thedrifter
04-15-09, 06:45 AM
Veterans form support group
by Meaghan Cox
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
As more veterans come home from the war and take on the college front, a need for support has developed. A program known as the Veteran Safe Zone, made up of faculty, staff and administrators, will fill part of that need.
The Veteran Safe Zone is expected to improve the campus climate for veterans through outward expressions of support and recognition, said Western graduate student Jana Brost, who created the program. Faculty and staff can post a designated emblem in their office or department to show their involvement with student veterans at Western.
A new bill called Chapter 33 will be coming into effect, said Army Specialist 4 veteran Wendy Gegenhuber, who works in the Veteran Affairs office as administration support and coordinator. The bill will take care of 100 percent of tuition and fees for military veterans based on how much time they served since 2001, she said.
“I think we will have more veterans coming in to take advantage of their benefits,” Gegenhuber said.
Steps toward getting ready for an increase in student veterans needs to be addressed, Brost said.
“As graduate students, we work on a project called an assessment, in which we assess or evaluate how programs and services on campus are reaching their goals and purposes,” Brost said. “We look at what is working or what’s not.”
The Veteran Safe Zone stems from a personal experience for Brost. Her father, Master Chief Joel Clayton, will soon be retiring after 30 years of service with the Navy.
Because of some transition issues Clayton has faced, Brost said she decided to take a look at how student veterans are coping with the transition from their military service to student life.
Student veteran Phil Coomes, who is currently a staff sergeant in the Individual Ready Reserves with the Marines, said the transition was OK, but he definitely felt alone.
“I think [the Veteran Safe Zone project] is cool,” Coomes said. “I don’t think a lot of vets will feel the need to run to these offices, but if I’m walking down the hall and see a bunch of these Safe Zone signs, I will feel more comfortable—more welcome.”
By September 2010, veterans will begin coming home as the U.S. involvement with the Iraq War wraps up overseas, and will seek their education at institutions such as Western, and it is important they feel welcome, Brost said.
The purpose of the Veteran Safe Zone project is to show a sign of gratitude for those who served, regardless of one’s personal political views, Brost said.
“I think it’s real easy to mix antimilitary and antiveteran, but there is a clear distinction,” Brost said. “Not all veterans have the same political views, and they are not monolithic in their values, beliefs and attitudes. I think it’s important to distinguish between the person and the duties that are required of someone.”
Coomes said he felt Western had a neutral outlook to student veterans, but some groups or outspoken individuals on campus have a strong opposition to the war.
“With people against the war that you were participating in, you feel like you don’t want to express yourself. That maybe we should just be quiet,” Coomes said. “None of us care to get that kind of unnecessary flak.”
World War II Infantry veteran Ernest “Ernie” Sams, who not only was a student veteran at Western but has been working on campus for 61 years, said the transition from the military to public life was easy for him.
“I just had to clean up my language,” Sams said. “Although people coming back from the South Pacific probably had a harder time adjusting than those who served in Europe.”
Not only will student veterans have the benefit of Chapter 33 and the Veteran Safe Zone, but also a student group compiled of student veterans will be forming, Coomes said.
“We’re trying to get an organization where the vets can unite,” Coomes said.
“We want to make more awareness for veterans on campus.”
Brost said student veterans are a group with just as much diversity as any other student organization on campus.
The group will look to cater toward special services such as helping with financial aid and career counciling. Special events such as a pizza and beer night, are in the works, Coomes said.
Ellie
by Meaghan Cox
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
As more veterans come home from the war and take on the college front, a need for support has developed. A program known as the Veteran Safe Zone, made up of faculty, staff and administrators, will fill part of that need.
The Veteran Safe Zone is expected to improve the campus climate for veterans through outward expressions of support and recognition, said Western graduate student Jana Brost, who created the program. Faculty and staff can post a designated emblem in their office or department to show their involvement with student veterans at Western.
A new bill called Chapter 33 will be coming into effect, said Army Specialist 4 veteran Wendy Gegenhuber, who works in the Veteran Affairs office as administration support and coordinator. The bill will take care of 100 percent of tuition and fees for military veterans based on how much time they served since 2001, she said.
“I think we will have more veterans coming in to take advantage of their benefits,” Gegenhuber said.
Steps toward getting ready for an increase in student veterans needs to be addressed, Brost said.
“As graduate students, we work on a project called an assessment, in which we assess or evaluate how programs and services on campus are reaching their goals and purposes,” Brost said. “We look at what is working or what’s not.”
The Veteran Safe Zone stems from a personal experience for Brost. Her father, Master Chief Joel Clayton, will soon be retiring after 30 years of service with the Navy.
Because of some transition issues Clayton has faced, Brost said she decided to take a look at how student veterans are coping with the transition from their military service to student life.
Student veteran Phil Coomes, who is currently a staff sergeant in the Individual Ready Reserves with the Marines, said the transition was OK, but he definitely felt alone.
“I think [the Veteran Safe Zone project] is cool,” Coomes said. “I don’t think a lot of vets will feel the need to run to these offices, but if I’m walking down the hall and see a bunch of these Safe Zone signs, I will feel more comfortable—more welcome.”
By September 2010, veterans will begin coming home as the U.S. involvement with the Iraq War wraps up overseas, and will seek their education at institutions such as Western, and it is important they feel welcome, Brost said.
The purpose of the Veteran Safe Zone project is to show a sign of gratitude for those who served, regardless of one’s personal political views, Brost said.
“I think it’s real easy to mix antimilitary and antiveteran, but there is a clear distinction,” Brost said. “Not all veterans have the same political views, and they are not monolithic in their values, beliefs and attitudes. I think it’s important to distinguish between the person and the duties that are required of someone.”
Coomes said he felt Western had a neutral outlook to student veterans, but some groups or outspoken individuals on campus have a strong opposition to the war.
“With people against the war that you were participating in, you feel like you don’t want to express yourself. That maybe we should just be quiet,” Coomes said. “None of us care to get that kind of unnecessary flak.”
World War II Infantry veteran Ernest “Ernie” Sams, who not only was a student veteran at Western but has been working on campus for 61 years, said the transition from the military to public life was easy for him.
“I just had to clean up my language,” Sams said. “Although people coming back from the South Pacific probably had a harder time adjusting than those who served in Europe.”
Not only will student veterans have the benefit of Chapter 33 and the Veteran Safe Zone, but also a student group compiled of student veterans will be forming, Coomes said.
“We’re trying to get an organization where the vets can unite,” Coomes said.
“We want to make more awareness for veterans on campus.”
Brost said student veterans are a group with just as much diversity as any other student organization on campus.
The group will look to cater toward special services such as helping with financial aid and career counciling. Special events such as a pizza and beer night, are in the works, Coomes said.
Ellie