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Student Senate Meeting Minutes March 17, 2025, Student Senate-Winona State University

Student Senate Meeting Minutes

This document is the official Winona State University Student Senate Minutes for March 17, 2025

03.17.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

SPA director Andrea Rich

ARC Nomination Deadline Extended

Lanthorn, Vol. 59, No. 13, March 17, 2025, Grand Valley State University

Volume 59, August 5, 2024 – April 14, 2025

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

Alpina

Appalachia

Reports of mountaineering in the greater ranges in 2024 include a free climb of the central tower of the Torres del Paine in Patagonia, a first ascent of Hungchi in Nepal, toilet problems on Everest, a first ascent of Muchu Chhish in Pakistan, a difficult route on Wyoming’s Devils Tower, and a tribute to the late David Breashears, TM Herbert, and Lou Whittaker.

Last Hike On Mount Monadnock: Friends Confront Time And Mortality, Eric D. Lehman

Appalachia

Two friends push up the southern New Hampshire peak, sensing but not knowing that it will be the last time for one of them.

Return To The Cuyahoga Valley: From Toxic Dump To National Park, Christopher Johnson

Appalachia

Once known as the place where a river caught fire, today’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio attracts boaters and hikers.

Clinic Emotions, Rachel Sisley

EMET Projects

This is a sketch of a woman walking into a clinic with her three children, being greeted by a member of the nursing staff. There are two additional staff members in the background. Overlaid on the sketch are acrylic paints representing the emotions of each person. For the mother holding her newborn, the dark blue around her represents sadness, the white represents isolation, and the purple represents detachment. Her toddler behind her, as well as the nurse greeting her, are both outlined in orange and light blue, representing happiness and calmness, respectively. Her newborn and the toddler at her hip …

Spoken Word Percussion And Its Intersection With Communication, Gwen Leuschen

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Music is a form of communication, whether expressing emotion, telling a story, or delivering information. Communication is widely used in music. This communication takes place by conveying ideas through the sound produced by performers. This form of musical communication cues the audience into the messages, information, and emotions the composers intended. However, when text or spoken word is implemented into music, how does this affect the communication, and how can this be analyzed? This paper explores the history of music and spoken word, explains applicable communication theories, and finally applies these theories to music with spoken word, emphasizing percussion.

Your Higher Self (Le Plein Potentiel), Dereck Daschke

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Your Higher Self (Le Plein Potentiel) (2025) directed by Annie St-Pierre.

Good Neighbors Racial Healing Journey: Ministry Of The Good Neighbors Racial Healing Initiative, Rev. Cameron Duncan

Doctor of Ministry

NPO Statement: Christians of color struggle with forgiveness amid ongoing racial trauma, while White Christians often avoid engagement due to fear, hindering racial reconciliation efforts.

My doctoral project began as an exploration of healing and reconciliation within Christian communities but became a personal journey of confronting racial trauma. Initially, I did not see racial trauma as central to my work. However, at my first retreat at Cannon Beach, I was forced to reckon with the impact of microaggressions and systemic racism on my sense of self. Years in predominantly white spaces had left me with internalized messages that my …

Being The Beloved: Cultivating A Head To Heart Journey Of Identity For Emerging Adults In Ministry And Leadership, Jennifer Clark

Doctor of Ministry

NPO Statement

Emerging adults in ministry without a deepening awareness of being God’s beloved may struggle to flourish and lead in their given contexts.

Key Benefits

Being the Beloved: Cultivating a Head to Heart Journey of Identity for Emerging Adults in Leadership and Ministry is a curriculum created to ground emerging adults in the love of God as they transition into adulthood and emerge as the next generation of Church leaders. Developmental psychology labels emerging adulthood as a time of significant change, instability and transition, while having to navigate key life decisions regarding education, career, and relationships. Identity formation is …

Rehydrating The Church: The Lifegiving Role Of The Holy Spirit In Christian Formation, Ministry, Leadership, And Community, Rand Burden

Doctor of Ministry

NPO Statement

Many small rural Global Methodist Church (GMC) congregations have limited access to pastors and, as such, are in critical need of alternative forms of spiritual leadership.

