Student Veterans will receive benefits during break

Ohio University student veterans now will receive educational assistance benefits during Winter Intercession after President Clinton signed the Veterans Cost of Living Adjustments into law Nov. 1.

The Veterans Cost of Living Adjustments law allows students attending college with fewer than eight weeks break to receive monetary benefits during break time.

The law is retroactive beginning Oct. 1, allowing student veterans to benefit during the upcoming break, according to the release.

Todd Ruxer, an OU senior and veteran enlisted in the Navy from 1992 to 1996, said the new law will help him pay bills.

Most non-traditional students have many bills, which are offset by the Montgomery GI Bill, he said. This additional income will reduce worries about maintaining a sufficient income.

But the Montgomery GI Bill only provides benefits to student veterans for 36 months, according to The GI Bill Web site (http://www.gibill.va.gov/). Because student veterans now will be eligible for compensation during these months, some veterans' benefits may run out before they have completed their education, Ruxer said.

Ruxer said although he does not need to enroll this intercession to receive benefits, he plans to take classes during Winter Break to speed up his education.

OU Registrar Bill Jones, President Robert Glidden and Vice President for Administration Gary North urged former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gringrich to consider legislation regarding student veteran benefits when Gingrich delivered OU's commencement speech in June of 1998, according to an OU news release. Gringrich and U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, then drafted a bill with input from Jones and North, according to the release.

OU's Office of the Registrar sent confirmation letters to about 400 OU student veterans regarding the new law, according to the release.

Since 1998, OU student veterans have had to register for two or more hours of intercession courses to receive benefits during Winter Break.

- Jessica Bartlett and Megan Lynch