Digital Commons Network^™

Humanitarian Aid Logistics: Response Strategies In The 2015 Refugee Crisis, Molly O'Connell

Honors Capstone Projects - All

Humanitarian aid logistics is an emerging field that applies principles of supply chain management and logistics to the humanitarian relief sector. This thesis explores humanitarian aid logistics strategies in the context of the 2015 Refugee Crisis. An unprecedented number of refugees sought asylum in Europe beginning in 2015, where European officials and humanitarian organizations were largely unprepared to provide for them. The 2015 Refugee Crisis offers a unique perspective on humanitarian aid logistics because it requires both short-term and long-term response strategies. Through the framework of management science, a subfield of supply chain management, and logistics, this thesis creates a …

Roads To Resettlement: A Global Analysis Of Refugee And Migrant Integration Policies Through Education-Based Non-Profits, Dina Eldawy

Honors Capstone Projects - All

This project is an international comparative study of migration patterns and integration models, spanning global case studies of refugee and migrant communities in Latin America, the United States, and the Middle East through personal research and experience. Using participant observation and interviews, I observed and worked with three different nonprofit ecosystems in Syracuse, NY; Santiago, Chile; and Tyre, Lebanon. This paper situates all three cities in the context of our globalizing world, where global conflicts or economic conditions that affect one country have an extremely crucial impact on other countries surrounding it and beyond. I observed three host countries that, …

Between Somewhere And Nowhere: Navigating The Liminal Space Of Prisoner Reentry, Shatira Woods

Honors Capstone Projects - All

Prisoner reentry has been an ever-increasing topic of investigation as communities work to reduce recidivism and mitigate the negative consequences that mass incarceration and release from incarceration has on individuals and communities. This qualitative, interview-based study of a reentry program in a Northeastern City centers the experiences of formerly incarcerated persons who are currently in various stages of the reentry process over those of program staff. I use these experiences as well as existing literature on prisoner reentry, reentry programming, and labor to evaluate and understand the shortcomings of such programs from the perspective of those directly involved in and …

Gender, Gender Roles And Academic Success In Diverse College Students, Noelle Rowe

Honors Capstone Projects - All

More than ever before, college serves as an important entity to further an individual’s personal and professional goals. An interesting pattern has emerged: women are outpacing men in college enrollment, as well as in degree attainment. Hegemonic masculinity serves as one of many theories to explain this gender gap. Additionally, little research has focused on the topic of hegemonic masculinity exhibited by men of color. Thus, this study had three purposes: to understand the academic behavior and achievement of racially diverse college students, understand how hegemonic masculinity contributes to decreased academic achievement among males, and how hegemonic masculinity differs across …

Witness The Spectacle, If You Can: An Investigative Analysis Of The Accessibility Of Democracy In Syracuse Local Government, Alexis Rinck

Honors Capstone Projects - All

This qualitative study seeks to explore, analyze, and challenge the structure and participants in Syracuse local government. In 2015, a study done by Rutgers University professor, Paul Jargowsky, named Syracuse as the city with the poorest Black and Latino populations in the United States (Jargowsky 2015). This study has culminated into an in-depth examination of Syracuse local government and the accessibility of its representative democracy. This study utilizes qualitative methods: participant observation and in-depth semi-structured interviews to explore how groups of citizens engage with the local government through attending public meetings. Three primary themes include: the emergence of a political …

Circulating Literacies: When Storytelling Meets Policy, Nedda Sarshar

Honors Capstone Projects - All

We have recently come to terms with a rush of xenophobia, both on the federal and local level. Racist and discriminatory policies have always been at work, but they have been given a higher platform in recent times. This project attempts to understand how and why racist rhetoric is allowed to exist, and how marginalized voices can be circulated throughout the public sphere to maintain their own agencies.

The term “literacy” is typically limited to the Western definition of “reading and writing English”. This project attempts to disrupt that hegemonic narrative, and instead make way for other types of literacy …

Witness The Spectacle, If You Can: An Investigative Analysis Of The Accessibility Of Democracy In Syracuse Local Government, Alexis Rinck

Honors Capstone Projects - All

This qualitative study seeks to explore, analyze, and challenge the structure and participants in Syracuse local government. In 2015, a study done by Rutgers University professor, Paul Jargowsky, named Syracuse as the city with the poorest Black and Latino populations in the United States (Jargowsky 2015). This study has culminated into an in-depth examination of Syracuse local government and the accessibility of its representative democracy. This study utilizes qualitative methods: participant observation and in-depth semi-structured interviews to explore how groups of citizens engage with the local government through attending public meetings. Three primary themes include: the emergence of a political …

Abortion, Teen Pregnancy, And Feminism: Finding Women-Centric Solutions For Reproductive Justice, Jessica Faunce

Honors Capstone Projects - All

This two-part project seeks to understand, discuss, and address issues surrounding some of the most contentious debates in the United States: unplanned pregnancy and abortion. The first part of the project looks at the pro-life feminist movement’s agenda and ideals through comprehensive interviews with nine self-proclaimed pro-life feminists. The goal of this research is to gain an understanding of a women-centric opposition to abortion and to reflect on possible solutions that would benefit women and gain support from both pro-life and pro-choice advocates. Taking into account the information gathered through qualitative research on pro-life feminism, the second part of this …

A Gendered Analysis Of A Movement For Microloans: Problematizing The Micro-Craze In The Developing World, Rebecca Lynne Waghorne

Honors Capstone Projects - All

Microcredit lending is a practice that has become increasingly common, as people and economic institutions hail its ability to offer economic opportunities to people in the developing world. The practice of lending small amounts to individuals or groups began with the creation of the Grameen Bank, and has since become considered one of the best tools for the economic empowerment of women in the so-called Global South. To best understand the potential, or lack thereof, of microlending practices to enable the further empowerment of women in terms of their economic and social status, I hope to break down the terminology …

