Logan McKinney: Limitless

Sodexo. No, this is not another article about how stupendous the variety of food at Marist is, or how Sodexo, the company that manages our food consumption, is introducing another type of bread to the dining menu; It’s about the people Marist students see on a daily basis.

The dining hall is a place where freshman spend most of their time when not in classes or other club-meetings. The friendly, smiling faces of the staff there never fails to uplift students’ mood. A few days ago, as I sipped my oat-milk, my gaze fell upon an employee who, like many others, was cleaning one of the tables with a cloth and spray.

The only difference between him and other staff members was that he did not have both of his hands.
It was only when I saw him effortlessly wear his coat, type a text on his phone, and sway out of the student center, that I was truly humbled. 

We are often clouded by the belief that the privilege we are born with - in this case both our hands and feet - is the only way to go, and anyone without that advantage is incapable of basic functionality. Logan McKinney, currently a sophomore at Marist, majoring in animation, is not just a triple-amputee, he is much more. As I hoped on a Zoom call with him, he demonstrated his ability to cross-stitch and raved about his 3D modeling class.

 Once, when asked to construct a 3D model of his hands, Logan joked, “this is why a lot of my sense of humor is based on myself.” He is also an amateur bookbinder and likes to “create things.” He can write, draw – digitally as well as on paper, – and perform basic activities like holding utensils to eat etc. like a non-amputee. 

People are often threatened by what’s unfamiliar, and in turn end up acting based on their limited understanding others. Logan mentioned that people initially get uncomfortable when he talks or even jokes about his disability, but they soon realize that “hey, it’s an ice-breaker.” 

“I play the trombone, but that’s usually with my prosthetic hook on.” 

As someone procrastinating to improve my guitar skills, thanks to Logan, I had a sudden motivation to stop postponing my musical pursuits. He has truly made the most of his life despite his disabilities.

“People expect that we need hands to get stuff done, that’s just not true.”

Logan McKinney Works for Sodexo on Campus. Courtesy of Logan McKinney