Digital Commons Network^™

Launchpad And Homebase: Columbus Ohio’S Arts Ecosystem, Rachel Skaggs, Amanda Tobin Ripley

International Journal of Regional Issues in the Arts

This article draws critical attention to strengths and needs within the arts ecosystem of Columbus, Ohio. Relying on interviews and focus groups with artists and arts leaders, we establish three themes as the most prevalent and cross-cutting among artists and arts leaders: needs for community building, paid work, and space. Based on these stated needs, we identify two aspects of the arts ecosystem in Columbus: launchpad and homebase, neither of which fully support artistic careers. We argue that with investment will also come the opportunity to develop a stronger ecosystem that allows artists to live, work, and thrive in Columbus.

Science Of Hemp: Production And Pest Management Meeting Proceedings (2023)

Science of Hemp Annual Meeting

The fourth meeting of the Science of Hemp: Production and Pest Management Conference was held on November 13-15, 2023 at Auburn University in Auburn, AL. Agricultural scientists from 13 different universities across the United States attended a series of scientific presentations. Topics included agronomy, entomology, plant pathology, weed science, and controlled environment production. The abstracts for presentations and posters are included within this publication.

Orca Annual Report 2023-24, Msu Orca

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Quick Facts about ORCA, Academic Year 23-24

• 10 slots filled for Posters-at-the-Capitol with projects from the College of Education and Human Services, the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, the Hutson School of Agriculture, and the Jones College of Science, Engineering & Technology
• 264 student presentations delivered during both Scholars Weeks with support from over 100 individual faculty members
• 28 grants awarded totaling over $21,000
• 15 items published in Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

The Use Of Laja In Construction In Ancient Mesoamerica: A View From The Southern Gulf Lowlands Of Veracruz, Mexico, Lauren E. Smith

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

The archaeology of the southern Gulf lowlands of Veracruz, Mexico is notable for its research pertaining to the Olmec culture (Jaime-Riveron 2016; Loughlin 2012; Pool 2006). The region was home to the Colossal Olmec Heads: large, easily identifiable sculptures crafted from the volcanic rock of the Tuxtlas Volcanic Field. The use of volcanic resources in such grand presentations may instill a bias in the research of some archaeologists, but it is important to consider how these and other volcanic resources might have been used in everyday life (e.g., Jaime-Riveron 2016: 86). The consolidated volcanic ash in this region is referred …

The Disconnect Between General Classroom Teaching Techniques And English Language Learner Needs, Marliese Belt

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

This project will seek to identify gaps in pre-service teacher education as it relates to appropriate instructional strategies for English Language Learners (ELLs). First, public and private liberal arts schools of higher education in Kentucky will be analyzed for relevant programs and courses addressing the needs of ELLs and research-driven instructional techniques used to educate them. It will be determined that many of the schools offer undergraduate or graduate level endorsements and certificate programs, but only one, Murray State University, offers an undergraduate degree-bearing program. Next, ELLs, their characteristics, and unique needs will be defined to ensure that all stakeholders …

Increased Feminine Self-Concept In Men Corresponds With Less Homonegativity: Exploring Gender Role Expression Relative To Homonegativity Across Genders, Kaid M. Marek, Amanda Watson Joyce, Tracey A. Garcia Mccue

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Homonegativity (i.e., prejudiced attitudes towards sexual minorities, Morrison et al., 1999) is associated with stricter gender roles (Basow & Johnson, 2000; Tornello & Matsick, 2020) mainly in men, and is less understood in women (Bosson et al., 2009; Vandello et al., 2008). This study investigates how cisgender individuals’ self-perceptions and self-concepts of gender roles relate to homonegativity. We hypothesized that men would have greater homonegativity than women, and that greater socially-expected gender role expression would predict homonegativity in both genders. Two-hundred-eighty-eight participants, predominantly white (84.7%), women (n = 227), freshman (58.7%) college students (M_age = 19.33, SD …

2024-06-07, Board Of Regents, Murray State University

Board of Regents Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

A Foray Into Love: Feminism In The Romance Novel, Kiersten Holland

Honors College Theses

In this paper, I am examining the relationship between the waves of feminism and the evolution of the romance novel, by focusing on themes of sexual identity, financial independence, societal roles, and free thought within the text. The romance genre is overlooked and underestimated, despite it being one of the largest and best-selling genres in publishing, because of its inherent relationship with women. By analyzing it, I hope to educate people about the genre, as well as highlight the key parts of its importance to women’s rights and the feminist movement. By doing a close reading of novels ranging from …

