Jason Lindsay wants to see a replica of the GLBT Center — except for veterans. He wants them to have resources and networking opportunities available to them constantly at the University. And he wants the University to give them credit where he thinks credit is due.
Lindsay, a senior in political science and Iraq War veteran who is in the Army reserve, is the founder of the N.C. State Student Veterans group, which first started in January.
“There’s a huge influx of veterans coming in to N.C. State,” Lindsay said. “I spoke to some other veterans and decided to form a student veterans group on campus.”
The group has two main priorities, Lindsay said. One is to create a networking group for the veterans, and the second is to advocate on behalf of the veterans to the University.
“It’s so hard to find individual veterans,” Lindsay said. “We want to get the word out that the student veterans group is out there. We can support each other and help each other out.”
Jeanne Chen, a senior in chemisty and student senator, said a student veteran approached her early in the semester who had done some research on the American Council on Education.
“It’s basically people who review veterans’ statuses and match those skills to certain sets of courses provided at their universities, so they can receive certain credit,” Chen said.
She mentioned the idea to Lindsay, who was a student senator then and is now Student Senate pro tempore, who she said seemed genuinely interested.
Lindsay also talked to Vice Provost for Diversity and Education Jose Picart, who drafted a “Military Veterans Working Group Report.”
“I understand that there’s not a whole lot we can do, but the issue is they’ve spent so much time serving our country, and a lot of schools guarantee them a certain amount of credit as veterans, even military science courses, which we do have,” Chen said.
According to Lindsay, veterans at the University now received credit for their two P.E. credits for serving, but he said he wants to advocate for more.
Lindsay said having a veterans’ resource center like that of the GLBT Center in Talley would be beneficial for veterans coming back to school who are injured or disabled or just want to connect to other veterans when coming back.
The drafted report Picart sent out included recommendations for academic support services, student support services, enrollment management and financial assistance, an administrative and physical infrastructure and an institutional climate for veterans.
Chen said she feels this is an important issue.
“A lot of other universities do [give veterans more credit hours], so why shouldn’t N.C. State give a little more than two P.E. credits? They deserve more than what they’re getting,” she said.
Lindsay said he thinks the University has to take action on this issue, especially because there is an increase in the number of veterans transferring to the University.
“It’s the University’s responsibility to step up to the plate,” he said.
And Lindsay said since the University already has a program similar to this for ROTC students, he is hoping the one for veterans’ credit will be based on that as well.
