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Wednesday, June 29, 1988 / University Daily Kansan
'Negotiator'aids KU students
Bv Aracelia Perez
By Aracelia Perez
Kansan staff writer
When it comes to solving problems, housewives have "Hints from Heloise," lonely hearts have "Dear Abby," and KU students have Robert Shelton.
Shelton is the emubdman for the University of Kansas, a position that has been referred to as KU's mediator.
"I'm not a mediator or arbitrator," Shelton said. "A mediator brings two parties together to discuss their problem, while an arbitrator gets two parties to agree on a solution he comes up with. I am more in the middle, a negotiator."
Last year, Shelton had 112 cases to negotiate. Most of those, Shelton said, were from undergraduates and related to University regulations, practices or employment. Of the 112 cases, 15 involved foreign students.
A case, Shelton said, is any recorded contact that requires further investigation, whether it be for one hour or for days of research.
On one unusual case, Shelton said he dealt with a foreign student who wanted to remain in the United States. The student said if she went to her homeland, she would be killed.
She was not doing well in school, so she lost her financial aid. Without any money, she could not find a place to live.
The student sought political asylum. She was told she did not have grounds for political asylum, but she could seek religious asylum.
She chose not to do that because it would bring attention to her family and might have placed them in danger. They were members of a religious group that was being persecuted in her homeland. Shelton would
not reveal the religion to keep the case confidential.
Shelton said he did everything he could for the student, but in the end he was unable to help her. Today, he is unsure what happened to her.
He said that was one of the most difficult cases to deal with because he could not find a solution.
Most of his cases are not that extreme; they usually deal with students' and instructors' complaints against one another: complaints about unfair grading or personality clashes, instructors' claims that students have cheated, students' claims that instructors are unfair.
That was why the University Senate Executive Committee, a group composed of University Senate-elected students and faculty, voted about 10 years ago to create the position of ombudsman.
The idea for the ombudsman, though relatively new to KU, started in Sweden in the 18th century. The king of Sweden at the time was planning a trip outside the country. The king didn't think he could trust his cabinet members to manage the country properly, so he appointed a separate individual who had nothing to do with the cabinet to watch over them.
The term ambudsman, loosely translated from Swedish, means "one who is listening for the people." Shelton said.
"It takes someone who is separated from the regular structure," he said. "Things that are normally taken care of begin to fall in the cracks. They get all tangled up, and I have to unravel them."
Shelton, who has been ombudsman
for three years, said that students with complaints preferred to use the ombudsman's services rather than go through a complicated grievance procedure. But there have been cases in which he has recommended that students go through formal channels.
"Sometimes it's better to go through formal channels because the judicial boards have the enforcement powers," Shelton said. "Ombudsmen only have the powers of recommendation, but people listen very seriously. After all, the University created this position; they must have wanted it."
All future ombudsmen are to be appointed by the chancellor. Shelton has been reappointed for another three-year term, beginning July 1.
Shelton works half-time as ambudsonman, using his regular faculty office in 104 Smith Hall to allow for separation from the administration. Shelton is an associate professor of religious studies.
The Associated Press
Solving University-related problems keeps Shelton busy, but he still has his classes to prepare for. Recently, he published a book, "Loving Relationships."
Although there are times his job makes him work long hours, Shelton said, he is glad to be ambudsman. When he first learned of his nomination, he decided not to look at the position as a promotion, but as a position of confidence and trust.
"People have to feel confident in you to work with you in confidential positions," Shelton said. "I'm glad that people feel I can do it because it shows you're trusted by all levels of the University."
Wonder had no immediate plans to challenge Mayor Coleman Young, whose term expires in 1989.
probably will think about running for mayor of this city, straight out," Wonder said during a show on radio station WJLB-FM.
DETROIT — Recording star Stevie Wonder said yesterday that he was thinking about running for mayor. He some hoped, and then she long ago got it. Democrat J.
Stevie wondering about running for mayoral post
Although the Constitution in the Fourth Amendment recognizes "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures," the Columbia Encyclopedia notes that "all land presently or ultimately belongs to the state, for whatever is not actually owned by the public authority may be transferred to it by condemnation proceedings under the power of eminent domain."
WOULD THE PROPOSED BYPASS BE AN EXPRESSION OF PROGRESS?
In his Saturday Column of June 18, Dolph Simons, Jr. claims those opposed to the proposed $38 million, 14.3-mile bypass are ignoring "the recommendations of traffic experts." (and) various individuals recognized as being knowledgeable about proper growth and expansion." According to Mr. Simons, "proper growth and expansion" lead to "better public schools . . . new parks . . . and . . a growing number of services for the citizenry." Yet the phenomenal economic activity our country has enjoyed the last three decades has given rise to public education, public park and public transportation systems that are increasingly inadequate and dangerous.
Why will private property be seized so that the bypass—this is the term its proponents originally used to describe this exit-laden artery—can be built? In the June 19th Journal-World, County Commissioner Warren Rhodes explains that "The road is an essential link in developing the East Hills Business Park, a city-county industrial park near the east end of the of the proposed traffic."
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Black's Law Dictionary resolves the apparent dilemma by defining eminent domain as "the power to take private property for public use . . . the Constitution limits the power to taking for a public purpose." Obviously, constructing a bypass which will ensure the success of a privately-owned entity is a blatant misuse of the power of eminent domain.
What can our governing appartus do about the growing traffic problem? By instituting a comprehensive public transportation system (Lawrence had such a system in the 1950s) and drastically limiting the circumstances under which junior high, high school and university students could drive cars, it_would reduce the volume of traffic and thereby eliminate the alleged need for a bypass.
If the powers-that-be choose to respond to Lawrence's growth by periodically seizing private property and building expensive economic stimuli, a growing number of locals will be penalized for our city's growth. Such a cycle cannot logically be categorized as an expression of progress.
William Dann
2702 W. 24th Street Terrace
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