In honor of Veterans Day, a program at International House on Tuesday, Nov. 11 will recognize UChicago students, faculty member and staff members who have served in the military.
But the recognition of veterans will hardly stop there—and will only gain momentum in the weeks and months to follow. That’s because the gathering represents the latest step in a years-long effort to build community and camaraderie among University veterans.
To that end, three former servicemen with connections to UChicago will lead a panel that will focus on creating a dynamic, positive climate for veterans across campus.
“Our goal is to have a discussion between the audience and members of the military on stage, including myself,” said Josh Cannon, a former Marine now working on his PhD in Near Eastern Archaeology at UChicago. “We want to see what we can do to support veterans at the University.”
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By “we,” Cannon means not just his comrades in uniform, but the University population as a whole. He’s looking forward to hearing ideas, feedback and observations from those who attend the event, put on by the Office of the Provost and UChicago’s Veterans Outreach Committee.
“I’m trying to serve my fellow veterans by making campus life more vibrant, more communicative,” said Cannon, who served as an Arabic linguist during two Iraq tours from 2000 to 2005. He said the bond that veterans on campus share can be intense and life-changing, but it’s hard for them to find each other. “We don’t yet have a common forum as friends.”
That soon may change, thanks in part to Steve Khanoyan, a second-year graduate student at the Harris School of Public Policy. In four years in the Navy, Khanoyan served on two at-sea commands, with assignments that included drug intervention in South America. He also worked on a presidential protection detail and was deployed to the Middle East in 2010.
As a second panelist, Khanoyan is bringing a Student Veterans of America chapter to the UChicago campus and organizing a registered student organization to help plan and hold special events for those once in uniform.
The third participant in the Veterans Day forum is Lee Haney, a Naval Academy graduate who served five years in the Marine Corps as a counterintelligence and human intelligence officer in Iraq and Afghanistan. Haney is finishing his MBA at the Chicago Booth School of Business and already occupies an important place there in veteran life. Haney co-chairs Booth’s Armed Forces Group, which manages corporate partnerships, mentors veteran applicants, and advises veteran students in the career research process.
Cannon notes that Booth has set a benchmark in leadership that could well pave the way for future efforts across campus. “The veterans at Booth participate in volunteer events across the broader Chicago community, such as working at soup kitchens or the V.A. They’re a great example of what we’d like to do at the University as a whole.”
Yet much already has been accomplished, both in terms of awareness campus-wide and outreach to UChicago veterans. Beginning in 2009, the University began focus groups and one-on-one discussions with veterans about perceptions of attitudes, general climate and interests regarding an outreach initiative.
Fast forward to November 2012, when Cannon was one of the service personnel featured in “How I Served: An Archival Collection of Veterans’ Stories.” The assembly of writings, photos and letters was unveiled in an exhibition and program at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts.
Yet so much more has happened in the interim. Cannon singles out Aneesah Ali, UChicago’s associate provost and affirmative action officer, as the driving force. “Aneesah’s goal from the beginning has been to draw veterans out of potential isolation into community,” said Cannon.
As UChicago’s veterans programs and activities keep building momentum, Ali is focused on what lies ahead. “This initiative stands out in this really special way,” she said. “To my knowledge it’s one of the few programs that crosses the traditional silos of individuals: It’s students, staff, academics and others associated with the University. The veteran identity crosses occupational, age and cultural divides.”
Ali notes that the changes afoot will far outlive this year’s Veterans Day presentation. “This is how you begin to transform an institution,” she said. “You build structures that will be in place long after the individuals who create them are gone. It’s exciting to see students take initiative to create these lasting entities.”
“Building Community: UChicago Student Veteran Groups” takes place Tuesday, Nov. 11, from noon to 2 p.m. at the International House Assembly Hall, 1414 East 59th St.
—Prof. Kunle Odunsi
