Thomas Jefferson School of Law now has a chapter of Student Veterans of America (SVA), a national organization.
The president of the new Jefferson Chapter of the SVA is 2L Nicole Heffel, a Navy veteran who took the initiative to get the TJSL chapter rolling.
“When I first started here I was fresh off of Active Duty and found myself having some difficulties transitioning from a military mindset to a law student mind set,” said Heffel. “The SVA is about Veterans helping Veterans. I have received a tremendous amount of support from the staff, faculty and students here at TJ and I couldn't be happier.”
“We have a large number of active duty servicemen and women and vets at TJSL among students staff and faculty,” said USMC veteran Professor K.J. Greene, who urged Heffel to start the chapter and is the faculty advisor. “We want TJSL to be the school that supports vets and service people and to welcome and honor them in every way possible.”
“TJSL has undertaken two prominent initiatives to recognize our veterans,” said Professor Bill Slomanson, a Navy veteran. “The first is servicing their needs through our Veteran’s Clinic. The second is TJSL’s new veterans organization. Our community may now acknowledge the sacrifices that TJSL’s active duty and reserve personnel are making, so that none of us have to make the ultimate sacrifice one of them may have to make. “
In fact, TJSL has a long tradition of enrolling veterans at the law school and the fall 2011 entering class has twice the number of veterans, active-duty and reserve personnel as a year ago. There are 41 of them among the new 1L’s -- with Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard all represented.
The Jefferson Chapter of the SVA is now planning a special event for Veterans Day in November.
“One hopes that all members of the TJSL community will support this new organization—in the context of an overdue ‘thank you’ to TJSL’s past and current military population,” said Professor Slomanson.
Here is a link to the SVA Chapter’s website: http://www.studentveterans.org/jeffersonlaw/