Students Establish SMC Veterans and Allies Club

Two veteran students have created a new Veterans and Allies Club on campus. Kevin Marshall ’19 and Brandon Buckman ’18 hope to have the constitution and charter for the club approved by Associated Students soon and will hold a flag- planting ceremony on at noon on Veterans Day, Nov. 12.

“I noticed there didn’t seem to be any outlet for us vets to kick back add chat,” said Marshall, newly elected president of the club and an Army veteran. “We recognized the need for giving vets an outreach at Saint Mary’s, and this seemed like the right time to do it.”

“We’re also trying to be inclusive to those who aren’t veterans but who consider themselves allies,” said Marshall, a Navy veteran.

“The allies portion is really powerful to the group,” said Student Involvement and Leadership’s Simón Londoño. “They’re trying to approach it from a professional development and networking approach, such as, Is there a way we can reach out to alumni? How can we expand our scope?”

Marshall says they’ve got a good group of people to start. “There are about 16 members already, and they rotate in and out. Our veteran population is about 71 on campus, and we’re trying to reach out to everyone we can.” Marshall says the group’s first event will be the flag planting on Veterans Day, for all individuals on campus who draw on veteran benefits. “We ultimately decided on running the event in a more ceremonial style to be held at 12 p.m. on Nov. 12 in the Veterans Garden, in between Dante and Oliver Hall,” Marshall said. “There are five benches, one for each branch [of the military].” For more information about the club and event, contact Marshall at kwm2@stmarys-ca.edu.