Want to learn a new language or brush up on one before going abroad?

Think you have been treated unfairly but don’t know where to turn?

Availability of these two resources is not well known, and they are underused by members of the campus community.

Penrose Library offers the Rosetta Stone language courses. Rosetta Stone is free to all students and staff. Rosetta Stone’s language learning system became available last academic year and was renewed for this school year.

The language curriculum is accessible from the Penrose Web site with a DU ID and password. Rosetta Stone has three versions and 31 languages. DU carries all language-teaching courses by Rosetta Stone.

According to Chris Brown, a research librarian at Penrose, “Rosetta Stone has been the most popular online database ever.” Brown said the library has received numerous positive feedbacks from users. Unofficially, Rosetta Stone is used by language students, Cherrington Scholars and students entering the work force from all areas of study. Brown commented that all 31 languages are used. The most popular are not French, Spanish, or German but Farsi.

Another resource underused at DU is the Ombuds Office. DU’s resident Ombuds is Jenna Brown whose job is to provide confidential and informal assistance to anyone having problems with or within the university. The mediation office monitors the administrative activities of those in authority.

The Ombuds Office is located in the Academic Offices Annex on 2400 S. Gaylord St. There, students, faculty and staff can receive help, talk through problems and consider ways to deal with them. Brown can help with short or long-term solutions, with individuals or several people.

The office provides support but “cannot override a policy or circumvent a procedure,” said Brown.