Digital Commons Network^™

Intersectionality And Belonging: Higher Education Mathematics, Ashley Williams

Mathematics and Statistics

Students with intersecting marginalized identities (such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, disability, or first-generation background) often face unique challenges in advanced mathematics that affect confidence, participation, amounting to a sense of belonging. These experiences remain underrepresented in mathematics education research. This qualitative, narrative-based study examines how these students experience classroom dynamics and belonging in upper-level mathematics courses. Semi-structured interviews will be analyzed thematically to identify patterns related to identity, classroom culture, instructor behavior, and peer interactions. Findings aim to highlight barriers and supportive practices, informing more inclusive teaching strategies and equitable learning environments in advanced mathematics.

The Dragon In The Dress: A Folklore Analysis Of Gender Bias In Ai-Generated Monster Imagery, Nicole M. Christensen

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

When asked to generate a monster, AI image generators consistently produce masculine or genderless creatures and never female ones. This thesis documents that finding through a year-long experiment across seven generators that produced 577 monster images, not one of which depicted a female monster. Female monstrosity has deep roots in folklore and cultural tradition, yet it is entirely absent from these systems' neutral outputs. When specifically prompted, the generators handled female monstrosity in wildly different ways, ranging from hypersexualized figures to a dragon wearing a dress, while male monsters looked nearly identical across all platforms. The inconsistency between generators indicates …

Burmese Marionette Puppet In The May Weber Ethnographic Study Collection, Haley Dozier

Department of Anthropology

This report provides a detailed description and attribution of a Burmese marionette puppet in the May Weber Ethnographic Study Collection at Loyola University Chicago. It includes information about the puppet itself as well as the art and formation of Burmese marionette theater.

Decomposition Study Using Pigs In Southeastern Nebraska During The Fall And Winter Seasons, Ryan Bodine

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

When an individual is found deceased, one of the tools used in the identification process is estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI). This estimate is used to determine how long an individual has been deceased once their remains are found. To estimate an accurate PMI, knowing how decomposition is affected by external factors is key. The transition period from fall to winter in southeastern Nebraska consists of fluctuating temperatures as the seasons transfer from fall to winter. This thesis investigates how decomposition is affected during this transition period while also looking at two different environments that are common in Nebraska, prairies …

Exploring The Biocultural Profile Of The Undocumented Populations Of The Sonoran Corridor: A Skeletal Assessment Of The Prevention Through Deterrence Strategy, Mary A. Vaughn

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

Over the last thirty years the mortality rate of the undocumented population at the US-Mexico border has risen, requiring methods distinguishing US-born individuals from immigrants to improve the likelihood of identification and repatriation through foreign consulates. Forensic anthropologists with the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner (PCOME) have advocated for the use of the biocultural profile, combining the biological profile with factors including oral health, osteological stress, and personal effects. The biocultural profile serves two purposes, functioning both as a tool for identification and with which to document structural inequality within communities of origin.

This study examines changes in …

Assessing The Use Of Accelerometers For Measuring Static Balance Perturbations, Delaney Mcmanus

Anthropology

Falls among older adults are a leading cause of injury and loss of independence and have become an increasingly relevant public health issue as the elderly population continues to grow. Understanding the biomechanical factors that contribute to fall risk is essential in developing fall-prevention strategies and identifying individuals at risk. Force platforms are the gold-standard method for quantifying balance perturbations, but they are expensive and require dedicated lab space and support staff to operate. This research has three goals: (1) to test whether wearable accelerometers can provide similar discrimination of balance perturbations as a force plate, (2) to evaluate the …

Addressing Low Vaccination Rates In Lewis County, New York: A Community-Based Participatory Research Study, Samantha Carter

Anthropology

Low rates of on-time human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination continue to remain a significant public health concern, particularly in rural communities, one being Lewis County NY, which reports the lowest rate of vaccination in the state.  This study, through Upstate Medical University, uses a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) model in efforts to examine barriers to HPV vaccination and identifying community-driven solutions formulated by committee members from within the community.  A steering committee composed of researchers and community members, who were also co-researchers, worked collaboratively to develop and distribute surveys to healthcare providers, dentists, and parents.  Responses revealed that while many parents …

