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The next meeting of the IU South Bend Veterans Book Club will be Thursday, October 20, at 5 p.m. in the Fireside Room in the University Grill in the IU South Bend Administration Building. The selection for discussion is See Me For Who I Am, a collection of student veterans’ writings.  The book grew out of veteran reintegration course at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point taught by the editor, David Chrisinger. Chrisinger will be coming to IU South Bend to lead the book group discussion.  The event is free and open to the public. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP to rculbert@iusb.edu

One of the hopes of starting a local book club was that community and campus veterans would be inspired to record their own experiences and reflections. In his course, Chrisinger explores the history of returning veterans in the United States, and the struggles they have always had communicating a genuine a picture of themselves and their experiences in all its complexity. In an age when fewer and fewer Americans have direct family connections to veterans, this divide between veterans and civilians has been exacerbated. Chrisinger and his students are working to bridge the cultural gap that divides veterans from the American people they fought to protect.

The IU South Bend Veterans Book group is entering its second year. Last year, the book club explored a range of issues and types of literature. The first meeting looked at ways to make the campus welcoming to veterans in a discussion of, Preparing your Campus for Veterans’ Success. This practical guide covers awareness and best practices in addressing and taking advantages of the unique qualities and needs of student veterans.  Readings from this guide led to fruitful discussion with campus departments and administration. Last February, the book club welcomed South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigeig to share some of his experiences in Afghanistan.  This discussion was inspired by selections from Operation Homecoming, a collection of essays, letters, poems and personal experiences collected in a project sponsored by the NEA.  Finally, the group explored several affecting short fiction stories written by veterans in Fire and Forget.

The book club has attracted veterans of Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan, family members, and others interested in veteran issues from both the campus and the wider community. The discussion across different conflicts and generations has provided many humorous, rich and deeply personal insights.  The Franklin D. Schurz Library is able to sponsor this book club  thanks to the generosity of local philanthropists,  Jerry and Dorene Hammes.