The college experience is vastly different for many military veterans than it is for students who matriculate right after high school.
Don Staub, a social worker from the Norwich Vet Center, volunteers to visit UConn, as well as Eastern Connecticut State University and Three Rivers Community College, in his spare time to talk to student-veterans and answer their questions.
Staub said that when he visits, people usually ask about benefits and dont bring up personal concerns, but he gives out contact information about services the Vet Center provides, such as mental health services for veterans who have dealt with trauma.
Staub has worked in veterans affairs as a social worker for 14 years and spent four years in the Navy working in mental health. He said that he has always been personally involved with helping veterans.
He said that certain issues have become more prominent in recent years.
Theyre having multiple deployments, having their education disrupted, he said. He also noted that there has been a rise in traumatic brain injuries among veterans due to explosive devices used in combat.
Staub has noticed changes in attitudes about veterans in the time he has worked with them.
Just after Vietnam War, academia was pretty hostile towards veteransyou would not wear a uniform on campus, Staub said. Having an office like this is huge. He said that resources like the veterans affairs program didnt exist before 2001.
Staub thinks that the culture has changed a lot in the past 13 years and seems to be especially supportive at UConn. He said that he was impressed by the turnout he saw at a Veterans Day ceremony at UConn recently.
It was really well attended. Ive never seen that before on a college campus.
Most colleges could provide more training for faculty about veterans issues, said Staub. You want to see people succeed, he said, explaining that professors should be familiar with the range of issues that are affecting veterans.
Adam Boccaccio, a part-time philosophy major who commutes back and forth from classes to work, said that he felt respected by his professors.
I dont know if the awareness is there, but they overcompensate with respect, he said.
Veterans are older than most college students, and many have jobs and families that prohibit them from participating in study groups or extra credit assignments on campus. How am I going to fit this in without blowing off work, or blowing off the family? Staub said.
Boccaccio explained that veterans have different concerns than most students.
Were here for primarily our education, he said. Were here to learn and then go home.
Were not 17 to 22-year-old incompetent students. Weve been there, done that. We have life lessons, communications and political science double major Bobbi Maltz said. We have additional responsibilities that the average college students dont have to have.
Maltz said that professors do generally give veterans more respect, and understand that challenges exist. Once they find out that Im in the military, a lot of them go out of their way to help, she said.
One professor would not let me fail, she said, explaining that she was given opportunities for extra credit. I take care of my veterans, he told her. You will not fail my class.
Maltz transferred to UConn from Western Connecticut State University, which had a social area that was similar to UConns Oasis. Maltz said that these areas are useful for intermingling with people of your age or mentality.
However, Maltz noted that WCSU did not have a staff like UConns.
This particular office is the best Ive seen, Staub said of UConns veteran affairs program. When you come here with a question, if they dont have the answer theyll find it for you. Theyre very proactive.
