Tuesday, October 13, 1998
Ombuds staff willing, waiting to end conflict
CAMPUS:Relatively unknown campus office assists university
community in resolving disputes
By Lawrence Ferchaw
Daily Bruin Staff
Even though thousands of people pass by it each year, the Ombuds
Office enjoys relative anonymity in its office next to the Career
Center.
"The what?" asked Kimberli Pollock, a second-year art history
student.
The Ombuds Office assists students, faculty and staff in
resolving problems and disputes that occur on campus. Issues
handled by the office can range from grade disputes and sexual
harassment to problems with a roommate.
The head of the office said he wasn’t surprised to hear that
some students don’t know about the office.
"We always run into students who don’t know what the office is,"
said Howard Gadlin, university ombudsperson. "Often they don’t know
about us until they need us, and then they find us very
quickly"
The office handles 1,200 to 1,300 cases per year. Each case can
take as little as 30 minutes or as much as 100 hours to
resolve.
"We function as a neutral third party in between disputing
parties," Gadlin said.
Gadlin is one of three full-time employees at the office who
works with people to resolve disputes or help them with other
problems related to the university.
When fully staffed, about eight people work in the office,
including a former faculty member who volunteers at the office,
along with one to two interns interested in getting involved in the
field.
The Ombuds Office is not the place to go to file formal charges,
however. Individuals interested in resolving their conflicts
through formal channels are referred to campus departments which
handle those specific cases.
An ombudsperson can also provide guidance for individuals who
want to handle a situation on their own.
After learning of the office, Pollock said that she would use
their services.
Another student, who had not heard of the office, said he does
not see himself using the office.
"I solve my own problems," said Eddy Thai, a third-year biology
student.
Advice includes rephrasing letters and practicing what the
student wants to say through role play.
"If they’re angry, they might not be as tactful as they want to
be," Gadlin said.
Additionally, a student or anyone who uses the Ombuds Office
could ask an ombudsperson to serve as an intermediary between the
two disputing parties to bring them together.
A student who goes to the office for help with a grade dispute
can ask an ombudsperson to talk to the professor in place of the
student.
Often, students go to the office when size of the university
makes it difficult for an individual to solve their own
problem.
"People come here a lot to cut through red tape," Gadlin
said.
He indicated that administrators are often more likely to take a
call from an ombudsperson than a student.
"Most people on campus are most cooperative with us," Gadlin
said.
Students who have problems with the registrar may find it
helpful to have an ombudsperson call in their place to resolve the
problem, according to Gadlin.
He noted that in the case of a grade dispute, a professor cannot
be compelled by the Ombuds office to change a grade.
In cases of alleged sexual harassment, Gadlin said he sometimes
recommends those who feel harassed to write a letter to the person
they believe to be harassing them, identifying the behavior and
asking that person to stop.
This approach can sometimes be enough to stop the offending
behavior, Gadlin said.
For individuals who want to make formal complaints or seek
further advice, an ombudsperson can make recommendations.
"We let them know the entire array of options both on and off
campus," Gadlin said.
While holding no official power, Gadlin said the office derives
power from its position as a neutral party willing to listen to
both sides.
"(We) advocate for fairness rather than for a person," Gadlin
added.
Ombudspersons come from a variety of fields, including law,
human resources, psychology and counseling. Once they obtain a
position in the field, they get more training in mediation and
conflict resolution which, according to Gadlin.
All cases handled by the office are held in strict confidence,
and Ombudspersons cannot even disclose whether or not an individual
has gone to the office. The location of the office and the fact
that it has its own separate entrance and exit helps to ensure the
confidentiality.
"That’s why we’re not in Murphy Hall," Gadlin said.
The Ombuds office is located in the Career Center building.
Their office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and the phone
number for the office is 825-7627.
BAHMAN FARAHDEL/Daily Bruin
The Campus Ombuds Office, located in the Career Center building,
assists students, staff, and faculty in resolving campus related
disputes, such as grade changes.
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