UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, August 19, 1992
9D
Grievance procedures help students in solving University-related problems
By Juan P. Turbay Special to the Kansan
When a serious conflict arises, sorting through the bureaucratic channels of a university can be overwhelming.
All academic departments and schools at the University of Kansas have grievance procedures, but KU does not specialize in conflict resolution.
"It always sounds like there are a lot of places and different procedures," said Danny Kaiser, assistant dean of student life. "Each procedure is designed for a specific purpose, and students shouldn't be left to go to the right place; they should get referred to where they need to be."
Although grievances vary greatly, from grade appeals to sexual harassment and racial discrimination, the procedures generally involve informal measures first, such as speaking directly with the offending party and asserting why a particular action or behavior is objectionable, as well as documenting the encounters, or speaking with the direct superior of the offending party, according to the University
The ombudsman hears complaints and provides a channel of communication when problems arise between students, faculty, staff or administrators.
According to a report from the ambulman, from July 1990 to June 1991 the number of contacts, ranging from information and referrals to mediation, increased 25 percent to 392 from the previous year.
of Kansas Student Handbook
"Many persons who come here as students don't have any experience in dealing with a large institution," Shelton said. He said that part of his job was to coach people in dealing with the University.
Depending on the circumstances, formal grievance procedures can be used. They generally involve filing complaints and going before hearing boards that will hear both sides of the argument, and then recommend an action.
If the conflict is not resolved through informal measures, a third party may become involved, such as the University ambulman, the Minority Affairs, the dean of student affairs or the Office of Aluminic Action.
"The ombudsman's role is informal, neutral and independent of all the power systems of the University," said Robert Shelton, ombudsman.
The University ombudsman is a service that has been sought increasingly.
The service handles the most diverse array of conflicts in the University, such as housing, parking, grades, as well as harassment cases that involve race, sex, ethnic origin or sexual orientation. All contacts are kept confidential.
Most cases of sexual, racial and ethnic harassment are handled by the Office of Affirmative Action, an institution directing director of affirmative action.
"The total number of grievances has decreased over the last four reporting periods, but the number of incidents of both racial and sexual harassment have increased," Berger said.
He said several things accounted for the increase: the increased public awareness of civil rights, the media's focus on the Rodney King beating incident and the congressional hearings involving Anita Hill and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Berger said another related reason was that the University had developed policies and procedures to deal with discrimination.
"Sexual harassment has been around for along time. The failure to recognize it is a different ball of wax," he said.
Complaints and conflicts among students that fall within the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities issued by the department of student life.
Kaiser said most of the complaints heard by the division fell under the category of disrupting the orderly process of the University, such as using false IDs and bus pass fraud.
"We are going to ensure that due process is adhered to," Kalser said.
However, the authority to administer the code is delegated to the division of student affairs, which also has grievance procedures for all the offices that function under the division.
Jeff Weinberg, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs, said the division's job was to listen to students, make recommendations and tell students their rights and responsibilities.
Student renters should examine prospective apartments and document conditions before moving to a new home
By Terrilyn McCormick
Special to the Kansan
When Carrie Siebs, Peoria senior,
moved into her apartment last fall she
expected it to be clean and ready for
her and her roommates.
What she found was an apartment that had to be completely cleaned before they could move in.
"I expected that all the cleaning we did on that first day should have been done before we moved in," she said.
Two days later, Siebs and her roommates were asked to move out their possessions and leave the apartment for a day so the carpet could be cleaned.
Moving into an apartment and not finding it in the condition agreed upon in the lease is a problem some students will face this fall, said Vivian Bliss, attorney for Legal Services for Students.
Bliss said that the first thing a tenant should do when moving into an apartment is to walk through with the landlord, documenting everything that is unclean or damaged. Both the tenant and the landlord should sign a copy of 'he document.
If something critical is not working, such as plumbing or electricity, tenants should contact the landlord immediately. Bliss said. The landlords should fix the problem as soon as they possibly can.
If the landlord has already done a walk-through without the tenants, Bliss said, the tenants should do one for their own records. If there is a severe enough problem with the apartment tenants may take pictures to safeguard themselves.
According to Kansas law, if the problem is not fixed after several days, a 14/30 day notice should be given.
If the landlord does not take action, the tenant can inform the landlord that the lease will be terminated in 30 days. If the landlord does not act within the 30 days, the tenant can move out without obligation to continue the lease.
"However, the reality is if they want it clean soon then they will probably have to do it themselves," she said.
If tenants are not willing to move out because something is not fixed, they can take legal action to get damages repaired, but they are still obligated to pay rent.
Bliss said leases could not be terminated because the tenant disliked the apartment and wanted to find another.
lord then has 14 days to correct the problem.
A common complaint prospective tenants have is that their apartment is not clean, "clean" being a subjective term. Bliss said.
If it was stated in the lease that the apartment would be clean upon move-in, and it is not, Bliss advises contacting the landlord or submitting a written request for cleaning.
"If a lease is signed they are obligated for the rent throughout the obligation of the lease," she said.
Under the 14/30 provision, the tenant gives the landlord a written notice that something is broken. The land-
Sexual assault is one issue that concerns many students. It led to the creation of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Program, which began in August 1991. This program addresses sexual assault issues such as date rape, acquaintance rape and campus rape.
Joi Phelps, graduate assistant for SAPEP, has made presentations to organized living groups to promote the program. Phelps said she hoped to have a trained peer advocate at residence halls, fraternities and sororites to provide other residents with information or refer them to the proper authorities should they encounter sexual assault.
Sherrill Robinson, acting director of the center, said "We would like to create an awareness on campus of the issues that have an impact on women. The workshops we offer focus on issues that women need to think about to make informed decisions."
Even though SAPEP is offered through the women's center, the program is not limited to women.
"I hope that anyone with any concerns or questions will come in," Phelps said. "I hope that any male has faced sexual assault would feel free to come in, too. We are not exclusive to women. We can deal with their concerns. We also don't imit our
Women's Resource Center offers help to all KU students
Program available to anyone needing sexual assault info
By Silvia Peralez Special to the Kansan
The Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, founded in 1970, is committed to providing information, support, advocacy and programs leading to the equitable treatment of people.
services to the heterosexual couple. We are capable of addressing a broad range of experiences and questions that anyone might have."
Although the women's center specifically targets its services at undergraduate women, all students, men and women, are welcome.
In addition to the SAPEP, the women's center offers services such as financial aid information, career planning assistance and a lending library that contains 130 binders filled with articles on women's issues.
Students with personal concerns also can receive short-term assistance from trained counselors on staff. The center is not equipped to provide long-term counseling but can direct students to the office that can best address their needs.
The women's center, in promoting an advocacy role for women, sponsors support groups, programs and workshops focusing on topics ranging from assertiveness training, self-defense and sexual harassment to women's health and fitness. The center also has special programs during Black History Month and Women's History Month.
Another function of the center is to serve as a referral service if its office cannot be of assistance.
"The focus of the meetings is in part to educate, to challenge a person's perspective and to assist in clarification of values. We try to offer alternatives, promote personal growth and facilitate awareness of issues that are relevant and have an impact on women," Robinson said.
Many of the center's workshops and programs are designed to deal with current issues and concerns. Many of them are staffed by KU personnel who have expertise in those areas.
All the programs offered through the women's center are open to the public, and everyone is encouraged to attend.
The women's center, at 115 Strong Hall, is open from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Anyone with questions can contact the office at 864-3552.
Any student with concerns regarding sexual assault issues can contact the Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Program at 864-3600. This line is staffed 24 hours a day.
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