Veterans schedule Wednesdays to enjoy free coffee but use them as opportunities to grow bonds through their different backgrounds, experiences and stories.
The Veteran Coffee Days take place in 121C Veteran Resource Center in the David L. Eisler Center. Free coffee is given to Veteran students, faculty and staff on campus. While the event is held, Veterans have the opportunity to share their backgrounds and past experiences of their times of service with one another to help grow the community of those on campus.
History junior Joshua MacDonald, a member of the Civil Affairs, noted why the Coffee Day event is more important than just a social gathering.
“Everyone in the military loves caffeine,” MacDonald said. “So, it’s a way to bring us all together. But we want to raise awareness that there is a space for Veterans to use and not just Veterans, like children of Veterans, literary anyone can use that space. But also create that kind of community that if you need something we can help. So, we’re trying to build a space that we can really cultivate that for everyone at school.”
Additionally, MacDonald shared an experience where a Veteran needed a ride to the other side of the state. They had somebody else already going there so they were able to give them a ride. MacDonald also stated that a lot of time in the military, some start missing a feeling of camaraderie, which can cause some to have shared experiences and build connections.
History junior Jonathan Brown, a work person and socializer for the Veterans, tied in the opportunity to listen to different stories from military individuals as being one of the important aspects of the Coffee Days.
“Each Veteran has their own story,” Brown said. “Some will tell, while some won’t tell. You have to sit there and listen and build that trust with them to actually hear their story. The awesome thing about the army, or any military branch you’re in is we’re not all the same. We look the same but come from so many different backgrounds and so many different experiences it’s awesome when you get to pull an event like coffee every Wednesday where you get to listen to stories.”
Brown also mentioned that the Veterans call themselves a “ginormous” family, and their student status draws them together. Brown himself described it as a rapport with brothers and sisters.
Assistant Director of Veterans Services Sean Allen shares an example of other events related to the Veterans.
“The Student Veterans of America’s RSO comes to campus, and they have their meeting every two weeks to talk about what they’re doing on campus,” Allen said. “And every year they struggle with it, and we’re getting back to the idea of turning it back into a social type of event. That’s essentially what the SVA is, which that people in that group can share awareness in a meet in greet. Being a part of that you want to be with like-minded people, and that’s what that group is, is for like-minded Veterans being in that space.”
The next event for the Veterans will be a Veteran Support Table on Wednesday, March 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and it’ll take place at the Rankin Center just outside the Center for Student Involvement. Visit the ferris.edu Campus Calendar to learn more.
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C.E. C.F./RS