Integrating Doulas Into The Medical Team, Alyssa Shaw

Anthropology

This thesis explores the potential integration of doulas into the obstetric medical team, defining birth as a cultural and social experience as well as a physiological process. Drawing on anthropological literature and historical accounts, I examine the shift from social, woman-centered childbirth practices to the medicalized model that occurs in modern American obstetrics. While this transformation has improved maternal and infant mortality rates, it has also caused a loss of continuous emotional and social support for laboring mothers, as well as a shift in autonomy from the birthing person to medical professionals. To investigate how doulas may help bridge this …

Microplastics And Generational Harm, Sara Najafi

Anthropology

Microplastics are persistent environmental contaminants increasingly detected in ecosystems and the human body, raising concerns about their effects on health and future generations. This paper examines the environmental pathways, biological mechanisms, and reproductive consequences of microplastic exposure, with particular attention to female reproductive health and fetal development. Current evidence indicates that microplastics can contribute to oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine disruption, DNA damage, and cellular dysfunction, while also accumulating in reproductive tissues, follicular fluid, placental tissue, and breast milk. These exposures may impair ovarian function, fetal development, and long-term health outcomes. The paper also considers environmental inequalities that may increase exposure …

Bound To Status: A Comparative Study Of Public And Private College Libraries, Lilianna Fujita

Anthropology

This ethnographic study compares student culture and behavior at two upstate New York universities — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), a private STEM-focused institution, and the University at Albany (UAlbany), a public research university. Through two rounds of participant observation conducted in each school's library and three semi-structured student interviews, the author examines how institutional type, admissions selectivity, campus environment, and resource allocation shape student social dynamics, gender experiences, and overall well-being. The author argues that differences in student behavior reflect not only individual student dispositions but broader institutional decisions about who is admitted and what social infrastructure is supported.

Analysis Of Volumetric Reconstruction Methods In Archaeology, Cade O'Fallon

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The use of Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry in archaeological projects is entering a period of transition; a method of producing 3D data that is traditionally embraced as tool for documentation is being explored for its analytic potential. One such way SfM photogrammetry can be used analytically is through the calculation of volumes using photogrammetric data. The tools exist for archaeologists to be able to create and quantify volumetric models; however, the discourse on these methods is still so new there is no consensus on the best method for conducting volumetric work. Different methods of creating and isolating volumetric space …

Merajut “Kampung Harapan”: Pendekatan Budaya Dan Partisipatoris Dalam Resolusi Konflik Laten Di Kawasan Transmigrasi Teluk Wondama, Papua Barat, Iflah Hayati Nurrahmi, Diva Vermanda, Muhammad Ilham Fasya, Mohammad Gama Subarkah, Iman Fachruliansyah

Bhakti: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat

The Werianggi-Werabur Transmigration Area in Teluk Wondama, West Papua, faces challenges of social integration in the form of latent conflict between Indigenous Papuans (OAP) and transmigrants. This tension is manifested in residential segregation and recurring disputes regarding crop damage caused by livestock ("cattle vs. garden"). This community engagement activity aims to initiate culture-based conflict resolution through the "Damai Kita, Sejahtera Kita" Participatory Workshop. We used Participatory Action Research (PAR) as method. The pre-implementation phase utilized Social Network Analysis (SNA) to map key actors, as mediators, followed by social intervention through Focus Group Discussions (FGD) using Problem Tree and Conceptual Model …

Terapi Reminiscence Berbasis Warisan Budaya Untuk Meningkatkan Kesehatan Kognitif Lansia Di Kelurahan Pancoran Mas, Kota Depok, Isman Pratama Nasution, Mentari Halimun, Radila Adwina, Ivo Giovanni, Mita Indraswari, Chevyco Chevyco

