The Student Veteran’s Center is on the fourth floor of the Wheatley building tucked away right next to the student lounge. The atmosphere is hardly that of an exclusive area for veterans only, with its TV and public access to the computers. It is a place were anyone can go and have an informed conversation with people about war who have actually seen it and know what it’s like. It is also a perfectly good place to sit, watch TV, and discuss the finer points of Scooby Doo with the person next to you. “This office is open not only to veterans but to everyone,” says Joe Dwyer, the coordinator of the Student Veteran Center.
Dwyer, a psychology major and himself a veteran, has been the coordinator for one semester now. He became involved with the center from a work-study job and has since become assistant coordinator and recently coordinator.
In light of current events in Iraq it could be assumed that the atmosphere might be a little tenser than usual. “There’s been mixed feelings,” said Dwyer about the veterans he’s encountered towards the current military action in Iraq. “War should be the last option,” continued Dwyer. He, however, did not have a decided opinion as he said, “I don’t know enough about it” to take a position.
The feelings of the general public have been seemingly more than just mixed, however, with the public walkout on campus and the various other anti-war protests and actions. There has been a general outcry of people from the UMB campus who are against the war and are seemingly against any military involvement in Iraq. This has not affected the relationship between the Student Veteran Center and the community, though.
When asked about the response the center has gotten from the students and general public since the military actions have started, Dwyer said that so far they have received a rather “positive” response from the community. This response is not entirely unexpected however. “Lots of people are saying, ‘support the troops,'” Dwyer says, who himself believes that we should “support our troops one hundred percent.”
The U.S. military in Iraq is not the only issue facing veterans today. On the UMB campus there was the incident between the army recruiters and Prof. Van Der Meer which ended in the arrest of the professor. When asked about the incident Dwyer said, “A lot of people were in shock.” He characterized the entire issue as “unfortunate.”
The Student Veterans Center is more than a place to watch TV and use computers, which the general public is more than encouraged to do there, they also are very closely associated with the William Joiner Center for the Study of War and Social Consequences. Together they participate in school functions and sponsor events. The Student Veteran Center and the Joiner Center cosponsored an event in the Provost Room, where New York Times war correspondent Christopher Hedges is scheduled to speak.