Iraq War veteran urges students to speak out

Iraq War veteran urges students to speak out
Josh Anusewicz

Staff Sgt. Eric Alva served in Iraq before coming out as openly gay and taking on an advocacy role against the Armed Forces' "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.


Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, a former U.S. Marine, used the inspiring words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when talking to Quinnipiac students about how their voices can change history, by standing up for what is right.

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter," said Alva, who visited Quinnipiac on April 15 in conjunction with the National Day of Silence, held on Friday, April 25, which brings attention to anti-Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transsexual (GLBT) actions from throughout the country.