Bhakti: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat

Kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan fungsi kognitif dan kesejahteraan psikososial lansia melalui terapi reminiscence berbasis warisan budaya. Program dilaksanakan pada 40 lansia di Posbindu RW 08 Kelurahan Pancoran Mas dengan metode pemberian materi budaya lokal, diskusi kelompok terpumpun, dan refleksi pengalaman hidup menggunakan media visual berupa foto landmark dan tradisi budaya. Evaluasi dilakukan melalui pre-test dan post-test serta observasi selama kegiatan. Hasil menunjukkan adanya peningkatan skor kognitif setelah intervensi, disertai respons emosional positif dan peningkatan interaksi sosial peserta. Temuan ini menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan warisan budaya sebagai pemantik memori merupakan pendekatan efektif untuk mendukung kualitas hidup lansia melalui …

Appreciative Commoning; Musical Knowledge-Sharing In Earhouse Songwriting Club, Arya J. P. Adyuta

Wacana, Journal of the Humanities of Indonesia

This article develops the concept of “appreciative commoning” to focus on the importance of appreciation in musical community practices. By examining the practices of musical knowledge-sharing in the Earhouse Songwriting Club (ESC), a songwriting community, this article argues that greater attention should be paid to the roles of appreciation and support in facilitating media and cultural commoning in Indonesia. The article draws on ethnographic fieldwork in Earhouse, an initiative space located in Pamulang, South Tangerang, established by the musician duo Endah N Rhesa. Exploring three main activities of the community: weekly meetings, monthly showcases, and afterparties, I show how embracing …

Understanding Environmental Risk In 18th Century New Mexico: A Case Study From Las Golondrinas Living History Museum, Emily L. Dawson

Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research Publications

This poster explores environmental risk and adaptation among Spanish colonial communities in eighteenth-century New Mexico through a paleoenvironmental study at Las Golondrinas Living History Museum. Using wetland coring, plant surveys, radiocarbon dating, and phytolith and pollen analysis, the project investigates local microclimates and environmental conditions that shaped agricultural decision-making during the Little Ice Age. Preliminary results identified multiple wetland environments, diverse plant communities, and sediment deposits capable of preserving environmental records extending before and through the colonial period. These data provide a foundation for reconstructing past landscapes and evaluating how colonists responded to climatic variability, drought, and resource uncertainty. By …

Three Hundred Years In New Mexico’S La Cienega Valley: An Archaeology Of Hispano Occupation From The 17th Through 19th Centuries, Heather Trigg

Anthropology Faculty Publication Series

Beginning in the late 16th century, Hispanic settlers colonized New Mexico’s upper Rio Grande Valley, establishing farms and the village of Santa Fe amid Pueblo peoples. Colonists demanded tribute and labor from the Pueblos, enslaving some and suppressing religions. Less than a century later, Pueblo and Plains peoples rebelled and forced the settlers from the region. Twelve years after the Revolt, settlers returned, but they could not legally collect tribute or force labor. This project explores the changes in labor and land allocation between the Pre-Revolt and Post-Revolt periods.

Three Hundred Years In New Mexico's La Cienega Valley: An Archaeology Of Hispano Occupation From The 17th Through 19th Centuries, Heather Trigg

Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research Publications

Beginning in the late 16th century, Hispanic settlers colonized New Mexico’s upper Rio Grande Valley, establishing farms and the village of Santa Fe amid Pueblo peoples. Colonists demanded tribute and labor from the Pueblos, enslaving some and suppressing religions. Less than a century later, Pueblo and Plains peoples rebelled and forced the settlers from the region. Twelve years after the Revolt, settlers returned, but they could not legally collect tribute or force labor. This project explores the changes in labor and land allocation between the Pre-Revolt and Post-Revolt periods.

