Novak
resolves campus conflict
By Jack Schneider
On-line Forty-Niner
Resolving
campus-related conflicts are only a phone
call away, according to “Conflict Resolution:
The First Resort,” a lecture Wednesday presented
by Elizabeth Novack.
The Office of University Ombuds offers confidential
discussions on issues, problems and concerns
relating to campus issues, Novack said.
“A lot of people come in looking for someone
to listen,” Novack said. “ We ask the people
‘What would you like to see as an outcome.’”
Students can have a full access to University
Ombuds including parents, which account
for 4 percent of the people with problems.
Last year, Novack said only 300 cases involved
issues of academic, office, faculty and
student conflicts.
Administrative assistant Kimberly Daro guides
students when conflict occurs.
“We decide whether or not the conflict is
an informal or formal issue,” Daro said.
“based on what the answer will be and head
them into the right direction.”
Providing conflict resolution will help
students communicate with faculty members.
“I am glad that we have this as a fabric
of communication within our campus and community,”
James Manseau Sauceda, director of the Multicultural
Center said.
When issues are discussed, Novack said that
she does not side with one member of the
conflict.
“I am not an advocate of one party,” Novack
said. “If someone is wrong, then equity
is practiced.”
When Daro sorts out as to what the conflict
falls into, Novack makes sure that it is
a serious issue to be discussed with whomever
it concerns.
Using the skills of listening and identifying
appropriate services could help resolve
issues in the Multicultural Center, Manseau
Sauceda said.
“We find that discovering constructive dimensions
of conflict could provide an opportunity
for us work together,” Manseau Sauceda said.
Novack said that it is important to recognize
voices on campus, and although people might
not agree with each other, they can still
recognize where they are coming from.
One of the most important issues involving
the causes of conflict is understanding
the background of where a person comes from.
“We want to take time into understanding
issues involving one’s culture,” Daro said.
The University Ombuds Office is open Monday
through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in
USU-301.
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