DCMP on 
Dana Porter on 
Ongoing faculty disputes have been an embarrassment to Ohio State. In an effort to quell this trend, OSU plans to appoint a faculty ombudsman.
The Board of Trustees approved the position at its Oct. 29 meeting at the urging of the University Senate. An ombudsman is a mediator.
The Lantern
The position would not be full time. The ombudsman would enter the dispute early on and help direct faculty members to the proper resources as well as help to try and mediate the disagreement.
One faculty dispute was singled out as being particularly worrisome by Tim Gerber, Chair of the Faculty Council.
Gerber said the acrimony at the College of Social Work is troubling.
“In that particular case, there were issues of race and homophobia,” he said. “I mean frankly, some of these people need to be in counseling. They don’t need an ombudsman, they need a psychiatrist.”
The Lantern
I posted about this case in Social Work Dean Wants You to “Rub His Nuts.”
The dispute is between Professor Rudolph Alexander and Dean William Meezan. The short version is that Alexander believes Meezan has discriminated against him and Meezan accuses Alexander of being homophobic. I agree it creates a black eye for the College of Social Work.
I was rather critical of both men in my post. However, Professor Alexander, who was my faculty adviser took the time to leave several comments. He explained his positions and his demeanor which I had found unhelpful in the only time we met. I do not know who is right and who is wrong. But I do know I gained some respect for Professor Alexander.
If an ombudsmen can help ameliorate these type of disputes before they turn into nightmares, I’m all for it.
I served as ombuds at Bellefaire JCB, a private nonprofit mental health agency, for three years (was their first and last!) and I think the position is invaluable. Many of the top Fortune and Forbes corporations have them, the gov’t has them, long-term patient advocates are somewhat similar, newspapers of course are supposed to have them. Cuyahoga County had one – might still. It’s a great risk management tool in terms of getting things resolved early and permanently if the role is taken seriously. Good luck to OSU.
Thanks for commenting Jill.
I do hope OSU takes the role seriously. The College of Social Work is by far the smallest on campus. For cost savings, I have always been worried they will be gobbled up by a bigger program and become The School of Social Work.