Utilizing Ceramic Attributes To Explore Local Consumption Practices And Relationship Building At An Eighteenth- To Nineteenth- Century Hispanic Rancho In New Mexico, Tara Noel

Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research Publications

This poster examines ceramic assemblages from El Rancho de las Golondrinas (LA 127375), an eighteenth- to nineteenth-century Hispanic rancho in New Mexico, to investigate daily consumption practices, regional exchange networks, and identity formation. Ceramic attributes, vessel forms, and temper characteristics were analyzed to identify communities of practice and distinguish locally produced wares from imported goods. Results demonstrate a strong reliance on locally produced Indigenous ceramics, particularly from Tewa and Pecos traditions, highlighting sustained interethnic relationships and exchange networks within the Rio Grande Valley. Imported ceramics, including majolica and refined earthenwares, illustrate the growing influence of broader colonial market systems connected …

Zooarchaeological Analysis Of A Spanish Late Colonial And Territorial Periods Site In Northern Rio Grande, New Mexico, Sara Jaramillo

Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research Publications

This poster examines faunal remains from El Rancho de las Golondrinas (LA 127375) to investigate animal production, consumption, and labor practices in northern New Mexico during the Late Colonial and Territorial periods. By applying standard zooarchaeological methods and comparing the assemblage to an earlier Spanish Colonial site (LA 20,000), the study explores changes and continuities in regional ranching economies under shifting political and economic conditions. Results indicate that sheep/goats (Ovis/Capra) and cattle (Bos taurus) remained the dominant domesticated animals, demonstrating the long-term importance of pastoralism in New Mexico. Variations in the relative abundance of livestock through time may reflect changes …

The Role Of La 20,000 In Spanish Colonial Mining, Mineral Circulation, And Nascent Communities Of Practice, Danielle M. Huerta

Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research Publications

Site LA 20,000 was likely among the largest ranching enterprises established along the Camino Real during the 17th century. Located 20 miles southwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and strategically positioned 5.2 miles from San Marcos Pueblo, one of the largest producers of Rio Grande Glaze Ware pottery, and 1.3 miles from the Cerrillos Hills, where there were known turquoise and galena lead mines.  The data presented suggest that LA 20,000 may have been a multiethnic locus of production where access to shared materials did not translate into uniform technological practice. Instead, the assemblage reflects the emergence of nascent and …

Catur Piwulang: The Concept Of Great Leaders In Javanese Paradigm, Nuri Puji Hastuti

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

Leaders can be a key factor in determining whether a nation experiences a flourishing or declining period. However, numerous phenomena indicate that Indonesia is losing its great leaders. Based on this problem, this research aims to explain and describe the forms, meanings, and functions of catur piwulang as the concept of great leaders in the Javanese paradigm. A descriptive qualitative method has been used. The syntax consists of data collection, reduction, display data, and conclusion. Data validity was checked through the triangulation of theories, resources, and techniques. The forms of catur piwulang are 1) wewehono teken, teken wong kalunyon, …

Repatriasi Lukisan Pita Maha Dan Penguatan Historiografi Seni Rupa Modern Bali, Citra Smara Dewi, Sabila Duhita Drijono

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

This article examines the repatriation of Pita Maha paintings from the 1930s to 1940s, which were returned by the Government of the Netherlands to Indonesia in 2024. Pita Maha, an artistic movement established in Ubud, Bali in 1936, holds an important position in art historiography as a key contributor to the development of modern Balinese painting. The repatriation of these works provides an opportunity to reconsider and expand existing historical narratives. Accordingly, this study aims to contribute to the enrichment of the historiography of modern Balinese painting. The research employs a historical method —encompassing heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography— …

Toward An Integrative Anthropological Ecology; Pluralism, Power, And Socioecological Futures, Komang Ariyanto

Wacana, Journal of the Humanities of Indonesia

No abstract provided.

