Digital Commons Network^™

Autism In Real Life: Performance As Pedagogy And Advocacy, Paula Horton

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how autoethnographic performance can function simultaneously as public pedagogy and disability advocacy through the analysis of Autism in Real Life, a solo performance created and staged at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Drawing from performance studies, psychology, sociology, and disability studies, the project explores how embodied storytelling communicates autistic lived experience to audiences unfamiliar with autism. The performance combines narrative, humor, direct audience address, visual media, and accessibility-centered theatrical design to move beyond clinical representations of autism and toward a relational understanding grounded in neurodiversity and the social model of disability.

Using an autoethnographic performance methodology, this thesis …

Performing (For The) Guru: A Performance Studies Approach To The Study Of Cults, Todd M. Brown

Dissertations

This project approaches a long-term experience of living in a cult through a performance studies lens. Utilizing autoethnographic methods, it explores personal insights and observations from years within the inner-circle of a coercive religious environment under tyrannical leadership. A variety of systems and relationships are narrated and analyzed according to three categories: ritualization, deployability, and occupation. Ritualization explains how a body becomes imbued with the rhythms and mantras of a cultic milieu. Deployability describes how this body is put into action at the service of the leadership. Occupation, as a metaphor, illuminates how a cultic subject becomes filled with the …

College Student Coping And Experiences During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Trinka Peer Pape

Dissertations

The isolation experienced by college students during the COVID-19 pandemic led to numerous issues and increased stress. The purpose of this study was to examine the coping mechanisms that college students utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore the impact of the pandemic on how these students coped and their overall lived experiences. Participants were juniors and seniors graduating between May 2023 and May 2024 from a university in the southern Midwest. The researcher employed a mixed methodology approach, consisting of a quantitative survey, followed by qualitative interviews with students who completed the survey. Based on the results of the …

Enhancing Interprofessional Communication In School-Based Occupational Therapy, Ashleigh N. Stegmann

OTD Capstone Projects

Effective interprofessional communication is essential for delivering coordinated and student-centered services in school-based occupational therapy. However, communication gaps between occupational therapists (OTs), educators, and other school personnel often lead to fragmented care and decreased therapy effectiveness. This capstone project aims to improve interprofessional collaboration by implementing a structured educational resource binder designed to clarify the role of OTs within school settings and promote interprofessional communication. The project utilized a quality improvement framework and was conducted in a public school district, involving occupational therapists and teaching staff. The goal of the capstone project was to improve understanding of OT roles, increase …

Bridging The Accessibility And Communication Gap At Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Jay A. Reiss

OTD Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to address the communication and accessibility gap at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). The experience consisted of collaborating with the Office for Access & Accommodations (OAA) to develop a series of web pages that included information about event accessibility resources, communication accessibility, building-specific accessibility, and creating a sensory-friendly environment. The materials created were designed to support event planners and the community by increasing transparency around accommodations and encouraging their promotion at events. A total of six webpages were created, displaying useful resources for accommodation considerations and accessibility features at SIUC. Feedback from evaluators …

Political Legacies Of Malcolm X, Sumair Ahluwalia

Theses

This study explores the ways in which Malcolm X’s legacy has been co-opted by various institutions and actors, including, but not limited to, politicians, historians, the general public, the federal government, and other commentators. As a result of this co-optation, Malcolm’s revolutionary ideals have been diluted or sanitized in the years since his assassination in 1965. Different approaches have been utilized to reframe Malcolm’s legacy, which include associating him with American liberalism, framing his arguments at the end of his life as markedly less radical, and external interference with popular works about Malcolm, including The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Additionally, …

A Baritone's Soliloquy: The Extended Program Notes For A Baritone's Master's Voice Recital, Harrison C. Gilberti

Research Papers

Harrison Gilberti, for the Master of Music degree in Performance (Vocal), presented on April 3, 2026, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

TITLE: A BARITONE’S SOLILOQUY: THE EXTENDED PROGRAM NOTES FOR A

BARITONE’S MASTER’S VOICE RECITAL

MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. David Dillard

This research paper presents the extended program notes for the graduate voice recital of Harrison Gilberti which took place on February 28, 2026, at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. The pieces presented on the recital were chosen from several styles ranging from oratorio arias to art songs and American musical theater selections. The pieces also reflected several time periods from …

How Additive Manufacturing Is Changing The Automotive Industry, Gavin B. Schumacher

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Understanding Disinformation, Propaganda And Media Literacy In Moldova, Adriana Bzovii

Research Papers

This research paper describes the landscape of disinformation, propaganda and media literacy in Moldova from the perspectives of journalists, higher education and civil society representatives, as well as the general population. In this context, the literature review refers to concepts of media literacy, disinformation, and propaganda, relationship between them, as well as the potential Russian contribution to manipulating public opinion in post-Soviet countries, focusing explicitly on the Moldovan case. To study the specific features of disinformation and propaganda, this paper addresses the following research question: How disinformation, propaganda and media literacy are currently perceived and connected in Moldova? By adopting …

Scholary Program Notes For Graduate Horn Recital Featuring Works Of Eugene Bozza, Johannes Brahms, Gina Gillie, And Marin Marais, Isabella R. Redd

Research Papers

This paper examines the following musical works: “Le Basque” by Marin Marais, Horn Trio in E-flat, Op. 40 by Johannes Brahms, En Fôret by Eugene Bozza, and The Great Migration by Gina Gillie. The progression of horn, both its physical form and its use in music, is discussed through the lens of performance. The pieces span multiple centuries covering the Baroque, Romantic, Modern, and Contemporary periods. This paper explores the horn’s history and transformation through a consideration of the historical background, musical analysis, performance practice and select recordings of these musical works.

