Veteran student reveals lack of academic representation

Harry Scott
Staff Writer

Staff Sergeant Derek John Farley died from wounds on Aug. 17, 2010 after his team responded to a roadside bomb in Bala Boluk, Farah, Afghanistan. The improvised explosive device exploded when SSG Farley attempted to render it safe.

While Hudson Valley has a long history of serving veteran students, Carrie Farley, program assistant for building systems technology and mother of fallen Marine Derek Farley, questioned if they did enough.

“We have the highest number of vets attending this college, yet we do not have a full-time veteran representative here on staff,” Farley said. “Saint Rose College, for example, has a full-time person in charge of veteran enrollment and a very strong support system.”

Farley continued, “It was back in 2006, before my son died, that with the help of one other person I started the Armed Forces Club. One of the reasons why is that I saw the Iraq vets coming to the campus and saw that they needed representation just like any other group.”

The Armed Forces Club is no longer active. Though, according to Hudson Valley Assistant Registrar Ian LaChance, there are over 300 veteran students attending the school this year — and that’s only counting those using specific VA support to pay for their education. That means the number might be much higher.

“We hover between 300-350 veteran students using benefits,” LaChance said. “We’re responsible for certifying and processing all of their information so we can meet the VA requirements.”

LaChance added he has tried to streamline the process for veterans enrolling at Hudson Valley. The registrar’s office does keep the necessary VA forms on hand and provides assistance in filling them out because, according to LaChance, “It’s a four-page application, and it can be dense.”

“Personally, I didn’t even know the school had anything to do with veterans at all,” said Josh Coon, a Marine veteran who attends Hudson Valley. “If they put it on media, like here are some easier ways to what you should have before you come here, then we might all have an easier time.”

Coon continued, “Just figuring out how to start the process is another thing, and it’s very difficult.”

After being encouraged by friends and family, Coon jumped in and says he’s had an overall good experience.

To Coon, it sounded funny to say, but he felt many veterans were afraid of college, even though they had already done things that most college students couldn’t even imagine.

“I don’t know about everybody, but I know for me it was a fear sort of thing, afraid to fail at school because I never did good at high school,” he said. “I don’t know if I’ll be good enough for college, and that was one of those things that stuck with me.”
He continued, “Getting information out there to vets that you can do it, you can succeed, would probably help a lot. Considering I just learned today that there even is a veteran study room and some of the history of Hudson Valley, I don’t think they have enough information out.”

Coon suggested veterans share a connection that may help ease them into ordinary life.

“Veterans often have more in common, so [we] might be able to connect more easily, and that applies not only to the connections between us but [also] in our transition over to civilian life,” he noted.

Farley agreed with that notion but recognized that supporting veterans was not only the responsibility of college staffers.

“Ultimately, the veterans should be making a stink about the lack of representation because that’s what it will take to change it,” Farley said. “If there was a place they could meet, if for nothing else than to share how they are using their benefits, even that could help.”

One of Farley’s unofficial titles is “Veteran Ma,” and it’s easy to understand why, as she added, “My door is always open to vets. They come in here and close the door and rant. That has happened, and that’s what this office is really all about.”
LaChance acknowledged more could be done and recognized many veterans have particular challenges to overcome.

“I think a lot of it is assimilating (adjusting) into a different kind of culture,” LaChance said.

LaChance suggested while some veterans can struggle to find their place, an educated staff could meet more of those needs.

“I think definitely that training for college personnel is important on the issues that student veterans can face. I think as long as employees are aware of the services that we offer to student veterans on campus, and that they know where to refer that student, I think that could go a long way,” he said.