The University’s Veteran and Military Student Services opened its new student center in 318 Hatcher Hall on Friday, providing a space to students who did not previously have one to call their own.
The center will serve the University’s more than 400 veterans, active duty military, men and women in the military reserves and national guard members as well as their dependents to hold meetings, receive counseling and advising and study, said Adam Jennings, coordinator for the Veteran and Military Student Services, a division of Student Life and Enrollment.
Jennings said the center will be open for students on weekdays and special occasions and will focus on helping student veterans transition into civilian life.
The center was formed with the help of grants and $10,000 from the Home Depot Foundation, Jennings said. They will be buying computers with part of what is left of the money, adding to the functionality of the study room in the student center.
“This space is the first step as we develop comprehensive support and services for veterans, active duty military, reservists and dependents,” said Darrell Ray, assistant vice chancellor for Student Life. “It also provides a foundation for educating our campus community on the rich military history of LSU.”
When Nick Trapani, president of the Student Veterans of LSU, came to the University after 8 1/2 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, he didn’t know anyone and had trouble connecting to people.
Trapani said his first semester at the University was rough, and he didn’t want another veteran to go through what he did. He wants them to be able to connect with others.
One of the hardest things for veterans going to the University, Trapani said, was connecting and relating to other students because they lived such different lives and had so many experiences the typical University student coming right out of high school hasn’t had.
The Student Veterans have meetings twice a week during the semester, tailgates during football season and crawfish boils, Trapani said. There are usually about 40 to 50 members at each meeting, but Trapani said he was in contact with about 100 veterans each week.
LSU President F. King Alexander said he wanted the University to be one of the best schools for veterans and invited those who were graduating this year to his house for a dinner. Alexander said the student center was the first step in providing better services for students who have served the country.

Gallery • 2 Photos

Angela Major

A poster with photos of student veterans is set up Friday, April 25, 2014, during the opening of the new Student Veterans Center in Hatcher Hall.