Students in Dr. Katelyn Hancock’s “Ethics in Criminal Justice” course painted for “Pouring for Purpose” on Tuesday
photo by Angela Foster/UTC
This fall, students in Dr. Katelyn Hancock’s “Ethics in Criminal Justice” course at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are confronting complex ethical issues in policing, courts and corrections through the lens of art. The project, titled “Pouring for Purpose,” invites students to create abstract paintings that explore ethical dilemmas and potential solutions within the justice system.
Their paintings will be showcased in a gallery event from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov.
14, in the University Center Chickamauga Room. The event is open to the public and attendees can take home a student painting in exchange for a cash donation—with all proceeds benefiting the Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County, a local nonprofit.
Sponsored by UTC’s Walker Center for Teaching and Learning, “Pouring for Purpose”—now in its third year—fosters an experiential approach to learning ethics in criminal justice while connecting students to community service, Dr. Hancock said.
“I really enjoy pour painting in general and to be able to link it to a core course in our program is always so rewarding,” said Dr. Hancock, an assistant professor of criminal justice. “In the past three years hosting this project and gallery, I have had so many students tell me they learned better this way or—at the very least—had such a fun class on this day.
“Many of my students often express that they feel good about using their paintings to help raise money for a service organization in our community as well.”
Dr. Hancock said the “Pouring for Purpose” gallery will contain around 30 student paintings available for a cash donation. Collected donations will be given directly to a Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County representative at the event.