Digital Commons Network^™

The Weight Of Complicity: A Network Analysis Of Ecocide In Palestine, Marilyn Moy

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This paper combines multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) with a network graph visualization to examine corporate and institutional involvement in ecocide in Palestine from 1917 to the present. Using a weighted sum model based on UN human rights principles and UNEP guidelines, actors are evaluated across three criteria: directness, scale, and duration of harm. A dataset of 50+ entities, including Caterpillar, Elbit Systems, and the Jewish National Fund, reveals a dense network of responsibility, with major enablers in the construction, tech, and military sectors. Findings highlight the severe impacts of the 2023–present assault on Gaza and demonstrate that ecocide is a …

Week 1: Can I Get A Witness?, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

The Fragrance Muse: Musk As A Symbolic Tapestry In Classical Persian Poetry, Akbar Shirini, Shen Xudong, Zhao Dan

Comparative Civilizations Review

This paper explores the symbolic representation of musk in classical Persian poetry, uncovering its role as a multifaceted emblem of Iranian cultural identity and human experience. Drawing on a qualitative analysis of primary texts from the Ganjoor archive and secondary sources, the study traces musk’s historical significance across China, Iran, and Islamic world. In China, musk is prized for its rarity, medicinal properties, and metaphysical roles; in Iran, it intertwines with mythology, Zoroastrian cosmology, and trade; in Islamic contexts, it holds commercial and therapeutic value, cherished by figures like Mohammad. Within Persian poetry, musk transcends its material origins, symbolizing blackness …

Full Issue

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

Review Of Jerusalem And Other Holy Places As Foci Of Multireligious And Ideological Confrontation, Rivka Ulmer

Other Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Contrariétés, Indocilités, Indisciplines : La Poésie Au Croisement Des Savoirs, Nathalie Dupont

Faculty Journal Articles

The poetic works of Suzanne Doppelt and Véronique Vassiliou take shape from an intriguing combination of technical devices and knowledge usually attributed to extra-literary disciplines, ranging from science and technology to the arts, and from the occult to domestic ecology. With a clear propensity for encyclopedism, their interdisciplinary works—which in fact have everything to do with indiscipline—orchestrate a playful confrontation of divergent domains, bringing to light innovative objects of thought around which to articulate multiple leçons de choses (object lessons) about more or less proven theories, from ancient Greece to the extreme contemporary moment. As a …

Sociological Dichotomies Of Mława, Poland, Over Time: Misplaced Concreteness, Individual Triumph, Social Tragedy, Joseph Drew

Comparative Civilizations Review

For many years, I have been an active member of the International Society for the Comparative Study of Civilizations and Editor-in-Chief of its journal, the Comparative Civilizations Review. Since the 1960s, I have also been a university administrator and a professor, globe-trotting to learn about societies near and far, their rises and falls. Yet even though I lived and worked in Prague, as president of a university, not far from the Polish border, I had never set foot in that country, notwithstanding that my paternal grandfather came from there.

What Are The Limits To Smart Innovation? The Digital Underground Initiative And New Frontiers Of “Smartness” In Singapore, Prerona Das, Orlando Woods, Lily Kong

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

This paper argues that the emergence of new frontiers of smart transformation, such as underground spaces, can pose significant challenges to the implementation of “smart” technological solutions. Exploring the case of Singapore’s Digital Underground initiative, we show that elements such as material complexity, co-ordination between stakeholders, and the availability of appropriate regulatory and administrative frameworks can problematize the implementation of subterranean smart initiatives. By considering multistake-holder perspectives on these “more-than-technological” factors, this paper offers lessons for urban planners, policymakers, and developers in cities around the world that are keen to leverage technology to unlock the potential of underground space.

The Crisis Of Safety, Well-Being, And Belonging Facing Lgbtq Children: Mad/Crip Of Color Critique Towards A Curriculum Of Radical Care, Jameson Goetz

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In this thesis, I turn toward the study of educational experience, defined broadly to include lived experiences both within and outside of formal schooling institutions. I approach curriculum as an ongoing project of self-understanding in which one becomes mobilized for engaged pedagogical action alongside others in the pursuit social justice. I am guided by the following question, foundational to the field of curriculum studies: for those of us who work alongside LGBTQ children, what knowledge is of most worth? Critically reflecting on ways of working alongside LGBTQ children in the pursuit of social justice, I formulate a mad/crip of color …

