UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A student veteran panel discussion, “Stupid Things Good People Say,” will take place on Nov. 13, as part of Penn State’s Military Appreciation Week. The panel will take place from 5:15 to 8:30 p.m. in Foster Auditorium in Paterno Library at University Park and is free for Penn State students, faculty and staff and members of the community. Registration is not required, and a social hour will follow the panel for further conversation.
The panel is one in a series of events taking place during Penn State’s Military Appreciation Week from Nov. 8-16 celebrating America’s Greatest Generation and honoring the service and sacrifice of service members, veterans and military families.
This panel — co-sponsored by Student Disability Resources — will invite Penn State veteran students from the Penn State Veterans Organization (PSUVO) to share their experiences when encountering civilians’ questions, presumptions and stereotypes. Through open dialogue with veterans and audience members, the goal is to promote an atmosphere where individuals are comfortable asking questions and exploring new topics.
“We hope the event will be a way for us to connect more with other students — we never want students to feel alienated or afraid to talk to us,” said Kyle Larson, president of PSUVO. “We want the event to be an open environment where students, faculty, staff and community members can ask us questions and understand that we are just normal students like everyone else, but with a different background.”
Today, more than 5,600 Penn State students use the GI Bill as either an active-duty service member, a reservist, veteran or military dependent, across all of the University’s campuses.
Larson, who served in the military from 2013 to 2017, has served as president of PSUVO since coming to Penn State to student Labor and Employment Relations. In the role, he strives to create opportunities for student veterans at Penn State to connect with one another, as well as the larger student body. This fall, PSUVO also will help organize the annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Old Main on Nov. 11.
For more information about the panel conversation, contact Larson at kml6209@psu.edu.
Military appreciation at Penn State
Penn State has consistently been recognized as a military-friendly school and has a longstanding and proud tradition of serving the men and women of our military through education benefits, resources, support and more. To help support events organized by the Penn State Military Appreciation Committee, visit http://c-fund.us/mz2. Visit militaryappreciation.psu.edu for more information.