Nonfiction Commons^™

Stuck In The Middle: An Illustrated Essay On Covid-19 And Other Past Pandemics, Amanda Pszczolkowski

Honors Projects

The project is a visual essay, in a graphic novel-esque style, exploring how the coronavirus compares to other illness outbreaks of the past century and how the associated restrictions have impacted me at an individual level. The creative nonfiction essay intertwines historical perspectives as a way to inform, contextualize, and reflect my own experience with COVID-19. The project began with extensive research on illness outbreaks of the past century, current developments in the Coronavirus pandemic, and genre conventions of graphic novels and memoirs. The intent was to provide a cohesive whole that illuminates themes in the linguistic essay.

Starting Residency With Covid-19, Seena Khosravi, Ashish Sinha

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

By Dr. Ashish Sinha, MD, PhD, DABA, MBA, FASA

As a Program Director of a just established anesthesia program, one faces enough challenges. A curve ball that I was not expecting was one of my residents to inform me on July 3rd that he was feeling feverish with chills, had myalgia and a headache. First response in my mind, that I didn’t verbalize was, ”Anosmia too?” I arranged COVID testing ASAP in a drive-by setting, which we could avail immediately. My resident had driven from New Orleans, LA to Riverside, CA, making a few stops along the way, (food, …

“A Welcome, A Warning And A Wish: On Entering Lmu Through The ‘First To Go Program’ In The Year 2020”, Dean Bryant Keith Alexander, Phd

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

"As many as you know, Loyola Marymount University (LMU) has a powerful mission statement that includes three pillars that are often cited and recited: The encouragement of learning; the education of the whole person; and the service of faith and the promotion of justice.

As I welcome you to campus, I welcome you into the recognition of this now shared mission statement as a joint commitment to encouraging an integration of knowledge; in which “faith and reason bear witness to the unity of all truth” (Ex Corde Ecclesiae, 1990, #17) and to instill in our students the abilities for life-long …

For Those Who Grew Too Fast, Erik Soto-Vasquez, Leonardo Dominguez-Ortega, Kiana Liu, Veronica Gomez, Maria Fernanda Meléndez Miranda, Megan Mcnaughton, Haley Gronski, Quetzali Lopez, Marieann Garzon, Brisa Gutierrez, Saúl Rascón Salazar, Mariel Fuentes, Renato Guzman, Karina Pena, Aviva Schwaiger, Denise Espinoza, Tiana Lockett, Katherine Comasil-Hernandez, Ashley Mccluskey, Brayan Vazquez, Manuel Armendariz Castro, Hannah Agbaroji

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

This volume welcomes you amid multiple global epidemics. It welcomes you home, hoping that these words provide visibility, comfort, introspection, and roadmap for pushing boundaries. We know we are tired, we know we are facing uncertainty at every turn, and we know that connection is wearing thin. This collection of words serves as an “I see you,” as an “I am with you,” as an “I love you.” These pieces came together toward end of the Spring 2020, when a group of first-year and transfer students came together to speak their existence. They bring memories and a reminder that together …

Mental Health Stigma: A Wicked Problem, Katelyn Yoh

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

Mental health stigma began in the 5th century, continued through the 18th century, and began to improve in the 1840s. Mental health has been viewed as negative and those who suffer from a mental illness or disorder also suffer from stigma as well as negative consequences, such as other mental health concerns, physical issues, and psychological issues due to stigma. This paper goes into deep detail about what mental health stigma is, how stigma is used from peers and internalizes and creates self stigma, what the results of stigma are (all negative), and lastly ways to help put an end …

Hunger In The United States, Trey A. Henry

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

The issue of hunger in the United States is descriptively explained through the standpoints of child hunger, mental health, food security, and elderly people. It is detailed with explanations on how to overcome and adapt to the wicked problem that have plagued our country since it became one. The information produced by authors cited in this essay talk about the main points and the substantial issues that have progressed over time. It sheds light on how prevalent hunger can be with low-income families and the elderly people that do not have the aid to receive enough meals a day. In …

Time To Acknowledge Homeless Youth, Madison Frey

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

Today, there are many wicked problems that we face. Climate change, phone usage, substance use, and many others. This may lead to us then neglecting some of the other wicked problems that do not directly relate to us. Homelessness is a wicked problem that has been faced for generations, and many have overcome it and went on to talk about their hardships. What is not spoken about so often is homelessness in youth. It is an ugly truth that needs to be recognized and talked about. They face several issues with not only various parts of their health, but aspects …

Lack Of Resources In Classrooms, Juliana Maffea

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

In different areas of the world, classrooms lack resources. Teachers are trying their hardest to teach their students with what is given to them, but it is not enough. The result of having a lack of resources is students not graduating, teachers burning out, parents scared for their students, and students not getting the proper education. An insufficient amount of resources in classrooms comes from the lack of funding or the improper use of spending in schools. There are solutions to this wicked problem, such as raising more money, making cuts, or changing the way schools spend their money. This …

Global Warming, Benjamin H. Gray Mr.

