Digital Commons Network^™

Comparing The Social Responses Of Aids And Covid-19 Through Oral History, Elise Lee

Women's and Gender Studies Theses

In the past 40 years, the United States has faced 2 major public health crises: the AIDS epidemic, and the global COVID-19 pandemic. In this project I consider the various aspects of these public health emergencies such as sharing the burden of survival, the role of fear, the bastardization of identity politics, and queerness as a political project. I do this by analyzing oral histories and I argue that we can look at the AIDS epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic in parallel. During both AIDS and COVID, despite severely lackluster governmental responses, we saw overwhelming amounts of community organizing and …

Bans Beyond Borders: Entrenching Out-Of-State Abortion Bans And California’S Attempt To Shield Its Medical Providers From Liability, Anja Alexander

Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review

Since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization opinion stripped U.S. citizens of the constitutional right to obtain pre-viability abortions, individual states have been vested with the power to regulate the procedure within their borders. As a result, many states have banned early-term abortions, while some have drafted bans that at-tempt to extend beyond their borders, aiming to impede the ability of their citizens to travel to other states and obtain the procedure where it is legal. These confusing and intentionally vague abortion bans have had a chilling effect on health care throughout the United States as medical professionals fear …

Who’S Afraid Of Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Statements In Faculty Hiring And Promotion At California Universities?, Matthew W. Babb

Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review

In 1996, California banned affirmative action in both state employment and state education. This ban extends to California’s universities, which are therefore prohibited from using race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in faculty hiring and promotion as well as student admissions. As a result, California’s universities have had to think of alternative ways to improve the diversity of their faculty and students. One solution many California universities have adopted is to ask applicants for faculty positions or promotions to submit a statement describing their approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion. However, the use of diversity, equity, and inclusion statements …

S.B. 98 And The Outer Limits Of Journalism, Daniel Lemer

Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review

Senate Bill 98 (S.B. 98), signed into law on October 9, 2021, aims to safeguard the right of journalists in California to cover public protests without police interference. However, the bill is silent as to who qualifies as a journalist and thus falls under its protections. This Note analyzes different approaches to defining the press in the legal, academic, and journalistic fields. In the context of S.B. 98, it advocates for a broad, process-based definition that encompasses a wide range of newsgatherers, from established professionals writing for major publications, to individuals documenting the events unfolding in their communities with nothing …

Global Product Liability For Dumb ‘Smart’ Home Devices, Michael L. Rustad, Layth Hert

Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review

The number of smart homes globally has increased to 300 million, and the smart home market is expected to reach approximately $181.4 billion by 2025. These new developments, however, are accompanied by related security risks. The attack surface for smart home devices poses latent dangers because of inadequate security that enables cybercriminals to gain access to such devices.

This Article proposes extending product liability to address security vulnerabilities in smart home devices. Part I examines the ubiquity of smart home devices. Part II sets forth the breadth of security vulnerabilities in connected devices, confirming the need to clarify that product …

The Paga Problem: Conflict Between California Employment Policy And Federal Arbitration Act Expansion, Scot Gauffeny

Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review

In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in Viking River Cruises v. Moriana. This controversial opinion sought to resolve ongoing tension between the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) and California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) by overturning California precedent dating back to 2014. In keeping with its decades-long crusade to strengthen the FAA, the Supreme Court removed the primary procedural mechanism through which putative PAGA plaintiffs could avoid mandatory arbitration of their claims, instead requiring aggrieved employees to sever their “individual” PAGA claims from the claims of their “similarly aggrieved” coworkers. Those opposed to PAGA viewed …

Implied Malice Aiding And Abetting: A Doctrinal Maze, Jason Mayland

Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review

In the wake of the California Legislature’s elimination of the natural and probable consequences theory of second-degree murder, a new doctrine has emerged for assigning murder liability to accomplices in fatal assaults: implied malice aiding and abetting. This theory, which preserves murder liability for assailants who neither kill nor intend to kill, combines the doctrines of aiding and abetting and implied malice. The difficulty of navigating the resulting thicket of interlocking requirements raises a serious risk that the doctrine will be applied too broadly. After outlining the history of accomplice liability for murder in California and analyzing several cases where …

