Digital Commons Network^™

Review Of African Design Futures: Decolonising Minds, Education, Spaces, And Practices, Ashley Ajumoke Stewart

Book Reviews

No abstract provided.

Veganism (And Method) In Political Philosophy: A Response To B.V.E. Hyde, Josh Milburn

Between the Species

No abstract provided.

The Growth Of African American Nurses

The Civil Rights Movement (HIS/BLS 347) Zine Project

No abstract provided.

Ua19/16/2 Ahletics Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases regarding general activities of the WKU Athletics Department for spring 2025.

From Inherited Belief To Owned Faith: Mentoring Emerging Adults Through Fowler’S Faith Stages, Elijah Gutierrez

Christian Ministries Student Projects (All)

This paper explores how James Fowler’s theory of faith development and Richard Dunn’s model of mentoring through pacing can be used together to support the spiritual growth of emerging adults. Focusing on the transition from Stage 3 (Synthetic-Conventional Faith) to Stage 4 (Individuative-Reflective Faith), the paper highlights the challenges young adults face as they move from inherited to owned belief. Practical strategies are offered for ministry leaders and mentors who want to walk with emerging adults through this process of spiritual formation with empathy, patience, and intentional guidance.

Reconstructing Belief: Understanding The Mental Health And Faith Development Of Adolescents, Ella Bivens

Christian Ministries Student Projects (All)

This content argues that a proper understanding of James Fowler’s Theory of Faith Development can help ministry workers, specifically youth group volunteers, better minister to the emotional and spiritual needs of students within the Church who are doubting and deconstructing their faith.

Sounds Of The World: Guiding And Motivating Players Through Sound Valences, Kirk Baltzell

Level Design Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to integrate sound design techniques and practices into the larger level and game design process to provide greater support and motivations for players. The researcher created a custom single-player level in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim that tasks the player with navigating an enchanted castle, relying on sound valences to guide their path. The researcher gathered data on the implemented sound valences by observing testers’ playtests, the navigational choices the testers made throughout the level, and the connotations of the sound valences themselves.

The Ethics Of Gene Editing Hereditary Deafness, Jasmine Borie

Richard T. Schellhase Essay Prize in Ethics

Gene editing has been a hot topic of interest in the field of science, and many gene editing solutions for heritable diseases are in the works. In most cases, gene editing is done with good intentions, but there are some instances where it would not be favorable for reasons that may not be inherently obvious to everyone. Several forms of deafness and hearing loss can be inherited, meaning that it can be passed down from parent to offspring. Curing hereditary deafness using gene editing may seem like a good idea, but it can lead to unintentional discrimination and further stigmatization …

Doing More Good For Less: Salvaging Development Aid, Trey Dykeman

Richard T. Schellhase Essay Prize in Ethics

In stark contrast to its peak in the Marshall Plan era, professional sentiment towards international development aid has become increasingly pessimistic as its shortcomings have become apparent. Inter alia, leading thinkers charge development aid with enabling and sustaining economic dependency, governmental corruption, political power imbalances, and paternalism. Even so, there may be diamondlike programs in the development aid rough. Cash and voucher assistance (CVA) programs—a subset of development aid—have seen moderate success. In particular, as compared to other forms of aid, unconditional cash transfer programs (UCTs)—a specific type of CVA—appear economical and effective and avoid many of the above …

Changing Narratives Of Self-Improvement: Self-Help Literature Across Two Eras, Ayesha Aslam

IPHS 300: AI for Humanity

This project explores how the narratives of personal growth in self-help literature have evolved between the 1970s and the 2010s. The goal was to identify which themes persisted across eras and how others shifted in response to broader cultural and technological changes. I hypothesized that 1970s texts would emphasize self-control and traditional success, while 2010s texts would highlight flexibility, mental well-being, and authenticity, with some shared focus on motivation and habit-building. To test this, I selected five bestselling books from each decade and applied Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling using a Colab-based notebook. The top 30 most salient terms …

Ua19/16/2 Soccer Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and game statistics for WKU soccer team in spring 2025.

The Lantern, 2024-2025, Gianna Mccarthy, Naila Twyman, Catherine Stump, Keegan Mcgowan, Owen Fazzini, Leo Quinn, Danny Mcgrath, Antara Dabral, Mason Jolivette, Hailey Clark, Rachel Wascoe, Miara Truog Sebouhian, Livia M. Nocito, Anita Farrell, Ash Hawkes, Olivia Christina Mae Neri, Izabella Entrekin, Andrew Mihniak, Jacob Sheiner, Matilda Dumaine, Gregory Devinis, Amber Leech, Nia Johnson, Christopher Gerrow, Derek Matarazzo, Sidney Belleroche, Ze'ev Shaheen, Madeline O'Connor, Sharon Gearhart, Abigail Prince, Vienna Gurev, Bill O'Keefe, Matthew Wisecarver, Michael Nieves-Hoblin, Shiloh Bloom, Kelsey Lyons, Emily Britland, Paige R. Dickerman, Elliott Hannam, Aidan Nadell

