The Ombuds Blog: Responding to Rape Allegations, Baylor University Promises Ombuds for Athletes

February 02, 2016

Responding to Rape Allegations, Baylor University Promises Ombuds for Athletes

Multiple women have come forward claiming that the private Baptist university in Waco, Texas failed to respond appropriately to complaints of rape by a football player. According to a published report, one female student "reported the assault to Baylor's ombudsman office and were sent to meet with the school's chief judicial officer." A spokesperson for the school announced on Monday that an investigation is on-going and that Ombuds will be created for the athletic department.

The school currently has a Student Ombuds and Faculty Ombuds. The website for the Student Ombuds at Baylor clearly outlines her confidentiality and does not include an exception for cases of sexual misconduct. Moreover, a set of FAQ's about sexual assault states that the Student Ombuds is available to walk people through the reporting process. (ESPN; Austin American-Statesman; Baylor Student Ombuds, Sexual Assault FAQ's.)

Related posts: Ombuds for Students at Baylor University Reports Further Declines in Caseload; Task Force Recommends Ombuds for Student-Athletes at Berkeley; Other Ombuds Blog posts related to Title IX.

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Organizational Ombuds

Organizational Ombuds serve as a confidential, independent, neutral and informal dispute resolution resource for a specific entity. They are accessible to a defined population and can advocate for fairness. These unique characteristics distinguish Organizational Ombuds from Classical Ombuds, mediators, arbitrators, and other alternative dispute resolution professionals. The term "Ombuds" is shorthand for "Ombudsman," "Ombudsperson" and "Ombuds Officer," which also are used widely.

Some other variants include:

Austria -- Ombudsstelle

Brazil -- Ouvidor

Croatia -- pravobranitelji

France -- médiateur/defénseur

Germany -- Ombudspersonen

Italy -- difensore

Netherlands -- ombudspersoon

Norway -- ombudet

Poland -- Rzecznik

Portugal -- provedor

Russia -- омбудсмен

Spain -- ombudsman organizacional

Sweden -- studentombud

Switzerland -- ombudsmann

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February 02, 2016

Responding to Rape Allegations, Baylor University Promises Ombuds for Athletes

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