Imagined Empires: Roman And Chinese Constructions Of One Another In Antiquity, Elizabeth S. Tsang

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis examines how the Roman and Han Chinese empires conceptualized one another during the first centuries CE, despite never establishing sustained direct contact. It argues that mutual perceptions were shaped less by firsthand experience than by mediated reports, commodities, and the political interests of intermediaries. The study proceeds in four parts. The first explores how Roman authors employed the ethnonym Seres to frame China as a land of wonder, wealth, and alterity. The second analyzes the Chinese designation Da Qin, showing how it projected Han imperial ideals outward by casting Rome as a mirror-image polity. The third turns to …

Online Resources For Oral Communication Courses, Sean P. Palmer

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Online resources focusing on oral communication skills are lacking, even as online education itself expands. While I was aware of this lack, I didn’t realize its severity until LaGuardia Community College went fully remote during the 2020 global pandemic, and I was looking for online tutoring aids for oral communication. Furthermore, the information presented online is frequently unsuitable for the purposes of online pedagogy due to its specialized and jargony mode of presentation. Also, many existing assignments involving oral communication assume public speaking as the default model, despite the growing importance of emergent digital modes of oral performance, like podcasting …

Refashioning The Meanings Of Dress In Palestinian Transnational Communities, Enaya Othman

Journal of Gender, Ethnic, and Cross-Cultural Studies

This paper examines how Palestinian women in both the homeland and diaspora contexts have sustained and redefined cultural heritage through tatreez embroidery and revitalized the traditional thob since 1948. As designers, artisans, and entrepreneurs, they have transformed cultural dress into a site of socio-political agency, economic empowerment, and national identity-making. Their work not only preserves inherited forms but also recasts them as living cultural practices that resist colonial erasure and counter Orientalist and Western feminist narratives portraying Arab and Muslim women as passive. From post-Nakba efforts to safeguard thobs as tangible material testaments of Palestinian life to contemporary hybrid fashion …

“Earth Care, Babes 💚”: Environmental Sustainability In Instagram Travel Narratives, Wawan Eko Yulianto, F.X. Dono Sunardi, Alodia Clea Amanda, Irene Theofine, Pricillia Tamara Damaris

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

Throughout history, travel narratives have taken up various forms and served various purposes. The changes of forms and functions were influenced by the spirit of the age. Today, in the contemporary digital era, social media platforms like Instagram have transformed travel narratives into stories combining images and texts that significantly impact public attitude on travel and tourism. On certain occasions, Instagram travel narratives contribute to the dangerous trend of mass tourism, although there are moments when the same travel writing form advocates sustainability. This study investigates the extent to which travel narratives by prominent Indonesian travel influencers on Instagram advocate …

Representation Of Terrorism After 9/11 In Kathryn Bigelow And Mark Boal's Zero Dark Thirty Movie, Mela Maulina Putri, Bunyamin Faisal Syarifudin, Deni Suswanto

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

Terrorism, as a global phenomenon, has been widely represented in various media, particularly in films. One of the films that represent terrorism is Zero Dark Thirty by Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal. This research aims to discuss the representation of terrorism in Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal's Zero Dark Thirty, employing a qualitative approach and an analytical descriptive method. To achieve the research objectives, the author employs John Fiske's Semiotics theory, which is divided into three levels: the reality level, the representation level, and the ideological level. The results and discussions in this study are presented through visual and …

Water Pollution In Yogyakarta 1926–1942, Nur Aini Setiawati, Edy Supratno, Santi Muji Utami, Krisnanda Theo Primaditya

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

Water pollution in Yogyakarta has a long history dating back to the colonial era in 1926. Therefore, the main issue addressed in this writing is why water pollution occurred in Yogyakarta from 1926 to 1942. Basically, there are two factors influencing water pollution, namely natural factors and human factors. Using a historical research method, this study aims to examine water pollution in the Yogyakarta region, so that the government and the community can seek solutions. The sources used include collections from Algemeen Handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indie, De Locomotief, De Nieuwe Vorstenlanden, De Preanger Bode, and contemporary newspapers. The research findings …

An Analysis Of Feminist Biblical Scholarship Through Case Studies In Judges, Erika Conner

