FSU to honor student veterans

By Christy Howland Staff Writer An on-campus luncheon to honor student veterans during Veterans Day week will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 13 in the McCarthy Center. Coordinator of Veteran & Military Services Peter Gillies said the luncheon is scheduled for the Wednesday after Veterans Day because the University is closed that Monday. “We’re looking to do something commemorating Veterans Day, but when we’re all here,” he said. Major General Gary Keefe, the highest-ranking military officer in the Massachusetts National Guard, has been invited to speak at the event, according to Gillies. “I’m a member of the VFW, so I’ll be participating. Peter Chisholm [FSU’s government relations liaison] knows a lot of the legislative people, so he’s involved in extending the invitations,” he said. All 120 student veterans will be notified of the event through email and flyers posted in the Veterans Center, added Gillies. “We usually hold events a few times a semester. We had a welcome-back luncheon, did a taco bar over in the Veterans Center, we’ll be doing the Veterans Day luncheon, and I’m sure we’ll have something during finals,” said Gillies. In addition to events, FSU honors and supports student veterans with many resources and a center on campus. The Veterans Services Center, located in Dwight 213, is a dedicated space just for student veterans. “The Veterans Center is our main resource. Folks go there to study. When I got here this afternoon, they were doing some tutoring. We’ve got computers in there, just a quiet place, and a lot of things that are veteran-specific,” said Gillies. “You want to talk to somebody who’s a vet who understands what you’ve been through and what you’re going through. Even in terms of just resocializing, coming back from the military back into the civilian world, can sometimes be a bit eye-opening, a kind of culture shock,” he said. Senior English major Kailtin Carman, who served in the Army as an E4 specialist, said, “I think the University does a great job making veteran and military-affiliated students feel included. The vet center is great and Veterans Services hosts events throughout the year.” “I joined the Army when I was 19. I was a 19K Abrams Tank Crewman. I was the driver and then later a loader - loading main gun rounds and operating an M240. After I got out and first started at FSU, I was older than the traditional freshman,” said Carman. “I felt there was a disconnect between me and my classmates because of our varying ages and life experiences. It almost seemed like there was a cultural gap between us. I really like hanging out in the vet center. It’s nice to be able to connect with other veterans who share similar backgrounds,” she added. FSU is recognized as a Veteran-friendly school because of the resources available through the Veterans Services Center. According to U.S. News and World Report, Framingham State has been ranked number 33 this year in the category “Best Colleges for Veterans of all Public and Private Regional Universities in the North,” which includes New England and Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Freshman elementary education major Maya Secka said, “I think it’s great that FSU is a veteran-friendly school. It’s important to have accessibility and inclusion in a school environment. “FSU is already a very inclusive school, so I think that by being a veteran-friendly school, that gives FSU a better sense of belonging and inclusivity,” she added. Gillies said, “They have veterans over at MassBay and there’s a coordinator over there, so we’re doing things together. We’re also tight with the Framingham Veterans Council, and the Veteran Service Officer in Framingham does nothing but handle things for veterans. “The main thing is information-sharing. If there are changes in things like being able to get a property tax break, getting veterans license plates for free, something being proposed in the legislature, or something comes down the pike and actually gets signed into law, we get the word out to them,” he said. There is a veterans’ networking group that shares which companies or businesses in this area are veteran-friendly and will hire veterans, he said. Sophomore finance major Adam Harrison, who is currently serving in the Army National Guard as a Specialist, said, “I think FSU’s Veterans Center has put in a lot of effort with holding veteran events and giving opportunities. “They’ve been nothing but helpful with everything I’ve needed and have always been a great resource,” he said. [Editor’s Note: Kaitlin Carman and Adam Harrison are Assistant News Editors for The Gatepost.]