First Ladies In The Press: Analysis Of New York Times Coverage Of Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, And Michelle Obama, Siddra Shah

Honors Capstone Projects - All

This study analyzed New York Times coverage of Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama's official first lady activities during the first term of their husband's presidencies. Language used by journalists was analyzed to determine whether there was a negative, positive, or neutral tone used that may have indicated support, favorability, or criticism; and if so, whether there are certain activities or types of activities that warrant more negative or positive coverage; and how this changes depending the first lady and activity covered. ProQuest Central was used to find relevant New York Times articles that reported the first lady acting …

Beyond State Boundaries: A Comparative Analysis Between States On Domestic Violence, Ashlee Newman

Honors Capstone Projects - All

This project seeks to answer the question of how policy across the United States impacts domestic violence. Sparked by personal tragedy, I have explored the domestic violence advocacy and legislative sphere for the past four years while at Syracuse University. Through my personal experiences and work in this field, I realized that a comprehensive approach to answer questions about domestic violence is imperative. Because of this, I decided to explore a variety of policies to understand how they interact with domestic violence. With lives lost every year across our nation at the hands of domestic violence, it was very clear …

Living On The Edge College Students And Landlords: The Perceptions, The Misconceptions And The Reality, Carolyn Da Cunha

Honors Capstone Projects - All

I first became interested in the topic of community relations and housing when I took my honors orientation class during the spring semester of my freshman year at Syracuse University. The name of the class was “From the Hill to the Hood,” taught by Professor Mark Muhammad. In the course, I was introduced to the Syracuse community; the community that exists beyond the borders of the University campus. As you gaze across the magnificent campus, you may not realize that Syracuse University resides in one of the poorest cities in the country. Then, when you walk off campus and see …

December-May: Exploring A “New” Chinese Marriage Pattern, Kepei Miao

Honors Capstone Projects - All

in relationships besides age for both men and women, and less concern from parents and friends about the age difference.

Although this marriage pattern in China has been dramatized and labeled “brand new”, I contend that this pattern is partly a continuation of the older Chinese marriage system of concubines in this era. An environment of labeling and the cultural attraction to spectacles and megaspectacles both contribute to raising considerable attention to this marriage pattern. I also question the conclusion that that people, especially women, are now given more choices regarding partner selections.

Reviving American Democracy: Fueling Civic Engagement Through Campaign Finance Reform, Christina Levin

Honors Capstone Projects - All

In this paper, I contend that the skyrocketing influence of money from wealthy individuals and special interest groups has thwarted accountable policymaking and disengaged the average American voter from civic life. This is a pressing concern for a participatory system of government, which relies on its citizens to contribute to lawmaking and the selection of its officeholders.

I begin by outlining how civic engagement has been the bedrock of American democracy.

Then, I proceed by asserting that the rise of the corporate state has sparked the downfall of a representative political structure that is accessible and responsive to all voters. …

Ecotourism In Costa Rica: Empowering Local Communities, Rachel Lequire

Honors Capstone Projects - All

This paper explores a community-based ecotourism initiative called La Tortuga Feliz, in Pacuare Beach, Costa Rica. This organization founded and run by Western expatriates using a conservation approach provides benefits to the local community while meaningfully involving them in the process.

My research included an extensive literature review, informal and formal interviews as well as participant observation for one month on-site. The objective was to understand what it means to empower and involve local communities in a meaningful way in community-based ecotourism projects.

I will argue that La Tortuga Feliz, although facilitating some benefits to the community, also disempowers the …

Waiting In “The House Of Life”: Experiences Of Seeking Asylum In The United States While Living In Buffalo, New York, Meagan Nicole Salisbury

Honors Capstone Projects - All

I am interested in the experiences of individuals in Upstate New York throughout the process of seeking asylum. I want to know asylum law influences the daily lives of individuals in relation to their cases and other emotions and activities. To address this, I traveled to Vive, Inc. in Buffalo, a shelter for individuals seeking asylum in either the U.S. or Canada, and conducted nine interviews. I interviewed people seeking asylum, one woman who already obtained asylum in the United States, and the two staff members.

Based on my interviews, I argue that seeking asylum in the United States is …

Puerto Rican And Proud: The Varying Understandings Of Puerto Rican Identity Among Island-Born And Mainland Puerto Rican Students At Syracuse University, Marguerite Moore

Honors Capstone Projects - All

My Capstone project examined the complexities within Puerto Rican ethnic identity. While this project did not set out to resolve one specific problem, its aim was to further explain the variations that often occurs under one ethnic label. Many people assume that ethnic groups are homogeneous, and I was interested in further exploring the idea and disproving this assumption.

Specifically, I was interested in exploring the various understandings that island-born and mainland Puerto Rican students have about their self-identity. Also, I was interested to see the ways in which these students manage their identities in the presence of others. My …

Deconstructing The Black Coming-Of-Age Film And Its Effect On The Negotiation Of Black Identity, Linita Shannon

Honors Capstone Projects - All

Every film is a social script that places scenes within a framework in which the setting, surrounding characters, and situations are key components of the story being told. In the context of the black coming-of-age film this holds true. The black coming-of-age film represents the power of fictional film to contextualize the existent social situations of youth in black communities. All youth go through a stage where they experience an event or series of events that marks a new phase in their lives or signifies that they are about to embark on a new journey. It is during these formative …

Incarceration Of African-American Males: Impact On African-American Families, Terri Barnes

Honors Capstone Projects - All

Abstract not Included

The Attraction To Activism: Recruitment And Retention In Progressive Student Organizations, Waverly De Bruijn

Honors Capstone Projects - All

Abstract not Included