Dropping The Veil: How An Investigation Into One Asylum Office Reveals Systemic Failures Within The U.S. Affirmative Asylum System, Anna R. Welch, Sara P. Cressey

Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review

The eleven asylum offices scattered throughout the United States make life-or-death decisions every year in tens of thousands of asylum cases. Yet, little is known about the internal workings of U.S. asylum offices where the informal, non-adjudicative framework for deciding asylum claims takes place behind closed doors. Our three-year study into the Boston Asylum Office is the first ever comprehensive empirical study into the inner workings of an asylum office in the United States. This Article takes a deeper dive into our study’s various findings to highlight systemic failures that are likely pervasive throughout the U.S. affirmative asylum system. We …

Why The Protect Working Musicians Act's Proposed Antitrust Exemption Needs To Be Enacted, Olivia Finlayson

Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review

No abstract provided.

Ncaa Enactment Of A Disciplinary Policy: Uniformity To Regain Institutional Legitimacy, Matteson Landau

Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review

This article examines issues surrounding decentralized disciplinary systems and inconsistent enforcement against student-athletes who engage in criminal misconduct across the National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”). The NCAA recognizes the inherent conflicts of interest that arise when institutions are left to regulate their own recruiting practices. To negate these conflicts, the NCAA has established a robust disciplinary system, the NCAA Committee on Infractions, which oversees investigations into violations of NCAA Bylaws, reviews materials provided by the athlete and/or institution, and issues binding rulings which may include suspensions and fines. Yet the NCAA fails to see how the same conflict issues arise …

Indigenous Ancestral Assets: The Ecology Of Native Hawaiian Education Through Youth Perspectives, Claire Kēhaulani Ramirez

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

In K-12 education, student voice is not often considered when establishing curriculum, addressing school policy, or creating a climate that reflects culturally inclusive teaching practices. Across education systems serving Indigenous communities within the United States, the voices of youth as a form of contribution are silenced, which echoes further attempts towards the erasure of the existence of these communities. The context of the study highlighted various strengths through their traditions, languages, and cultural teachings. While Indigenous communities exist globally, this study centered on Indigenous communities from the North American continent, specifically those Native to the Hawaiian Islands. To learn about …

"They're Not Used To Being Seen": Teacher Reflections On Building Community And Belonging With High-Need Students, Celine Massuger

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

In today’s education context, not all young people are able to complete their high school education. In fact, in 2016, the number of low-income young people ages 16 to 24 years who did not complete high school or were not enrolled in high school was 3.7 times higher than those of high-income families (McFarland et al., 2018). This may be due to discipline policies, conflicts with teachers and administrators, and other factors creating a poor school climate. The COVID-19 pandemic further created a sense of isolation amongst many students, causing disengagement from traditional approaches and revealing a need for an …

The Impact Of Land Use And Human Population Density On Benthic Macroinvertebrate Diversity In A Highly Urbanized River, Maleha Mahmud, David C. Lahti, Bobby Habig

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Many studies have documented the detrimental effects of urbanization on aquatic ecosystems. What is less known is how “super urban” centers—areas with unusually high human population densities and immense infrastructures—impact biodiversity. Specifically, freshwater streams and rivers that are situated in highly urbanized metropolitan areas might be more susceptible to anthropogenic disturbance. Here, we evaluated the impacts of land use and human population density on benthic macroinvertebrate diversity along the Bronx River, a freshwater river situated in one of the largest urban centers in the world: the New York metropolitan area. We addressed the following research question: How does (1) high …

Prison Parts: The Theological-Ethical Problem Of Using Prisoners As Living Organ Donors, Eryn Reyes Leong

Say Something Theological: The Student Journal of Theological Studies

This paper is a theological and ethical reflection of Massachusetts House Bill 2333, which would reduce prison sentences on the condition that state prisoners donate bone marrow or an organ. Looking specifically at agency and bodily integrity as the two facets of imago Dei that are implicated by House Bill 2333, I address the crucial question: Does House Bill 2333 distort the dignity of prisoners as imago Dei by incentivizing living prisoners to donate their body parts in exchange for freedom? Using Margaret A. Farley’s justice framework articulated in Just Love: A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics (2006), this paper: …

