UW students will have a shot at free food and the use of Pete’s Game Room Thursday in the Union at the monthly game night hosted by recognized student organization Students Supporting Veterans, alongside Open Mic Night in the Union Gardens.
The event will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Students are welcome to bounce between it and Open Mic Night as they please. All the games and activities featured as part of Pete’s Game Room will be available at no cost to students, otherwise, the Game Room’s most popular draws, such as pool and ping-pong, have a pay-to-play cost attached to them.
SSV’s special touch will include vast quantities of free pizza and drinks, including beer, information about the organization and a welcoming atmosphere for all in general and student veterans in particular.
“That’s pretty much what Game Night is, we just did that so we could build awareness and give an opportunity for the general population to come and interact with veterans,” SSV member and event planner, Robert Cloud said. “It’s been pretty successful, we normally have about 30 or 40 people sign in.”
The event is funded entirely by SSV itself, with no student fees or funds from ASUW. The organization’s other events have raised considerable funds, which are put to use in a way that is true to the name of Students Supporting Veterans to help give a boost to student veterans beginning a civilian life.
“We’re one of the most successful fundraising RSOs over the past couple years,” Cloud said. “Over $20,000 in pure profit that we’ve raised. We are probably about ten strong on average, and five that you can really count on to do stuff. So, with five people we’ve been able to raise $20,000 for veteran scholarships on campus.”
SSV’s mission is inspired by a sense of gratitude for sacrifices made by veterans and their constant value to our nation.
“I think it’s getting harder to get support for veterans. I think people are starting to forget that even though the people now may not be going to combat, we still have people that have been in combat, and those people are still there, ready to go to combat,” Cloud said. “They’re sacrificing part of their life to protect our country, to protect our right to be here going to school instead of being conscripted into an army. If we don’t have anybody to serve then we’re no longer safe on our own ground.”
Cloud is a Marine Corps veteran, having joined in 2001 and served for six years. He is currently a PhD student in the electrical engineering program.
SSV’s efforts are also focused on helping veterans adjust to civilian life after leaving the constant, close fellowship and structure of the military.
“Military veterans definitely think differently than your average other citizen about some things,” SSV president, Jacob Sanderlin said. “It’s good being able to have an organization where you can talk to people who speak roughly the same language and that can support you and your struggles, and just understand you better.”
Sanderlin is an Army veteran who is now an undergrad, studying computer sciences.
Another popular event run by SSV is Combat Color. In other color runs, white-clothed runners are bombarded with colored powder or paint by spectators as they pass by, but in Combat Color the runners are no longer helpless to resist and can return fire. The next run in Laramie will take place in April.
“It’s a good event to help them understand that we can make a difference and get out there and do really good stuff,” Cloud said.
