Sixth-year Ph.D. candidate Cesar Favila and first-year law student Deepa Das Acevedo have been selected as the student ombudsperson and associate student ombudsperson respectively.

Favila and Acevedo have held the position since February 1, taking over for Charles Otte, a doctoral student in Near Eastern languages and civilizations. Acevedo said they have dealt with half a dozen cases since they started in their roles.

“A lot of what we do is talk through things with students who may not want to take any formal course of action,” Das Acevedo said. “We’re there to listen, bring resources to light, facilitate dialogue, and mediate dialogue.”

The primary charge of these salaried, part-time positions is to investigate specific grievances by students when other channels of communication or dispute resolution have fallen short. Ombudspersons operate outside the administrative structure of the University and advise students when they face University-related conflicts or concerns.

Located on the third floor above the University Bookstore on East 58th Street, the Office serves both undergraduate and graduate students.

—Joy Crane