Dallas-Fort Worth veterans feel conflicted as they transition back into the classroom

by Lena Dirbashi

Photo by Lena Dirbashi

(From left) University of North Texas Veterans Center Director Harvey Spears, Cary Ziegler, and Devin Townsend meet frequently to discuss ways to enhance veteran experiences at UNT.

DENTON — Nearly a half-million veterans in the U.S are going back to school this fall, many likely in response to new provisions added to the GI Bill, allowing for the largest increase in veterans' benefits since World War II.

Universities like North Texas saw an increase of more than 600 veterans joining their classrooms. Veterans under the new GI Bill receive full tuition paid directly to the university – a convenience since the money used to come in the form of a check to the individual.

Tarrant County Community Colleges (TCCC) are also experiencing drastic increases in veterans enrolling this semester. The Northwest campus is seeing the highest number on record -- with almost 1,500.

In the past, many veterans considered dropping out of college because they were unable to find assistance, according to Laura Wood, professor of military history and counselor at TCCC.

The new provision of the GI Bill, known as the post-9/11 GI Bill or chapter 33, caters to those who served at least 90 days of total service on or after September 10, 2001. It came into effect August 1, 2009, and the federal aid offered is a vast improvement. For example, veteran students receive more than $1,000 a month in the form of a stipend, in addition to money on the side for books.

Wood is hopeful that the new GI Bill will decrease drop out rates and to make up for the past shortfall. “Many of them are very good students and tend to be very dedicated with high attendance – this opportunity means a lot,” she says.

The bill assists veterans who want to enter or complete undergraduate, graduate, and/or technical training. Local veterans may select any state-sponsored school or institution listed under the Texas Colleges website . Some private schools, like Southern Methodist University, have also jumped on the bandwagon through what is called The Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision under the GI Bill that allocates slots for veteran students in some of their programs.

Photo by Lena Dirbashi

Director Harvey Spears founded the Veterans Center at UNT and arranges weekly meetings with veteran students.

Harvey Spears, UNT Veteran Center director and a veteran student himself, talked about the struggles after coming back from more than 20 years of service at the age of 41. He served all over the world in 23 countries and is now bound to a wheelchair. But when he came back to look for jobs in early 2006, he had a much harder time than expected.

“Every job I applied for I was told I needed a degree,” he said. Spears enrolled at UNT a few months after “everyone kept rejecting” him.

Now an organizational behavior and human resource management major at UNT, Spears has had positive experience so far, and feels his presence and background benefits the classroom. “I’ve lived in some of the history they are learning about,” he said. “I add a unique perspective since I looked at the world from different eyes and most never left the town they were raised in.”

But Spears is the exception to the rule. Many veterans have difficulty interacting with their classmates, according to Professor Wood. She says they feel frustrated particularly when discussions of current events arise. “Vets are thinking, ‘I’ve been to places that these students have no idea of’, and they’re uncomfortable discussing these experiences in class,” she said.

Cary Ziegler, a veteran student and a junior majoring in international studies at UNT, sometimes doesn't enjoy the classes she’s in. “The students can be very naïve, very young, and say some things,” she said. “Now I just try to laugh and remember everyone was naïve at one point in their life.”

And it’s not just the classmates that are naïve, Spears says. Some of the theories presented in his organizational behavior textbook he finds troubling, particularly those about team behavior. “These theories say take care of yourself first, but in the military, it’s take care of your troops and they’ll take care of you.”

He applies this theory on campus to reach out to other veteran students. With university support, Spears started the Student Veteran’s Association on campus with Ziegler as co-officer. Spears said most veterans don't know about their educational benefits, so he is glad UNT cooperated when he noticed a need.

He's passionate about helping fellow veterans, a lesson learned from years in the Navy. “In our world, we take care of our people,” he said.