“We first moved into a student center two years ago,” said Roger Perkins, director of the Veterans Support Center. “It was 415-square-feet on the first floor of the Union. Out of 415-square-feet, we had to service over 900 students.”
Perkins said with the assistance of U president David Pershing they were able to move into the new space within two years.
The new center is 2100 square-feet and is located on the fourth floor of the Union. It offers the same services as before, plus new services and social activities such as a free coffee bar, a computer lab with free printing, a lounge for veterans and advisors to help students process their GI bills.
“Literally, the last place was smaller than this area where we are now,” said Cory Boren, a veteran and a sophomore in electrical engineering. “It’s nice to be able to converse with fellow members without sitting on each other’s lap.”
The center also has a conference room where students can study.
Perkins said the center has seen an increase of visitors since the new location opened.
“We had 12 people in here the first day — 12 students at one time. If we had 12 people in our place the last time, the fire marshal would have been all over us,” Perkins said.
The center was given $107,000 by the U to cover construction. The center also received a grant of $100,000 from the I.J. & Jeanne Wagner Charitable Foundation.
I.J. Wagner is a former marine who served on Iwo Jima during World War II, Perkins said.
“Getting this cost us about $150,000 to build and furnish, which isn’t bad,” Perkins said. “We’re very careful as to what we spend on and how the money was put to use. And it worked out pretty well.”
With the remaining money, the Center plans to paint an American flag mural on the wall and purchase a battlefield cross, which is a helmet on top of a rifle, “as a shrine to both those who did not come back and those who did,” Perkins said.
Annie Christensen, former dean of students, has a new office located within the veteran Center. She has recently been placed in charge of a new initiative focused on increasing women’s graduation rates at the U. Perkins said he is looking forward to her assistance recruiting and retaining female veterans on campus.
Christensen said Utah hasin the nation who complete their associate degree, but one of the lowest who complete their bachelors degree.
“I’ll be working with Roger [Perkins],” Christensen said. “We’re excited about increasing the traffic of women veterans in this office and also encourage them to come to this university. I think they are a really inspirational and talented group of people.”
Christensen said there are about 200 female veterans at the U.
Perkins said he is looking forward to the new opportunities the center will provide and all the extra space for the veteran social lounge.
“Here we have a larger space. We probably have 200-square-feet out there we can use for a lounge area. We’re getting two couches, two chairs, coffee table and end table,” Perkins said.