When Amherst Town Meeting voted last November to invite two released Guantanamo inmates to settle in town, it made national news, reinforcing Amherst's ultra-liberal reputation among skeptical conservatives. Recent goings-on at UMass-Amherst Veteran Services haven't made national news, but they nonetheless provide a fuller picture of Amherst's spirit of generosity.
Veterans who want to pursue higher education got a boost when the new version of the GI Bill went into effect last summer. The bill pays tuition, fees and stipends for books and housing. Now UMass-Amherst has responded to the growing numbers of veterans who wish to attend by expanding its services. A new weekly "orientation and transition" class aids veterans in entering the academic world, and along with that class, they are offered a drop-in center, specific educational programs and even social events.
Says the press release: "This class is the latest initiative by UMass to create a veteran-friendly campus."
