Digital Commons Network^™

Honor Thyself, Alonzo O. Williams

Dance (MFA) Theses

The black male experience and identity in America are filled with complexity. We struggle to know ourselves. We work to see the way of love and the peace of an unviolated free spirit. We want to engage with ourselves with the highest degree of freedom and comfort, not to continue to question our identity in a life-threatening white patriarchal masculinity ideal. Honoring oneself from the lenses of the Reconstruction era of the United States is essential. Reconceptualizing this history explores the significance of emphasizing Reconstruction in my life as a black male to go through a process of self-discovery and …

Women In American Pop Music: Christina Aguilera’S Impact On Cultural Narratives, Chin Wai (Rosie) Wong

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Pop music as a mainstream medium is often more enjoyed than critically studied. Former studies and literatures point out a major issue that many American female pop music artists face. These artists are often confined in a box that reduces their full human-being attributes to a narrowed view, where their identity is portrayed in a diminishing and inaccurate way. Despite this narrowed narrative of what a woman should be, this box has become a norm that many female artists must adhere to in order to achieve mainstream success. This paper responds to this phenomenon by analyzing Christina Aguilera’s music, spanning …

Rachel Dolezal, Caitlyn Jenner, And Identity Transformation: Identity Legitimization In Internet Comments, Sarah G. Pillow

Communication Studies Student Scholarship

This paper looks at the ways in which a person's identity may be legitimized or delegitimized by looking at the supposed identity transformations of Rachel Dolezal and Caitlyn Jenner, and the subsequent internet reactions. Through analyzing one article and its associated public comments, this paper considers the citizen critic and their role in creating an identity through five criteria of legitimization: identity has evidence to back it up; perceived truthfulness of the person; permanence of identity; experience of oppression; and activism and/or advocacy.

How First Generation Students Acclimate To The College Campus, Emani Richmond

Communication Studies Student Scholarship

This population of first-generation students is ripe for study because of their growing prominence on college campuses across the nation. The existing literature on FGS takes a more specific approach through looking at individual measures that are taken to support FGS such as the role of “academic self-concept,” how FGS negotiate the multiple identities they represent while in college, and how to retain students from low-income backgrounds (DeFreitas & Rinn, 2013; Orbe, 2004; Thayer, 2000). These studies are valuable because they bring information to the people that support FGS in assisting support staff with the understanding of their unique hurdles …

Healing Through Hope: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Barack Obama’S National Eulogies, Victoria West

Hollins Student Conference (2012-2016)

This paper analyzes President Barack Obama’s rhetoric in three of his national eulogies in order to examine how Obama consoles the nation following various tragedies and how his strategies differ from past presidents. These three addresses include President Obama’s responses to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, the Boston Marathon bombings, and the West, Texas, plant explosion. For this paper a rhetorical analysis of Obama’s addresses was performed using a form of genre criticism. The components of this genre criticism were drawn from Robert Dennis and Adrienne Dennis Kunkel’s (2004) framework concerning national eulogy rhetoric. The results of this analysis …

What Is The Nature Of Appalachian Identity?, Elizabeth Trout

Communication Studies Student Scholarship

Personal identity affects the way one views themselves, and the world around them. This in turn affects the way that they interact with others, and how they communicate. The Appalachian region in the United States impresses on its people a strong, undeniable identity that sets them apart from others. This identity is influenced by region and sense of place, race and language. The Appalachian identity is unique and complex in nature.

Healing Through Hope: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Barack Obama’S National Eulogies, Victoria West

Undergraduate Research Awards

This paper analyzes President Barack Obama’s rhetoric in three of his national eulogies in order to examine how Obama consoles the nation following various tragedies, and how his strategies differ from past presidents. These three addresses include President Obama’s responses to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, the Boston Marathon bombings, and the West, TX plant explosion. For this paper a rhetorical analysis of Obama’s addresses was performed using a form of genre criticism. The components of this genre criticism were drawn from Robert Dennis and Adrienne Dennis Kunkel’s (2004) framework concerning national eulogy rhetoric. The results of this analysis …

A Style Of His Own: A Rhetorical Analysis Of President Barack Obama's Inaugural Addresses, Victoria West

Undergraduate Research Awards

This paper analyzes President Obama’s rhetoric in his two inaugural addresses in order to determine how his presidential rhetoric conforms and violates current rhetorical traditions in inaugural addresses. For this paper a rhetorical analysis of Obama’s addresses was performed using a form of genre criticism. The components for this genre criticism were drawn from Vanessa B. Beasley’s work on presidential rhetoric in her book You, the People: American National Identity in Presidential Rhetoric. Results of this analysis will showed that President Obama’s presidential rhetoric is more secular than previous presidents and focuses more on shared American ideals. The results …

