KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011 / NEWS
7A
NATIONAL
New federal program to help U.S. veterans' families cope with stress
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration launched a national campaign yesterday for U.S. military families that calls on companies, individuals, civic and religious groups and schools to find ways to help veterans, reservists and their families navigate work, school, psychological stress and day-to-day life.
Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Sears, Kmart, Siemens, Sears Holdings, Best Buy, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other groups announced commitments as part of Tuesday's launch. These include promises to hire service members and their spouses and to facilitate job transfers for those who must move as part of their service. They also include initiatives for job training and financial assistance.
The initiative is meant to outlast the war in Afghanistan and Barack Obama's presidency, and to create a permanent support network for a volunteer force that these days is only about 1 percent of the U.S. population.
Michelle Obama said the initiative was "a challenge to every segment of American society"
The president's wife and Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, announced the effort at an event at the White House with their husbands.
Jill Biden said individual Americans could do their part by arranging car pools, recreational activities and free professional services for the military families
in their communities and showing them compassion and small acts of kindness.
"Each American has the ability to make a difference in the life of a military family," she said.
Many U.S. communities with large bases already know the importance of reaching out to military families, said Deborah Bonito, the wife of Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska. She helped start a local initiative when her husband was the mayor of Anchorage.
Bonito, a military brat whose father served in Vietnam, was moved to action when a Stryker brigade from Anchorage's Fort Richardson was deployed to Iraq
about seven years ago. More than 50 soldiers from the base died within a year and a half, Bonito said, and she wanted to help the families of those who lost loved ones.
"Every day in the paper, I was reading about it, and crying about it," she said. "Unless you've served in the military, or have family in the military, you don't have an understanding of what these kids or families are going through."
Bonito praised the White House initiative, saying she thought that Michelle Obama had spent a lot of time behind the scenes learning about military families and pushing for better pay and benefits.
11th Annual Lawrence Earth Day Celebration
11:00 am: Parade down Massachusetts St. (7th to 11th)
Parade hosted by KU Enviros
11:30- 4:00 pm: Celebration in South Park
Free Admission!
- Informational booths
- Live music
- Food Vendors
- Children's activities
- Butterfly garden demonstration
- South Park tree ID tour
Featuring April Showers to Water Towers at a Douglas County
♦ And much, much more!
More Earth Day activities listed at:
www.LawrenceRecycles.org
SENATE (CONTINUED FROM 6A)
City of Lawrence WASTE REDUCTION & RECYCLING
ulty suggested we get rid of Stop Day on the academic calendar," Smith said. "One of our senators was the lone voice of opposition on that committee. She was the voice of the students, and we still have Stop Day thanks to her efforts."
"If students don't vote, then people who are more interest-
Student Senate could have an even bigger impact on students' lives, according to Josh Dean and Renew KU.
Jason Hornberger is the faculty adviser to the Student Senate campus fee subcommittee, which is responsible for setting required campus fees. Hornberger says his role is to provide continuity
becasue of leadership turnover.
"The students I've worked with are very impressive and professional," Hornberger said. "Faculty takes them seriously. They have a unique perspective that no faculty member could provide."
"If you are a student and have a concern, Student Senate has the means and influence to address those grievances," Smith said.
—Edited by Sarah Gregory
Michael Wade Smith said Student Senate can help students in a very real way.
ed in adding something shiny to their resumes will be elected instead of people with the student body's best interests at heart," Dean said.
Don't put your education on hold this summer.
Enroll in classes at Johnson County Community College!
- Extensive course selections
- Flexible times and locations
- Transferrable classes
- Online registration
Classes begin June 6.