SUNY Potsdam Appoints Ombuds in Partial Response to Student Protests

The State University of New York near the Canadian border has yielded to some of the demands made by a student group seeking to improve treatment of ethnic minorities. In addition to firing Dean of Students William G. “Chip” Morris, SUNY Potsdam President Kristin G. Esterberg appointed Anthropology Professor Alan L. Hersker, as the first Ombuds for the campus.

According to a local news report, Hersker will "serve as an independent and confidential resource for students going through the student conduct process." No other details about the Ombuds position have been released. Shortly before his termination, Chip Morris had joined the International Ombudsman Association.  (Daily Courier Observer; IOA New Members.)

Related posts: Ombuds at American University in Cairo Struggles to Mediate Student Protest; University of California Report on Protest Policies Reaffirms Role of Ombuds; Students Call for Ombuds at Syracuse University; Are Students Bypassing Ombuds in Favor of Social Media?; Brandeis University to Create Ombuds Office.