Digital Commons Network^™

A Framing Analysis Of The Uvalde School Shooting In Two National Newspapers, S M Shams Rahman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the media framing of the May 24, 2022, shooting at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, by comparing the coverage of two national newspapers, The Washington Post and The New York Times. Using the spatial-temporal scheme provided by Chyi & McCombs (2004), this study conducted a quantitative content analysis of 241 samples from a month’s coverage of the event in the two newspapers. The study attempted to identify whether there was any difference in the use of spatial, temporal, and spatial-temporal combination frames between the two newspapers, and whether there were any significant frame-changing patterns in …

Three Implications For Leibniz’S Principle Of Sufficient Reason, Josiah Omiecinski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Principle of Sufficient Reason (PSR) states that for everything that is the case, there is a reason for it being the case. The PSR has been a widely used principle in philosophy dating back to Parmenides (~500 BCE). While many philosophers are commonly associated with the PSR, none are as strongly associated with it than Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. This paper derives three surprising implications for Leibniz’s PSR from Leibniz’s claim that God, an unlimited mind, does not engage in reasoning while limited minds, like humans, do engage in reasoning. The implications are: A distinction between the PSR qua a …

Hereditary Transmission Of Drumming Among The Anlo-Ewe: The Case Of Agbodo/Amuzu Family Of Hatsukorfe, Denu, Volta Region, Ghana, Ernest Elikplim Kwabla Adonoo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the hereditary transmission of drumming among the Anlo-Ewe of southeastern Ghana, focusing on the Agbodo/Amuzu family of Hatsuk?ƒe in the Volta Region. Situated within ethnomusicological discourse on traditional Anlo-Ewe musical practices and the specialized roles of the researched family, who are drummers of the exclusive Ye?e religious tradition, this research argues that drumming in this context is not merely a musical activity but a complex system of communication, identity, ritual authority, and cultural continuity. The study fills and addresses a significant gap in existing scholarship on the Anlo-Ewe music, which has largely emphasized community dance-drumming and institutional …

The 6th United States Volunteer Infantry: The Last Of The Galvanized Yankees, Seth Ihde

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the formation, service, post-war life, and impact of the 6th United States Volunteer Infantry Regiment. This regiment and the five preceding it consisted of Confederate POWs who enlisted in the Union Army between 1864 and 1865. The project intersects with a few different historiographies, including Confederate nationalism/dissent and the military’s role in westward expansion. The 6th was formed from soldiers in Camp Douglas, Illinois, Camp Morton, Indiana, and Camp Chase, Ohio. The soldiers were predominantly young and poor southern farmers. These men represent a form of southern dissent to Confederate nationalism and the claims of the Lost …

The “Meta-Country” Of Morgan Wallen: Authenticity Signaling In Contemporary Country Music, Ryley Fallon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Country music artist Morgan Wallen has dominated sales charts and streaming numbers on digital platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Wallen has also crafted his own image of what it means to be “country,” distilling it into the usual, hyper-recognizable motifs of whiskey and trucks while transitioning them onto new media platforms. In addition, Wallen maintains his small-town Tennessee boy image despite conquering massive digital landscapes. This thesis argues that Morgan Wallen exemplifies a new phase of country music, “metacountry.” “Meta-country,” as detailed in this thesis, refers to the continuation of country music’s commercialization into the digital space in …

The Unreliable Narrator: Mnemic Causation And The Reconstructive Self, Phuong Le

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate secondary-level band directors’ perception of preparedness to teach learners with exceptional needs in Mississippi. The study examined college and university music curricula to identify the number of courses that prepare future music educators to teach learners with exceptional needs. The researcher developed a survey that included questions about respondents' years and types of teaching experience, educational preparation in exceptional education, the level of instructional support available for accommodating students in band classes, and the impact disabilities have on learning and performance in instrumental music. Findings provided insight into how well pre-service and …

Open For Victims, Sorry We're Dead, Sela Ricketts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a documentary exploration of paranormal tourism in the French Quarter neighborhood of New Orleans. As of completing this project, paranormal tourism is relatively new to the city, starting in earnest in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This niche industry has woven itself into the larger New Orleans tourism industry and drastically changed the landscape and popular identity of the French Quarter. The photos give a personal perspective of how the industry manifested within the city.

The throughline of this project is a feedback loop I identified- a cycle of influences that has ultimately made the French …

Recipe For Resistance: Oral Histories Of Queer Foodways In The Us South, Astrid Janie Knox-Mcconnell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the emerging question of what constitutes “queer food.” It asks how this concept takes on a distinct regional form in the United States South. Drawing on oral histories, archival materials, and cookbooks, it argues that queer southern foodways are not only a subset of queer food studies, but also a distinct cultural and political formation shaped by southern histories of race, labor, family, and survival. The thesis makes the case that queer southern foodways function simultaneously as protest, utopian practice, and aesthetic pleasure. Through the act of cooking, eating, and sharing food, queer southerners articulate alternative social …

Foundations And Scope Of Moral Standing, Vikas Beniwal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the foundational grounds of moral standing. I contend that sentience, while frequently cited as the primary criterion, lacks sufficient justification when asserted as a necessary condition. I propose an alternate feature as sufficient grounds of moral standing.

