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The student voice of Hutchinson Community College
www.hutchcollegian.com
September 27, 2019
Vol. 61 Issue 3
Suicide Awareness: Their stories
Courtesy Photo Christopher (right) stands with his family for a group photo.
Remembering Christopher’s legacy By Laci Sutton Staff Writer Christopher Sullivan was born on March 13, 1994, in Wichita and was adopted by Jenny and John Sullivan when he was 2-years old. Chris was an ornery, athletic and ambitious kid. He went to Hutchinson High School, was a state-qualifying wrestler, and was active in his church. “He was full of life, he really was,” Jenny said. In 2010, Chris’ family discovered he had begun using drugs. Chris came home from hanging out with some friends when his mother could smell marijuana. His hazel eyes were now grey. Chris was grounded for almost an entire year. During that time, his grades improved. His behavior improved. His mother drug tested him at home, and he would pass. Unbeknownst to the family, a new drug had hit the market. Synthetic marijuana, known by names such as K2, spice or potpourri. At the time, the new drug did not give positive readings on drug tests. Some of the major side effects that come from using K2 include anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, and depression.
By Samarah Bailey Staff Writer For millions of people around the world, the church is a place where they can find comfort and peace in their busy lives. Many churches around the world find such inspiration in their practice that they reach out to the public in the hopes of recruiting potential members, including around Hutchinson Community College. In the first few weeks of the semester, one particular religious group has been
In April 2011, Chris had an episode showing symptoms similar to those of a heart attack, which are also symptoms from using K2. This was when the Sullivan family first knew Chris was using the new drug. On April 22, 2011, while Jenny was at a doctor’s appointment with her daughter Nicole, they got a call from Trevor, Chris’ younger brother. Nicole told Jenny the boys were fighting, which wasn’t out of the ordinary for the siblings, as Chris was 17 and Trevor was 12-years old. Trevor called his mother a second time, now with a more serious message. “Mom, Chris is pretending to hang himself,” Trevor said. Jenny knew something was wrong and rushed home. As soon as they got him down, Jenny started CPR while Nicole called 911. Chris had lost enough oxygen by the time EMS arrived that he needed to be life watched. Due to fuel costs, he wasn’t able to be taken by helicopter, and instead was life watched to Wichita by ambulance. Chris was put on life support. The next 24-48 hours were hopeful for the Sullivan’s. “He’d give us thumbs up, he’d wiggle his toes, so we knew he was hearing us. We knew he was still
there.” Jenny said. On the third night at the hospital, Jenny was woken up by some of Chris’ monitors. His blood pressure was skyrocketing. One of Chris’ caregivers was adjusting his respirator and Chris was not happy about it. Once the doctors got Chris stabilized, they told the Sullivan’s they needed to make a decision the next morning. The stress on his body was detrimental. His parents went over to Chris, kissed him, and told him it was OK and that they loved him. The next morning the doctors presented the family with their options. They were informed that at this point Chris would have to be on life support indefinitely to live. The Sullivans had decided to let Chris rest and to donate his organs. On their fifth day in the hospital, they started finding recipients. Chris was able to save six lives, with one recipient receiving two organs. See Sullivan, Page 4
Courtesy Photo Alexis Zimmerman shares a selfie of her making a funny face.
Battling through the hard times By Tabitha Barr Editor in Chief Dealing with depression is hard enough as it is. But when you’re diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder and clinical depression at 13, then diagnosed with severe recurrent major depression disorder at age 15, life can be one big obstacle. Alexis Zimmerman, a former Hutchinson Community College student, was a teenager when her thoughts started swaying in directions that were harmful to herself. Being scared of her thoughts, she sought help from her parents. She was put into therapy and on trial prescription medications. She was just trying to live a normal life, with the weight of depression hanging over her head. During her junior year of high school, the weight finally took hold. “I lost touch with friends, with people, and myself,” she said.
