U of M to host plethora of Veteran's Day events

Events will kick off at 7 a.m. with a joint fun run that will be open to students, staff and faculty. Those interested in running have to pre-register at room 243 at the University Center, at room 110 of the Panhellenic or room 120 of Hayden Hall. There will also be a veteran’s information fair, a thank you wall, a march by Mid-Day Moves, a screening of the movie “Hell and Back Again” and a lecture and exhibition. The events will last all day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and students are encouraged to get involved.

The Veterans Resource Center, located in the Panhellenic building, was started in January. Director of Adult and Commuter Student Services and the Veteran Resource Center Joy Stout realized the need for the Veterans Resource Center on campus and worked with U of M administration to get funding for it.

“The university has opened its arms with the VRC to aid them in transitioning from military life to the college experience,” Stout said. “It’s important for the university to recognize them and let them know we appreciate who they are and what they’ve done for us.”

The VRC helps student veterans adapt to campus life and make sure that they have what they need to graduate and be productive during their time at the U of M. The VRC tries to alleviate any difficulties student veterans may experience while getting reoriented with civilian life.

Chris Honeycutt, a Veteran Resource Center coordinator, explained the reasons behind setting up the VRC.

“Studies have been done that basically show that students that go to a university that have a community that they associate with it increases their chances for academic success,” Honeycutt said. “It’s all geared towards helping them integrate into the campus and sticking around and hopefully getting a degree.”

Alongside the VRC is the Student Veteran Organization, also located in the Panhellenic building. The SVO and the VRC work together to achieve the same basic mission. The SVO is also relatively new.

President of the Student Veterans Organization, Chris Fears wants to keep veterans on the U of M campus connected.

“There was really no connection between the student veteran population here,” Fears said. “I think it is working out and benefiting a lot of people. When I became president in March of this year there were only about 15-20 members and now we’re a little less than 150.”

The SVO is made up of other student veterans that help each other with emotional issues, educational issues and any other problems veterans might be dealing with. Fears explained some of the activities the SVO participates in.

“What we do is create social networking opportunities for the student veterans on campus,” Fears said. “We host seminars, resume building workshops and things like that. We also hold U of M to a standard on how it takes care of its student veterans.”

Financial aid is also a big deal for many veterans since they receive government benefits for their service, and Fears explained how the SVO helps vets get financial aid.

“The U of M outsources who processes financial aid,” Fears said. “So you run into problems with the middle man. And all the issues veterans have getting the money they are entitled to.”

The SVO is also gives student veterans a place to go, as Akram Mohamed, an Army veteran majoring in electrical engineering, revealed.

“Almost everyday I’m here,” Mohamed said. “If you’re having trouble with the G.I. Bill, registration or anything like that you’re surrounded by guys who have been here and know how to deal with all those systems and bureaucracies. It’s also just a place to wind down for a little bit.”

Fears encouraged other vets to come explore what the SVO has to offer.

“If any of you other student veterans are out there wandering around and you don’t know about us, come to the Panhellenic building and check out the Veterans Resource Center,” Fears said.

For more information on the Veterans Day events on campus, go to http://www.memphis.edu/veterans/vetsday.php.