New director of Veterans Resource Center selected
The Veterans Resource Center at Central Michigan University started off the 2015 school year under new command.
The VRC serves veterans, active military and spouses or dependents of active military and veterans. Services provided include creating social networks, transitioning from active duty to student life and assisting with benefits at CMU.
U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Duane Kleinhardt assumed the position of Veterans’ Resource Center Director last week. Kleinhardt has been deployed twice, first to Guantanamo Bay in 2004 and then to Kuwait and Iraq in 2010.
“The only thing right off the bat that we want to change is to get more student veterans at CMU and involved in Student Veterans of America,” Kleinhardt said.
Steve Rellinger, former director for the VRC, said he has full confidence in Kleinhardt’s ability to progress the center.
“The minute the (veterans) walk in that office, they are going to meet another veteran,” Rellinger said. “That speaks volumes to their comfort with that environment. Here is somebody who has been there, done that, and gets it.”
Nick Badgero, a senior who served four active years in the Marines, is the peer adviser lead for the Peer Advisors for Veteran Education program.
Badgero said he would like to see several changes made to the VRC which include developing a better system to reach female veterans, updating their website and remodeling the VRC office or moving to a larger one.
“The VRC has three chairs and is about seven and a half feet at its widest point in the room,” Badgero said. “When more then four veterans come in, or one whole family, we usually have no space for them.”
The VRC is located in Warriner Hall, room 114. Their hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and also by appointment.