Politics, Policies, And Procedures: The Iron Triangle Of Implementing Education Reform, Clint Reardon Jr

Honors College Theses

Education is often seen as a living thing, something that should grow and change with time. However, for far too many people who experience education from both within the school structure and for those who experience education from outside the school structure it can often seem like the educational system is stagnate, dying, and in some cases dead. One shared reason for this perception is perceived barriers in education that stifle creativity and allow educational systems to grow, adapt, and change to meet the needs of the students they serve. This study set out to identify what those barriers are …

Impact Of Esg Ratings On Company Stock Price Returns, Benjamin Mccormick

Honors College Theses

ESG, Environmental, Social, Governance, is a new business philosophy that asserts that businesses have a duty to the environment, their communities, and to act legally and ethically. ESG rating agencies are built around grading public companies on their fulfillment of these objectives. Critics of ESG cite that ESG dilutes the primary purpose of business, to create value for shareholders. This paper uses regression analysis to test whether these perspectives are mutually exclusive. With stock returns as the dependent variable and ESG ratings as the dependent variable of interest, this paper finds a slight correlation between lower returns and companies in …

Software Development And Market Research Process Of Plasma Software Distribution, Connor Moore

Honors College Theses

When trying to find the right software for scientific research, one may have to comb through the internet to acquire a suitable tool. Much of the scientific software online is in mostly unknown web pages where the only way to find the software is to already know about it, be told about it, or find the software by pure chance. Even worse, with few verification systems in place they may try a new program only for it to turn out to be malware. The search for the right software takes time away from the scientists, slowing the overall pace of …

Public Perception Of Service, Therapy, And Emotional Support Animals In A College Setting, Elizabeth Demarse

Honors College Theses

The use of service dogs, emotional support dogs and therapy dogs continues to increase, they are likewise becoming more common on college campuses. However, outside of a 2017 survey into the general population, there is little data into the public’s ability to define these animals and their roles or how negative press affects trust in the legitimacy of these animals. Additionally, no research has been done into how this affects college students despite college campuses frequently being a location where assistance animal ownership is brought into question. An anonymous survey was conducted and distributed online to students at Murray State …

Advertising To Generation Z, Taryn Romaine

Honors College Theses

The goal of this project is to analyze the history and background of those born between 1997 and 2012, also known as Generation Z, and determine its effect on how this Generation receives and reacts to advertising. In addition, through the use of a personally created and conducted poll, I gathered data on a portion of Generation Z individuals and their preferences to certain elements of advertisement design. These elements are text content, layout, color, and relatability/authenticity. My project discusses how advertisers and advertisement designers, such as myself, can implement these preferences in order to effectively advertise to Generation Z. …

Sport Fandom And Perceptions Of Color, Alex Imm

Honors College Theses

The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between color and sport fan perceptions. There is a distinct connection between colors and emotions that is underexplored in the setting of sport. This connection could also be influenced by someone’s level of dysfunction or their attachment to a team. The research hoped to identify the influencing factors of the connection and offer possible applications of the research in the future such as advertisements, posters, and commercials. It was hypothesized that sport fans of varying levels of dysfunction will have different perceptions and cognitions based on the color of the …

Uncharted Territory: Researching The Effect Of Implicit Bias On The Political Attitudes Of Black Participants, Briona Young

Honors College Theses

Extant research suggests that implicit bias can predict behavior such as voting, policy preferences, and assessment of government performance (Pérez 2010). Yet, research on implicit bias has largely excluded people of color and differences in gender, leaving a wide gap in our understanding of implicit bias and its effects on society (Assari 2018: Orey 2013). In this study, I research implicit bias within the Black community and test its effects on political attitudes. I administered Harvard’s Implicit Association Test (IAT) and a survey to measure levels of implicit bias and subsequently race-related policy attitudes. I expect to find that the …

Transcendence, Cj Nance

B.F.A. Practicum Exhibition (ART 498)

