For these students, it’s not about the war. It’s not about yellow ribbons on cars or angry debates with harsh words.
For the students in the Minnesota State University chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, it’s about supporting area men and women who are doing what they signed up to do and maybe bringing brightness to their dry, desert existence.
Starting Monday, the group is asking students and the general public to donate as much Kool-Aid, sunscreen and gum as possible; as much stationery, instant coffee and Kleenex as you can bring; as many pens, protein bars and Powerade as will fit in your backpack.
Items such as those, and many others, will be boxed up and shipped to Mankatoarea soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Kickoff day comes with a program, too. The students have planned a questionand- answer session with Free Press Managing Editor Joe Spear and a panel of MSU veterans and ROTC members.
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Dr. Michael Rath, a Mankato doctor who served in Iraq, will discuss post-traumatic stress disorder. And finally, a short film created by Los Angeles Times photographer Luis Sinco called “ The Marlboro Marine” will be shown.
The showing of the film, student leaders Larissa Larivee and Kiki Polzin say, will be a good way to humanize the war for people who may have let it slip out of their consciousness.
They’d like to get students to care. “( Showing the film) is the best way to do it,” Larivee said. “ We’re not taking a stance on the war, but we’re still supporting our troops ... Personally, I’m not in favor of the war, but we should be doing something.”
The SPJ chapter at MSU is relatively new, having just been established a few years ago. But already the tradition they are establishing is one of excellence.
They were named the student chapter of the year for their region, in which they compete with giants such as the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin.
The group conducts fundraisers and job shadows, students attend journalism conferences and tour advertising and public relations firms. They also conduct events such as the last year’s alcohol forum, in which a handful of community leaders gathered to discuss highrisk drinking.
The group has 17 members, eight of which are core members.
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