Playing Politics With Rape: Republican Apologia In The 2012 Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization, Kelsey Deforest

Hollins Student Conference (2012-2016)

During the second half of 2012, heightened scrutiny was applied to Republican politicians’ discussion of sexual assault. This wave of interrogation, though, began too late to affect the debates over the 2012 Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization. This paper will problematize these debates by analyzing the rhetoric of self-defense used by Republican legislators in the House of Representatives to defend their VAWA Reauthorization bill. By applying a feminist critical discourse analysis to the final VAWA Reauthorization debate held on May 16, 2012, this paper shows that the actions of the Republican legislators are rooted in a desire to protect the …

A Style Of His Own: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Barack Obama, Victoria West

Hollins Student Conference (2012-2016)

This paper analyzes President Obama’s rhetoric in his two inaugural addresses in order to determine how his presidential rhetoric conforms to and violates current rhetorical traditions in inaugural addresses. For this paper a rhetorical analysis of Obama’s addresses was performed using a form of genre criticism. The components for this genre criticism were drawn from Vanessa B. Beasley’s work on presidential rhetoric in her book You, the People: American National Identity in Presidential Rhetoric. Anticipated results of this analysis will show that President Obama’s presidential rhetoric is more secular than previous presidents. The results will also illustrate that President Obama’s …

"Kissing For Equality" And "Dining For Freedom": Analyzing The Ego-Function Of The August 2012 Chick-Fil-A Demonstrations, Jill M. Weber

Communication Studies Faculty Scholarship

In August 2012, thousands of Americans traveled to their local Chick-fil-A restaurants to participate in the Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day and the National Same Sex Kiss Day, two demonstrations designed to show support and opposition, respectively, to the company’s public endorsement of the “biblical definition of the family unit.” This essay draws upon Richard B. Gregg’s theory of the ego-function to analyze the important persuasive functions the protests served for the participants involved. An analysis of the messages shared among members in the groups’ respective Facebook pages shows that the participants promoted a message of victimage, virtuousness, importance, strength, and unity. …

James Danforth Quayle, Iii, "Murphy Brown Speech" (19 May 1992), Jill M. Weber

Communication Studies Faculty Scholarship

In his "Murphy Brown Speech," Quayle assessed the 1992 Los Angeles riots and discussed the Bush administration's plans for addressing social and economic inequalities. His brief critique of a fictional television single‐mother, however, overshadowed his message and became the focus of intense criticism from the media. After the controversy died down, Quayle's assertions inspired a debate over the family, welfare policies, economic opportunity, and the role of government in social policy that continues today.

Gloria Steinem, "Testimony Before Senate Hearings On The Equal Rights Amendment" (6 May 1970), Jill M. Weber

Communication Studies Faculty Scholarship

In her testimony before the Senate ERA hearings, Gloria Steinem refuted sex‐based myths about women and championed the ERA. Situating the ERA within the larger civil rights movement, Steinem called on Congress to acknowledge women's oppression as a serious political issue. She also worked to make women's rights issues more appealing to a mainstream audience by talking about the ERA's benefits for men and women and by emphasizing the democratic principles it embodied.

Hollins Columns (2007 May 2), Hollins College

Hollins Student Newspapers

Table of Contents:

• Campus security responds to tragedy
• Temporary appointments fill empty SGA positions
• QEP and SSLs: The ABCs of first year seminars
• Examples of QEP Seminars
• Hollins Students take a voluntary vow of silence
• Indie folk artist performs at Hollins
• Students frustrated with new email system
• Library extends hour for exams
• Spring 2007 exam schedule
• Hollins Alumni reappropriates porn
• Virginia tech victims are remembered
• Students question gun control policies
• Shapiro: A pretty good band
• Quality TV comes from "Mars"
• Media behavior shameful
• Columns Comic:
• Tennis team finished 3rd in ODAC
• In-House show offers friendly competition
• Fitness tips
• Hollins names …

Hollins Columns (2007 Apr 16), Hollins College

Hollins Student Newspapers

Table of Contents:

• Hollins elects new SGA officials
• Hollins riding places first in region, third at zone
• "Balanced Way" program offers healthy options
• Hollins golf team finished season
• "Smashed" author speaks to campus
• Renovations approved; said to start summer 2007
• Hollins professor receives George Garrett Award
• Students Participate in creating graffiti art
• Lee Smith: A true Hollins woman
• Green and gold go after the bra
• Hollins students venture "Into the Woods"
• SRLA Penny War Raises Money for SOS Fund
• A Night Out With the Drag Kings and Queens
• Porterdavis rocks our stacks
• Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in time at 84
• Fight …

Hollins Columns (2007 Apr 1), Hollins College

Hollins Student Newspapers

Table of Contents:

• Mrs. Degree teaches homemaking skills
• Hollins prepared for terrorist attacks
• Golf team sports Loch Ness Monster in pond
• Hollins students strip tease to success
• Out with Sodexho, in with Food Network Chefs
• Campus takes up cause to free Spears and Lohan
• 50% of Olsen Twins admitted to Hollins
• The gavel shares his life story
• "300" film embraced by Republican party
• This spring: Fugly is the New Black
• The straight and narrow path
• Columns Comic: Smokers vs. Capt Squirell
• Hollins wins Division III basketball title
• Fitness tips for bikini season

Hollins Columns (2007 Mar 13), Hollins College

Hollins Student Newspapers

Table of Contents:

• Grapheon presents 74th annual lit. fest
• Stables prevent spread of equine herpes
• Wilson Museum presents Godey's Lady's Book
• Students lend a helping hand in Lucea
• Housing Sign-ups Spring 2007
• Richard Rudolph conducts a new tune
• For students, Mrs. Dee means breakfast
• FBI Profiler speaks at Hollins
• OUTLoud sponsors drag king event
• Fans excited about "the Neon Bible"
• No excuse for smoking
• Hollins Comic: Critters vs. Smokers Part 1
• Varsity Tennis off to a promising start
• Lacrosse welcomes new members
• Fitness tips

Hollins Columns (2007 Feb 26), Hollins College

Hollins Student Newspapers

Table of Contents:

• O'Toole acquitted of misdemeanor charges
• "Vagina Monologues" takes center stage
• Spinster staff prepares for book's release
• Wasserstein Festival held at Hollins
• Vaccine mandate under security
• Travelogues
• What's new in the study abroad programs?
• From Greece
• Share participates in service project
• Poet Brian Henry visits campus
• Hollins Columns: The new regime
• Staff Spring 2007
• Hollins Comic: Another night in Tinker
• Basketball team ends season
• Swim team exceeds expectations
• Fitness tips

Minister Louis Farrakhan, "Million Man March" (16 October 1995), Jill M. Weber

Communication Studies Faculty Scholarship

An examination of Louis Farrakhan's controversial speech at the Million Man March in October, 1995.

Hollins Columns (2006 Dec 6), Hollins College

Hollins Student Newspapers

Table of Contents:

• Faculty approves leadership program
• HUTV prepares for spring launch
• Women discuss careers in male-dominated fields
• Students debate faculty involvement in senate
• Safety tips for the holidays
• Class, students raise environmental awareness
• Students underrepresented at polls
• "The Queen" examines British politics
• Indie artist releases new EP
• Hollins Columns Manifesto
• Letter to the Editor: Message to Seniors
• Support the Basketball Team this January

Hollins Columns (2006 Nov 13), Hollins College

Hollins Student Newspapers

Table of Contents:

• Dining services address student concerns
• HPV Vaccinations available on campus
• J-Term offers new opportunities
• SGA offers student endowment
• Campus Construction
• Students speak against marriage amendment
• Curious critters cause stir on campus
• Hollins Alum leads sex discussion
• Riders focus on teamwork, skills
• Local Columnist visits class
• Intercultural center reaches out to community
• Fall Formal Enchants
• "The Prestige" creates bigscreen magic
• Virginia Coalition promote new album in Roanoke
• 7 fun ideas for bored first-years
• Join the Hollins Columns Staff for Spring '07

Hollins Columns (2006 Oct 30), Hollins College

Hollins Student Newspapers

Table of Contents:

• Looking back on Tinker Day celebrations
• Music department recovers from growing pains
• Burglaries on campus raise security concerns
• Career Development Center
• Visiting professors find a home on campus
• Ring Night tradition prevails
• "Place of Stones": Discovering the burren
• Fall formal plans to enchant students
• "Uncommon Women" hits the stage
• My Chemical Romance reinvent themselves in new CD
• Police and Mafia Clash in "The Departed"
• Hollins Columns seek Fresh Meat
• Correction: Student sets record straight

Hollins Columns (2006 Oct 10), Hollins College

Hollins Student Newspapers

Table of Contents:

• Hollins riders triumph in tournaments
• Career Services Corner
• Political groups prepare for elections
• Artist finds new medium in recycled products
• Residence life deals with mixed feelings
• Decemberists produce first main stream album
• The film "Last Kiss" tempts viewers
• Keeping secrets--the cons of confidentiality
• Students respond to Freshmen election controversy
• Making the Goal: Soccer team thrives with campus support

Hollins Columns (2006 Sept 20), Hollins College

Hollins Student Newspapers

Table of Contents:

• Randolph-Macon will admit men next fall
• Hollins contributes in the preservation of Tinker Mountain
• Alcohol issues stir up confusion, controversy
• Randolph-Macon becomes co-educational
• First Year Elections under scrutiny
• Next Generation of Hollins Students benefits from orientation changes
• Q&A with New Dean of Students: Patty O'Toole
• Hollins purchases property on landmark Tinker Mountain
• Virginia Coalition Rocks Fall Party 2006
• "The Illusionist" casts a spell
• Can you get senioritis in September?
• Don't ask the Wizard, ask Dorothy

Hollins Columns (2006 Apr 17), Hollins College

Hollins Student Newspapers

Table of Contents:

• Spring fever hits Ireland abroad program
• Environmental advisory board comes to Hollins
• Evolution vs. intelligent design debate hits campus
• What do you think?
• Promotions abound: the tenure and "professor" process
• Communication department receives grant for trip to Washington D.C.
• Women in Music Course continues networking project
• Censorship: Why it's never an option
• April fools article on patriot act a personal bias
• Where has all the integrity gone?
• Freya activities: promote love and understanding
• Interstate 81 begins process to become new toll road
• Lacrosse teams ends its season with a win
• Veronica Mars delivers mysteries, and more
• Summer …

Hollins Columns (2006 Apr 1), Hollins College

Hollins Student Newspapers

Table of Contents:

• Patriot Act receives support from college students
• Study shows senate attendance an All Time Low
• The Gossip Corner -- Keep it on the Down Low
• The Makavelian Truth

Hollins Columns (2006 Mar 13), Hollins College

Hollins Student Newspapers

Table of Contents:

• Rent star Anthony Rapp visits Hollins
• "Quadrangle" re-appears with a collage of voices
• ADA remains a prominent part of campus life
• Students start working on Community Garden
• Visual Arts Center welcomes new Sally Mann exhibit
• Voice reacts to South Dakota abortion legislation
• Global interest association's multicultural festival
• Brings diversity, heritage, fun to Hollins Campus
• New SGA chair positions filled
• "Transamerica": A transformative film
• GPA is not a measure of intelligence
• "Youth must be youthful"
• Quadrangle article misleading
• Senate presence a concern?

Hollins Columns (2006 Feb 28), Hollins College

Hollins Student Newspapers

Table of Contents:

• "Life is a cabaret, old chum"
• Hollins Health Fair 2006
• Career Corner
• Trip to Ireland brings choir together
• A Q&A with the Quadrangle staff
• Meet some of next year's SGA representatives
• "Mrs. Henderson presents" a success
• V: A Pretty Good Guy
• A few things I miss about the US
• A response to the letter "Quadrangle article misleading"
• MALS student seeks signatures for U.S. Senate candidate
• Finishing school myth to rest

Hollins Columns (2006 Feb 27), Hollins College

Hollins Student Newspapers

Table of Contents:

• The search is on... again
• Women's history month celebrated with new conference
• Strategic planning creates a new vision
• Economics department forsees needed change
• Women's leadership and social conference starts buzz
• "Career Development" News Corner
• Course on personal narratives changes outlook
• Navigating the maze of the Judicial System
• S.H.A.R.E. reaches out to various communities, causes
• Blurring the student/faculty divide: progressive or incestuous?
• I want to be Dean Ridley when I grow up
• When in London: Independence learned through subway trials
• Music review: Beth Orton's "Comfort of Strangers"
• Wouldn't it be grand if life was a musical?
• Race exercise …

William Jefferson Clinton, "Racism In The United States" (16 October 1995), Jill M. Weber

Communication Studies Faculty Scholarship

In "Racism in the United States," President Bill Clinton acknowledged racial differences and called upon Americans to "clean our house of racism." Maintaining that the discussion of differences was the first step in alleviating racial tension, Clinton made dialogue a centerpiece of his race initiative. Clinton's approach to civil rights and his emphasis on dialogue marked an important step in the ongoing debates over civil rights in America by illustrating a president's role in shaping such debates.