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the rise and significance of feminist biblical scholarship, particularly as it engages the book of Judges. Feminist approaches to Scripture have often been criticized as politically motivated or ideologically biased, yet they also claim to offer corrective readings to centuries of male-dominated interpretation. This study situates feminist scholarship within its historical development and cultural context, beginning with the reconstruction of women’s societal, familial, religious, and agricultural roles in ancient Israel. Building on this foundation, it undertakes a comparative analysis of three key figures in Judges, Deborah, Jael, and the unnamed Woman of Thebez, first through traditional interpretations …

The Significance Of Cavalry In The American Civil War In Deciding Victory And Defeat, Specifically In The Western And Trans-Mississippi Theaters Of The War., Tony R. Malone Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research examines how effective cavalry was in the American Civil War, and the ultimate decision in victory and defeat. To answer this question, one must first investigate the origin of the American cavalry from its foundation in the American Revolution and trace it to the beginning of the American Civil War; this brings the reader to several sub-questions that help answer the main question. Why was Confederate cavalry dominating early in the war, and why did Union cavalry ultimately gain parity and superiority over its Confederate counterparts?

The readers will start with a solid look into the history of …

The Day Of The Lord As The Unifying Theme Of John’S Revelation, Jared Michael Quirk

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to argue that the day of the Lord (DOTL) is a major unifying theme within the book of Revelation. Chapters 2–3 of this study prepare the reader to accept this point by first arguing that the DOTL was a prominent theme in both the Old Testament Scriptures and the other New Testament writings besides Revelation (Matthew–Jude). After establishing the validity of the DOTL as a prominent theme in the biblical corpus (and thus as a theme worthy of John’s consideration), chapters 4–5 of this study focus specifically on the book of Revelation, highlighting how …

Motivation And Retention In Music Education: A Phenomenological Study On Socioeconomic Status Impact, Bracy C. Martin Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The retention of middle and high school students in music education programs remains a persistent concern, particularly when disparities in motivation are shaped by socioeconomic status (SES). This hermeneutic phenomenological study investigated how intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors such as funding, parental involvement, off-campus performance opportunities, and student engagement are influenced by SES and how these influences affect student retention in school music programs. Grounded in Deci and Ryan's Self-Determination Theory and Vroom’s Expectancy Theory, the study examined how motivation and SES intersect to either support or hinder student persistence in music education.

Eight music educators from urban, suburban, and …

Re-Imagine Paradise: The Impacts Of The Illegal Annexation Of Hawai'i & Tourism On Native Hawaiians, Paige Edwards

SMU Journal of Undergraduate Research

This literature review presents a vital exploration of colonialism, the illegal annexation of Hawai’i, and the subsequent emergence of the tourism industry as a neocolonial enterprise. Neocolonialism is the process of colonial dominance through modern exploitation, which is masked through economic opportunities and has left territories and their native people dependent on it. By tracing the major historical events in Hawai’i highlights how education was a vital aspect of Native Hawaiian culture, empowering its people - a stark contrast to the current education system where the education system perpetuates the commodification of Native Hawaiian culture. Education has played a pivotal …

Blackbird's Missouri River: The Pinnacle Of Omaha Diplomacy, 1790-1801, Brent Michael Wojcik

History Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

This thesis will examine the history of Umóⁿhoⁿ (Omaha) diplomacy with a special emphasis on the era from 1790 to 1801, which is a significant period in Umóⁿhoⁿ diplomacy. Wazhiⁿ'gaçabe (Blackbird) was a influential diplomatic figure on the Great Plains. The Umóⁿhoⁿ and Wazhiⁿ'gaçabe created an era of prosperity from 1790 to 1801. The diplomatic connections at Wazhiⁿ'gaçabe disposal are unrivaled by his contemporary Indigenous leaders. This thesis will lay out evidence that supports Wazhiⁿ'gaçabe as one of the greatest negotiators and diplomats of the time. Multiple primary sources that had direct connections to Wazhiⁿ'gaçabe will be examined. The primary …

A Middle Bronze Iia Pottery Production Site On The Northern Bank Of NaḥAl Soreq, Near Yavne-Yam, Lily Singer-Avitz, Yossi Levy, Etan Ayalon

'Atiqot

A Middle Bronze Age IIA pottery production site was uncovered on the northern bank of Naḥal Soreq, near Yavne-Yam. Excavations revealed installations, including pits, an oven, a stone pavement and a two-story pottery kiln. The discovery of a potter’s wheel and petrographic analysis confirm local ceramic production using nearby ḥamra and kurkar materials. Stone anchors found on-site suggest the transport of vessels via small boats along the stream, connecting the site with nearby settlements such as Nabi Rubin and Yavne-Yam.