Mystical Life And Altered Consciousness: Comparing The Subtle Paths And Trance States Of St. Teresa And Patañjali, Dana Tarasavage

Say Something Theological: The Student Journal of Theological Studies

The study of mysticism is said to be the study of the ineffable, and thus by its nature, difficult to define. Yet the structured paths and trance states described by St. Teresa of Ávila in Interior Castle and Patañjali in the Yoga Sūtra demonstrate meticulous and thoughtful explanation of mystical practices and phenomena. This paper situates these texts, mystic guidebooks in their respective traditions, in conversation, examining and comparing the path towards, experience within, and the effect of mystical trances. It employs a balanced approach to essentialism and highlights the shared features of mystical life as a vantage point from …

Developing An Ebook For First Responders: Exploring Arts-Based Interventions To Counter Burnout And Build Resilience, Taysia De Mesa, Baylor Duncan, Emmanuelle Evans, Ashley Herbinger, Hannah Kent, Olivia Waldorf

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

The researchers in this project studied the prevalence and impact of burnout among first responders, after which they produced CRISP (Creative Resilience Initiatives for Service Providers), a groundbreaking art therapy-based program published in an electronic book format aimed at addressing burnout and fostering resilience among first responders. Our program aims to foster resilience by integrating art therapy's Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) model with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and anti-racism strategies. The ETC model aligns with inclusive and diverse practices as it emphasizes a system-focused approach in using creativity, self-reflection, and cultivation of effective body-mind empathy. The CRISP eBook features 18 …

Integrating Collective Art Healing Practices Into Contemporary Art Therapy, Taleene Armen, Nicole Aviel, Ej Liao, Brianna Mitjans, Mandy Schuster

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

Five graduate students from the Marital and Family Art Therapy Program at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) conducted a research study to explore the characteristics and attributes of collective art practices and how they contribute to healing. A survey including quantitative measures and qualitative responses were administered on the Qualtrics platform, allowing for a wide geographic reach and rapid data collection. The subsequent qualitative analysis involved the creation of visual artworks by the researchers, utilizing the arts as data to identify additional common themes contributing to healing attributes. The data revealed three major themes, or characteristics, of how art contributes to …

“How Are We Refocusing Our Lives On God?”: Implementing The Lenten Vision Of Sacrosanctum Concilium On A High School Campus, Michael Ashley-Mennis

Say Something Theological: The Student Journal of Theological Studies

In many Catholic high schools, students discuss Lent with a focus on their actions associated with penance, fasting and almsgiving as a self-denial Olympics without understanding the true purpose. This causes students to robotically move through the motions of Lent instead of internalizing it as a period of preparation for Baptism and penance. This paper will propose a program, for the Catholic high school setting, on how to implement the Second Vatican Council’s vision of Lent, as outlined in Sacrosanctum Concilium. The paper begins by exploring the history and development of Lent throughout the centuries. It then examines the …

Personal Green Spaces During The Pandemic - Perceptions Towards Urban Home Gardens During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Bengaluru, India, Varsha Bhaskaran, Charles Nilon

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented changes in a short span of time to people’s life and living. Being in a lockdown, especially in urban areas, has led to changes in the way people perceive nature around them and within their homes. Research on this topic in the cities of the global south has been limited with even fewer studies in Indian cities. To begin to address this gap, in this exploratory study we interviewed 30 residents of Bengaluru, India to understand how they perceived the changes they experienced in their home gardens and in the nature around their …

The Co-Dependent Arising Of Liberation: An Exploration Of Buddhist Thought And Social Justice Models, Emily Ward

Say Something Theological: The Student Journal of Theological Studies

The language of liberation is prevalent in both spiritual and activist communities: the intersection of these practices, of liberating ourselves on the planes of embodied existence and beyond, interests me deeply. While the limitations of language are frequently expounded in Buddhism, the similarities between Buddhist and social justice terminology are what initially piqued my interest in exploring how key ideas from each field could be enhanced by mutual understanding. While much work has already been done in the field of Socially Engaged Buddhism, I hope to contribute to it by examining two models I have found useful in teaching racial …

Hobby Horse, Kaitlyn Liu

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

Against the wishes of her domineering mother, a teen equestrian rides into the Finnish sport of hobby horsing in order to win enough money to buy her real horse back.

