Officers of National Student Veterans Group to Visit University of Arkansas Classes

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Matt Randle and Dan Standage

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Two officers of the national Student Veterans of America, a coalition of student veterans groups on college campuses across the globe, will visit the University of Arkansas campus on Thursday, Oct. 2, to meet with students, visit classes and participate in a panel discussion on issues facing veterans who return from active duty and enroll in higher education.

The challenges student veterans face may range from a missing sense of camaraderie to feeling like an outsider among traditional students to a lack of understanding by the campus community. When coupled with the visible and invisible wounds of war, a college degree can be an elusive goal for those returning from military service. Student Veterans of America chapters are the "boots on the ground” that help veterans reintegrate into campus life and succeed academically.

Matt Randle, the organization’s national chief operating officer, and Dan Standage, director of disability services in education, will address these challenges during their visit. The events are part of the university’s 2014-15 One Book, One Community project featuring Karl Marlante’s What It Is Like to Go to War.

A former combat medic in the United States Army, Randle served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, receiving seven medals for his achievements and conduct.  After his discharge, Randle earned a Bachelor of Science in family studies and human development and a Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona.  A subject matter expert, his commentary on veteran reintegration has been featured in programs on CNN and NBC and in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the New York Times and USA Today.

Standage joined the Marines at age 17, received basic combat and landing support training and has been stationed at Camp Pendleton, California; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Okinawa, Japan; and Quantico, Virginia.  Shortly after leaving Okinawa, Standage began experiencing severe headaches that ultimately led to a series of misdiagnoses over the course of his active duty eventually resulting in permanent blindness.

Standage ultimately earned a Bachelor of Science in rehabilitation and a Master of Arts in blind rehabilitation from the University of Arizona, which has honored him by establishing the Dan Standage Award, given annually to the student veteran who mostly strongly dedicates himself or herself to the service of other student veterans.

 In addition to speaking to classes, Randle and Standage will join members of the University of Arkansas SVA chapter for a panel discussion at 6:30 p.m.  Thursday, Oct. 2 in rooms 503-504 of the Arkansas Union. Erika Gamboa, director of the university’s Veterans’ Resource Center, will moderate and the public is invited to attend.

Faculty who would like to invite Randle and Standage to speak to their classes may contact David Jolliffe at 479-575-2289 or djollif@uark.edu.

This will be the university’s sixth year of the One Book, One Community project, which encourages the university and surrounding community to read the same book and come together to discuss it in a variety of settings. Students enrolled in the University Perspectives course and several other classes will read, discuss and write about What It's Like to Go to War as part of their course assignments.