Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The First-Generation Student Experience; Why Building Solidarity Is Vital, Amarilys Torres-Nunez

Student Symposium

First-generation college students (i.e students whose parents or guardians do not have a 4-year college degree) face a unique set of challenges. Psychological, academic, financial, and social barriers all pose a threat to a first-gen student's success. Despite this, first-gen students possess unique strengths and resiliency that if recognized, can function as assets. This presentation highlights and addresses these elements while focusing on my experiences as the First-Generation Program Coordinator at OWU. The position creates, promotes, and evaluates first-gen programming. It serves as a student representative on the First-Gen Advisory Board, a group of faculty, staff, and students that strives …

Debe Ser Dirigida: Theories Of Community Organizing For Research Management In The Context Of Rural Ecuador, Meghan Edwards

Student Symposium

This research analysis and literature review discusses the factors that mobilize individuals to take an active role in community-led resource management. After reviewing major contemporary theories of resource management such as Elinor Ostrom's polycentric theory, CPR theories, and Arnstein's ladder, the essay then applies these theories to the context of the Quijos Valley in Ecuador, where the author conducted informal interviews with community members both involved and not-involved in managing fragile soil ecosystems. The literature review considers the idea that individuals are more likely to take an active role in research management when there are strong community bonds, and highlights …

‘Free People’: Identity Formation Among The Imazighen In Morocco, Milany Duarte, Alana Guzman

Student Symposium

Our project objective was to study cultural and ethnic identity formation among the urban indigenous people of Morocco. The purpose of our project was to adequately represent the voices of the Amazigh community. To do so, we conducted interviews and discussions on the ways in which the Amazigh community experiences cultural, political, and linguistic marginalization. We caputured personal stories of native Imazighen (plural of Amazigh) people and documented their experiences living in urban cities. We photographed traditional Imazighen living spaces and traditions.

How Have We Improved? Exploring Racial Inequalities In Special Education, Erin Greer

Student Symposium

This Independent Study explored the racial inequalities noted within the field of special education, particularly related to identification for certain disability categories and eligibility for special education services. An example of this would be more African American males being identified as having an Emotional Behavior Disorder, Learning Disability, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. More severe disciplinary practices can also be noted among male, African American students with and without disabilities. Racial inequalities have been well documented in special education, even prior to the first special education law in 1975. Since then, awareness of racial inequalities when identifying students with disabilities …

How Alternative Masculinity Types Fit Inside The Strict World Of Hegemonic Masculinity, Alexander Pyritz

Student Symposium

The project sought to understand how understand how masculinity has historically been defined, and to then explore how alternative definitions of masculinity fit within the traditional definition. To begin, the historical definition of masculinity first had to be defined. In doing this, research was done to understand how masculinity had traditionally been defined, and was compared to the understanding of what it meant to be "masculine". Based on the research done, the traditional standards of masculinity were categorized within the construct of hegemonic masculinity, an illusion that male identifying people measure themselves against, but rarely ever achieve. Once the traditional …

Examining The Long-Term Effects Of Child-Mentoring Programs On At-Risk Children, Francisco Mejia

Student Symposium

Child care remains a complicated issue, with at-risk children suffering the most. As a response child-mentoring programs have been a topic of discussion regarding their long-term impacts. My project was focused on working with and collecting data on at-risk and/or low-income children. My literature review came from multiple academic sociological studies focused on mentoring programs. My relation to the overall project was working as an intern with the community organization Big Brothers Big Sisters. The goal was to understand the impacts of mentoring programs both through research along with actual work with the organization. A key component of the research …

Merciless: Psychopathic Criminals And How The Criminal Justice System Can Protect Us From Them, Dilara Gingerich

Student Symposium

For my presentation, I will discuss an independent study I did with Dr. Durst in the Fall of 2018, in which I wrote about psychopaths and ways the criminal justice system (CJS) can protect society from them. I will first briefly define psychopathy and explain the personality traits associated with it. I will dedicate the rest of my time to explaining ways I believe the CJS can use information about psychopathy to protect society from criminals with that condition. Psychopathy is a subtype of antisocial personality disorder (APD) that is characterized by a lack of empathy and remorse, manipulative and …

General Campus Climate From A Conservative Student Perspective, Sarah Mattick

Student Symposium

Campus Climate Research studies how students and others in a college community feel about the climate of their institutions, especially how the climate facilitates learning, growth, and expression. Typically, this research has been applied to diversity concerns, especially in the decades after affirmative action became a common practice in higher education admissions. My research adds to this literature, because in the midst of creating a campus community and campus climate that is sensitive and in alliance with the needs of marginalized students, institutions will often find that a struggle occurs between the needs of marginalized students and the perceived neglect …

The Role Of The Midwife In Hapsburg Spain, Grace Jones

Student Symposium

The Holy Roman Empire during the early modern period (14th and 15th centuries) accounted for several countries within central Europe that fell under the mandate of the Roman Catholic Church. Of the many royal families that ruled these countries, The Hapsburg family maintained a position as Holy Roman Emperor for many consecutive years, and gained majority of their favor and power through political marriages and the children that came from these unions. Gender roles during the 14th-16th century were very strictly defined, with women following roles set out through religious mandate and the misogynistic teachings of male philosophers. The role …

Educational Inequality - How We Systematically Fail Our Children, Paige Ross

Student Symposium

Poor urban youth of color are left behind every step of the way- beginning with education. We are failing these children by not providing them with the necessary tools to be successful today in America. Our social classes and neighborhoods are racially segregated, causing disparities in school funding, due to government legislature that further advances these forgotten children deeper into disparity.

Whites are 1.8-2.3 times more likely to graduate from college, and this push for higher education begins in pre-K programs unavailable to historically non-White impoverished neighborhoods. The issue of educational inequality always comes back to that of systematically oppressive …