A safe haven for veterans
By Mike Sims
Of the Emerald
Steve Tice asserts
that there aren’t
many safe places in
America for
Vietnam-era
veterans — safe in
the sense that vets
can comfortably
learn to accept their
war memories and
adapt to everyday
life.
Tice is team
leader at one haven
for Vietnam
veterans: the Vet
Center, a national
re-adjustment
counseling pro
gram. Eugene's Vet
Center is located
east of campus at
1966 Garden Ave.,
near the corner of
Franklin Boulevard
and Villard Street.
Congress created
the Vet Center pro
gram in 1979 with a
commitment to
“help without
ilassies * by and for Vietnam-era
veterans. The program defines a
Vietnam-era vet as any person
who served in the military bet
ween Aug. 4, 1964 (the date of
the resolution calling for in
creased U.S. involvement in
Southeast Asia) and May 7,
1975 (one week after South
Vietnam fell to Communist
forces).
Tice explains that Vietnam
veterans can find comfort,
counsel and practical assistance
in “moving toward a more
quality life in America’’
through Vet Center programs.
“Our primary expertise is in
working with combat veterans
who are experiencing difficulty
in the stress recovery process
from having served in combat,”
Tice says. He adds that the
center also serves Vietnam-era
non-combat personnel.
In addition, the Vet Center
provides referral services re
..
Photo by Michael Clapp
Steve rice and Kim Maynard offer a brotherly welcome and “help without
hassles to Vietnam-era veterans at the Vet Center east of campus.
garding Veterans’ Administra
tion benefits and other com
munity resources. Veterans that
are entering or returning to
college or enrolling in voca
tional rehabilitation programs
can find counseling and ad
vocacy services through the
center.
Vets who were exposed to the
defoliant known as Agent
Orange while serving in Viet
nam also can find related infor
mation and service referral.
Tice emphasizes that women
are very much a part of the Vet
Center program, either as war
veterans or as partners of
veterans. Special support
groups and informational
seminars are available for both.
Advice and counsel also are
available for children, parents
and friends of Vietnam
veterans. The center offers a
variety of group discussion pro
1
grams, workshops and
seminars; group meetings keep
the staff busy four nights a
week.
•A veteran’s group meeting
focusing on understanding the
group process, skill building,
rap group purpose, intent and
dynamics meets each Tuesday
from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
•At the same time on
Wednesdays, an introduction
group meeting is held with em
phasis on inter- and intraper
sonal communication and
symptoms and effects of
Delayed Stress Syndrome.
•Spouses and "significant
others” in relationships with
veterans meet as an informa
tional and support group
Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
•An Alcoholics Anonymous
group geared toward veterans
meets Mondays from 7 p.m. to
Continued on Page 9
QUAIJTY POLK ART
in fiber, ceramic, and
wood, at the lowest
prices in the
northwest
YTNTAC.K FASI IION
l(MX)‘s-1950's
CONTEMPORARY and
IMKJRTKD CLOTHES
OLD FRIENDS
-C
o SElf SERVE WORcl pROGESSiNC| A
0 • IBM personal computers and featuring... 1
• Epson RX-30 printers
O -Diablo 630 printer Perfect Writer" Software q
POST CARDS
from © WORK ETHIC **ODOCT10H8
or " "l
Wherever funky cards are sold.
ART YOU CAN USE
Presbyterian?
Episcopalian?
Lutheran?
Roman Catholic?
Methodist? fl
Jewish?
We I*e 11ere««*and we cooperate as
Campus t
Interfaith
Ministry
♦ New Student Welcome Picnic
♦ Thursday, Sept. 20th
♦ at 5:30 p.m.
♦ KOINOINIA CENTER - 1414 Kincaid
people who care
For more information call 484-1707 or campus extension x3597