FACES OF GRCC

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The Art of a Survivor by Jill Rothwell Photo by John Rothwell | Photo Editor Grand Rapids Community College Paul Collins Art Gallery recently featured a show entitled the “Feminist Art Exhibit” that drew one of the gallery’s largest crowds to date. The collaborative was 17 <strong>GRCC</strong> student artists, Devin Hankinson being one. “My photography in the exhibit was a means to back myself in my decision to not report my sexual assault this year,” Hankinson, 20, said. “I didn’t have enough hard evidence, didn’t fight back hard enough, so I didn’t have any bodily proof.” Hankinson is a survivor of date rape. ‘No Proof’ was her way of poignantly and publicly revealing the details of her sexual assault through photography. Her therapy is being open and candidly talking to others about what happened. She keeps a journal as a method of therapeutic recall. “I sat alone with the assault for a while before I said it out loud,” Hankinson said. “I told a few friends because I was in shock. I thought, I can’t not tell someone. I needed someone for me.” Prior to the exhibit Hankinson had not found a way to tell her dad about the assault. She sat with him the night before the show. “At first I didn’t want my dad to find out,” Hankinson said. “I didn’t want him showing up in a room full of people and finding out. This way he had some time alone to process. He’s obviously worried for me. It happened a long time ago for me, but for my dad it just happened. He’s still getting used to me being okay now.” Hankinson, who is from Belmont, lives locally with her family and considers it a safety net that allows her to explore her art. She noted that her art is not necessarily a reflection of her experiences but more of artists she admires. “Art really makes me happy,” Hankinson said. “I have many favorite artists, from a number of periods and mediums. To name one favorite would be impossible.” As an art history major, Hankinson aspires to be a curator at an art museum or gallery. Her next move is to find a fouryear school to transfer to where she can complete her degree. One of her top picks is Central Michigan University because of their photography program, her preferred medium. “If I could stay here at <strong>GRCC</strong> and finish my degree, I would. All my family lives in this area. I’m big on family and their support,” Hankinson said. Her openness on connecting with and meeting other survivors has helped her heal. Having that perspective she feels it has made it easier for others to open up and connect with her. “There are after effects on my personality, some have told me I’m too open and bring it up too soon in conversation with new friends,” Hankinson said. “It happens to a lot of people. No one should be ashamed to talk about it.” 54 | TheCollegiateLive.com
LIFE BEYOND THE CHAIR by Jennifer Lugo Photo by Kayla Tucker | Editor-in-Chief Out on the ice, Chelsea Perry propels herself along the length of the hockey rink using only upper body strength and two hockey sticks, seated in a sled built for the ice. Since the age of 8, Perry has used hockey and other sports to build herself up, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Perry, 25, is a student majoring in Recreational Therapy at Grand Rapids Community College, but outside of school, she plays hockey, basketball, downhill snow skiing, water skiing, and fencing. Perry spends a lot of her time engaged in sports, as she has always found motivation and independence in being part of that environment. “Whatever time I have left over, I choose to use for sports stuff,” said Perry. “I was given those opportunities to start those at a young age.” Born with Spina Bifida, and having holes in the L3 and L4 vertebrae in her lower spine, caused Perry to have paralysis below the knees. Although she uses a wheelchair, she still makes the effort to walk with crutches around the house to keep herself mobile. Despite this, she continues to do what any other adult her age would do - go out with friends, attend college full time, and play sports. Perry plays for the Grand Rapids Sled Wings, an adaptive sports team, that gives people with disabilities the chance to play hockey in sleds instead of standing up. Adaptive sports are led by recre- TheCollegiateLive.com | 55
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Winter Semester 2016 thecollegiatel
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BACK IN THE GAME: How Deiona Rogers
Page 5 and 6: FACES OF GRCC Jenanna Greeno Age 26
Page 7 and 8: Tim Harrisson Age 28, Grand Rapids
Page 9 and 10: ‘The Old Man in the Back Row’ S
Page 11 and 12: Detroit,” Kennedy said. “I have
Page 13 and 14: Emma Stewart Age 22, Grand Rapids,
Page 15 and 16: Kevin Curiel-Vazquez is the Externa
Page 17 and 18: Jim Blue Age 60, Ada “I play the
Page 19 and 20: I can remember the first time I stu
Page 21 and 22: Natalie Vice Age 18, Dorr “Well I
Page 23 and 24: Samuel Casares Age 24, Grand Rapids
Page 25 and 26: left and right in five on five. I w
Page 27 and 28: wasn’t productive at all. I didn
Page 29 and 30: Dan Bui Age 20, Grand Rapids Vy Bui
Page 31 and 32: Grand Rapids Community College Poli
Page 33 and 34: “When I was that troubled kid, I
Page 35 and 36: Sophia Vanmeeteren Age 19, Kentwood
Page 37 and 38: Grand Rapids Community College Secc
Page 39 and 40: Jesse Ballard Age 21, Holland “My
Page 41 and 42: Osbaldo Gonzalez Age 24, Holland
Page 43 and 44: Julio Gomez Age 32, Grand Rapids
Page 45 and 46: ArtPrize entry named “Unveiling.
Page 47 and 48: Luis Demas Age 24, Grand Rapids, bo
Page 49 and 50: Mikah Townsend Age 20, Hudsonville
Page 51 and 52: train. “I would stay everyday, at
Page 53 and 54: Melissa Lucas Age 19, Grand Rapids
Page 55: Mansehaj Singh Age 21, Big Rapids
Page 59 and 60: somebody that doesn’t have an imp
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FACES OF GRCC

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