Student documentary helps vets

Over two years ago, there was a significant influx of student veterans returning to Norwich from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, and these students wanted to help fellow students by sharing the experiences they faced while overseas, according to Professor William Estill of the communications department at Norwich University. 

"I've learned that you can't take life for granted because it could end at any point and you don't know when that might be," said Jesse Mattson, 25, a senior communications major from Essex Junction, Vt.   

After producing the documentary Vermont Fallen and realizing the large population of veterans on campus, the television studio at Norwich University set its sights on another project that would positively affect the Norwich community.

Mattson and other communication students, under Estill's guidance, began conducting interviews with veterans about their deployments and the issues they faced upon returning home from combat. 

"When a level of trust is reached and the environment is safe, they talk about their experiences and how it has impacted their lives," Estill said of the veterans.   

Throughout the interviews, Estill and communication students realized the stories each of these veterans were telling was similar. 

"When they came home they thought that everything and everyone around them had changed.

Months and years later, they realize that they have changed and they have to learn how to
adapt to the change in their outlook and approach to life," Estill said.

The interviews have been compiled into the TV studio's next documentary,  called The War at Home.  It will premiere on March 28 in the Dole Auditorium after its first official screening during the Colby Symposium on March 5.

"I'm really excited for it to be done," said Suzanne Whitaker, 20, a sophomore communications major from Chelmsford, Mass., who has been working on the project since her freshman year.

Students have been working around the clock since winter break, filming and editing the documentary to have it done in time, and have learned a lot about life along the way.

"I think that the message veterans want to get across is that they want to be treated just like any other individual. They don't want to be treated differently, they don't want to be looked down upon for doing their job, and that's opened my eyes to how to treat everybody in my life," Mattson said.

"We've been working hours upon hours on this project," said Richard Macris, 21, a junior communications major from Ridgefield, Conn.  "I think this project has helped not only students learn about themselves but it's also helped veterans too."

Estill and the communication students are excited for the screening of The War at Home, yet are still working to make sure the documentary portrays the veterans' stories as accurately as possible.

"We're extra critical because it's our own work and we have standards of what we think and know it should look like," Whitaker said.

Yet despite the optimism at finishing another documentary, the student producers have had a difficult time throughout the process of this project.

"The biggest challenge has been watching the interviews over and over again. It's difficult to say the least, to watch people open up and talk about bad experiences," Mattson said.

Most of the students agreed that the stories the vets were sharing were difficult to hear, yet some found meaningful lessons in them.

"It's challenging to sit through and listen to what they're saying, but it's very helpful for Norwich students because we're getting an insight into what it's like to be in combat," Macris said.

The goal of the documentary is to give veterans a place to feel safe in sharing their story, and hopefully by watching the finished product, other veterans will be able to open up and find peace in their own experiences. 

"There are a lot of people that go through things that you wouldn't know just by seeing them on the street," Mattson said. 

More importantly, Estill and students want to open the eyes of civilians to what issues veterans face in war and the problems they deal with, usually silently, upon returning home.

"I think it will really help people to understand what soldiers go through and deal with on an everyday basis," said Jon Amell, 22, a junior communications major from Northfield, Vt.

"I think it's going to open a lot of eyes about people and what they [veterans] really go through being in combat because it's not easy coming home after being at war," Amell said. "Just because they may not have been injured doesn't mean they still don't have issues."

Students say they are hopeful The War at Home will educate the community as a whole, and positively affect Norwich and the transition for veterans back on campus.

"The impact of this documentary will be to teach people the proper way to act around a veteran. I think the campus will be more vet friendly; there will be less distinction between a veteran and a civilian student, and it will help veteran's transition back into society at Norwich," Mattson said.