In February 2009 GRCC English Professor, Maryann Lesert published her first novel, “Base Ten.” When she began writing the novel, she was finishing her masters degree from Spaulding University in Louisville, KY. (Photo by Jacqueline Prins,Collegiate)

GRCC Professor looks ahead after publishing first novel
By Jacqueline Prins
A&E Editor

After publishing her first novel over a year ago, GRCC professor Maryann Lesert’s next idea is even greener.

On April 23, Lesert will be organizing GRCC’s Spring Sustainability Series “Visioning the Change: Celebration of Earth and Sky” at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

The event will include a performance of student work featuring “A Quilt of Words” spoken-word event, live music, and visual art created to promote sustainability, and create community, Lesert said.

Her students will be providing written material for the event.

Lesert said she has always had a love for the environment.

“I have always loved the Great Lakes,” Lesert said.

Lesert’s first novel, “Base Ten” is about a woman who is both an astronomer and a mother. Lesert said she was driven to write this story because as a reader she wasn’t finding many works that dealt with the struggle women face between trying to raise a family and have a career.

“There is always this picture painted of motherhood, like either you can do motherhood well or you can do a career well, which is really hokey and old I know, but it is still true,” Lesert said. “Even though you are somebody’s parent, you don’t just automatically change. That is Jillian’s struggle.”

Before writing this novel, Lesert published a number of screenplays; including “Natural Causes” which was a finalist for the 2001 Princess Grace Foundation’s National Playwright’s Fellowship award.

“Writing a novel is drastically different from play writing because when you write plays, it is all character driven,” Lesert said. “With writing a novel, I had to be really disconnected from everything about reality. I had to just be quiet and listen and think and feel my way through it. I had to be very still.”

While she was completing “Base Ten” she also received her Masters of Fine Arts from Spaulding University in Louisville. She said this gave her the deadlines she needed to make this story possible.

“Deadlines are so very important,” Lesert said. “Most of the active writing occurs in your mind. By the time you get your hands to the keyboard, most of the story is already done inside your head.”

Q & A

JP: When did you begin writing “Base Ten?”

ML: The summer of 2001. That’s when I started my journal of character ideas. I kept the journal and I
originally thought this character was going to be a mathematician that was running away from death.
Overtime, I realized she was going to be an astronomer.

I started hearing this character who saw a lot of numbers. I imagined it first as a story, where this character was running away from death… But not literal death, the death of possibility. On the Michigan
lakeshore is where I kept seeing this story evolve.

JP: How did you come up with the idea for “Base Ten?”

ML: I had produced a few plays, and always knew that I wanted to write long fiction, especially book length work, but I knew it was going to take a lot of immersion, some concentrated, concrete quiet time. Right then in my life, I really didn’t have that. I was working full time, and have two children. At the time they were school-age.

I wanted to express what it was like to know what you need to do to be you but not be able to get to it. In some ways it sounds corny, but I wanted to express how painful that can be.

I think that is why I enrolled in the masters program, so I could focus my energy there, and realize that I didn’t have to be everywhere else all the time.

I think I was pining for my writing just as much as my main character was pining for her stars. We are very much alike that way, though we have drastically different knowledge.

JP: How much of yourself do you see in your main character?

ML: The struggle to do what you need to do that she has. There is always this picture painted of motherhood, like either you can do motherhood well, or you can do a career well, which is really hokey and old I know, but it is still true.

Even though you are somebody’s parent, you don’t just automatically change. That is Jillian’s struggle. You can’t do that many things simultaneously that well.

JP: Any similarities between your husband and Jack?

ML: Not really. I think I must have done that on purpose. I wanted to deal purely with fiction.

JP: Why did you decide to enroll in the masters program at this time?

ML: I was just trying to find a way back to writing.

I could barely tolerate doing anything arts-oriented like go see a play or read a book because I couldn’t stand that I wasn’t writing myself.

JP: How long have you taught at GRCC?

ML: Four years. This is my third year as a full-time employee.

