Hide Article Text (OCR)
by Erin Clark_clarkel O@uwosh.eduThis Wednesday UW Oshkosh had the grand opening of the Veteran’s Resource Center, which is now available for use by veterans on campus.The resource center, located in Dempsey Hall 130, is a place for student military veterans to go for services they may need on campus.Lisa Danielson, who helped orchestrate the opening of the center, said she is excited for the benefits this resource center will bring to veterans on campus.“The resource center will be a place where veterans on campus can come and meet with other veterans who are in the same situation they are,” Danielson said. “It will be a safe haven for them. It is also a one-stop shop for veterans if they have questions about their benefits, as well as what external resources are available to them.”The center will include a computer lab with four computers and printers, as well as a quiet study room with lounge chairs where the veterans can come to do schoolwork or relax.The center will also include a Veteran’s Resource Center coordinator who will act as a liaison between veterans, as well as helping them get in contact with whatever office they mightneed.“If we can’t help them, we’ll make sure we find the resource that can,” Danielson said. “We will work closely with the counseling center, financial aid, advising, etc. to make sure all their questions are getting answered and they are getting the support they need.”It will not be a big center, but it will be a good start for the University. It will be a comfortable, academic setting for student veterans.As a university that has a large number of veterans in attendance and a reputation as a military-friendly institution, this is the next step for us, Jedadiah Doyle, a student at UWO as well as a military veteran, said.“We are already a front-runner for veterans in the state and ’ offer some of the best services in the state to veterans,” Doyle said. “This is just carrying on that idea. There is always room for improvement.”According to Doyle, when he arrived at the University in 2002 he had several problems with the resources for veterans being so spread out. These problems no longer exist due to improvements to veterans services at the University.Most veterans on ca+mpus are non-traditional students and it will be helpful to them to have all the resources they need in one place “Veterans are a wonderful piece of our campus,” Danielson said. “They bring experiences and maturity to our campus and we are glad they are here and want more to feel like they can fit in here. The University currently has over 600 veterans, which is just behind Madison and Milwaukee.”UW Oshkosh has been named one of the top in the country foi its veteran’s benefits and was voted one of the top military-friendly schools in the country.According to Elizabeth Mueller, who has worked with education benefits since 2003 and is the veterans certifying official, this center is something that people have been thinking about for a couple of years. The University knew it had the capabilities it just needed to put il into action.“The need to help our veterans is everywhere,” Mueller said. “I work with education benefits, but veterans need more than just that. They need access to counseling, the dean of students, advising; these are things they have never had easy access to before. There is an overwhelming need to have everything in one spot for them.” According to Mueller, our veteran numbers have increased dramatically, and the situation of veterans has changed since 9/11. This will help the needs oi all veterans.Doyle also said this center has been in the running for a while.“I have spent a lot of time in the past year talking to other veterans and getting their input,” Doyle said. “The fact thal the veterans wanted this and had their input considered is whal will make this center work.” Doyle also said there are many students that are still serving in the military, and this center will make the transition easier for them and give them better access to information and benefits when they are overseas.Nov. 7 is Veterans Day, and during that week there will be an official dedication of the resource center. Chancellor Wells and the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs will be there to dedicate the center. Danielson said she hopes there will be a large number of veterans in attendance.Faculty and staff, as well as veterans, said they are excited to have this center on campus.“When it’s all said and done, this center will make us a role model for other schools,” Mueller said.
Newspaper Details
Oshkosh Advance Titan
Oshkosh, Wisconsin, US
Thu, Sep 22, 2011
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Uw -.
WI, USA 15 Feb 2023
Other Publications Near Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Oshkosh Daily Northwestern
Oshkosh Gazette
Oshkosh Enterprise
Oshkosh Early Dawn
Neenah Menasha Northwestern
