The ombudsman

Lois Price-Spratlen said she just wants to help people and -- lucky for her -- her job requires it.

As the UW's ombudsman since 1982, before most undergraduates were even born, she has been charged with conflict mediation at the UW, available to anyone on campus.

By definition, Price-Spratlen is a supposed to be someone anyone can go to, working to fix problems within the University and with the University.

Price-Spratlen said she deals with a huge variety of problems.

"They are across the board," Price-Spratlen said. "Sometimes it's related to whether or not I've gotten my assignment that I'd like to get ... or whether or not 'I've gotten my fair pay that I should have.'

She is also the ombudsman of sexual harassment, adding to the types of problems members of the University can bring to her.

Despite her position, most students don't even know the UW has an ombudsman and that she is a resource anyone can utilize.

She is actually quite accessible. Her office sits in room 310 of the HUB and anyone can stop by or call to make an appointment.

Price-Spratlen can be considered the gateway to higher University officials in handling problems; her abilities include making recommendations to people such as the UW president.

However, many times cases are resolved just with the ombudsman herself, who makes sure a person's experience with her is one of learning.

"I get to do a tremendous amount of teaching in terms of working with individuals who come," she said. "I use learning principles as the basis for engaging the individuals in the process of addressing whatever the problem, concern or conflict happens to be."

She said she hopes this exposure will get the word out on what her office does and the great strides taken to let people know about its presence on campus.

"We get out and work and we are able to really in fact promote knowledge, visibility and utilization," she said.

Would you consider yourself the ombudsman, ombudswoman or ombudsperson?

"I would consider myself the ombudsman ...because this is a Scandinavia term. It is not gender-based. I know in recent times, people have changed the name. They are now using 'ombuds,' ombudsperson,' 'ombudswhatever,' but I use the original Scandinavian name of ombudsman -- a readily available resource person, who's here to help as many people as we possibly can, and I am officially appointed by the president."

How did you become ombudsman? What experiences in your life led you to this role?

"Well, first of all, I became the ombudsman through the appointment of [former UW] President Gerberding. They were talking about how they needed someone who was willing to deal with the concern of sexual harassment and wanted someone who was a senior faculty member and able to assist in the program development. I was already a faculty member, and I came to the University with a background in professional nursing in 1972. I received my degree from UCLA in 1972 and came immediately here. I applied because I had previous experiences even before going to UCLA."

You sound like you're the type of person who really wanted to help.

"Oh, my gosh, yes. I have a philosophy about helping, and that philosophy is one in which I want you to participate with me in the process of addressing whatever it is that is the conflict or the concern that you're experiencing that brings you to this office."

How would you describe your job in your own words?

"I think that my job is one of being available and to promote the education of anyone who comes in with the notion of participating actively in the prevention, the management and resolution of conflict and so I get to do a tremendous amount of teaching in terms of working with individuals who come and what I do is, I use learning principles as the basis for engaging the individuals in the process of addressing whatever the problem, concern or conflict happens to be so that its possible to look at the mission of the University which is education and to use my contact with you to advance that mission by helping you to develop the skills to address conflict and to learn from it so that you try to prevent it and help others prevent it as well."

Within the various academic conflicts you do, what are the most common types?

"They are across the board. Sometimes it's related to whether or not I've gotten my assignment that I'd like to get, whether, [such as] "I feel I've been treated equitable in relationship," to my fears, whether or not "I've gotten my fair [pay] that I should have." And, some people are coming to say, "I want to avoid having a problem with...." and I love those kinds because that's when people come and let me that they are genuinely speaking some skills, some understanding of; how would a distant neutral somebody handle what I'm going through?"

There are all different types of mediating roles all over the University, such as the counseling center and Hall Health and other organizations dealing with sexual harassment, but what also sets you apart from others?

Well, I'm appointed by the president, and I'm expected to be able to respond in a timely manner and helpful way representing the values of the institution. So the appointment is the only appointment of the ombudsman for the University.

I know that you fill an important position at the UW, but I must admit that before I had no idea who the ombudsman was. That means the average student here doesn't know about you. Why don't you get very much visibility to the campus community?

"I'm always available. I go around the University and I would say to you that I have made presentations [everywhere] on campus over the time that I've been here so I don't know why it isn't known, but ... we don't sit here in the office alone. We get out and work, and we are able to really in fact promote knowledge, visibility and utilization. We are out doing that, but you're article should help."

If there is one message you want to try and extend to all students on your service to our student community, what would it be?

"This is an important resource in prevention, management and resolution of complaints or conflict and the services are free, and they're confidential. Recognize that this is a resource the University makes available to you. We could prevent a lot of problems if people came before they had. Once they had a problem, if they would come and actively work on resolving it, they would end up a stronger, more informed person with competencies that would last them a long time."

So it's pretty easy for any student or faculty member or any member of the University to stop by and make an appointment?

"It is."

To end, a lot of students here are goal-oriented people and thinking of their futures but are probably thinking, "Well, I never thought of becoming an ombudsman." I'm sure that some students might be an ombudsman here or at another university. So what advice if any would you have to offer them?

Be very committed to service. I think that its absolutely imperative you have a sense of justice and you're really willing to work with all members of the conflict to bring about the most equitable outcome that you can and that you don't work for people, you work with them. That's they way that they learn the skills, knowledge and competencies they need in order to be effective."