Have you ever experienced hate from those you love the most? From those in the media you admire? Hatred that tells you that your existence should not be allowed? This is my daily experience as a transgender man. Being transgender has given me experiences that I love and experiences that I would never wish upon my worst enemy. Unfortunately, coming out and being out is dangerous for my community, and many transgender people choose to stay hidden. As an artist, I focus on gender identity and transformation that aims to provide courage to other transgender individuals so that they too …

Jazz And Innovation: The Art Of Covers, Cyon Sailor

Honors College Theses

This paper explores the relationship cover music and Jazz standards have with innovation. Icelandic Jazz singer, Laufey, is used as a case study after the author covers one of her original songs and applies fundamental truths of musical reinterpretations to her versions of Jazz standards.

Caitlyn Cooper - Art 399 Portfolio, Caitlyn Cooper

Professional Practices (ART 399)

My body of work combines Graphic Design and UI/UX design to investigate and problem solve how to make well-designed products that are interesting and accessible to the broader public. UI/UX work has allowed me to design with intention, finding purpose in my choices and making the experience easy to navigate for the end-user.

Accessibility is not an afterthought but a cornerstone of the creative process. Whether crafting a website, a mobile app, or a digital interface, each project must be approached with a deep understanding of its context, audience, and objectives, ensuring that every design choice aligns seamlessly with overarching …

Incorporating Aac Training In Nursing Education Programs To Enhance Understanding Of Caring For Patients With Complex Communication Needs, Tessa Bradley

Honors College Theses

As healthcare professionals, nurses must be able to effectively communicate with their patients to ensure their health, safety, and comfort. However, this can be particularly challenging when it comes to patients with complex communication needs (CCN), where communication breakdowns can lead to sentinel events. Alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) can help those with CCN improve communication across various settings, including in healthcare. Unfortunately, there is a severe lack of training for nurses when it comes to communicating with patients with CCN and the use of AAC. Webb et al. (2024) investigated the effectiveness of a combined synchronous and asynchronous training …

Understanding Perspectives Of Power In A College Mathematics Classroom, Laura Seeberger

Honors College Theses

Power is embedded in teacher and student actions within mathematics classrooms, whether that power is known or not. Incorporating equity and inclusiveness requires a deeper understanding of this power behind actions. In this study, we developed and administered a three part survey questioning college faculty and college students how they perceive power related to common actions within a college mathematics classroom. For example, participants were asked whether a college math teacher assigning homework increased, decreased, or did both to the teacher’s power; then whether this action increased, decreased, or did both to a student’s power. Analysis of 16 faculty and …

Curriculum Response To An Evolving Society: An Analysis Of Family And Consumer Sciences Education At Murray State University From 1928 To 2023, Lauren Ervin

Honors College Theses

This research aims to identify and explore the changes in the family and consumer sciences (FCS) education program at Murray State University from 1928, when the major was first offered, until 2023. The following questions were answered:

• What are the notable changes in Murray State University's FCS education program, involving curriculum, from 1928 to 2023?

• What are the notable themes, topics, and changes to the overarching FCS field from 1928 to 2023?

• How have the events in society and the FCS field influenced the FCS Education program at Murray State University?

The researcher noted the changes in the Murray State …

Getting The Dunce Cap: Examining The Effects Of Authority And Rejection On Self-Esteem, Chloe Whitfield

Honors College Theses

Social rejection has been defined as any instance in which an individual is excluded socially or fails to maintain a social relationship (Jiang & Ngai, 2020). To describe the tendency to worry about, anticipate, and overreact to social rejection, the term rejection sensitive was coined (Feldman & Downey, 1994). The present study was specifically interested in rejection sensitivity and its various influences on behavior and self-esteem, especially in an instance of receiving rejection from a person of academic authority (i.e., a professor). The study was also interested in identifying recurring personality traits in rejection-sensitive individuals. After completing an online pre-test …

Obscured To Outspoken: Buchi Emecheta, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, And Akwaeke Emezi As Case Studies In Nigerian Feminism, Ava Chuppe

Honors College Theses

Though about two decades separate their ascents to global renown, Buchi Emecheta and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie represent two figureheads of the women’s literary tradition in Nigeria. While Adichie has embraced the “feminist” label to describe her work, Emecheta has proven more reluctant, divulging issues with the Western variety of the movement—namely, its deconstruction of the family. Nevertheless, Emecheta and Adichie engage with issues such as maternity, familial turmoil, and political unrest in the contexts of colonial and postcolonial Nigeria, respectively. In doing so, both writers demonstrate the unique manifestations of patriarchy brought about by colonial rule. In Emecheta’s novel The …

