In your corner

Nathanial Smith and Lianne Locke of Dalhousie's Office of the Ombudsperson. (Nick Pearce Photo)

Objectivity, independence, accessibility, confidentiality and fairness—they’re not just nice words to Lianne Locke and Nathanial Smith. They’re the guiding principles of Dalhousie’s Office of Ombudsperson.

The main role of an ombudsperson is to ensure that Dalhousie students and staff receive fair and equal treatment when in disputes involving the university or the Dalhousie Student Union.

“We’re advisors, mediators and investigators, not decision makers,” says Mr. Smith, Dalhousie’s ombudsperson. “We’re here to listen and clarify issues.”

Ombudspersons deal with a variety of issues, including disagreements between students and teachers, accusations of academic dishonesty and complaints of unfair evaluation. They provide advice, referrals, and if needed, act as mediators to provide an objective third-party perspective in disputes.

“I believe it is important to offer student a channel to come to because sometimes unfairness does creep in and we’re here to make sure that to ensure that fairness is here and re-established,” says Ms. Locke, a law student at Dalhousie, whose term as ombudsperson just finished.

The Office of the Ombudsperson has been around since the 1970s. The Dalhousie office is unique in that it is the only one in Canada that is solely student run. The word ombudsperson means “citizen defender” and Ms. Locke and Mr. Smith take that to heart.

All the Dalhousie University rules and codes of conduct can be found in the academic calendar. But first-year students, who might be overwhelmed with everything new happening, are unlikely to realize when they’re not being treated fairly.

“I think from a perspective of a 18- or 19-year-old, who is away from home, starting university for the first time is overwhelming for the majority of people... and people don’t always read the rules, or are confused by them, but we can help and explain them to them,” says Mr. Smith.                              

The office is currently located in the Student Union Building in Room 407.  Mr. Smith is available for consultations Monday through Friday and can be reached by email at Ombudsperson Ombudsperson@dal.ca or by phone at 494-6583.

LINK: Office of the Ombudsperson