JP: Why did you decide to teach at GRCC?

ML: Teaching has always been really central to what I do. Part of it was it was time to settle down and stop traveling. We decided we would definitely stay in this area. I love the Great Lakes.

Even I, long ago, had taken a French class here during my undergraduate studies. I like the environment here. In some degree, a four-year university is much more sequestered, and that can be good, but I just like the mix here.

When people have one foot in school, one foot in life, it makes an interesting mix in the classroom.

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HSO students rock the runway
By Brittany Zender
Collegiate Staff Writer

Cardigans, capri leggings, lace, and bright colors were the theme of last weeks fashion show “Wardrobe 2010,” put on by the Hispanic Student Organization (HSO.)

“Wardrobe 2010” featured local clothing stores from One Girls Treasure consignment shop, the eco-friendly Clothing Matters, Deb, and local designer Hejoo Park. Mexican food was offered by El Granjero, and DJ Brandon Hill was laying down the tracks as the models strutted down the catwalk.

The first part of the show featured the store Clothing Matters, located on Division. Their simple, earth tone pieces were fluid like and elegant. The slogan of the store is to “feel good in and about what you are wearing,” referring to their organic materials from bamboo to soy.

The second clothing line shown was One Girls Treasure, located on the corner of Lyon and Division.

“Shopping here is a great way to keep up on the latest trends and save money,” said Francisco Ramirez, Co-advisor of HSO. “Just because they’re a consignment shop doesn’t mean the clothes aren’t in style.”

They showcased various colors and styles including long skirts and brightly colored detailed tops for more Bohemian and Brazillian looks. Everyone in attendance received a 25 percent-off coupon on their next purchase.

Deb’s shops, displayed numerous pieces from the casual and playful “oops I did it again” skirts and jeans, to elegant homecoming, prom and wedding dresses.

An interesting part of the show was when local designer Heejoo Park presented her three fitted mini dresses.

Hejoo Park is a female designer from Korea, where she went to fashion school.

“After I moved to the U.S. one year ago I started my own line,” Park said. “Most of them are high end dresses.

I’ve been involved in the fashion industry since I was 17 years old and hope to have my own boutique one day.”

“Heejoo Park” only sells her home made designs online.

“In the second half of the show we tried to incorporated the 1970’s and 80’s retro styles that have evolved into today’s fashion with our own clothes,” said Wanda Ferrer, Co-Advisor of HSO. “Aveda did the girls makeup and hair and incorporated the different themes of the decades.

We were inspired by other fashion shows and motivated by our community’s interest in them. It’s a good idea because it promotes local businesses and gives back to our community.”

GRCC Student Shin Young Kim enjoyed the variety.

“I liked how the show had so many different models and styles,” Kim said. “It’s cool how people are so into the fashion industry.”

Izabel Bedoya, GRCC student and Wardrobe 2010 coordinator said, “‘Wardrobe 2010’ was the first show we’ve ever done, and had a lot of fun putting it all together.”

“This gave our fashion merchandise majors a hands on experience,” Ferrer said.

The co-advisor said the event was a team effort.

“It’s a joint effort to put on something like this,” Ferrer said. “About 25 of our HSO members participated in the set up, production and various other elements of Wardrobe 2010.

There were 10 local students of all different shapes and sizes, who modeled the local fashions,”

Bedoya said the proceeds go toward the HSO’s trip to Cedar Point this May.

“This was a trial run,” said Anna Perez, President of the HSO. “We advertised on Facebook and put posters up around campus.

We didn’t have as many people come as we had hoped but next year will be bigger and better in every way.”

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GRCC works: Ask Mallory Patterson
By Tim Nellett
Copy Editor

to catch the elevator door before it closes. Just in time.

Mallory Patterson was running late. Again.

It’s 9:30 a.m. and her class has already started by the time she reaches the classroom. Patterson sits down and immediately unleashes an assortment of school supplies; zip-lock bags filled with different color pens, a black binder organized by tabs for each class, and two notebooks.