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

Global warming is being affected in many ways on a daily basis and continuing using the same nonrenewable resources is hurting the human civilization as a whole today, and is going to hurt us even more in the future. The world is being affected economically today and is going to have to contribute a large sum of money to clean up the greenhouses gasses. There is also a problem with precipitation a drought due to the temperature and jet streams. Humans are choosing to migrate differently due to the change in temperatures and precipitation which goes hand in hand with …

A Letter To The United States Government On Wealth And Income Inequality, Matthieu Maier

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

The United States of America is the world’s hotspot when it comes to income and wealth inequality. The wealthiest Americans are accumulating more and more wealth everyday while most Americans, who fall somewhere around middle-class, remain struggling and stagnant. The United States’ unchecked and deregulated system of capitalism is the root cause of our country’s inequities along with our government’s refusal to set aside self-interests and biases in order to combat these issues. From the inequality caused by rouged American systems larger issues are created that lead to complications in health, wages, standard of living, and race relations within our …

Wicked Problems: Depression, Sebastian Wendolowski

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

Depression is a disorder that can affect anybody and is the leading cause of disability and disorders in the United States. This year, due to COVID-19, it has hit an all time high, affecting many more people. Suicide rates have been steadily growing across all ages, and this year is at a record high too, showing correlation with depression. There are two types of depression, major depressive disorder and chronic depressive disorder. Diagnosis of depression is typically done physically or through a questionnaire, which is compared into a DSM-5. There are many risk factors for depression and other common mental …

Covid-19 Is More Important Than College Football, Gavin J. Riley

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

College Football has been around since 1869, and while it has faced many hardships, this may be the toughest test. With the arrival of the fatal coronavirus, the NCAA, along with the many colleges must find a way to have a safe college football season. Although, it can be argued that having a college football season is not worth risking the lives of many. The NCAA’s plan to go through with a season has strict protocols and guidelines that all teams must abide by, but many players and team members do not feel safe with these guidelines. With the use …

Tackling Poverty, Mark A. Smith-Micthell

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

For many decades America has been stuck in a loop of having millions of impoverished citizens despite being one of the richest countries in the world. Lack of education, mass incarceration, and failed government policy are just some of the many causes of a very perplexing problem. Poverty is a downward spiral that emphasizes the inconsistencies between government policy and the weakness of the country's economy, which can only begin to be overcome if opportunities to help the less fortunate are developed.

Life After A Pandemic, Vito Zazo

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

This paper is a research paper designed to explain how Covid-19 is a wicked problem. I talk about the symptoms that Covid-19 can cause and how this disease does not affect everyone the same way. I talk about the death count from Covid-19 and the statistics behind it. I then talk about how the news has not informed the people correctly on how to prevent the spread of the virus and how it is being handled, because all major news networks are fueled by political views. I talk about the bipartisan views our country has and why it is so …

Are Electric Cars The Future?, Nick Gable

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

My paper is about switching to electric cars for transportation. The end of fossil fuels is soon, and we must preserve them. We must cut down on fossil fuel use to save the environment from pollution. I use statistics on emissions and pollution from conventional cars and explain why we need to switch to electric cars sooner rather than later. I argue that there should be stipulations by the government regarding electric cars and conventional cars on the lot. I also say that we should start producing lots of electric cars as soon as possible.

The Future Of Education As A Wicked Possibility, Eric Busser

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

Over the past few decades, technology has become more and more integral in education. The online education response to the COVID-19 pandemic shows how capable technology in distance learning has become in recent years. Education still has a lot more room for implementing technology, and this paper explores the advantages and disadvantages of the inevitable implementation of distance learning in education.

Obesity In The United States Of America, Ana Litzy Cruz

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

Obesity is a chronic disease that has increased rapidly in the United States during these last two decades. This disease not only affects people physically, but this disease affects people mentally. Many studies show that the reason that most people develop this disease is due to mental health. And yet society and social media continue to quite literally use obesity for publicity. Now in days, we see so many programs to help those with obesity, but the goals set are not attainable for people with obesity because the programs are more so geared toward either healthier people or financially stable …

The Problem With The School System, Julianna Vanvalin

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

From the beginning of America, schools have existed in some shape or form. However, once the school system became standardized its failings started to show through. The modern school system is discriminatory against disabled students and students of a low socioeconomic status. It also does not properly prepare students for their future, and promotes poor mental health. In order to fix the school system, it is important to recognize the current failings in regards to students and aim to improve them.

Sorry, Can't Come To The Phone, Katherine Wilson

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

Going as far back as 1973, cellphones have been a part of our lives and how we live it. Over the past 10 years, cellphones have taken over much of what we do. How much we use our phones can impact us more than what anyone could have ever thought. Phone usage has increasingly become a problem that may people face. The project lists the multitude of ways that our mental health and everyday life are affected because of how much we use our phones and go on social media. The goals of this project are to explain, provide evidence, …

Climate Change, Dan Etling

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

Abstract

Climate change is a problem with no single solution. It has many parts, and, in this article, I break down each component of the wicked problem that is climate change. A shift in power and leadership bring change across the board, so what does the new president have planned for climate change? Anytime someone thinks of climate change, the immediate thought that comes to mind is the carbon footprint but how serious is that? If cars are the leading cause of carbon emissions, what’s the other option? Are we supposed to not drive places? Many people already know about …