The Faculty Affairs Committee tabled a bill to change university policy that would allow for greater gender diversity in ombudspersons on Tuesday. Ombudsperson’s are meant to mediate faculty conflicts with administration, policy, or other potential points of friction.

The bill’s purpose is to “ensure gender equality among (the ombudspersons) to allow the aggrieved party ample representation.”

At the meeting on Sept. 11, it was mentioned because of a concern from an unnamed faculty member who wanted representation from female staff, according to Sheryl Lidzy, FAC chair and associate professor of communication and theater.

Currently out of nine ombudspersons, only two are female.

There was also further concern that neither female members are properly trained, Lidzy said.

The bill would have amended the University Policy Manual to add that the “(FAC) chair will attempt to maintain gender balance among the available ombudspersons Panel.”

There was debate about the need to define this diversity from some committee members.

“If, in fact, we’ve got a random selection of ombudsman, we should already achieve some sort of diversity,” said George Durler, professor of business administration. “This could open it up to where you’ve got to address (every type of diversity)…What if it’s like, ‘I want a Native American…I want an African American that has grown up in Harlem’…Then the answer is, ‘I’m sorry, we only have two female ombudsmen.’”

Others disagreed and were in support of the bill.

“I do think we have an interest in protecting underrepresented classes,” said Max McCoy, professor of English, modern languages and journalism and adviser to The Bulletin.

According to Tim Marshall, associate professor of education and leadership, there was no desire from the committee to push the bill forward.

“If this was a problem, it would’ve been addressed long ago,” said Michael Butler, professor of health and physical education.

FAC will meet at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 9 in the PDK room in the Memorial Union.