, student volunteers help other students involved in intrauniversity conflicts, such as academic misconduct and residence hall violation cases. There are about 25-50 cases per semester, ASMSU's Director of Student Defenders C.J. Schneider said. MSU's Office of Judicial Affairs deals with the consequences of these cases and Student Defenders help students prepare for hearings, Schneider added.

Besides free legal advice, the $100 interest-free loans, copy and fax services and free blue books are available on the third floor of the Student Services Building. ASMSU officials provide these services to registered students who have paid the annual $13.75 ASMSU tax.

If more students knew about the available services, they would get more use, journalism senior Veronica Loper said.

"I don't think enough people use it or know about it," Loper said. "It has potential to be worth it."

ASMSU's copy and fax center, which offers 4-cent copies, 25-cent domestic faxes and 50-cent international faxes, has cheaper rates compared to stores such as Kinko's, where copies cost 8 cents for a page and faxes are $1 per page within East Lansing.

Students made about 19,400 copies so far this month at ASMSU's center, and the total amount of copies about doubles every year, Schepers said.

Last year, 250 students took a total of $24,825 in loans from ASMSU's interest-free loan program.

Students have six weeks to pay back loans with no interest fees. Oct. 7 is the last day this year to take out a loan.

Spanish and English senior Meghann Dalton said she knew about ASMSU's services but doesn't think they are worthwhile because they don't apply to her.

"I don't use their services at all," Dalton said. "I just pay 10 cents for a blue book at (bookstores)."

Spreading the word about ASMSU's services is something the student government's leaders struggle with every year, Schepers said.

"It's something we continue to fight," he said. "But I do feel we've made a lot of ground in past years."