Key Insights

Life in the Spirit must precede spiritual leadership. The church desperately needs members and leaders living lives led by, walking after, and informed by the Spirit. It is my conviction that with an increased awareness of the Spirit, a desire for intimacy will arise, a drawing to wade into the Water of Life, to be more open to desire and experience a deeper encounter with and understanding of the Holy …

Remain: Holistic Transformation For Spiritually And Developmentally Mature Global Ministry Leaders In Late Midlife, Nicole Paschall

Doctor of Ministry

Few resources cater to the unique needs of seasoned global ministry leaders, fostering the holistic spiritual and personal growth essential for ongoing Kingdom impact. Through research and practice, this project identified a significant gap in addressing the whole person— spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically—during the later stages of ministry and leadership. Insights from stakeholders and participants revealed the importance of integrating spiritual formation, adult psychological truths, and leadership development within a contextual and supportive environment. These elements provide the transformative opportunities later midlife leaders need to sustain growth and deepen their Kingdom contribution.

The ministry context focuses on global workers …

Ddx219.1 Social Media Analysis And Marketing Strategy Example 2, Sae University College

Exemplars

This project was created to explore how different social media platforms facilitate distinct forms of audience interaction. The student applied this understanding to develop a targeted social media marketing strategy for a chosen creative project. It is exemplary work due to its clear analysis of platform-specific engagement techniques, thoughtful strategy development, and strong alignment between content, platform, and audience. The work demonstrates both critical thinking and practical application of social media marketing principles.

Beloved Elder: The Spiritual Journey Of Aging, Elizabeth Nielsen

Doctor of Ministry

Aging has changed significantly in recent decades due to medical, economic, and social factors. The increasing length of American lives is both a blessing and a challenge for families and elders themselves, but our cultural and theological foundations are not sufficient to address this situation.

My NPO emerged from pastoral experience caring for elders: Aging Christians often struggle to know the presence and love of God finding their faith practices to be inadequate for the distinctive challenges of aging.

Key insights from my research include:

1. The most significant challenge of aging is surrender to childlikeness before God. In late life …

Navigating Change: The Migration Experiences Of Post-2017 Cuban Migrants In Tampa Bay, Julissa Maria Ramirez Perez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the migration experiences of Cuban migrants who relocated to Tampa Bay following the termination of the “Wet Foot, Dry Foot” policy in 2017. Through semi-structured interviews and a comprehensive literature review, the study examines the interplay between historical and contemporary factors, including U.S.-Cuban relations, shifting legal frameworks, and policy changes. It delves into migrants' motivations, their navigation of complex immigration processes, and their social and economic integration into Tampa Bay. A comparative analysis highlights the differences between pre-2017 and post-2017 migration pathways, emphasizing the heightened risks and uncertainties faced by recent migrants. The findings underscore the critical …

Exploring Religious Leaders’ Perspectives On Genetic Counseling, Testing, And Related Technologies, Kristina M. Wittenburg

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Religion significantly influences healthcare decisions, including those related to genetic testing, by shaping ethical and emotional considerations. While some religious groups provide formal stances on genetic testing, others lack clear guidelines, leaving both patients and healthcare providers without consistent resources for navigating faith-informed decisions. Understanding religious leaders’ perspectives is critical to bridging this gap and supporting diverse patient needs. This study aimed to examine religious leaders’ perspectives on genetic testing, genetic counseling, in vitro fertilization (IVF), gene therapy, stem cell research, and abortion. These topics were explored to understand the role of religious beliefs in healthcare decisions, and to develop …