It was around 10 or 11 p.m. on Oct. 30, 2016, when Zimmerman decided that she was ready to be done. She overdosed on her antianxiety and antidepressant medications. Before falling unconscious, she called her best friend at the time to tell her she loved her and thanked her for being her best friend. Her friend could tell something was wrong and found a way to get to Zimmerman’s house. Once her parents were aware, they called 911 and started driving her to the hospital. An ambulance met them halfway and transported Zimmerman to the hospital. “From there, it’s just very hazy,” Zimmerman said. “I was very in-and-out with the drugs that they gave me and the drugs that I had taken.” In the next several hours that continued into the next day, she stabilized and then legally had to be sent to a rehabilitation center. “Which was actually one of the worst experiences of my life,” Zimmerman said. The officers, the people at the rehabilitation center, and everyone else around her kept her at an arm’s distance. “It seems like people are afraid to deal with us when we’re just trying to get help, but we’re scared
to get help because of these people,” Zimmerman said. After a couple of days spent at rehab, she was able to go back home. After a suicide attempt, you don’t have to just deal with the situation at hand, but with the aftermath that comes with it. People treated her as if she was fragile, or they just cut her out. She lost many friends because they didn’t want to be associated with her and what she did. But for her self, nothing really changed. She still felt depressed and weighed down, but there was nothing to do but keep going to therapy and switching to different medications. Finishing school became unimportant in her mindset and she ended up dropping almost all of her electives for the rest of the year. Her second attempt happened on Friday, July 21, 2017. There we many things that swayed her into this dark position. The event that most affected her was that she was sexually assaulted by a coworker not long before. It’s an unimaginable thing to live through, but it didn’t help that no one believed her and instead took her assaulter’s side.
“It made me question myself . . . I was very depressed and I wasn’t going the right way about things.” See Alexis, Page 4
Students feeling harassed by religious group positioning themselves throughout campus trying to recruit students into their faith. According to David Maness, Coordinator Of Campus Safety at HutchCC, “The young men that have been walking around campus are associated with the World Mission Society Church of God.” Their presence has raised some concern among many students at the college. Wellington freshman Taylor Meyer was approached by the group early
Upcoming events Sept. 28 — Football vs. Butler CC 12:00 - 3:00 Oct. 1 — Dillon Lecture Series - John O’Leary 10:30 - 11:30 Oct. 2 — Women’s Soccer vs. Barton CC Oct. 5 — Women’s Soccer vs. Garden City CC 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Oct. 5 — Volleyball vs. Pratt CC 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
in the semester, and when asked about how she felt about their presence on campus, she said, “I’m not really comfortable with it.” “I don’t wanna have that awkward confrontation about going and talking to them and then trying to stop me and talk to me again, because I’ve had some of them try to stop me (a second time).” When asked what students should do if they don’t wish to talk to these individuals, Vice President Of Student Services Brett Bright said, “A student
should let the individual(s) know that they are not interested in the information. If the group member persists, tell them if they continue to persist, you will notify campus security.” In the interest of student safety, groups such as the Church of God are not given access to students’ personal areas and residence halls, Bright said. However, HutchCC cannot ban them from all areas around the campus. “One of these young men is currently a HutchCC student, and would
The happenings around campus
have access to all parts of son Police Department.” campus like every other While the feeling student,” Maness said. “The among some students is other men are not current the group is persistent in students and would have its recruiting, both Bright access to parts of campus and Maness said that in that are open to the general years past the groups have public. been informed of the rules “The streets and sidethey must follow and there walks along Ford Street have been no reports of any between the campus and criminal or violent activities dorms are public property. taking place. HutchCC has no authorSee Campus, Page 4 ity in those areas, which Student Safety Resources would fall Campus security 620-665-3579 under the jurisdic- Housing Night Security - 620-899-2488 tion of the Students may contact their resident assistant Hutchin- Use TIPS reporting system on HutchCC.edu
Blue Dragons weekend forecast
Friday —High: 89 Low: 67 Saturday—High: 81 Low: 70 Sunday —High: 82 Low: 72
Inside Scoop
Opinion: Page 2 - Caleb Spencer writes about his battle with depression Campus: Page 4 - A preview of Tuesday’s Dillon Lecture series with John O’Leary Sports: Page 6 - Information about Saturday’s game at Gowans