by Wendy J. Allyn

Undergraduate Student Government executives say they are looking into improving the SIUC Office of the University Ombudsman, or establishing an ombudsman system within USG to respond to student grievances.

The University ombudsman office responds to complaints and suggestions made by SIUC students, faculty and staff to ensure the University provides fair and equitable treatment to the University population.

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USG President Duane Sherman said students have come to USG and expressed displeasure after using the University ombudsman office to voice concerns.

I’ve talked to many students who have used the ombudsman office, and it has never really helped them out, Sherman said.

Last spring, SIUC pre-med student Brent Ibata took a lie detector test, attempting to prove he handed in a missing homework assignment. He missed a 30-day deadline set by College of Science procedural policies to appeal his complaint and was denied a further hearing.

Ibata has said SIUC does not have an adequate mechanism for students to file grievances, and he supports the idea of a student-run ombudsman office.

Sherman said the chain of command is a problem with services provided by the ombudsman office. According to the SIUC Undergraduate Catalog, assistance provided by the office includes advising individuals on steps to take regarding claims and questions and making referrals to other offices.

It seems to me that all this office does is provide information, Sherman said. I think they need to be a caseworker with these people and act as a liaison right from the beginning.

USG has devised methods to handle student complaints in the past, including a telephone hotline, Sherman said. This year, Sherman said he wants a more formal method for students to bring grievances to their representatives.

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Scott Pfeiffer, USG chief of staff, said students come to the USG office regularly with complaints because they know USG acts in the interest of students. He said there is a need for ombudsman services specifically for USG constituents.

Sherman said USG is establishing a committee to work in cooperation with the University ombudsman office, so it serves the needs of students more efficiently. If a cooperative effort is not possible, Sherman said a system within USG may be an option.

It might be kind of a parallel system, so the University would help them with some things and so would we, Sherman said.

Kent Carter, a graduate assistant who works in the ombudsman office, said he feels the office serves the needs of students adequately. After an assessment of the grievance, the ombudsman aids in whatever action the client decides to take, he said.

We discuss the problem with the student first, and we typically like to hear the other side of the story from the respondent, Carter said. We decide what kinds of steps need to be taken, and we give clients the options that they have.

Carter said the ombudsman office deals with complaints including grade grievances and problems with professors, student insurance or financial aid problems, discrimination and harassment in employment and some housing problems. Legal advice is not offered, he said.