马塞诸斯州大学波士顿

5月7日，校园领导, 学生, 教师, alumni and friends gathered to cut the ribbon on a new permanent location for the Student Veteran Center on the first floor of McCormack Hall.

For Troy Hewitt and many of his fellow student veterans and military-affiliated 学生 at 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿, the Student Veteran Center has become their home on campus.

“The center provides a place for veterans to be with those who they know, 在某种程度上, 理解他们的经历,休伊特说, a nursing student and Army Reserve medic who serves as coordinator of the center. “I found 学生 that had been through some of the same life experience as me, and even though we all came from different walks of life, we could all connect over our common bond of service.”

This home has received a long-anticipated upgrade.  

5月7日，校园领导, 学生, 教师, alumni and friends gathered to cut the ribbon on a new permanent location for the Student Veteran Center on the first floor of McCormack Hall. The center features computers, workstations, and meeting areas for 学生 to use. It also has a lounge, new furniture, a kitchen, and other amenities.

“我们可以看到, the new center is a thoughtfully constructed, multipurpose space that balances openness and welcoming with an esprit de corps,总理马塞洛Suárez-Orozco说.  “确实, the new space retains the longstanding spirit, 文化, and character of the Student Veteran Center and will enable 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿 to provide even more robust services and academic support to our Beacons who are called to military service.”

The 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿 Student Veteran Center is a student-run center that serves as a resource and connection hub, which provides a wide range of support and information to student veterans and military-affiliated 学生.

“This wonderful space is the culmination of collective effort, dedication and support from colleagues across 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿 who share a commitment to our student veterans, but also the unique and diverse individuals that comprise our military-affiliated student community,珍·麦提诺说, associate dean and director of housing and residential life.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Karen Ferrer-Muñiz said opening this space held a special meaning to her as the daughter of a Korean and Vietnam War Army veteran.

“That’s how much this space means to me to help provide that space in which you can grow and find opportunities and network, and I know that is why many of us are here today,Ferrer-Muñiz说. “我对明年感到兴奋. I can’t wait for so many of the events and programming that will come out of here.”

Chancellor Suárez-Orozco said that “belonging” will remain a central theme as the campus continues to be transformed in the months and years ahead.

“Building community and bringing people together is an important part of our mission,” he said. “And this refresh marks another step in this direction for our Beacons who have served, 是服务, 寻求服务, and are the partners or children of those who serve.”

 Hewitt spoke of feeling lost during his first semester at 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿. 预备役军医, he decided to begin his college career on his 21st birthday, when he realized he loved medicine and taking care of people.

“My first semester here I was lost, for lack of a better word. I was a bit older than the 学生 I was in classes with, and felt I had nothing I could relate to them,休伊特说. “I pushed my way through that semester, but honestly dreaded the return for my second semester. But when I arrived that first day of the fall semester I saw a sign for the Student Veteran Center. …This is when things began to change for the better for my entire college career. 我终于在校园里找到了一个家.”

马塞诸斯州大学波士顿 is home to over 600 veterans and military-affiliated 学生.

“I have seen student veterans from this university go on to be medical professionals, 工程师, 企业主, and many more professions that drive this country every day, many of whom have also found a home at this very center,休伊特说.

约翰·西尔斯, who co-advises the center with Professor Paul Dyson, thanked the William Joiner Institute for hosting the Student Veteran Center over the past year and a half while they awaited their new home.

“Our residency in the Joiner Center has bolstered collaboration, and the SVC is committed to seeing the partnership and collaboration continuing,西尔斯说.

Sears said that as soon as he started working for the Student Veteran Center, he came to understand that at its core was an informal, yet deep sense of providing comradery and connection to military-affiliated 学生 and veterans, so that 学生 had a base to establish themselves, 适应大学生活, and branch out to the greater university community.

“不管我们称之为家的地方, the 学生 have built a home where they can retreat to connect, 研究, 匡威,西尔斯说.