Resistance And Adaptation: How Religion Survived A War, Iris Mascio

History Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

This paper investigates the survival strategies employed by Bosnian Muslims during the civil wars of the 1990s, with a focus on how these strategies influenced the practice and evolution of Bosnian Islam. Drawing on primary and secondary sources, survivor interviews, and analyses of religious and social practices, the study identifies two key modes of response: adaptation and resistance. While resistance—including underground organizing, covert publications, and occasional armed defense—played a role during periods of extreme threat, it was primarily historical patterns of adaptation that enabled long-term survival and continuity. Therefore, the paper covers the challenges encountered and survival strategies used by …

Bodies That Sparkle And Spill: A Poetics Of The Burlesque Parent, Lola Montgomery

Imaginings: creative practice and inquiry

The embodied experiences of burlesque performers during motherhood are explored in an online discussion, through femme theory, Bakhtin's grotesque body, and Butler's gender performativity. The participants' bodies are explored as sites of contestation, able to perform diverse roles simultaneously. Through performance, Mulvey's masculine gaze is inverted into a poetics of feminine praxis.

The State Of The Unions 2025: A Profile Of Organized Labor In New York City, New York State, And The United States, Ruth Milkman, Joseph Van Der Naald

Publications and Research

Organized labor has taken center stage in the 2020s, with workers leading successful organizing drives at Amazon, Starbucks, Apple, and across a range of industries from health care to higher education. Public approval of unions has reached its highest level in decades, and a new generation of workers is stepping forward as leaders in the movement. The State of the Unions 2025 provides the most comprehensive profile of organized labor in New York City, New York State, and the United States, highlighting where unions are growing, who is leading the charge, and how labor is shaping the future of work …

Welcome To Hotel Thai: Labor, Love, And The Space Between My Mothers, Tripty Tamang Pakhrin

Theses - ALL

This thesis explores maternal labor, silence, and family boundaries through my experience of growing up at Hotel Thai, a restaurant and home located on the open border between Nepal and India. The hotel is run by my three parents: my mother, my father, and his first wife. My two mothers live and work side by side every day but do not speak to each other. Their silence is not emptiness, but a way of surviving and holding the family together. This paper discusses my film, performance, installation, and printmaking works to explore how care, memory, and labor are expressed without …

Towards All-Under-Heaven: China’S Geoeconomic Strategy In The Asia-Pacific Region, Alfariza Dika Azzani

Global: Jurnal Politik Internasional

This research aims to understand China’s geoeconomic strategy in reshaping the alternative international order in the Asia-Pacific region. China’s economic rise increased its geopolitical influence and significance as a global great power. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) government, under Xi Jinping, has adopted classical ideas in its foreign policymaking, including tianxia. Tianxia is a classical concept of a hierarchical Sinocentric international order. An empirical study was conducted on several cases of China’s economic policy and analysed with the congruence method to determine the correlation between the tianxia concept and China’s economic policy. Tianxia served as a paradigm and justification for …

Sac Newsletter 2025, South Asia Center

Newsletters from the South Asia Center

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Artists And Artworks On Identity Development: The Student Perspective, Celeste M. Boseman

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This study investigates the ways in which the artists and artworks depicted throughout their K-12 art education influence students’ personal sociocultural identity development. By utilizing a self-reporting survey and individual interviews, this study explores the perspectives of current university students; their exposure to diversity in their K-12 art education; and the curricular perspectives that influence their identity. The artists and the artwork that art educators show in the classroom are only one aspect of what makes up a student’s art curriculum; this research project demonstrates the impact those artists can have on students’ identity development. The results of this study …

Cinematic Empathy: Autistic Interpretation Of Social Cues In Narrative Film, Lux Gomez

University Honors Theses

From research and lived experience we can see a pattern of Autistic people engaging and forming connection with emotional narratives in media, despite stereotypes suggesting they lack empathy or theory of mind. This mixed-methods study sought to lay the groundwork and start preliminary investigation into how film’s structured formal elements may facilitate autistic viewers’ interpretation of social cues that typically challenge autistic-allistic (nonautistic) communication in real life. A sample of 22 participants (13 autistic, 9 allistic) viewed five film scenes depicting lying, flirting, sarcasm, exposition, and flat affect and completed a survey. Both quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed. While …