Making USU a comfortable place for students
Professors’ ability to fail students on the mere suspicion of cheating and the lack of communication between USU and all of its regional campuses were primary concerns discussed during the first of Ombudsman, Thursday evening at the Taggart Student Center.
The Ombudsman is a student-run organization that attempts to fix problems that students are having with the university, Bryan Olsen, Student Advocate, said. The Ombudsman committee is made up of student representatives from major campus organizations, including a representative from the various colleges, the Greeks, The A-team and the Ambassadors. The Ombudsman takes concerns of students who want to promote change to the people who can promote the change, said Casey Snider, junior Ombudsman member. USU belongs to the students and the Ombundsman is the committee that keeps it that way, he said.
“The university is for us,” he said. “It is important for the professors and the university itself to remember that. We are going to take all of the concerns from the university and take it to the president of the university to try and change things because it is our university.”
One of the concerns the Ombudsman is dealing with this semester is the ability of professors to fail students on the suspicion of cheating, Olsen said.
“We are meeting with some of the deans and we are trying to figure out exactly what this means and if we can do something about it,” Olsen said. “This is the purpose of the committee.”
Another concern the committee is trying to deal with is the lack of communication between USU and its regional campuses, said Jake FIND, Ombudsman committee member.
“These campuses that are away from Logan aren’t even on the same page as the one in Logan. They don’t know what is going on,” FIND said.
One of the reasons the Ombudsman is around is it to figure out why these things are happening, Olsen said.
“Maybe the other campuses don’t know of the problems and maybe they need to find out that it is happening so they can fix the problem,” Adam Croshaw, junior committee member said.
One of the ways the Ombudsman tries to solve problems is by promoting diversity, Olsen said.
“The University is made up of different sectors, this group allows all of those different groups the opportunity to have their voice heard,” Olsen said.
The mission statement of the Ombudsman states, “the goal of the Ombundsman is to fairly promote diversity and lend a voice to the students, allowing them to contribute and bring about a positive change.”
The Ombundsman tries to promote diversity by getting a full representation of the students and bring to the attention of the students, Olsen said.
“We are looking for everything and anything to bring to the attention of the student body, to promote change,” Olsen said.
Diversity is an important part of USU and the Ombundsman wants to bring out the diversity, said Jason Sanders, Ombudsman Committee member.
“One thing I love about USU is that you can find whatever you are looking for here, the diversity is in all of us. We all have different backgrounds and the purpose of this committee is to celebrate that diversity,” Sanders said.
Suggestions and concerns can be dropped off in suggestion boxes located around the campus, Olsen said. We really want student involvement.
“This is the opportunity to make USU your school,” Croshaw said.
-debrajoy.h@aggiemail.usu.edu