September 30, 2011
 Temple University Ambler Student Government President David Diaz has taken on a daily task close to his heart, a task that none of the presidents that came before him had an opportunity to undertake.
Each morning, Diaz opens a doorway in Bright Hall that he sees as a gateway to essential information and resources for himself and his fellow veteran students at Temple — the newly established Veteran Students Suite in Bright Hall.
“I think opening this space is an important initiative — it shows that Temple is invested in its veteran population, that there is a place specifically for us,” said Diaz, 26, a combat veteran in Iraq who served in the U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Aircraft Group 49 as a 2nd Class Petty Officer and continues to serve in the Reserves. “That’s not something you’re going to find at every institution.”
According to Laura Reddick, Associate Director for Adult and Veteran Student Recruitment, the idea “is to create one stop shops” at Temple University Ambler and at Main Campus for veterans to receive important information and meet with representatives from Academic Advising, Financial Aid, Student Financial Services, and Career Services; meet with fellow veterans through the Temple Veterans Association; network job opportunities; and more.
“We worked closely with Dr. Wanda Lewis-Campbell in Ambler’s Office of Student Life to transform this space for use by our veteran students. It’s an ideal location in Ambler’s primary student building and situated closely to the offices of the campus student government, program board, student newspaper, and student radio station” she said. “It’s a space that is meant to serve multiple purposes, from a quiet study space, meeting space, or luncheon space, to a location that students can use computers and printers for their assignments or to research the resources available to them not just at Temple but throughout the region and beyond.”
 Dr. Lewis-Campbell said she wants to ensure that veterans returning to the classroom know that “Student Life is available for them, too, if they choose to go in that direction.
“We’ve had veterans in student leadership positions, in our Leadership Seminar, and as active participants in our events and programs,” she said. “We want to ensure their inclusion in all we offer.”
Diaz said he is happy to act as a “veteran ambassador” for other students who are finding the new Veteran Students Suite for the first time.
“I think I’ve become pretty well versed in the processes here at Temple and that’s information that I’m happy to share. I look forward to meeting and interacting with other veterans at Ambler, Main Campus, and throughout the Temple system,” said Diaz, 26, a junior majoring in history and psychology. “It’s a very welcoming environment that I hope veterans on campus take full advantage of. I think it’s important to connect with other students who have lived through what you have, that have shared experiences — there’s a bond, a true camaraderie.”
Reddick said the ultimate goal of initiatives like the Ambler Veteran Students Suite is to “provide quality service while helping veteran students make a smooth transition from military life to the college classroom.”
“An essential part of that is ensuring that our veteran students know what resources are out there so they can get those tools working for them to help them get the most out of their time at Temple,” she said. “I think opening the veterans suite at Ambler this semester is a great step, something we can build from as we continually strive to provide the best support for our veteran students.”
For more information about the Veteran Students Suite, contact Laura Reddick at 267-468-8102, 215-204-6130 or laura.reddick@temple.edu. For more information about veteran resources at Temple, visit www.temple.edu/veterans.
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