Kesenian Baruno Pati: Proses Penciptaan, Bentuk, Dan Representasi Kolektif, Fahri Reza Muhammad

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

Amidst conservation challenges and a crisis in the regeneration of local arts in Pati, Barongan Baruno emerges as a new artistic creation from Pasinaon Studio in Kertomulyo Village. This research aims to uncover its creation process, form, and the embodiment of local values as a collective representation of the Kertomulyo community. Using a qualitative-descriptive approach, the study finds that Barongan Baruno is a product of conscious and participatory collective creation. Symbolically, it reflects the community's agrarian-maritime identity and Javanese-Islamic acculturation. As a collective representation, this art form serves as a medium for embodying local wisdom, such as the importance of …

The Dialectics Of Preservation And Renewal In Traditional Dance: Bedhaya Saptongkara As A Development Of The Bedhaya Genre, Syahrial Syahrial, S. Sriyadi, Angga Febri Wibowo

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

Bedhaya is a traditional Javanese court dance that embodies ethical, aesthetic, and sacred values. Following Indonesia’s independence, restrictions on its performance gradually eased, allowing the dance to be presented beyond the court and fostering its development within arts education. This shift generated a dialectic between cultural preservation and creative innovation, exemplified by Bedhaya Saptongkara, which integrates Balinese dance elements into the Javanese framework to produce an innovative form. Using a choreological approach and comparative method, this study reveals that although Bedhaya Saptongkara retains core principles of bedhaya, it does not fully adhere to the classical structure. Instead, it …

Féminicide: Institutional Silence On The Screams Of Murdered Women In France, M. Afif Alfadin Syarif, Airin Miranda

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

Rising awareness of women's homicide in France has challenged the government to provide an adequate legal response, as feminist groups began advocating and expressing the discourse on women's homicide since 2014 through the term féminicide. The nature of this crime remains contentious in legal discourse, particularly given the significant rise in féminicide cases in 2019. This study, therefore, aims to examine the phenomenon of féminicide in France, exploring both the discourse surrounding it and the legal responses from the government. Drawing on 46 cases recorded in 2023 by the feminist collective #NousToutes, and with particular attention to relevant legal …

Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin Ii (Smb Ii): Kajian Sejarah Dan Arkeologi Islam Kesultanan Palembang Darussalam, Wahyu Rizky Andhifani, Nor Huda Ali Nha

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

The intellectual, architectural, and artifactual heritage of the Palembang Darussalam Sultanate during the reign of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II (1767–1852) is examined in this study using a historical archaeological approach and textual analysis of manuscripts, buildings, and royal tombstones. This study assumes that Palembang functions as a political force and a centre of Islamic-Malay knowledge. The results show that the Palembang palace functioned as an epistemic space that combined religious understanding (tafaqquh fi al-dīn) and Islamic nobility, as evidenced by religious works such as the Syair Burung Nuri and legal documents (piyagêm) written in the Palembang script. The architecture of …

Timbangan Buku: Mendekolonisasi Komunikasi Politik Di Afrika - Menyusun Ulang Ontologi, Murliana Murliana

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

No abstract provided.

Karme Qatif: A Villa From The Second Temple Period In The Judean Shephelah / כרמי קטיף: וילה משלהי ימי בית שני בשפלת יהודה, Daniel Varga, Yigal Israel

Qadum: Journal of Excavation Reports from Israel

Three seasons of salvage excavations conducted at Karme Qatif uncovered a villa from the Second Temple period. The villa comprised four wings: a central courtyard; a western residential wing; an eastern wing containing a bathhouse; and a northern wing, which probably included the entrance to the villa. Finds from the building include a few locally made pottery vessels attributed to the Roman period, along with ceramic pipes used to convey water to the bathhouse. Several hiding complexes, soft limestone vessels, coins from the time of the Bar Kokhba Revolt and a miqveh uncovered in the vicinity of the villa may …

Governing Addiction: An Anthropological Comparison Of Care In The United States And The Netherlands, Kiren K. Bagga

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

This article examines addiction care as a form of moral governance through a comparative anthropological analysis of the United States and the Netherlands. Drawing on a Foucauldian theory of biopolitics alongside this study argues that approaches to addiction treatment reveal how states differentially value life, citizenship, and vulnerability. Joan Tronto's relational definition of ethical care is used to move beyond a solely moral context, towards an ethical understanding of both caretakers and those who require care. In the United States, addiction policy has historically functioned as a punitive and moralizing project, shaped by racialized drug criminalization, neoliberal ideals of individual …