VOLUME 15 ISSUE 10 | WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY| FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015
Veteran Success Center supports ex-military students
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Western falls to University of Alaska Anchorage 61-79
BY ALLISON OPSON CLEMENT NEWS EDITOR The Veteran Success Center helps college students who’ve served in the military connect to each other and find resources they need. It offers a space for the variety of presentations and meetings it hosts, as well as a hang-out area. The center opened its own location in the Werner University Center earlier this year, and is growing as a resource to student veterans. “There does need to be something out there for student veterans,” said Veterans Coordinator Kyle Rodgers. “College is hard for anybody.” With the added challenges vets face re-entering academia, it’s important that they have somewhere to turn when they need help, he explained. A 2012 study by the Colorado Workforce Development Council estimates that 3 percent of student veterans graduate from university; 88 percent drop out within their first year. Rodgers says that those numbers may not an entirely accurate reflection of current trends, at Western in particular, but noted that such reports can highlight a major problem that needs to be addressed. “Some of the stuff is pretty minor,” Rodgers said of the challenges student veterans have to deal with. “But then, some of the stuff is pretty serious.” Cody Knight, veteran liaison, said that the age and experience gap between traditional students fresh out of high school and military veterans can create a huge divide. The Veteran Success Center helps people navigate their GI Bill benefits gaps and caveats, which may have a significant impact on the ability of a veteran to continue their education. Student veterans are supposed to have a full ride to college, and yet their drop-out rates are consistently above average, in some cases by a wide margin. By and large, Rodgers said, the GI Bill is still a big advantage, but negotiating through it takes some work. “All that stuff kind of compounds,” Rodgers said. The center can help bridge the gap to success. There are hundreds of programs to support veterans, and he can tell them where to look. Drop in support groups and other meetings are held on Tuesday. Along with Rodgers, two work study students are paid by the VA. All three are veterans. According to Knight, more people are coming in this term, now that news of the Veteran Success Center on campus is spreading. CENTER PAGE 2 >>
Growing English tutoring program serves international students well at college BY ALI ALJOHANI FREELANCER
Guard Jordan Mottershaw attempts a 3-pointer during last night’s game against University of Anchorage. The Wolves lost 61-79. See PAGE 5 for a round-up of winter break games. PHOTO BY MATTHEW COULTER
With international student enrollment rising, Western created an English Tutoring Center (ETC) last fall to help non-native speakers of English practice their language skills. Last term, tutors provided 160 hours of assistance to 59 individuals, who visited the ETC a total of 153 times. According to Dr. Robert Troyer, linguistics professor and director of the ETC, international students need support for the reading, researching, speaking, and listening demands of other classes and FOR MORE INFO of informal situations. He said WHAT: that the ETC is Free English language meant to protutoring vide whatever English help WHO: students want, International students from help with and other non-native assignments to English speakers conversation practice. WHERE & WHEN: Western had 12 to 5 p.m. Monday to 351 internaThursday in APSC 501, tional students and 7 to 10 p.m. Monday enrolled this fall. to Thursday in room 228 Most have taken in the library (by drop-in English classes or appointment) with professors who focus on the understanding of the language, but the professors in university classes focus on the topic. As a result, some international students have a hard time getting the information from their classes. “Our international students enter WOU often with little exposure to English outside of English classes for language learners,” Troyer said. TUTORING PAGE 8 >>
IN THIS ISSUE ENTERTAINMENT
CAMPUS LIFE
New Year’s Eve injuries and misfortunes PAGE 6
FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Runaway trains and livestock mishaps PAGE 3
CAMPUS LIFE Open mic night PAGE 2
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