ombudsman
ittf
James Suter
Photo by Gail Folda
By Mary Voboril
School of Journalism
Reflecting on his second
summer as ombudsman to
U N L students, faculty,
employes and almost anyone
else with a complaint about the
University, James Suter said,
that things have been "a little
slow" compared to the same
time last year.
"The caseload during the
first summer session was down
about 50 per cent from the
regular school year," Suter
said. "Last year the drop was
less than 20 per cent."
However, he said things had
picked up during the second
summer session.
The charge of any
ombudsman is to receive and
investigate complaints against
abuses or capricious acts of
public officials. Suter has two
additional charges: to note and
investigate recurring problems
within the University system,
and to examine existing
policies, procedures and rules
for their efficiency and
effectiveness.
Suter said he doesn't initiate
any crusades himself, but
makes recommendations to
proper channels based on cases
he takes.
He said some persons
misunderstand the function of
an ombudsman.
Misunderstandings
One such misunderstanding
occurred the first day Suter
was on the job-March 13,
1972.
"My first case was a guy
who walked in here with three
parking tickets. He said, 'How
about getting these parking
tickets fixed?' I told him I
couldn't help him."
Other persons misrepresent
him as a students' advocate,
Suter said.
Both in summer months and
during the regular year, about
80 per cent of persons coming
to see him are students, he
said. University employes make
up about 15 per cent of his
work, with faculty and other
University-connected persons
the remaining five per cent.
He said he has had alumni
call him and try to see if he
could get them football tickets
(he couldn't).
Advocates equity
"The only thing I advocate
is equity," he said. He added
he has to take an impartial
view of every case, although he
is the final judge of which
situations to accept or reject.
Suter said one of his most
useful tools is the threat of
exposure. One case involved a
student who came into his
office "literally in tears." The
student had taken an original
Mickey Mouse watch to a local
jeweler to get it repaired. The
jeweler then "lost" the watch
and said he would get the
student a new Mickey Mouse
watch which would be worth
quite a bit less than the
original. Suter contacted the
jeweler and told him he would
have to return the watch or
pay the student its real worth.
Within a week, the jeweler
found the watch.
Responsible to person
He said he has access to all
information the chancellor's
office has access to; yet he is,
"responsible to no one" except
the person whose case he takes
However, he consults with
UNL Chancellor James
Zumberge at least once a week
For many persons, the
ombudsman's office in 110
Burnett functions as another;,
Help Line. "Sometimes all wef
have to do is tell people whorri
to see to get information about
solving their problem," Suter,
said. I
About 10 perse a dayt
drop in during the summer)
sessions, he said, with about;
seven having problems"
requiring some work on thel
part of his office. The number:
of phone calls requiring action"
has dwindled to about five a
day "if we're lucky," Suter
said. During the regular school;
year, comparable figures are
10-15 calls and 10-15 persons
coming in who need help that?
takes time. i
About 1,200 persons came1:
in from July, 1972, to July,!
1973, Suter said, adding he has
worked on about 600 cases;
since taking on the job.
He declined to discussj
specific cases other than the 1
Mickey Mouse watch incident.!
"When you hear a lot about
the ombudsman, when what he
does becomes campus gossip,
he's going about his job the
wrong way. People feel 1
threatened," Suter said. "Off
course, if you don't do
anything, no one hears about!
you either." f
Suter plans to retire f rom
his ombudsman position next I
July.
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page 4
tuesday, august 7, 1973