“I’m going to take up half the table, just to warn you,” Patterson laughs.

Mallory Patterson is a GRCC student, and like many she has more stuff to do than time to do it in. According to her, GRCC has been a big help.

“Where I was 3 years ago is a distant reality from where I am at today,” Patterson said. “It’s been a total turn-around for me and I am so grateful.”

Patterson is very focused and interested in the subject, be it microeconomics or biology. The 24 year old social sciences student, mother of one, and peer mentor for TRIO student support services (SSS) has a lot on her plate, but it seems she has mastered the art of juggling two jobs, a child, school and some lofty goals.

“Well, my other goals include implementing volunteering as a requirement for high school graduation, creating a program to offer important life training skills to under-privileged youth, and perhaps eventually owning my own business and hiring non-violent first offenders of the law,” Patterson said.

The class is extraordinarily quiet. She attempts to hide the noise of unwrapping her snack bar behind her second notebook, which is perched on her lap.

She giggles and whispers, “This is my breakfast.” The class drags on.

After a moment of quiet chewing, she takes a sip from her GRCC water bottle, puts a blue pen back into her GRCC zip-lock bag, and closes a GRCC notebook. You would not describe Ms. Patterson as lacking spirit for the school that helped turn her life around.

Patterson’s struggle has been ongoing. Her father left when she was a child. Her brother Adam was born with cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, and hydrocephalus.

“He was unable to walk or talk, but could communicate his needs, very effectively in my eyes, despite his conditions,” Patterson said. “He lived to be nearly 13, and after a virus turned into pneumonia we brought him home to die.”

Patterson dropped out of school at the age of 15 for personal reasons. She eventually worked second and third shift at a gas station while attending a school for alternative education.

When asked about her organization skills, Patterson feels it’s a requirement in order to keep everything on an even keel.

“I have so much going on in my life that I have to be organized or I’d go crazy,” Patterson said.

In 2006 Patterson graduated from high school and enrolled at GRCC. That same year the Patterson family suffered another tragedy.

“In August 2006 my mom had an aneurysm and I had to put off starting college until the winter,” Patterson said. “She survived, had 3 subsequent surgeries to repair damaged blood vessels, and slowly but surely recovered.”

Her mother’s aneurysm resulted in Patterson becoming the head of the household, taking care of her mother and brother.

“All the financial and domestic responsibility fell on me and I am still the head of household three years later,” Patterson said.

Class breaks, finally, and we head back to student employment services to eat lunch. Patterson chats with a co-worker before indulging in one of subway’s burritos.

Originally, Patterson was going to be a business major, due to marketability, until her encounter with a boy who ran errands at the gas station. This boy, Daniel, changed Mallory Patterson’s life.

“Daniel and I worked at the shell gas station, and he was about 12 when I met him,” Patterson said. When I met him he didn’t work there, just did odd jobs for us like helping in the cooler, and filling the pop machine with ice. He’s 17 now.”

According to Patterson, Daniel worked hard to purchase himself a method of transportation, but complications at home turned Daniel to a life of juvenile delinquency.

“There wasn’t a system of support for him,” Patterson said. “He just wanted to live a normal life but he couldn’t. That’s when I decided to try to do social work for a living.

I was under the impression there wasn’t any future in social work, but the workshop opened my eyes up to some new opportunities, so I switched,” Patterson said.

Our next destination was work at the TRIO room in the back of the counseling offices. A mentee arrives to see Patterson.

“Here at TRIO, we do it all,” Patterson said. “We help our mentees with homework, minor tutoring, finding stuff on campus, providing transfer sources and editing scholarships. Or if they just need someone to talk to.”

This semester she has approximately 75 mentees to take care of.

She intends to earn a bachelor’s in social work with a major in sociology from Grand Valley State University.

Though she expects to face more hardships in the future, Patterson is determined to keep pushing on, for herself and her family. Through social work, she plans to use the skills learned here to ease the hardships others may face, in hopes of making a difference.

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