Campus Connection

Event and book project connect civilians with student veterans

Student veterans in a UW-Stevens Point class were encouraged to write their own military stories which were collected in the book, “See Me For Who I Am.” The class instructor and editor of the book, David Chrisinger, will present from 1:30-3:30 p.m. April 6, in 3120 Student Union. The presentation will include a one-hour question and answer session with a panel of UWL veterans and current service members. Chrisinger will share how the book came to be, as well as its success and how it helped the veteran students emotionally. “Students were tired of being stereotyped or tired of being misunderstood, so I challenged them to tell me who they were — tell me what you want civilians to know,” says Chrisinger in a Wisconsin Public Television video. “They wrote these amazing essays that eventually turned into our edited collection.” The event aims to connect UWL faculty and staff with UWL’s veteran/service member population, says Kevin Leque, UWL veteran’s education benefits coordinator. “The hope is that everyone feels more comfortable and at ease in classes and here on campus,” says Leque. For more information, contact the UWL Veteran Educational Benefits Office at 608.785.8631 or email uwlveted@uwlax.edu. Learn more about David Chrisinger’s class and “See Me For Who I Am” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgKflgdHe98