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The Impact Of Rap Music On White Youth, Freddie J. Dantus Jun 2011

The Impact Of Rap Music On White Youth, Freddie J. Dantus

Honors Theses

Music is a primary source of entertainment for American adolescents. Hip hop culture and rap music, in particular, have become the dominant genre of music among American youth. Hip hop rose primarily from the disadvantaged African American neighborhoods of New York City. Perhaps not surprisingly, though, it is White, middle class, suburban adolescents who drive the rap music industry with their disposable income and desire to resist the cultural norms of their parents’ generation. While sophisticated analyses of hip hop itself are appearing, the connection to white youth has not been well-studied. This project begins to fill this void, specifically …


Identitat-Anlage Durch Warter Und Aussehen, C. David Robba Jun 2011

Identitat-Anlage Durch Warter Und Aussehen, C. David Robba

Honors Theses

The identity of a person is his most important aspect. It has a big impact on the way someone sees himself, and how other people recognize him. Without a unique identity, a person has no characteristic character. In their lives, everyone creates an identity. However, identity becomes most important when one is a foreigner or visits a foreign country. Because of this, many aspects of society and everyday life could be very different, and if one lacks what he knows, he can find solace in his identity. However, if a person's identity is not certain, they may feel lost afterwards. …


The Sex Generation: The Impact Of Teen Attitudes Views And Knowledge Of Contraceptives And Sexual Activity On The Teen Pregnancy And Std Rates In The United States, Haritha Sishtla Jun 2011

The Sex Generation: The Impact Of Teen Attitudes Views And Knowledge Of Contraceptives And Sexual Activity On The Teen Pregnancy And Std Rates In The United States, Haritha Sishtla

Honors Theses

Among all industrialized nations, the United States faces the highest rates of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Previous studies have indicated that teens use engagement in sexual activity as a social mechanism to gain popularity among their peers. This paper focuses on two issues: social factors such as peer perceptions towards other peers engaging in sex and using contraceptives, and assesses the level of knowledge teens have about sex, STDs, pregnancy, and contraceptives that could have an effect on the teen pregnancy and STD rates in the United States. Cross-sectional data from Waves I and II (1994-96) National …


Tragically Hip: Hipsters Psychological Development Irony And The Negative Backlash, Aria D. Walfrand Jun 2011

Tragically Hip: Hipsters Psychological Development Irony And The Negative Backlash, Aria D. Walfrand

Honors Theses

My thesis explores the psychology of hipsters, a modern American countercultural group. I explain the phenomenon of this group by first examining how they are like and unlike previous countercultural movements, as well as which of the classic tenants of “hip” contemporary hipsters have employed as part of their existence in the modern world. Finally, I focus on hipsters’ employment of irony as a tactic to subvert the mainstream culture and why being ironic has caused such a negative backlash on the part of the mainstream culture, as well as other countercultures.


The Effect Of Uncompensated Medical Care On Safety-Net Hospitals In The United States, Daniel J. Dimenstein Jun 2011

The Effect Of Uncompensated Medical Care On Safety-Net Hospitals In The United States, Daniel J. Dimenstein

Honors Theses

Uncompensated hospital care presents a significant problem in the United States health care system, and it is most prevalent in non-profit, “safety-net” hospitals, which make up the 10% of hospitals that provide the most uncompensated care. The incidence of uncompensated medical care stems from the inherent relationship between poverty and health in that poorer people (who tend to experience a lower health status) receive care from hospitals and are unable to pay for it, which results in these hospitals providing this care for a fraction of the charge or even free of charge. This study looks at the specific impact …


Middle Class Political Competition And Economic Growth, Jorge A. Enriquez Murillo Jun 2011

Middle Class Political Competition And Economic Growth, Jorge A. Enriquez Murillo

Honors Theses

Middle class individuals play a fundamental role in countries’ political and economic spheres. Their political demands for a fair tax system and public goods provisions enhance positive economic performance and development. A large share of income held by the middle class, according to Easterly (2001), is positively related to economic growth and political stability. Similarly, Alesina and Rodrik (1994) –among other political economic studies- highlight that a well-endowed median voter population influences the implementation of growth-enhancing economic policies. This study examines the interplay between political competition and a politically active middle-class and its subsequent effect on economic growth. The dependant …


Farmers Motivations To Practice Sustainable Agriculture, Kimberly A. Floeser Jun 2011

Farmers Motivations To Practice Sustainable Agriculture, Kimberly A. Floeser

Honors Theses

An increasing awareness of human and environmental health issues and the destruction of family farms and rural communities have caused a significant change in the way many farmers, consumers, and policy‐makers are thinking about and relating to food, the results of which can be seen largely in the growth of the organic and sustainable food industry. This paper attempts to examine and explain farmers’ attitudes towards sustainable agriculture, and their motivations to use sustainable methods of production. A survey was distributed to 533 farms that are members of the Northeast Organic Food Association of New York (NOFA‐NY). The data obtained …


Athletic Women Make Secret Progress, Querida Christian May 2011

Athletic Women Make Secret Progress, Querida Christian

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


Language, Race, And Culture In Porgy And Bess, Madeline J. Baker Apr 2011

Language, Race, And Culture In Porgy And Bess, Madeline J. Baker

Honors Theses

This study considers the cultural history of the story of Porgy and Bess, from its first manifestation as the 1925 novel Porgy by DuBose Heyward, to the 1927 play adaptation, to the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward. Heyward, a writer from Charleston, South Carolina, based the characters on the Gullah peoples of Charleston and attempted to represent the Gullah creole language they spoke in the dialogue of the novel. The representation of the creole language in the text of the novel, and the way the language changed …


Is Justice Available To All? Indigent Defense In Michigan, Barbara K. Lanning Apr 2011

Is Justice Available To All? Indigent Defense In Michigan, Barbara K. Lanning

Honors Theses

Does Michigan’s public defense system operate in accordance with the decisions made by the Supreme Court in cases like Gideon v. Wainwright, Powell v. Alabama, and Argersinger v. Hamlin? If not, how can we reform the system? The right to counsel for those accused of a crime in the United States is a constitutional right. After the decision issued in Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) the federal government mandated that all states were responsible for providing representation for indigent defendants. The states provide these services either through public defender programs, appointment of court cases to private attorneys, or through contracts with …


Attitudes Toward Education: Parental Involvement And Family Structure, Claire Hanchey Apr 2011

Attitudes Toward Education: Parental Involvement And Family Structure, Claire Hanchey

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


Secularization In Orleans, France: A Case Study Utilizing Mark Chaves' 'New Differentiation Theory', Stephanie J. Beck Jan 2011

Secularization In Orleans, France: A Case Study Utilizing Mark Chaves' 'New Differentiation Theory', Stephanie J. Beck

Honors Theses

Steeped in a heavily religious history, Europe and specifically France provide an intriguing backdrop for a closer look into secularization in present-day Orleans, France. Many various approaches to secularization theory have arisen over the past sixty years. This paper explores the evolution of secularization theory, delving into Mark Chaves' "New Differentiation Theory", based upon religious authority's influence on t he individual, societal, and institutional levels. Though created by an American academician, the "New Differentiation Theory'' provides a new basis of analysis with which one may draw conclusions regarding the state of secularization in a European city (in this case Orleans, …


Public Opinions Of Schizophrenia, Amy Guiomard Jan 2011

Public Opinions Of Schizophrenia, Amy Guiomard

Honors Theses

Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder characterized by disturbances in thought, behavior, and communication that last longer than 6 months (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). The symptoms of schizophrenia are often so severe that the individual is unable to function normally in society. The resulting erratic behavior, combined with misinformation about the disorder in general, leads to the negative stigma now associated with the disorder. The research presented here evaluates public stigmatization towards schizophrenics; it also explores the similarities between behavior due to racial stereotyping and behavior based on stigmatization of schizophrenics.