The Student Veterans Group @ Portland State University

1. The Student Veterans Group@ Portland State University A brief look at our group’s history Presented by: Jonathan Sanford & Shane Herman

2. In the beginning… • Spring 2006, Jake Meeks hosts the first meeting for a new student veteran group • We discussed what was important to us as student vets • Elected Officials (Jake Meeks - President , Tyler Joki – VP, Shane Herman – Treasurer / Web Design) • And came up with our first group name…

3. Operation Veteran Freedom

4. Quickly changed the name…

5. Advertised: We caught a bit of heat from posting this one around campus, but it got peoples attention and our little group began to grow!

6. You have come from a rich history of vets making a stink at PSU Founding members: • Jacob Meeks- Mercy Corps from Sudan (started the student vets group, considered the "godfather" of the student vets in Oregon and across the nation) • Shane Herman- IT Admin in Portland (started the student vets group) • Tyler Joki- VP the first year - Notable public personalities: • Jonathan Sanford- Veterans Advocate at Senator Ron Wyden, previous Student Body President at PSU (2009-2010) • Mandy Martin- Veteran Advisor and support Dep. VA • William Gamez- Veterans Advocate at Senator Jeff Merkley • Brian Friend- VSO at Portland VA Regional Office • Miah Washburn- Actor on Grim, 1st Sergenat, creating member of "A Rock or Something" • Robert Hindahl- vets support specailist at PCC • Echo Rose- Provides first hand research on veterans and suicide rates.  -PSU was started as a school for veterans and working people in N. Portland, c-1946 -Student Vets Apexes in 1970 with the Kent State shootings Monday, May 4, 1970 – demonstrations held on campus and several roads are shut down around campus -Student Vets emerge again in 2006 and lead a very public dynamic presence -This is your history

7. The short history timeline: 2006 -vets group started April 6 -lots of pizza and beer 2007 -we started to do public outreach and meetings -PSU was also selected to be a pilot site for the Campus Veteran Service Office (later Jonathan Sanford and Jason Alves wrote the state legislation that became state law) -attended the National Student Veterans Conference -starting working on a veterans memorial 2008 -continued public outreach -organized the veteran and Muslim student dinner -hosted Secretary Shinseki and Senator Ron Wyden -Jake Meeks joined the SMSU space committee and helped to get the Student Vets Office (previously in the Smith Memorial Building “fishbowl”) -attended the National Student Veterans Conference 2009 Jonathan Sanford and Jason Alves wrote state legislation that became state law -attended the National Student Veterans Conference -Jonathan Sanford became student body president of PSU voted student veterans group of the year Hosted “The Telling”, which has now been made into a movie and has been presented in front of Jill Biden and Michelle Obama in DC 2010 -voted student veterans group of the year

8. Vet alums Vets alums can help: • access to internships and other opportunities • possible funding to support scholarships • advisement about jobs from veteran alum's that have found success in federal and state positions • reveiew of resumes/ cover letters  • advisement on feasibility of programs/legislative changes Alums help you take the next step into a career and help you get through your experience at PSU

9. Appendix The History of the Student Veteran Association at PSU • The Student Veteran Association at PSU was originally formed as Operation Veteran Freedom during the winter term of 2006. However our first meeting did not take place until April 6 or the beginning of spring term 06. • The group was formed by a handful of young veterans with the purpose to bring former members of the military together on campus and give them a voice in the student population. • This group was also formed as a response to our times. Today we see a whole new generation of combat veterans being formed, as well as the generation of the all-volunteer military in our country, where military service is looked upon more like a job then like a duty to your country. In the present situation, since such a minority of our population serves, it often feels like the veteran does not have a voice and this can be especially true at an institution of higher learning where military experience is not all that valued and the veteran can often be viewed as a political tool or social issue rather than a living, breathing human being. • That is where this group comes in. It exists to bring those who have served and have common experiences together. It exists to help all the young men and women who exit the military today and find themselves on college campuses around people their own age but not their own experience level. It exists to promote awareness about veteran’s issues in the community, to bridge an ever increasing gap between civilian and military, to advocate for veterans on issues where they might be under represented and to serve as a helpful transition tool for vets. • The first meeting of this group had around 15 people, contrast that to around the 50 that were on our mailing list at the time. To date the group has expanded to around a 100 veterans. We have already been involved in such activities as raising around 600 dollars for the Oregon Army National Guard Family Support Program, which helps put on activates for families of deployed soldiers. We also were instrumental in getting a Veteran’s Services table set up at New Student Orientation. We also serve as a good informational tool by putting out new information periodically on our e-mail list. • Forming the S.V.A has been a learning experience for all of us. But it has also been very beneficial for those involved. The S.V.A is growing fast and steady. We look forward to continued growth and expansion and hopefully being able to give today’s veteran a voice amongst their peers. So please, take the time to check it out. -Jacob Meeks -the history of the Student Veterans Association at PSU from Jake Meeks

10. Appendix B • The telling: http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-4238-the_telling_project_is_well_worth_a_listen.html • http://psuvanguard.com/orientation-guide/we-started-from-nothing/