NEWS
Page 2 • February 20, 2012
versity
www.readmybeacon.com Chris Hernandez
Managing Editor Chris.thebeacon@pba.edu
John Sizemore
Executive Editor John_Sizemore@pba.edu
Duane Meeks Publisher
Editorial Staff Cash W. Lambert
News Editor Cashwlambert@gmail.com
Kayla Viaud
Features Editor Kayla_Viaud@pba.edu
Joshua Reid
Sports Editor joshuareid1221@gmail.com
Christina Cernik Photo Editor christinacernik@gmail.com
Charlotte Rakestraw
Art Director Meghan Gilmore wynne.charlotte@gmail.com Meghan_Gilmore@pba.edu
Jenny Hendriksen
Web Editor John Sizemore jlhendriksen@gmail.com John_Sizemore@pba.edu
Weekly Staff Duane Meeks
Saudia Ali Becca Stripe Gina Cipolla No part of the Beacon may be reproduced without Tyann Mullen permission. The opinions expressed in the Beacon are not necessarily those of the Palm Beach Atlantic Faith University Warren administration, staff or faculty. Victoria Vartan Meghan Gilmore Greg Halmos Molly Black Submissions: If you would like to submit a letter to the editor, a news tip, corrections, or contribute to the Beacon, email the managing editor: readmybeacon@gmail.com No part of the Beacon may be reproduced without permission. The opinions expressed in the Beacon are not necessarily those of the Palm Beach Atlantic University administration, staff or faculty.
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V
erse of the week:
Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard. -2 Samuel 23:20 NIV
readmybeacon.com • The Beacon
College clubs help vets readjust to civilian life A Palm Beach Atlantic University student has started a club to give veterans a voice.
logistics during his first deployment as beneficial to his transition. Logistics entailed making sure others had bullets and meals. “I had to take care of around 100 soldiers. I grew up pretty quick,” he said. To help those who are in the midst of transition, Lucas Young, a junior at PBA, has started Student Veterans of PBA. “We need a voice,” said Young, a former Marine who served as an infantryman in Iraq from 2007 to 2008. According to Young, PBA has roughly 65 student vets on its campus. Young had a different experience transitioning back to civilian life from Thompson. Though there weren’t physical difficulties, Young had
PTSD since its founder began battling it. Symptoms of PTSD include nightmares, hallucinations, reenacting experiences and violent outbursts. One of the goals of Student Veterans of PBA is to be a resource for those who have experienced PTSD and other war related difficulties. By Chris Hernandez Sheppa, who is the head of Managing Editor Veterans’ Owl at FAU, has seen how his club has become a safe place for On a wet Friday afternoon in West vets. “Sometimes one of us will jump Palm Beach Fla., he sits in his black when we hear a loud noise,” Sheppa Adidas track suit, eating doughy said. “But then we sit down and joke cafeteria pizza next to a leaking ceiling. about it because we have all had those Though this is just another average moments.” college lunch day, a year ago, Robert “Vets have a certain experience that Thompson, a senior organizational 99.9 percent of people their own age management major at Palm Beach don’t have,” said Thompson, Atlantic University, was eating who is also an officer of the pizza in a different setting: “You see them with nice cars, club. Thompson is in charge in bed at the Walter Reed but they are not going to have a of gathering all available Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. leg. They don’t realize the money resources in West Palm for the vets that join Thompson suffered two coming in needs to last a long Beach the club at PBA. concussion injuries during time.” Roger Chapman, his two tours oversees when associate professor of he was in the Army. The history at Palm Beach first, in Afghanistan, got him - Thompson Atlantic University, can transferred from the combat relate to student veterans. arms unit to logistics. The Chapman attended college other, in Iraq, was the one that sent him to Walter Reed for 14 to overcome feelings of isolation, after serving as an Army Ranger. To months, three of which were spent in shutting himself off from the world this day, he can remember the serial treatment and the rest waiting to hear for a year. “When you get back, numbers on his weapons and recite back if he would return to the armed you’re not on the same page. You feel the Ranger Creed. detached,” Young said. “PBA is fortunate to have the services. Brandon Sheppa, student veteran’s presence of these veterans,” Chapman A survey by the Pew Research Center found that 54 percent of resource assistant at Florida Atlantic injured veterans found it hard to University, shared a similar experience. “In military service, you’re always there readjust back into civilian life. “In an odd way, I was lucky for each other,” Sheppa said. “When since I was in hospital for so long,” you first come back, you are on your Thompson said. Thompson is a own.” “When people get in, they don’t native of Washington D.C. When he was admitted to Walter Reed, he was know if they are going to enjoy it,” surrounded by family and friends who Thompson said. “But they end up provided him with support through enjoying it so much, that, when they his recovery and transition from get out, it feels like something is missing.” military life to civilian life. Apart from feeling a loss of Everyone at the hospital did not have as much support as Thompson. camaraderie, many soldiers have to “Most of the people there were kids, deal with the psychological baggage like a lot of the kids in this cafeteria of traumatic experiences due to war. right now,” Thompson said surveying The Pew Research Center reports the cafeteria. “Being 26 at the time, I that 56 percent of returning vets who have suffered a traumatic experience was one of the older ones. “A lot of the kids are immature have had flashbacks or repeated vivid when they come out. They don’t know memories. A friend of Young’s developed Post how to manage the money coming Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in,” Thompson continued. “You see them with nice cars, but they are not after serving and attempted to commit going to have a leg. They don’t realize suicide. One in five soldiers returning the money coming in needs to last a from Iraq suffers from PTSD, according to Healmyptsd, a group long time.” Thompson also said working in created to spread the message of
said. “They have stories to tell, wisdom to share. They know that life is not a frivolous game, so they bring a maturity level that exceeds that of the average undergraduate. “This harmonizes with true Christianity: the New Testament teaches us to sacrifice, carry our cross, and to die to self, all of which requires a mature mental state. So, our veterans offer that kind of example. “At the same time, these veterans need the support and love and respect of the larger student body,” Chapman continued. “Both the veterans and the non-veterans have something to give, something to gain.” Young appreciates the sense of community he has found at PBA. Though he grew up in the church, Young feels that his relationship with God intensified after serving in the military. Young hopes to offer his perspectives to the club. Though the transition to civilian life has its difficulties, Thompson believes that letting go is just one step to readjusting. “It’s important to gain new experiences and keep the good stuff,” he said. “You’re slammed together with people of different races, maturities, levels. I will remember these guys for the rest of my life. Every single one. Dead or alive. Every tour. Every mission. You get to know these people. I had a great 9 ½ years.”