The office of Ombudsman at San Jose State College was created as a response to a series of demonstrations by the black community protesting discrimination experienced on and around campus. The Ombudsman was to "search out and facilitate the removal of discrimination of the basis of race, creed, or national origin" wherever it occurred. From preoccupation with ethnic problems, the scope of the office was expanded with a year to deal with a whole range of problems for the entire campus community. His primary sources of power were to be inquiry, negotiation, and persuasion, and in the event of impasse, he could call on the President for executive action. The experience of the first year indicates that the Ombudsman can: (1) restore a sense of accessibility to the students; (2) furnish alternative channels to the confrontations taking place on campus; (3) help form administrative decisions; (4) offer a hearing to the student who believes he is not being heard; (5) reassure students that their concerns are not being ignored; (6) gain the confidence of the students; (7) help bring about more equality for all; (8) help to counteract administrative tendencies to preserve the status quo; and (9) help to teach the University community to listen to grievances and attempt to remedy them. In order to be effective, the Ombudsman needs the students' trust. (AF)