Held Hostage By High Prices: How The Pharmacy System Makes You Pay More, Riley Harris

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

This Note examines how current regulatory policies and practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) have led to increased prescription drug costs and diminished patient access to medications. Notably, Schmidtknecht v. OptumRx Inc. illustrates the real-world consequences of current PBM regulation, which allows them to increase medication prices without warning by controlling which pharmacies and insurance plans will cover certain prescription drugs. The Note analyzes existing federal regulations under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law (CMPL), the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act (2018), and the Know the Lowest Price Act of 2018, which seek to increase drug pricing transparency and …

“Faith As A Shield”: Challenging Religious Exemptions To Child Welfare Statutes In Response To Institutional Child Abuse, Shailey Mussey

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

This Note analyzes the role of religious exemptions in federal and state child welfare statutes in facilitating abuse within the Troubled Teen Industry (TTI), a loosely defined network of residential treatment programs, wilderness camps, and therapeutic boarding schools. Although religious exemptions were originally intended to safeguard religious liberty and parental rights, their statutory design has produced significant regulatory gaps that permit certain faith-affiliated institutions to operate with minimal oversight. By tracing the historical development of these exemptions and examining their contemporary application across multiple jurisdictions, this Note demonstrates how religious status can function as a shield against meaningful accountability. It …

When The Tail Wags The Dog: The Game Of Justice And The Elusive Quest For Due Process In The Middle East, Mohamed Arafa

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

Due process guarantees lie at the heart of any legitimate legal system, serving as a critical safeguard against arbitrary state power and as a foundation for the rule of law. Yet their meaning and implementation vary significantly across legal traditions and political contexts.

This article examines the scope and limitations of due process guarantees in the Middle East, focusing on Egypt and Saudi Arabia as illustrative case studies. While both jurisdictions formally recognize procedural protections within their constitutional and legal frameworks, the practical application of these guarantees often diverges from international standards.

The article analyzes core due process principles—such as …

Who Wins The Fight To Protect The Right Of Publicity Through § 512(C) Of The Dmca?, Dillon Ruzich

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

Misrepresenting a copyright infringement claim when sending a takedown request under 17 U.S.C. § 512(c) is currently the most effective way to protect against the unauthorized use of names, images, and likenesses, or the right of publicity, on the Internet. With the absence of meaningful federal protection, who wins the fight to protect the right of publicity online? This Note examines tolerating the misapplication of § 512(c) for the right of publicity, considers a congressional amendment to the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA), and then evaluates incorporation of the right of publicity into the proposed NO FAKES Act before recommending …

The Use Of Fire Stations As Satellite Campuses Impact On Paramedic Recruitment, Training, And Retention, Joseph D. Levy

Ed.D. Capstone Reports

The ongoing national shortage of paramedics presents a critical challenge for emergency medical services (EMS), placing immense pressure on agencies to maintain adequate staffing levels while meeting the growing demand for emergency response. Workforce attrition, increasing call volume, limited access to paramedic education, and high burnout rates have compounded this crisis, threatening the sustainability of EMS operations. This capstone examines strategies to improve paramedic student recruitment, training, and retention, with a focus on utilizing fire stations as satellite training campuses to expand access to education and workforce development.

This study is guided by Human Capital Theory and Self-Determination Theory, analyzing …

Enhancing Workforce Development In Construction Management Through Collaborative Teaching (Co-Teaching) Models, John Annor, Francois Jacobs

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a collaborative co-teaching initiative implemented across three educational institutions—the University of State, Community College, and High School—through two key construction courses: Construction Materials and Methods and Construction Safety. Designed to bridge gaps across educational levels, the initiative adopted a mixed-methods research approach to assess student learning outcomes, instructional effectiveness, and stakeholder perceptions. Quantitative data were collected from standardized assessments, including quizzes, a safety plan project, and exams administered across multiple years. Analytical techniques such as Welch's two-sample t-tests and Welch ANOVA were employed to compare student performance between and within institutions, adjusting for unequal …

Pragmatist Ethics: A Problem-Based Approach To What Matters, By James Jakób Liszka, Myron Moses Jackson

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Dewey On Institutions Of Democratic Art, Emma Fieser

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

A Deweyan Account Of Extrinsic Value And Its Relevance For The Anthropocene, Laurent Riou

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Editor's Introduction, Paul Benjamin Cherlin

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

The Hopeful Hashtag: Digital Feminist Publics In The Trump Era, Jennifer Hansen

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Visceral Politics And Heuristic Democracy, Vincent M. Colapietro

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Editor's Introduction, Leonard J. Waks

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Pragmatism About Nationalism, John J. Stuhr

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Pragmatism And The Critical Ethos: Reconstructing The Emancipatory Potential Of Artful Criticism, Scott R. Stroud

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Jessica Heybach Interviews Clara Fischer, Jessica Heybach, Clara Fischer

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Field Philosophy: Deweyan Inquiry On Climate Change Adaptation Perspectives, Anthony Voisard

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Public Philosophy In Higher Education: Lessons Learned Baking Philosophical Bread, Anthony Cashio, Eric Thomas Weber

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Taking It To The People: Translating Empirical Findings About Black Men And Black Families Through A Black Public Philosophy, Tommy J. Curry, Gwenetta D. Curry

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Editor's Introduction, Leonard J. Waks

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.