In Case I Make It: An Autoethnographic Argument For Care, Space, And Utopia, Faelyn T. Cowan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Taking an autoethnographic and autotheoretical approach I examine within this project TomboloBooks’ Queer Comic Book Club. Drawing from José Esteban Mun֮oz’s ideas of queer utopia and Jen Jack Gieseking’s framework of constellations, and analyzing my own experiences, I present the Queer Comic Book Club (QCBC) as a moment of utopic queer worldmaking and argue for it’s potential as a site of alternative mental health care. Though I cannot provide here a generalizable model of book clubs as care, what I offer here is a series of possibilities, arguing for the potential of these spaces as community resources and sites of …

Harriet Beecher Stowe: Saints And Sinners Analysis Of The Moral Suasion And Motivations Behind The Creation Of Uncle Tom's Cabin, Makendric James Bowman

Student Summer Scholars Manuscripts

This project examines the motivations behind Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin (UTC), focusing on how her desire for both financial gain and moral reform shaped her writing. Stowe’s use of religious themes to expose the moral and human costs of slavery positioned her novel at the center of national debate, forcing both defenders and opponents of slavery to confront uncomfortable truths. Her book ultimately made her the best-selling author of the 19th century, selling 300,000 copies mostly by door-to-door subscriptions. This is equivalent to about 4.4 million Americans today who do not have access to Amazon or bookstores. Even …

Ddx219.1 Social Media Analysis And Marketing Strategy Example 1, Sae University College

Exemplars

This project was created to explore how different social media platforms facilitate distinct forms of audience interaction. The student applied this understanding to develop a targeted social media marketing strategy for a chosen creative project. It is exemplary work due to its clear analysis of platform-specific engagement techniques, thoughtful strategy development, and strong alignment between content, platform, and audience. The work demonstrates both critical thinking and practical application of social media marketing principles.

Claire Uselding, Saxophone, March 14, 2025 [Program], University Of Northern Iowa. School Of Music.

Music Recital Programs

Program of a music recitals given by faculty, students, or guest artists from the School of Music at the University of Northern Iowa.

Wholehearted Leadership: Equipping Clergy For Healthy Leadership, Nicole Mcclurg

Doctor of Ministry

NPO Statement: Considering current training for Evangelical clergy, sustained attention to spiritual formation is often missing but essential for pastoral health and healthy, sustainable ministry.

Clergy are burning out significantly, as reported by a Lifeway Research Poll that found 100% of 1,500 pastors know colleagues that left the ministry, while 91% of pastors report experiencing burnout.¹ The research suggests that seminary does not prepare clergy for the demands of ministry or the practical spiritual needs of their congregations. Clergy struggle to maintain a solid vocational identity rooted in the Trinity amid pastoral duties. Many clergy are isolated from ongoing …

Biblical Women Reimagined A Devotional Where Women's Voices Are Heard, Natalie Karlson

Doctor of Ministry

The vocational context of this project portfolio is a small spiritual direction practice found in central Massachusetts. The directees are women who attend or have left the evangelical church for distinct reasons. One of the key issues that these women face is the dismissal or minimization of their voices. Leaders stopped these women from using their voices. The women could not ask questions, share their experiences, or make decisions about their spiritual journeys. Considering the context and stakeholder feedback, the NPO: the dismissal of women’s voices denies the evangelical church the complete revelation of God’s work among humans.

Four key …

Seven Portals Of Feminine Formation: Reclaiming The Wisdom Of The Gnostics, Kellie Wilder Daley

Doctor of Ministry

NPO Statement

Women with spiritual hunger have lost connection with their feminine goodness, their voice, and their embodied presence due to cultural and religious patriarchy.