An Exploration Of Gifted Hispanic/Latino Students’ Educational Capital At One Title I Elementary School, Jasmin Solórzano Churchill

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

Gifted programs, designed to enhance engagement and rigor for students exhibiting talent or potential beyond their peers in the general education classroom, are not equitably identifying and serving Hispanic/Latino students. This qualitative study explored gifted programming at a Title I elementary school located in a largely Hispanic/Latino community. Very few students received gifted services at the school, despite equity measures in place. Using a framework of educational capital, this study highlighted the cultural capital and community cultural wealth of gifted Hispanic/Latino students and provided suggestions for enhancing programming for this historically underidentified population of learners. Data were collected through semistructured …

Examination Of How Integrating Ethnic Studies And The Transformative Student Voice Framework In A Voice-Based Program Reinvigorated A Sense Of Community On A Middle School Campus, Jasmine Banks

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

The middle school of study seeks to develop leaders in this world. However, the traditional oracy curricula and voice-based program the school originally adopted sought to develop students as future employees. Consequently, the problem at hand was how to connect the oracy curriculum to the principles of social justice to actualize the school’s mission. This qualitative study explored lessons from educators who have taught a voice-based course in an in-person and virtual environment. Specifically looking at the decisions middle school educators considered when integrating transformative student voice and ethnic studies into a voice-based course. From the lessons, decisions, and perspectives …

Reimagining The Onboarding And Mentoring Needs Of California Community College Counseling Faculty: An Ecological Systems Approach Using Narrative Inquiry, Philip Lantz

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

Despite California community college counseling faculty having unique roles on their campuses due to their faculty status and their proximity to students, there is a lack of research related to the experiences of counseling faculty and how they can be supported by local and statewide leaders to best meet the needs of the diverse student populations that are currently being served within the California community college system. This qualitative research study utilized narrative inquiry to examine the current onboarding and mentoring experiences of California community college counseling faculty to evaluate both best practices as well as institutional gaps that negatively …

The Traumatic Consequences In Native Hawaiians After Colonization, Andrea Marie Kawehi'lani Morland-Tellez

Undergraduate Library Research Awards

No abstract provided.

From Marginalization To National Sensation: The Phenomenon Of Disability In Victorian Popular Culture, Mary O'Callaghan

Undergraduate Library Research Awards

No abstract provided.

Speaking Into The Wind: The Impacts Of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Jocelyn Ann Thew

Undergraduate Library Research Awards

No abstract provided.

Cultivating Resilience In Adolescence: How Educational Environments Can Support Positive Youth Development During Identity Exploration, Heather I. Arndt, Genesis G. Larin, Gladis Abigail Munguia, Henry William Perez, Dianne Preciado

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

Adolescence is a critical stage of human development, one that can be especially challenging for teens that are navigating certain vulnerabilities in their identity formation. With the World Health Organization stating that 14% of 10–19 year-olds experience mental health conditions, educational environments are increasingly needed to address mental concerns in their curriculums. This qualitative research project used a combination of art based inquiry and narrative analysis to answer the following question, “How can educational environments promote resilience and positive youth development during adolescent identity exploration?” Findings illuminated several emergent themes that culminated in the following four recommendations for educational environments; …

Unmasking Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic - The Social Emotional Learning Of Early Elementary Students, Jahnessa Chanontree, Katie Musfelt, Miranda Myers, Linnea Trujillo

Graduate Library Research Awards

No abstract provided.

Trends In Eliminating Biases In The Hiring Process Within The U.S., Juan Carlos Roxas

Graduate Library Research Awards

No abstract provided.