om·buds [äm-bu-dz]

1. One who investigates reported complaints (as from students or consumers), reports findings and helps to achieve equitable settlements.

Dear Otters,
On March 4 the spotlight was on demonstrations for protests against the statewide education budget cuts of $17 billion in the past two years; and another $113 million in the next two. Students expressed their concern and frustration in well-attended rallies and demonstrations throughout the state.

I am in support of saving education, but due to an out-of-town meeting in the East Bay, I missed out on the rallies held at CSU-Monterey Bay, or so I thought. When I got off of I-980 to get on I-880 to return to Monterey, traffic came to an abrupt halt in every direction. Helicopters circled above as demonstrators on foot were weaving through the stalled traffic and police officers, in full riot gear, chased them. Traffic did not move in any direction for over an hour, and many drivers got out of their vehicles to watch.
Eventually, the 150 demonstrators were escorted off of the interstate, and people continued home after being forced to spend an extra hour on the freeway.
Demonstrations bring awareness to causes that deserve validation and the fight to save education is definitely one of those causes. Unfortunately, on I-980, I-880, on Thursday afternoon, the cause did not win the support of the people wedged in traffic after a full day of work.

Your Ombudsman,
Elaine Schumacher