Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Working Towards A Racially Inclusive Studio, Dee Payton, Justine Dombrowski, Tian Qing Yen

Undergraduate Studio Assistant Research

Writing Centers and Studios have the potential to be more than just an inclusive space—they can be spaces that actively foster advocacy and racial justice. This module examines how racial inequality manifests on a systemic and interpersonal level within learning spaces. Interactive scenarios examine and challenge what race, racism, and microaggressions mean in the context of learning spaces, and promote reflection on inclusive practices in peer tutoring.

Klipsun Magazine, 2016 - Fall, Ashe Lambe

Klipsun Magazine

Picture, if you will, a child with matted hair and a sunken lower jaw. Clutched in that child’s hands is a notebook, tattered and filled with sweeping drawings of dragons and the scrawlings of a dreamer.

If you asked that child to write about the real world, a scoff would have followed. “Why would I write about that? It’s boring! ”

As a 10-year-old, I was convinced of this mentality. I had tried writing about myself and I had tried writing about others. Nothing ever stuck. It’s hard to write about others without taking the time to walk in their …

The Planet, 2016, Fall, Jesse Nichols, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

The Planet

No abstract provided.

Klipsun Magazine, 2016, Volume 46, Issue 04 - Summer, Amanda Raschkow

Klipsun Magazine

Every day we have the ability to influence others and our surroundings. We share our stories in hopes that we can inspire change and create a conversation. Our stories can be tragic, happy or anywhere in between. But everyone has a story to tell.

As time passes by we realize how the little points in our lives can lead to bigger experiences. We listen to others while they motivate us to express our voices.

In life we may not always know exactly where we are headed but eventually we will find our path. As when the tides on a beach …

The Language Of Non-Normative Sexuality And Genders, Emily Bolam, Samantha Jarvis

Scholars Week

This project is about how asexual, intersex and transgender identities challenge normative ideas about what it means to be human. Our research primarily focused on how language used in the medical community influences societal perceptions of non-normative identities. Western culture is pervasively heteronormative, meaning that there is a narrow idea of what constitutes a “normal” human being, which is typically heterosexual and limited to a binary gender system. While society is making strides with accepting non-hetero sexual identities, there persists the notion that humans are inherently sexual beings. Asexuality, an orientation characterized by a lack of sexual attraction, challenges this …

Klipsun Magazine, 2016, Volume 46, Issue 03 - Spring, Halee Hastad

Klipsun Magazine

The flowering cherry tree has long symbolized the cyclical nature of life and death. Its blossoms arrive in the spring, delivering their beauty for only a short time. There is a transcendent quality to them, a sense of magic. The Japanese tradition of Hanami has celebrated these trees for more than a millennium and invites people to leave their home or workplace to admire the blossoms and watch them fall. This act is one of honor and regard for the ephemerality of life. It is a practice calling for recognition that as all things begin, thus they too shall end. …

The Planet, 2016, Spring, Jesse Nichols, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

The Planet

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Microfinance Penetration Rates On Education Participation, Samuel W. Martinez

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Microfinance, or the extension of financial services to low-income individuals unserved or underserved by traditional financial institutions, has been championed as a method of reducing poverty and creating social change, especially in developing countries. However, empirical studies examining the effects of microcredit programs have found mixed results as to the success of these loans. This study attempts to determine the impact that the presence of microfinance institutions in a country has on education participation rates, specifically examining country- level World Bank data over a 10-year period. Regression results for this data suggest positive effects of microfinance penetration on secondary education …

The Economic Impacts Of Cross-Border Retailing, Daniel Edgel

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

An economic impact estimation of cross-border shopping from British Columbia to Whatcom County and forecast of the impact of future changes in retail shopping trends.

Spanish News Framing Of The Syrian Refugee Crisis, Ariana Hoyer

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

During 2015 and 2016, Europe dealt with the largest migratory crisis since WWII due to the escalation of the Syrian civil war and ongoing conflict and violence. When an issue as significant as the Syrian refugee crisis occurs, it is crucial to carefully examine the news framing of the issue due to its strong power to influence public discourse. This influence can originate from many different aspects of framing, but one of the most influential is word choice. The word choices used to refer to groups of people can change the feelings of identification or “otherness” among readers. This paper …

Klipsun Magazine, 2016 - Winter, Halee Hastad

Klipsun Magazine

There exists a value intrinsic to the decisions and actions that we make. A force to promote change and move us forward, into the future.

Decisions lead to acts lead to events and events shape our views of the world. Our frame of reference expands and we are within the human experience.

Please, take a moment and a deep breath. May you be delivered, now and always, to a sense of purpose.

The Planet, 2016, Winter, Yvonne Worden, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

The Planet

No abstract provided.