On The Importance Of Proportionality In Congressional Redistricting, Guélan Kossi Zaour

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Which party benefits the most from partisan gerrymandering? Extant literature attempting to measure this phenomenon is largely atheoretical, primarily focused on designing tools that could be used in court cases. I argue that measuring the partisan consequences of gerrymandering should require deeper conceptualization of the notion of fairness. I make the normative claim that proportionality, which I define as the alignment between a party’s share of the vote and its share of congressional districts in a given state, should be used as a standard of fairness. Using the redist R package, I measured the partisan consequences of gerrymandering by generating …

That Song Sounds Familiar: An Analysis Of U.S. Copyright Considerations In Popular Music, Jessica Johnson

Honors Theses

Much of popular music has started to bear resemblance to songs of the past as artists rely on techniques, including sampling and interpolations, to ensure their song is a guaranteed hit. But what are the legal implications behind that, and is the line between inspiration and copying getting blurred? This thesis aims to consider the precedent of copyright law as applied to modern musical works and how the landscape of popular music has evolved over time to raise more copyright concerns. It also looks at two modern case studies of musical inspiration that have resulted in legal claims: the song …

Two Genres, One Narrative? A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Gendered Relationships In Top Hip-Hop/R&B And Country Songs (2015-2025), Alyssa A. Yarbro

Honors Theses

For this research, I examined how gendered relationships are depicted in the lyrics of 55 top-charting Hip-Hop/R&B and Country songs from the past decade (2015-2025). I employed Norman Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis to examine how song lyrics use language to reproduce or challenge dominant ideas of gendered relationships. My analysis identified three prominent themes within the lyrics: Respect, Commodification, and Regret. Songs within the Respect category were characterized by these of romance, affection, and non-sexual intimacy. The commodification category included songs that had dominant themes of objectification, sexualization, and depicting individuals as disposable or interchangeable goods. The songs in the …

Younger Teens Most At Risk For Inhalant Use, New Study Finds, Clara Turnage

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – A new study from the University of Mississippi found that 12- and 13-year-olds are most likely to try psychoactive inhalants such as nitrous oxide, glue or other household products.

April 30, 2026, The Daily Mississippian

Daily Mississippian (all digitized issues)

No abstract provided.

Picc-Pal: A Support Band For Independent Picc Line Use, Kylie Luker

Honors Theses

This project presents the design and evaluation of PICC-PAL, a wearable assistive device intended to improve independence and usability for patients managing peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC lines) at home. Current at-home PICC line management often requires help due to the fine motor skills needed to connect and secure tubing. This increases reliance on caregivers and introduces potential risks such as infection and dislodgement. Through stakeholder analysis, prior art evaluation, and iterative prototyping, a device was developed to stabilize the PICC line lumen and enable one-handed connection of medical tubing. Throughout the project, multiple design concepts were explored, with the …

Jtc 26: A Philosopher Headed To Stanford, Staff Report

University of Mississippi News

This story is part of the 2026 Journey to Commencement series, which celebrates the pinnacle of the academic year by highlighting University of Mississippi students and their outstanding academic and personal journeys from college student to college graduate.

Jtc 26: Through Her Lens, Mackenzie Ross

University of Mississippi News

This story is part of the 2026 Journey to Commencement series, which celebrates the pinnacle of the academic year by highlighting University of Mississippi students and their outstanding academic and personal journeys from college student to college graduate.

Public Sector Employment: An Examination Of The Perceptions Of Potential Employees And The Realities Of Public Sector Hiring Agencies, Davis B. Chambliss

Honors Theses

This study investigates the growing challenge of recruiting Gen Z employees into the public sector, focusing on the disconnect between younger workers’ career preferences and their perceptions of government employment. While prior research suggests that Gen Z values purpose-driven work, stability, and community impact, public sector organizations continue to face hiring shortages and an aging workforce. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining a literature review with original survey data collected from two groups: college students and public servants from three states. The student survey generated 119 responses, with 72 qualifying participants, while the public servant survey yielded 30 responses. …

Whose Fault Is It Anyways?: An Investigation Into Mississippi Divorce And Contested Custody Laws In Practice, Charles Conner

Honors Theses

When compared to almost any other state in the country, Mississippi is an outlier when it comes to divorce and child custody laws. Mississippi still retains a fault-based system to adjudicate contested divorces and still maintains best interest of the child as the default custody standard in court. These standards make Mississippi an exception nationally, requiring dedicated hearings to assign blame for the collapse of a marriage. This thesis aims to study how this unique system has impacted those going through it by surveying attorneys in the state who practice family law. This thesis will compare experiences both nationwide and …

Charity Pharmacies: An Integrative Overview Of Operations: A Continuing Education Program For Pharmacists, Stella Bertram

Honors Theses

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The goal of this activity is to educate pharmacists about Charity Pharmacies by creating an integrative overview of their purpose, laws and regulations, processes and procedures, eligibility, and opportunities for involvement. This course will ensure pharmacists are competent in the operations involved in volunteering or working within a charitable pharmacy.

