FAYETTEVILLE — The creation of the nation’s first Veterans of Foreign Wars post on a university campus hinges on its organizers’ ability to create an auxiliary group that meets requirements set by the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
“We’ll make sure we’re within our guidelines and make sure we’re in state, federal guidelines so we’ll all have one happy family,” said Steve Milbourn, commander of Post 1674 in Siloam Springs.
Milbourn, also a district VFW commander, and Gary Wellesley, a state junior vice commander, are working with UA student Matthew Wright, a soon-to-be medically retired U.S. Air Force staff sergeant, to establish the post.
The effort to start such a post has been under way for at least two years, Milbourn said. He said other student veterans were involved in the process before Wright but he has since taken the lead.
Wright is pursuing a degree in business finance with plans to attend law school. He said he joined Milbourn’s post for the camaraderie of others with combat experience but now wants to form a campus post to bridge an age gap between younger and older veterans.
The three met last week with J. Judd Harbin, an associate dean of students at UA, and Robyn Barthel, assistant director for registered student organizations.
Barthel said students can’t be barred from joining any registered student organization unless there is an equal alternative. For example, fraternities and sororities can choose members based solely on their sex because an equivalent organization exists, she said.
That’s why the veterans group must also form a post auxiliary so the equal alternative requirement can be met, she said.
Wright said he had met with the administrators previously but couldn’t find a way to establish a post with the necessary membership criteria without violating university anti-discrimination policies.
Wellesley said that Veterans of Foreign Wars auxiliaries limit membership to those with specific relationships to veterans who qualify for the VFW. Those relationships include parents and grandchildren, he said.
However, Barthel said organizations can craft a belief statement as a membership requirement, and that could be used to ensure the auxiliary complies with the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ requirements.
Milbourn said he expects to have the statement ready to present to the university in a week or so but must send it through the VFW’s leadership. He said he is confident the post will happen, though it’s taking longer than initially hoped.
Wright said that while a minimum of six students can form a new registered student organization, 35 people are needed to charter the post, of which 25 must be new members. He said the group will host a meeting once the registered student organization is formed.
Wellesley, the state VFW junior vice commander, said that once recruiting begins to charter the post, it will have 60 days to enroll 35 members. Once the post is chartered, he said, he hopes it will be open to the entire University of Arkansas System and alumni.
Harbin, the associate dean of students, said there will be limitations on alumni and other nonstudent members, though they can be included.
Wright said he wants the post to be a place for camaraderie, as well as an outlet for volunteering. He said there are plenty of opportunities for public service, such as the Fayetteville Veterans Home, where there are plenty of people who just need conversation.
Creating a post on campus also will help the Veterans of Foreign Wars maintain its membership into the future, Wright said.
“This is how to get more guys like me involved and keep the VFW alive, out of respect for it,” he said.
Arkansas, Pages 10 on 04/05/2012