On Tuesday, November 10th NSU’s Black Box Theater was the site of a one-time performance by The Combat Hippies theater group. The Combat Hippies are a group of military veteran performing artists who promote Post Traumatic Growth through quality presentations and civic growth. They are led by world-renowned theater artist and director Teo Castellanos and backed by well-known Miami DJ Brinstone 127. The Combat Hippies are Hipolito “Beardman” Arriaga; Anthony “I.E.D.” Torres, Allen “Tatsel” Minor and Andrew “Dru Phoenix” Cuthbert.
“These veterans have something to share, not only with their brothers and sisters in arms but with their fellow community members as well,” said Kimberly Durham, Psy.D., Chair of NSU’s Department of Justice and Human Services. “Their experiences and willingness to discuss them openly is not only helping them, but it can be helpful to others as well.”
NSU’s President and CEO Dr. George Hanbury, welcomed attendees – many of whom were veterans – to the performance and talked about NSU’s commitment to being a model university for service for veterans. Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Ralph Rogers and NSU’s Executive Vice President and COO Jacqueline Travisano, M.B.A., CPA conducted a “pinning ceremony” for those NSU students, faculty or staff members in attendance who were also veterans.
At the performance there were 27 veterans “pinned,” but there were even more veterans attending but they were previously “pinned” at the re-dedication of NSU’s Veterans Resource Center. Even more amazing, NSU’s regional campuses held similar ceremonies to honor veterans, with approximately 130 being honored with the red, white and blue NSU shark pin. This pin is only given to NSU veteran students and employees and signifies they belong to a very special group at NSU.