Sexual and racial discrimination may make victims feel helpless, but NIU has a seldom-used direct line to dealing with the problem.

The campus discrimination hotline, 753-1554, was implemented in spring 1988 to give users a way to file formal complaints of discrimination, sexual harassment or retaliation & a form of harassment that occurs when someone is punished for filing an affirmative action complaint or helping with an investigation.

The service changed hands earlier this month, from its original home at the Office of the Ombudsman to the Affirmative Action and Diversity Resources Office. Ombudsman Tim Griffin said the change was made to avoid confusion about whether NIU would be officially notified of discrimination complaints because the ombudsman guarantees confidentiality.

Only a handful of calls are made to the hotline each year, Griffin said.

“I think the reason we get a lot of people in here in the Ombudsman’s Office talking, rather than using the discrimination hotline, is that they can find out what their options are for addressing a situation without having to commit themselves to any of those options,” he said.

The ombudsman can give advice to someone dealing with discrimination, but the victim still has control of the situation, Griffin added.

Since the hotline was moved to the Affirmative Action Office, it has only received one call, said compliance coordinator Karen Baker. But staff members are eager to help.

“Our office is committed to increasing awareness of employment discrimination, how to spot it and what to do about it,” Baker said. “We are also committed to making sure that all employees are aware of their rights and responsibilities with respect to employment discrimination laws and university policy against all forms of discrimination.”

Baker said some complaints lead to formal investigations by a team of investigators led by her. Consequences for on-campus offenders can range from reprimands to suspension, but all punishments are given in accordance with NIU personnel procedures, she added.

For a hotline complaint to be addressed, a caller must provide a name and telephone number on the office voice mail so that someone from Affirmative Action can call back for an initial interview. Full details of the complaint are not necessary or encouraged, Baker said.

If the caller cannot be contacted, the office may not be able to investigate an allegation.

Griffin said efforts are always being made to avoid discriminatory behavior on campus.

“We do a lot of good things — training, retreats and workshops,” he said. “But there’s always more that can be done for faculty and staff to sensitize them to issues of diversity.”

More information about the ombudsman’s services can be found at www.niu.edu/depts/ombud. The Affirmative Action and Diversity Resources homepage is located at www.hr.niu.edu/departments/affirmative_action.