The Lantern Literary Magazines, 1933 to Present

Advice of a Woman • Only • The Hole • America's Grandchildren • Car Exhaust • Stamped On • Helen • Sacrifice Divine • in some future time • Liquid Fire • My Deepest Apologies • Nightlife • On Angels • Trigger Warning • Can I Paint You a Hypothetical? • The Garden • The Ghost Orchard • The Middle • The Stranger • Tide • Unrest • we often speak of abusive remembrance • Bitters • Blind Date • Brother's Keeper • Cooking Tutorial • The Reservation • I Caught a Moose in a Mouse Trap • It Came …

Food Insecurity In Latin America: Climate Change, Industrial Agriculture, And The Case For Regenerative Solutions, Leila Hernandez-Webster

CISLA Senior Integrative Projects

This study critically analyzes the nexus between climate change and food insecurity in Latin America, with a particular focus on Costa Rica’s agricultural sector. It interrogates how industrial agricultural practices, deforestation, and trade liberalization have contributed to environmental degradation and heightened socio-economic vulnerabilities, especially among smallholder farmers. Through the lens of political ecology, this research situates these dynamics within the broader context of neoliberal and neo-extractivist development paradigms, which have systematically eroded food sovereignty. This study also evaluates agro-ecological responses, particularly agroforestry, as viable strategies for promoting ecological resilience and socio-economic equity. In doing so, it underscores the imperative of …

My Oath Of Healing And Living, Samuel B. John Mph

be Still

No abstract provided.

The Pandemic Skip And The Power Of Nostalgia: Why Gen Z Is Drawn To Animated Kids Shows, Haley Bergen

English Student Publications

The early 2010s produced animated kids shows such as Gravity Falls, Adventure Time, Steven Universe, and The Legend of Korra, which drew Generation Z because of elements like family, friendship, and self-introspection. This connection is strengthened by the Pandemic Skip Phenomenon: a time where young adult’s mental growth was stunted during COVID-19, leading to this generation looking for comfort in these nostalgic animated series’ to assist the transition into adulthood.

Biolinkbert-Pr: A Large Language Model For Diagnosing Pediatric Rheumatological Disorders, Juliette Lowe

IPHS 300: AI for Humanity

Pediatric rheumatology is an understudied and underprovided field in medicine. Currently, there are only 850 pediatric rheumatologists in the United States (1). This can make it incredibly difficult to get a diagnosis, since pediatric rheumatologic disorders are rare and thus easily missed. For example, eight states have no pediatric rheumatologists at all, and only 25% of children with arthritis are able to see a rheumatologist (2). AI applications in pediatric rheumatology are lacking, likely due to the combination of a lack of interest and a lack of data. This project utilizes a large language model (LLM) to create an AI …

The Spiritual Call Of Nursing: Supporting Patients In Spiritual Distress, Cheryl Green, Lauren Thayer, Eliza Dickerson Rn

Posters

Nursing has historically been associated with the spiritual. Referred to “anamcara,” a soul friend in Celtic writings (Groves & Klauser, 2005), nurses accompany those in need, and the ill, from birth to end-of-life. The purpose of this project was to increase awareness of nurses in the identification of patients’ Spiritual Distress, a NANDA diagnosis.

Mythic Arcana - A Tarot And Mythology Guidebook, Kiya Whitaker

English Student Scholarship

Mythic Arcana is part of my senior thesis show and the culmination of my writing and design journey at the college. It is a creative spin on the Major Arcana tarot deck and features mythological characters from around the world. Tarot is used for spiritual guidance, and the Major Arcana cards represent the Soul’s journey from naivety and vast potential (starting with 0, the Fool) to success and fulfillment (ending with 21, the World).

Enjoy this celebration of our world's rich and diverse cultures. Immerse yourself in enchanting art and storytelling. Allow this work to bring you to the past, …

The Narcissistic Pastor: A Wolf In Shepherd’S Clothing, James M. Ennis

Master of Arts in Spirituality and Spiritual Direction

No abstract provided.

Ua3/10 President's Messages - Spring Semester, Wku President's Office - Caboni

WKU Administration Documents

President's Message emails sent by Timothy Caboni to faculty & staff during spring semester, 2025.

• Accreditation
• Budget
• Buildings
• Cherry Hall Renovation
• Commencement
• Enrollment / Recruitment
• Legislation
• Semester Kickoff
• Semester Review
• Student Retention
• Summer Review

Ua19/16/2 Baseball Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and game statistics for WKU baseball team in spring 2025.

Beyond Barracks: Addressing The Psychological Impacts Of Military Housing Through Design, Malia Hunt

Interior Design Capstones

Military personnel sacrifice their lives to safeguard the country yet often return to inadequate living conditions that fail to support their needs after facing the rigors of duty. Beyond Barracks explores the impact of military housing on the mental health and well-being of service members.Prevalent concerns such as insufficient privacy, limited space, and poor facility conditions can exacerbate the physical and emotional challenges already faced by those in service, diverting their energy from service duties to unnecessary complications.