Additionally, the information provided supports pharmacists in understanding their roles as well as roles of volunteers. They will understand the importance of their role in the community and the depth of their service within Charity Pharmacies.

Ole Miss Professor Preserves Mississippi's Black Church Legacy, Marvis Herring

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi professor Vanessa Charlot walks into Mississippi's oldest Black churches with a camera and questions that go far deeper than inquiring about the historic architecture.

Jtc 26: Fostering A Global Community, Mary Stanton Knight

University of Mississippi News

This story is part of the 2026 Journey to Commencement series, which celebrates the pinnacle of the academic year by highlighting University of Mississippi students and their outstanding academic and personal journeys from college student to college graduate.

Jtc 26: Rewriting The Story She Told Herself, Joy Arwood

University of Mississippi News

This story is part of the 2026 Journey to Commencement series, which celebrates the pinnacle of the academic year by highlighting University of Mississippi students and their outstanding academic and personal journeys from college student to college graduate.

Navigating Uncertainty: A Deep Insight Into Tariffs’ Effects On The Automotive Industry, Gavin J. Gautier

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to address the financial, strategic, and external effects caused by tariffs within the automotive industry, with a specific focus on the effects caused by the Section 232 tariffs imposed on aluminum and steel. More Specifically this thesis will examine a comparative analysis of General Motors between 2017 and 2018 during the Section 232 enactment. While traditional studies tend to observe the input-cost effect, my hope is to examine the broader effects at the firm-level, such as inventory shifts, cost management, and risk hedging procedure. Through an evaluation of GM’s 10-K filings, key financial ratios, …

The Use Of Cognitive Biases In Russian Cyber Operations, Emma Manning

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how Russia has employed reflexive control through cyber operations to influence decision-making in foreign states, focusing on disinformation campaigns during the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Reflexive control, a concept rooted in Russian military doctrine, seeks to shape an adversary's perceptions and decision-making by providing carefully crafted information that leads targets to make choices favorable to the initiator. This research argues that while the fundamental objectives of reflexive control have remained consistent, technological advances have significantly expanded Russia's ability to conduct operations in developing cyber domains.

Using qualitative analysis of open-source intelligence, …

Study Links Coal Ash Sites To Elevated Cancer Risk Nationwide, Clara Turnage

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – Counties near coal ash storage facilities are more likely to report higher cancer rates, raising questions about regulation and long-term health risks of such installations, a new study concludes.

Fifteen Years Of The Abc-Ahp-Ncnpr Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program: What Have We Learned?, Stefan Gafner, Roy Upton, Mark Blumenthal, Ikhlas Khan

Oxford ICSB

Initiated in 2011, the Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) was created as a partnership between the American Botanical Council, the 2American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), and the National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR) at the University of Mississippi to educate the herbal dietary supplement industry, regulators, and scientists in academia about adulteration of botanical ingredients. The ultimate goal of the Program was to improve the authenticity and quality of herbal dietary supplements to the consumer. Since its inception, the Program has published 100 peer-reviewed documents. Despite herbal ingredient suppliers’ and dietary supplement manufacturers’ implementation of changes in quality control specifications, …

Unmasking Ashwagandha Controversy: Safety, Toxicity, And Adulteration, Tahir Maqbool Mir

Oxford ICSB

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an adaptogenic shrub valued for its roots, which support systemic health. Increasing use has raised safety concerns about adulteration and hepatotoxicity. The roots of ashwagandha are primarily preferred for systemic health, while the leaves were traditionally reserved for topical applications to treat joint inflammation and promote wound healing.  Although generally considered safe, ashwagandha supplements have been linked to drug-induced liver injury, including cholestasis, jaundice, and pruritus. Reports from various organizations like LARB in the Netherlands indicate a rise in liver toxicity cases, possibly due to cytotoxic withafrin A and DNA-damaging withanone. A major concern is widespread …

Advancements In Botanical Toxicology, Characterization, And Regulatory Frameworks, Paula Brown

Oxford ICSB

No abstract provided.

Determinants Of Opioid-Relevant Exposure From 7-Hydroxymitragynine Products In The Evolving U.S. Marketplace, Igor Koturbash, Scott Alsbrook, George Pro

Oxford ICSB

Kratom’s U.S. market has rapidly evolved from largely botanical powders and capsules to products enriched in 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a potent mu-opioid receptor agonist that is typically present only at trace levels in leaf material. To quantify downstream behavioral health burden and contextualize it with real-world signals of product diffusion, we analyzed National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data (2021-2023) alongside public health alert trends and systematic online product surveillance. In NSDUH, 5.8% of adults met criteria for serious mental illness (SMI). SMI increased by 150% among adults with combined opioid use disorder (OUD) and kratom use between 2021 …