More than 500 military veterans are enrolled at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, the largest such student population in the City University of New York, making Veterans Day more than just another date on the calendar on campus.
The 2016 observance began one day ahead of the national Nov. 11 celebration with a “Talk to the Troops” panel discussion that featured faculty, staff and students talking about their shared and unique experiences both in and out of the military. Discussing the transition from military to civilian life, one student on the panel noted, “At John Jay, I felt very much welcomed.”
That sense of belonging speaks to the College’s designation as a “Military Friendly School” by Victory Media, and a previous No. 3 “Best for Vets” ranking by Military Times magazine. The Office of Military and Veteran Services, under the direction of former Navy chaplain Richard Pusateri, is John Jay’s nerve center when it comes to providing for its student veterans. The John Jay College Foundation Board of Trustees does its part through a Veterans Committee chaired by trustee Peter J. Beshar.
Said Pusateri, who is himself a 30 year veteran of the Navy, “Veterans are aware that John Jay has a great history and commitment to public service, whether it’s working for the police, in federal government, or in social work, and it draws them here. If you’re a veteran you know you’ve got friends, an advisor, and people there for you when you’re having a bad day. We’re the real deal.”
The Veterans Day observance included a message wall on which students could write and post their thoughts on honoring and recognizing military veterans.
U.S. Army veteran Miguelina “Miggie” Garcia, a junior at John Jay, has been working during the run-up to Election Day as an intern at Common Cause Election Protection, helping to ensure that voters are registered properly and are able to make it to the polls, despite any obstacles they might face. Read her story here.
Click here for more information on the Office of Military and Veterans Services.
