Emily Minter: former US Army Sergeant, current UT student
Good article in the Austin American-Statesman about the number of returning Veterans enrolling in college.
Nationally, nearly 300,000 veterans have applied this year for the expanded benefits under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill that make college more affordable. That number is expected to grow as more veterans return from Iraq and Afghanistan but will still be far less than the 6.8 million Vietnam veterans and 7.8 million World War II veterans who received college education and training under previous GI bills, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Throughout Central Texas, student veteran populations are rising sharply: Texas State University-San Marcos has nearly 2,000 veterans enrolled, and Austin Community College counts about 1,500 — increases of about 20 percent and 34 percent, respectively, from two years ago. UT’s veteran enrollment has increased about 9 percent over the same period.
As much as these veterans are having to adjust to college life, college is having to adjust to them.
I ran off to college right out of high school. But I just wasn’t ready — not maturity-wise of financially. So I joined the Army.
I returned to college when I was 26 years old, much wiser, much more disciplined, and much more focused. But I also knew that I didn’t quite fit in with the other 18-20 year-old, right-out-of-high-school students that I was surrounded by.
Chris Schave, president of the Veterans Alliance student group at Texas State, said a Texas State survey of veteran students found that some don’t like to sit in the front of class or walk in crowded areas, situations where they feel less in control.
“There are just some special circumstances that veterans have that most people don’t necessarily think about,” said Schave, 26, a Texas State junior studying international business and an Air Force veteran. “It’s just something I think people should be more aware of.”
Just like 25-year-old Emily Minter, I searched out other Veterans to hang out with at school:
“Having been around those experiences, I have a different perspective than some of these kids who have no perspective except going to school for the last 13 years,” said Minter, who was stationed at Fort Hood. “I gravitate to (other student veterans) more than anybody else, because they know where I’m coming from.”
When I went back to school in 1994, we were no longer at war, so I didn’t have to deal with the anti-war and anti-military sentiment that is rampant in the liberal world of academia today. I’m not sure how I would have dealt with biased anti-war professor in a debate on the subject. I doubt I would have handled it well.
Thankfully some Texas colleges are learning that this is an issue and are addressing it with their professors:
Minter said she worries about the first time the Iraq war becomes a topic in one of her classes, and especially how she will react to classmates who oppose the war. “I like a healthy debate, but at the same time I’m apprehensive,” she said. “I know I have to tread lightly because I can get worked up about it.”
Several schools have begun efforts to educate professors and staff members about the veterans in their classes, especially how to handle what could be emotional debates about the war. At Texas State, a team of three professors is conducting a series of presentations for faculty and advisers to help them better understand the challenges veterans face.
Had it not been for the military — the experience, the discipline, and the financial assistance — I doubt I would have gone back and finished my degree. I owe almost everything I’ve achieved in life since to the years spent in the Army.
I went back to college, North Texas State U., in 1968 after 18 months in Vietnam. The anti war feelings were open and rampant. I was asked to speak out against the war. One professor constantly brought up the ongoing war in class. A biology class no less. I knew it was just to bug me.
After two semesters of patience testing and low grades I said to hell with it. I went back in the Army and made a career of it.
Tomr,
I just had my 40th high school reunion this past weekend. My older brother, best friend and I joined the Marine Corps right after school in ‘69. I lived in a very liberal town, Santa Cruz, CA, when I got back from Nam in 71, the war of course was still going on and I experienced the exact same thing you did: teachers trying to have you speak out against the war, trying to relate to the other 19 yr olds who just got out of high school and the same results: I immediately left college and got married and started my life. Funny to see those who went on to college where they are today. Most are liberal losers and are still in town. I am a business guy and live in a business enviroment. Something they just could not get over last weekend. Now I help service men and women transition into civilian life. Very rewarding.
I work with college students at Sam Houston State University through our church’s college ministry. I have know several that are coming out of the service and it is different for them in many ways.
SHSU just started a Veterans Resource Center:
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Veterans Center To Open With Ceremony
Sam Houston State University will officially open its Veterans Resource Center on Thursday (Sept. 10).
The ribbon cutting ceremony, which will include speeches by university President Jim Gaertner and alumnus Col. John McManners, will be held at 3 p.m. at the center, on the first floor of the Estill Building.
The VRC will provide a “one-stop shop” for veterans returning to college after service and act as a liaison between outside and university resources, according to Kathy Hudson, SHSU’s Veteran Resource Center coordinator.
In addition to processing information for veterans, reservists, National Guard members and dependents for GI Bill benefits, the center will serve as a place where veterans can find and communicate with one another.
“We’ll hopefully work as a social center for the veterans so they can get together,” Hudson said. “We will have coffee available anytime they want to stop by. We will have a bulletin board set up for them to post announcements or any communication.”
In addition, the VRC will offer services such as free use of a copier and fax machine for educational or VA related materials and will have computers and printers available for veterans to use.
“We will work with the students and different offices on campus or off to see that the Veteran has the help or resources he or she needs,” Hudson said. “We will bring off campus assistance to our campus for them any time we can.
“We hope to plan programs for the veterans to enhance their educational experience and honor them for their service.”
Refreshments will be served during the open house.
For more information, call the President’s Office at 936.294.1013.
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I think that more universities should have similar programs for veterans. I also think it is good that the younger students have some more mature and experienced “peers” that can have a positive influence on them.
Thanks for your service Robbie!
I just finished up my school, courtesy of the GI Bill. I never advertised I was a WoT Veteran (Afghanistan) just because I didn’t want to deal with the typical American college campus attitude toward the whole situation.
Out of all the instructors I had only four were impartial during their classroom instruction. Of those four, three were science/mathematics instructors, and the other one taught a REAL history class, horrible, dirty details and all.
The rest of them were all Che, FDR, Castro lovers. I had one instructor who, on the first day of class, flat out admitted she was a Socialist.
I am a non-traditional post-bacc student taking science classes to prepare for medical school at the University of Texas at Dallas, a school highly regarded for the sciences. I have never experienced this attitude in any of my classes, thank goodness. As a matter of fact, at the beginning of this semester in my Pre-Health Professional Development class (populated with serious-minded post-bacc students), when one classmate who was introducing herself stated that she had just returned from her second tour in Iraq, the room EXPLODED into a hearty round of applause, thank-you’s, and best wishes.