A place for veterans to feel ‘comfortable being uncomfortable’
By: Missy Arneson
Copy Editor
St. Louis Community College—Meramec opened a Veteran Resource Center on Jan. 31, 2017 in SC 196, making this the third Veteran Resource Center across all STLCC campuses.
The resource center exists so student veterans can receive counseling and other resources, according to Veterans’ Affairs Coordinator Tracy Carpenter-Bond.
Carpenter-Bond said that transitioning from military life back to civilian life can be difficult, and the resource center is there for anyone who wants that help.
“It’s a veteran-specific place,” Carpenter-Bond said.
“It’s a place where they can feel safe… A place where they can feel comfortable being uncomfortable.” Provost Carol Lupardus opened a welcome address at 12:30 p.m. before turning the event over to Carpenter-Bond, who explained the purpose of the center and thanked Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Anthony Cruz for his help in putting the center together.
Cruz said that the center resulted from a collaborative effort between the Student Affairs Department and the Veterans’ Affairs Department.
Student Affairs made sure the funding was available, Lupardus fixed a location with appropriate space, and Veterans’ Affairs worked to make sure the center would have all the necessary resources, according to Cruz.
Carpenter-Bond presented Cruz with a Challenge Coin for his efforts.
Challenge Coins are specially-made coins used to honor men and women serving in the military, though they are occasionally given to civilians.
STLCC offers Challenge Coins inscribed with the school logo to student veterans who excel at school, according to Cruz.
“If a veteran gets a 4.0 [GPA], they can get a Challenge Coin,” Cruz said.
“[It’s great because] they got them [coins] in service and they’re still getting them.”
