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KANSAN.COM
NEWS
KELCIE MATOUSEK/KANSAN
Kellie Harmon serves as the university Ombudsman and is a Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioner. The Ombuds Office is a confidential, informal, impartial independent office that is operating on campus.
KELCIE MATOUSEK/KANSAN
The Ombuds Office door. The office has two part-time employees, a graduate student and a full-time employee.
Little-known Ombuds Office, which provides confidential counseling, sees fewer visitors
DARBY VANHOUTAN
@darbyvanhoutan
Though it's not well known, the University has an office that serves as a place for the people at the University to have informal, off-the-record, judgement-free discussions. The KU Ombuds office encourages people to come forward with issues that they otherwise may not feel comfortable discussing.
Through four basic principles - informality, impartiality, independence and confidentiality - the office lends itself as a safe place on campus to discuss any issue, according to its website.
The office is home to two part-time employees, a graduate student and a full-time employee. The full-time employee, Kellie Harmon, is a Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioner.
Over the last few years, the number of visitors to the office has decreased. From 2012-13, 426 people visited the office, 123 of whom were students. From 2014-15, the office had 308 visitors, only 75 of whom were students, Harmon said.
Harmon said the decline may be because the office isn't active on social media.
"This year we are doing more outreach, thanks to the help
of our graduate assistant," she said. "Hopefully when we count the numbers for this year next June, the numbers will reflect that."
"We hear things in this office that other places do not hear. I think it's important that this office encourages people to come forward that otherwise would not."
KELLIE HARMON Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioner
What is an ombudsman?
By definition, an ombudsman is someone who helps people to informally resolve conflict by facilitating communication to help all parties reach mutually satisfactory solutions, according to the office brochure. The ombudsmen in the office also serve as coaches and mentors for people who enter the office.
The office, which was founded in 1977, is a resource for students, staff, faculty and alumni.
teaching assistant problems, faculty issues between University staff members, graduate students dismissed from programs, students with bad grades, students not adjusting well to college life, and more.
The ombudsmen at the office hear about things like resident assistant issues, graduate
"We see any issue imaginable," Harmon said.
The four principles
The Ombuds Office is informal in that conversations there are off the record. The ombudsman will facilitate the conversation when a conflict arises and offer ways to solve the problem. No one is required to visit the office; it is at the discretion of the person seeking help.
"If we aren't the right office, we have the resources to direct [students] to what might be the right office for them," said Maria Orive, a part-time employee in the office and a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology.
Along with informality and confidentiality, the office is independent, which means it can help direct people to where they can go next in handling a conflict.
The Ombuds Office also serves as an impartial place for student and faculty to assess their problems.
"The office will not tell people what to do because that
impedes impartiality," Harmon said. "Visitors are always in control of the situation."
Because it has been on campus for 30 years, the office also serves as a way to keep track of trends at the University.
"If I do see a trend or pattern, I can provide upward feedback to those with the authority to create positive change," Harmon said.
Other roles
While the office strives to help people with their conflicts or problems, it's limited in some aspects.
"That limit is that if there is imminent danger or a threat, we have to report it," Harmon said.
The Ombuds Office can not give legal advice, assign sanctions or discipline students. It can not determine guilt or innocence, breach confidentiality or advocate specific individuals and outcomes.
"We hear things in this office that other places do not hear," Harmon said. "I think it's important that this office encourages people to come forward that otherwise would not."
To make an appointment to speak with an Ombuds Office employee, email ombuds@ku.edu or call (785) 864-7261.
Vandegrift
New law lets people bring their own alcohol to some Lawrence businesses
LARA KORTE
@lara_korte
After the Kansas Legislature passed a "bring your own bottle" law earlier this
Only establishments that held liquor licenses could practice BYOB before the law.
year, local business owners can now allow customers to bring in their own alcoholic beverages, regardless of a liquor license.
Why did the legislature pass the bill?
The bill was originally designed to accommodate art-gallery-goers who wanted to bring their own wine into events, according to Jeannine Koranda, a representative for the Kansas Department of Revenue.
Under the policy any business may authorize guests to consume alcohol on their property as long as it is the personal possession of the patron and is not being sold by the owner or employees.
"A lot of businesses like those that did painting classes have these parties, and they wanted to let people bring in their own wine and participate in those activities," Koranda said.
Are there any exceptions?
Alcohol cannot be consumed from 12 a.m. to 9 a.m.
The business cannot have
The business cannot have a cover charge or entry fee. Some Lawrence strip clubs have been known to practice BYOB for several years, according to reviews on Yelp. One club, the Outhouse, has allowed BYOB for 17 years, according to owner Jeff Wallace. Wallace also said the establishment has never held a liquor license.
The business cannot have had a liquor license revoked.
The business cannot have a cover charge or entry fee.
According to the new law, an establishment implementing BYOB cannot charge a cover fee. When asked about a cover fee, Wallace refused to comment. However, online reviews of the outhouse allege there is an entry fee ranging from $10 to $15 on weekends, which would be in violation of the law.
Who else is doing this?
Prime Blu, a sushi bar on Massachusetts Street, is one of several businesses that are benefitting from the bill.
According to Prime Blu manager David Kwon, the restaurant is allowing customers to bring in their own alcoholic beverages while the establishment is between liquor licenses.
Kwon said that because the restaurant recently came under new ownership, it must apply for a new liquor license. Until then, customers can bring in their alcohol. Prime Blu said it would even provide customers with mixers and ice.
Kwon said this makes it possible for patrons who still want to enjoy alcohol at the restaurant to do so without waiting during the interim period between liquor licenses. As far as regulation, Kwon said the only stipulation he will put on customers is a request that they not get too rowdy.
Edited by Scott Chasen
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
Prime Blu Sushi House on Massachusetts Street allows patrons to bring their own liquor.
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