By Madeleine Faircloth
Contributing Writer
Students who grew up with immediate family serving full-time in the United States military can be found all throughout the nation, as well as the St. Bonaventure University campus.
Some students have not known any other life than living on a military base, surrounded by military slang, regulations, and culture. Moving out of such bases and being exposed to a different way of life is educational for both the students and their peers, which is why Student Veterans Association (SVA) was created, according to club president Robert Mills.
Andrew Michalak, SVA secretary, said St. Bonaventure is a Yellow Ribbon school, which means the university will help to provide funding to veterans along with the government educational benefits that the veteran may already possess.
“Members of the SVA are keeping this in mind as we continue to articulate how the organization will proceed in the future,” Michalak said. “The more participation we get regarding the SVA startup, the more precise the voice of the student body will be reflected in the methods of the club.”
Veteran associations throughout the nation produce opportunities for anyone to join in creating a sense of community after leaving military lifestyles.
SVA is a student-run organization at St. Bonaventure originally created by Retired Master Sergeant Francisco Morales, who also wrote the constitution for the organization.
The organization brings both former and active United States military service members together on St. Bonaventure’s campus.
“The goal for SVA is to promote veteran awareness at St. Bonaventure while ensuring students understand the men and women who are entering the military or who have previously served,” Mills said.
Emily Jo Manchester, a sophomore Spanish major, said she decided to join SVA because of her past experience with military life.
Manchester said she was the child of a full-time serving parent in the military while growing up and lived on different military bases her parents were assigned to.
“After going to public school for the first time since moving off the base, I lost the sense of community always found in the bases,” Manchester said. “SVA allows me to be surrounded with other students who have some connection to the military, whether it be immediate or through family members.”
SVA helps other students appreciate people who dedicated their time in the military, Manchester said.
“SVA is for any person on campus that wants information about, or who wants to show gratitude toward, members of the military,” Manchester said. “SVA believes students should be aware, understand, and appreciate the sacrifices some students that are veterans and the students who have had to deal with life surrounded by the military went through.”
The organization is currently striving to reinforce and withhold the SVA constitution under Mills’ supervision.
SVA has been working on a presentation for the Student Government Association (SGA) with the goal to make certain the mission of SVA as well as its future, according to Mills.
Every Tuesday, SVA meets in the Veterans office on the first floor of the Reilly Center to brainstorm future fundraisers and plans for the SVA. Some plans include a booth for the upcoming Spring Weekend in hopes to help promote and educate students and faculty about the organization.
Students are welcome to attend the weekly SVA meetings. Students can contact Robert Mills at millsrj13@bonaventure.edu with further questions.