Key Insights

The resilience of women is evident in the fact that we have endured so long within the Fundamentalist Evangelical Church—a space that is often hostile, if not outright misogynistic. Women have been conditioned to remain silent, accepting the idea, as John Piper put it, that “masculine Christianity” is God’s original design. However, normalizing Christianity as exclusively masculine creates deep harm and imbalance across spiritual, social, and psychological spheres. This dynamic establishes a rigid …

Exploring Creative Arts Therapists' Experiences With Online Therapy In South Korea During Covid-19, Changho Song

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

This study explored the experiences of creative arts therapists (CATs) in South Korea who conducted online therapy sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The global crisis forced a rapid shift to virtual platforms, raising concerns about the effectiveness of online creative arts therapy (OCAT) and its impact on therapeutic relationships. Grounded in phenomenological and arts-based research (ABR), this study examined the challenges, adaptations, and effectiveness of OCAT. The research addressed the following questions: (1) How did CATs experience the transition to online therapy? (2) What challenges did they encounter, and how did they adapt? (3) How did online therapy affect therapeutic …

Classroom Teachers' Approaches To Values Education: Exploring Explicit And Implicit Strategies For Teaching And Modeling Values, Maria Ukamaka Clare Okeke

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Abstract This study explores the approaches Nigerian secondary school teachers in Anambra State use to teach values through explicit and implicit methods. Recognizing the need to understand how values are effectively communicated in the classroom, this research delves into the dual strategies employed by educators and their impacts on student moral development. The research used a qualitative interview study approach, which included semi-structured interviews with ten experienced secondary school teachers and a document analysis of teaching resources. This method allows one to investigate the explicit instruction and implicit modeling strategies applied in values education in depth. Findings reveal that teachers …

Personal Perspectives Of Political Action: A Case Study Of How Women Discuss The Black Panther Party’S Free Breakfast For Schoolchildren Program, Megs Peterson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project is to investigate the impact ideology has on social movement actors. I do this by conducting a case study on the influence of Marxist feminist ideologies on the Black Panther Party’s (BPP) Free Breakfast for Schoolchildren Program (FBP). Within this case study, I narrow my focus to Marxist feminism, rather than Marxism more broadly, to choose a theoretical framework that aligns with my subject while ensuring gender is considered as a critical axis for examination. This research is situated at the intersection of feminisms and social movements, drawing from both social movement scholarship and Women’s, …

The Son Becomes, Katherine Zhang

College of Computing and Digital Media Dissertations

The Son Becomes is an interactive Twine game that explores generational trauma through a time loop of narrative across three generations of inherited pain. Trapped in a recurrence of pain, players will take the roles of different family members of a father, his son, and grandson and navigate through a relentless cycle of choices, mirroring the suffocation that can happen within a family that may be going through generational trauma. Through the interactive dialogue, players confront the recurring patterns, often making them feel powerless as the choices keep repeating, making it seem like there isn’t a light at the end …

Gender Dynamics In Newsroom Leadership: The Influence Of Gender Norms On The Career Trajectories Of Women Journalists, Isabella L. Hackett

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Within the field of journalism, women journalists face obstacles impeding their career progression and autonomy. This qualitative study uses field theory, which explores how social spaces are structured and how actors access resources; a key avenue for exploring the power relationships within a field. This theory is put in conversation with interviews with women leaders in journalism from across the United States (n=13). The study examines how women in leadership navigate their career trajectories amid structural barriers, such as gender expectations for leadership, the struggle to balance work and family, and unequal access to mentorship and resources. Despite these challenges, …

Breaking Binaries: Gender Non-Conforming Lesbians And The Undercurrent Of Biopower On Dating Apps, Lily M. Connolly

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how gender nonconforming lesbians experience and navigate algorithmic constraints, commodification, and self-expression on dating apps. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s concept of biopower, this study analyzes focus group discussions to argue that dating apps encode and enforce traditional gender norms. However, rather than acting solely as sites of constraint, dating apps also provide spaces where gender nonconforming lesbians creatively resist these limitations and subvert platform design to assert their politicized queer identities. This research highlights how biopower operates within digital dating platforms while also illuminating the subversive strategies users employ to reclaim agency. By situating gender nonconforming lesbian …