Ombudsman welcomes student concerns
“The world is too happy, complain,” said Steve Kindred, student advocate for Associated Students of Utah State University, who also heads the Ombudsman Committee.
Such complaints have set the committee working to get benches and seating in the Widtsoe Hall, which was one of the latest complaints submitted.
The Ombudsman Committee is set up to deal with student complaints and grievances. Kindred said the word ombudsman means “citizen protector,” and originated in Sweden in 1809 as a government agency which dealt with hearing the people’s complaints. The idea spread and in 1966 the first ombudsman was established at an American campus.
Kindred said the committee serves the students. If students have a complaint, ombudsman wants to hear it.
In the past, the committee has fixed potholes, lighting, clocks and icy sidewalks. The sculpture and couches at the bottom of the west stairs in the Taggart Student Center are also results of complaints to ombudsman.
Though its main function is dealing with complaints, the committee is a positive organization based on improving USU, Kindred said. It is an effective way for student voices to initiate change.
“We don’t do it in an abrasive manner,” Kindred said. “The outcome is positive, and it is a way for students’ opinions to be taken seriously.”
“A lot of the administrators respect ombudsman,” Kindred said.
The committee provides the administration with legitimate student problems and concerns, and then action can be taken for improvement.
To submit complaints, students can pick up forms from ombudsman slots which are posted on doors in nearly all of the colleges. Tables will occasionally be set up on the first floor of the TSC where students can drop off the forms. Complaints can also be dropped off at the ASUSU office, or Kindred’s office in the TSC, Room 340.
Scott Bosworth, Ombudsman Committee member, went to administrative assistant and chemistry store manager Glen Thornley about acquiring seating in the Widtsoe Hall. Thornley said he took the complaint to the dean of the College of Science, who then coordinated efforts with campus planning to see if seating can be arranged.
Feasibility is still being looked into; however, because the complaint had the power of the student body behind it, it was taken seriously, Bosworth said.
Kindred said they welcome all different kinds of complaints. They have had issues ranging from parking problems to squirrels dropping chestnuts on students’ heads.
No matter how bizarre the complaint, students can expect ombudsman to look into it. Kindred said for every complaint they get, the committee will reply back to the student with an e-mail stating their complaint had been received and explaining what is being done about it.
“Even if your complaint is ‘my girlfriend dumped me,’ we will send you an e-mail,” Kindred said.