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news:
Novack named Ombuds
By Gabriel Lefrancois
On-line Summer Forty-Niner
Beginning in August,
Cal State Long Beach will deal with student, faculty and staff
problems in a whole new way.
The former Office
of Affirmative Action has been changed to the Office of Equity
and Development and a new ombuds position has been added to
quell problems within the university. Taking the position
of ombudswoman is former Cypress School District Associate
Superintendent Elizabeth Novack. After six years with
the district, she is moving to this new position as an opportunity
for career growth. She begins serving as ombudswoman
Aug. 1.
Where it all
starts
The ombuds position
was started at the request of CSULB President Robert Maxson.
In September of 1998 a committee was formed with the mission
to "help determine how the office can best be organized
to ensure that the university's collective wish to have an
environment that respects our diversity and promotes equality
for all of our campus community," according to a past
article in the Daily Forty-Niner.
"A lot of
universities have this," said Armando Contreras, executive
assistant to President Maxson. "This position will allow
faculty, staff and students that are looking for informal
ways to fix problems."
Novack said, "I
think it comes down to 'are you a people person.' Working
in the K-12 area of education, I've handled many problems
with all grade levels. This position will allow me to deal
with those problems on a higher level."
The Office of Equity
and Diversity handles cases on a formal level; complaints
are submitted in writing and signed, after which a thorough
investigation will follow, said Jan Reyes, interim director
of Equity and Diversity. Novack will handle problems on an
informal level, which deals with compliance and regulatory
enforcement.
"Most of the
complaints begin at an informal level," Reyes said. "The
education and advice deals with the ombuds. This is an extremely
important position. The ombuds will play an important role
in developing and maintaining personal relationships."
From the spring
semester of 1999 to the spring semester of 2000, 36 formal
and informal internal complaints were lodged, according to
a policies and statements report from the Office of Equity
and Diversity. The report states:
- 14, or one-third
of the complaints were charges of sexual harassment.
- 10, or one-fourth
of the complaints related to race.
- Six, or one-sixth
of the complaints related to disability.
- Three, or one-twelfth
of the complaints related to religion.
- Two, or one-eighteenth
of the complaints related to national origin and to gender.
- One case was
related to sexual orientation.
In addition, the report
says that one-sixth of all internal complaints that alleged
discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sexual harassment,
disability and sexual orientation had no foundation.
"These are
very time consuming to investigate," Reyes said. "There
are different points of view and different perspectives. Bringing
the problem forward as soon as it happens is best for both
parties involved. It allows for a situation not to escalate
and expand."
Where to complain
The Office of Equity
and Diversity and the Ombuds office are located in the University
Student Union, Room 301. Contreras said the former administration
building was too small, and went on to say that the new spot
was in a more neutral place where people would feel less intimidated.
"I think it
will be a very valuable resource," Contreras said. "The
position is one that will evolve over time. It will allow
proactive education outside the university."
As for Novack,
the position will allow her to use her human resource skills
in a different way.
"Being a people
person and my experience at the K-12 level will allow me to
help people resolve their problems," Novack said. "I
want to offer training and workshops for people when I get
there and want the position to evolve into something students
can use."
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