Stuck In My Head: Maladaptive Daydreaming And Memory, Tamryn Woolfork

Honors College Theses

Previous research has indicated that maladaptive daydreaming (MD), a proposed psychological disorder in which people are compulsively immersed in complex daydreamed plots accompanied by intense emotional involvement and stereotypical movements (Soffer-Dudek & Theodor-Katz, 2022), may be comorbid with many disorders such as ADHD (Somer, Soffer-Dudek, & Ross, 2017). Research has also shown that MD is related to the concept of absorption in which a person’s attention is fully engaged in an outside object (Abu-Rayya, Somer, & Meari-Amir, 2019; Tellegen & Atkinson, 1974). This study examined whether MD was correlated with story world absorption, working memory span, and memory for a …

Unity And Dissent: Exploring The United States Constitution Ratification Among The States, Luke Wyatt

Honors College Theses

The research presented here, analyzes the states in 1787 and the ratification Convention of five states: Delaware, New Jersey, Georgia, New York, and Virginia. There were three states that ratified the United States Constitution unanimously while others had great opposition by anti-federalist. The research analyze why those three states ratified the constitution unanimously while other states had great opposition for it and supported the articles of confederation.

Drifting Through It All - Caitlyn Cooper, Caitlyn Cooper

B.A./B.S. Practicum Group Exhibit (ART 499)

My body of work combines Graphic Design and UI/UX design to investigate and problem solve how to make well-designed products that are interesting and accessible to the broader public. UI/UX work has allowed me to design with intention, finding purpose in my choices and making the experience easy to navigate for the end-user. Accessibility is not an afterthought but a cornerstone of the creative process. Whether crafting a website, a mobile app, or a digital interface, each project must be approached with a deep understanding of its context, audience, and objectives, ensuring that every design choice aligns seamlessly with overarching …

A Survey Of The Murray State University Csis Department Of Student And Instructor Attitudes In Relation To Earlier Introduction Of Version Control Systems, Gavin Johnson

Honors College Theses

Over the previous 20 years, the software development industry has overseen an evolution in application of Version Control Systems (VCS) from a Centralized Version Control System (CVCS) format to a Decentralized Version Control Format (DVCS). Examples of the former include Perforce and Subversion whilst the latter of the two include Github and BitBucket. As DVCS models allow software contributors to maintain their respective local repositories of relevant code bases, developers are able to work offline and maintain their work with relative fault tolerance. This contrasts to CVCS models, which require software contributors to be connected online to a main server. …

Numerical Investigation To Produce A Fundamental Polygon, Elizabeth Sipes

Honors College Theses

There exist multiple types of geometry, differing in the postulates they are based on, and therefore the theorems and proofs that make up said geometry. Hyperbolic geometry differs from others by allowing there to exist multiple lines through a single point not on a given line, that are parallel to the given line. Every geometry has the idea of distance and isometries, distance preserving maps. By considering special collections of isometries called discrete groups, we can construct interesting surfaces, such as the torus and genus-g surface. The connection between the surface and the discrete group can be understood through …

The Pop Culture Classroom: Advocating Education For The Digital Adolescent, T'Khiyah Trice-Wilford

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this research is to analyze visual mass media and its effects on adolescents' identity and their psychological, cognitive, socio-emotional, and moral development within educational settings. A particular emphasis is on how mass media has influenced adolescents since the turn of the century. Emphasis will also be placed on how ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identification are represented in these types of media. Furthermore, strategies and recommendations will be proposed as a response to this critical need during these formative years of adolescent development.

Educating Boldly: Enhancing The Social Studies Classroom With Real-World Examples And Safeguarding From Negative Indoctrination, Micah Brown

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this research is to describe the tradeoffs teachers face using current events and politics as examples in middle school history, government, and civics classrooms. It will discuss strategies to implement current events into the classroom and the careful balance we face in guarding against indoctrination, while also having students learn potentially politically-charged topics from a professional instead of through media or peers who might not be as well informed.