This body of research and design examines the shortcomings and successes of current military housing to provide a comprehensive overview and identify …

The Internal Flame, Bailey Robydek

Interior Design Capstones

This body of research and design explores the vital relationship between interior environments and the well- being of firefighters. Challenging the traditional assumptions about how fire station design impacts their health and recovery. Firefighters endure significant physical exertion, psychological stress, and exposure to traumatic events, yet many fire station interiors remain focused primarily on operational functionality rather than personal wellness.

This research underscores the urgent need for fire station design to transcend traditional assumptions and evolve into a model that actively supports holistic recovery. Firefighters require spaces that address the cumulative impacts of their profession, both physical and mental taxation. …

Building Better Communities, Abby Simandl

Interior Design Capstones

This project explores how innovative design strategies can build better communities by enhancing mental health, physical well-being, and social engagement, ultimately creating a sense of belonging and growth in cities.

Motivated by the challenges of affordability, accessibility, social isolation, and environmental degradation, this project emphasizes the transformative power of design. By integrating community-centered design (CCD) and human-centered design (HCD) principles, the project aims to learn about resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities. These approaches involve active community participation, ensuring that solutions are culturally relevant, inclusive, and responsive to local needs.

Key strategies include promoting social connectedness, improving public access to health …

2025- The Twenty-Ninth Annual Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the 29th Annual Symposium of Student Scholars, held on April 16-18, 2025. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.

In The Collegiate Voice Studio: A Pedagogical Analysis Of Distinctive Works By Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Lili Boulanger, And Libby Larsen, Megan A. Calgaro

Recital Papers

In the Collegiate Voice Studio: A Pedagogical Analysis of Distinctive Works by Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Lili Boulanger, and Libby Larsen

The Familiar Stranger An Ethnographic Account Of Khamlia Berhane, Lidya, Lidya Berhane

Morocco: Human Rights, Social Justice, and Cultural Transformation

This ISP is an autoethnographic exploration of Khamlia, a small rural village settled in southeastern Morocco at the edge of the Sahara Desert. Conducted over two weeks, this study engages with themes of indigeneity and identity, Gnawa music and culture, and the complex dynamics of tourism, particularly heritage tourism, and its effects on a town like Khamlia. Particular attention is given to how Gnawa music is performed and utilized as a tool of cultural heritage. The autoethnography also delves into gender roles, family dynamics, and the environmental consequences of tourism on both Khamlia and the surrounding Sahara. Additionally, it reflects …

From Hope To Frustration: The Impacts Of The Withdrawal Of Usaid On Education And Development In Morocco, Kathryn Koss

Morocco: Human Rights, Social Justice, and Cultural Transformation

Following a series of executive orders administered by the Trump administration in January 2025, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID abruptly withdrew from Morocco, leaving an impact on education and development. Using qualitative methods, including six semi-structured interviews with USAID personnel, partners, and local NGOs, the study captures the personal, financial, and operational effects of this sudden cessation. The paper highlights how USAID's localized, inclusive approach had catalyzed significant educational initiatives and collaborative development models, many of which were disrupted or completely dismantled. Key findings reveal that the termination of USAID activities not only jeopardized active programming—such as …

Strategies Of Animal Rescue Organizations In Agadir, Morocco: Addressing Cultural, Biological, And Government Challenges, Jacey Lynn Ramos

Morocco: Human Rights, Social Justice, and Cultural Transformation

Animal rescue organizations in Agadir, Morocco, play a critical role in confronting the intersecting challenges of stray animal overpopulation, zoonotic disease risks, and insufficient government support. This research examines how these organizations respond to cultural perspectives, public health concerns, and state-endorsed culling policies through a combination of field observation, social media analysis, and interviews. Focusing on two major NGOs (Non- Government Organizations) including Sunshine Animal Refuge Agadir (SARA) and Morocco Animal Aid (MAA), the study compares their outreach strategies, operational transparency, and organizational effectiveness. Findings reveal that while SARA offers a structured, humane model centered on TNVR (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return) and community …

Authoritarian Practice, Liberal Rhetoric: Journalism, Surveillance, And The Paradoxical Architecture Of Silence In Morocco, Grace Sullivan

Morocco: Human Rights, Social Justice, and Cultural Transformation

This research study explores the perceptions of Moroccan journalists on issues related to press freedom, human rights, and freedom of expression, and how these topics are repressed in Morocco’s political, social, and economic context. The goal of this paper is to provide a contextual analysis of the current state of press freedom in Morocco through a historical and contemporary lens by addressing the distinct institutional, social, political, and cultural spheres of society. This study uses a qualitative approach using the methodology of individual interviews with Moroccan journalists, activists, and researchers. The findings of this study illustrate a direct alignment between …