For most of us, last Thursday was an ordinary day on the Hilltop. The clock struck 11:11 for two minutes of silence as many of us were walking to class, talking to friends, or catching a quick bite to eat. Few students took the time to notice that last Thursday was Veterans Day, an important holiday for our nation, but even more so for those who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces. Unfortunately, Georgetown University is also failing to notice the challenges its student veterans face on a daily basis by failing to adequately provide the institutional and financial support that they deserve.
The number of student veterans at Georgetown has risen from about 100 to over 250 in the last few years as many soldiers finish enlistments. An increase in student aid in 2008 has made it possible for more veterans to attend college. But currently, there are no full-time University staff members committed to helping veterans navigate the psychological, academic, and financial hurdles they face every day.
Student veterans need a dedicated staffer to help them navigate the red tape of claiming Veterans Affairs benefits for themselves and their families. Veterans returning from combat are also in need of counseling and psychological resources. A U.S. Army report from 2006 found that up to “30 percent of troops deployed to Iraq suffer from depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.” Although Georgetown offers specific resources for victims of other traumas like eating disorders and sexual assault, no one is specifically tasked with reaching out to veterans returning from war and or dealing with extended separation from their families.
To create a reliable structure, Georgetown should model a veterans’ affairs office after successful programs like the Community Scholars Program, Health Education Services, and the LGBTQ resource center—offices with enthusiastic staffers who can focus their full attention on the communities they serve.
The University should also increase its financial support for Veterans receiving assistance from the Yellow Ribbon Program. Of the top 25 schools in the nation which participate, Georgetown is the second-lowest contributor to this tuition-matching program, which was created by the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. For a university that prides itself on a strong connection with government agencies in the nation’s capital, Georgetown should be embarrassed by its woefully under-supported veterans benefits programs.
Providing adequate support for Georgetown’s student veterans would not overly burden its financial resources. Hopefully by next Veterans Day, Georgetown’s commitment to our nation’s servicemen and women will be something worth honoring.
