SGA passes bill to support troops

By: Amber Arnold Junior Staff Writer

Posted: 2/20/09

On Wednesday evening, the Student Government Association passed a new piece of legislation to endorse programs that will benefit troops abroad as well as soldiers and veterans here at home.

These initiatives will include going to the airport to welcome troops home, sending boxes of goods to war zones and working with the United Service Organizations, a congressionally chartered nonprofit organization created to link the American public with the troops, said Jeff Kline, president of the SGA and political science senior.

"This new bill will be part of the university's year of service to those who serve us, which is part of the MLK year of service," Kline said.

After a committee approved the bill, it was then sent to the Student Senate, which passed it unanimously.

The SGA made sure that its stance on the war remained neutral, specifying that its efforts would be focused primarily on the troops.

"It is not a matter of support for the war," Kline said, "It is a matter of support for the troops serving us."

There are more than 500 veterans at NT, and Kline said NT will see an influx of veterans in the coming years because of the GI Bill, which is made up of education assistance programs that benefit veterans and other people serving in the armed forces.

Student senator and coordinator for the program, Meghan Hudec, comes from a military family and supports the bill.

"We've got a lot of great ROTC programs, and it makes me really excited to support the people that serve us," she said.