Digital Commons Network^™

Montana Kaimin, May 1, 2025, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Human Connection, Experience, And Focal Points In An Era Of Technology, Georgia Balius

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Human Connection, Experience, and Focal Points in an Era of Technology

Georgia Balius, UMCUR 2025 Abstract

In an era of rapid technological development, we have become increasingly intertwined with our devices and online spaces. Proponents of the rise of technology point out that we have made significant advancements in areas such as medical and automation that add great overall benefit to society. Opponents point out that technology has increasingly isolated us and created a whole host of new problems we are not equipped to deal with. Philosophical work in this vein has often taken one side or the other when …

A Good Neighbor Gone Bad: Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy, Corporate Interests, And The Rise Of Communist Activity In Guatemala And Honduras, 1954, Ava Mae Debourg

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This paper examines the U.S. foreign policy response to the 1954 Honduran General Strike, where nearly 15% of the workforce mobilized against the exploitative practices of the United Fruit Company (UFCO). What began as a labor dispute among dock workers on Honduras’ northern coast quickly escalated into a nationwide protest, drawing support from students, teachers, and artisans against the UFCO and the national oligarchic elite. Using State Department documents, CIA reports, and media coverage from Time and The New York Times, this study analyzes how U.S. officials in Honduras and Washington, D.C. responded to the strike. Despite a history …

Trap Music And Overdose, Adam M. Zahn

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Over one hundred thousand lives were lost in the United States during 2022 from drug overdoses (CDC, 2023). While previous studies examine socioeconomic and macroeconomic relationships, I have not found extensions to estimate a relationship between media influence and overdoses. I investigated the potential relationship by including a Google search trend index (a measure of relative state-level popularity of web searches) for trap music as a proxy for media influence of trap music. Trap music is a new mainstream subgenre of hip-hop which portrays a romanticized view of illicit substance sale and abuse. My logic is younger demographics are more …

Social Engagement And Minority Stress In Lgbt+ Elders, Eyza Y. Abbas Carrasco

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Social engagement is crucial to elders' well-being. Prior research suggests that social interaction, community engagement, and support networks improve quality of life for older LGBTQ adults (Reyes et al., 2024). Additionally, social connectedness, particularly diverse networks and strong support systems, has been linked to better health outcomes in this population (Kim et al., 2024). However, gaps remain in understanding how minority stress relates to social engagement in older LGBTQ adults. This study examines these connections through a secondary analysis of data from a parent study on support networks and mental health in elders. Participants (N = 153, aged 55+) completed …

Consuming The Tropics In The 'Age Of The Insect': Imperial Imaginaries Of Frontier Ecologies In Spectacular Expositions, Adria Capozzoli

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

By surveying representations of 'exotic' landscapes and 'monstrous' other-than-human creatures of the tropics featured in exhibits of the fin de siecle and early interwar period, including visual displays and descriptive language at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago (1893) and the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) in San Francisco (1915), this project examines tropical frontiers as conceived in the geographical imaginaries of the United States to explore how metropolitan audiences related to those environments encountered at the imperial periphery. Between 1890 and 1920, were the infamously exaggerated characterizations of nineteenth-century spectacle tempered by the advent of twentieth-century cultural and scientific discourses, …

Rent, Stress, And Student Success In Missoula, Alysa Curry, Halston Witt, Aidan Rasmussen, Sadie Arnold, Tristan Clifford

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This research examines the impact of the rental housing market in Missoula, Montana, on the well-being of undergraduate students at the University of Montana and Missoula College. As rental prices rise and housing options become increasingly limited, students are encountering significant challenges in securing affordable housing. This has a direct effect on their financial stability, mental health, and overall life satisfaction. This study aims to better understand these challenges by surveying students about their current housing situations, financial stress, and mental health concerns. The survey results will provide insights into the specific factors contributing to housing difficulties and their broader …

Interpersonal Relationships, Trust In Media, And Right-Wing Beliefs, Reba Watson

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Following the resurgence of right-wing beliefs starting in 2008, individual radicalization is reshaping the foundations of democracies. The QAnon movement, January 6th, and recent elections have shown that the way that individuals connect with each other, the media, and experts to make meaning has changed. The internet and free exchange of information (and misinformation) have altered the channels of individual radicalization and are becoming a new frontier for the development of extremist thought. This new wave of extremism warrants concern, especially as it continues to change the course of the United States. Despite this, little research has examined how social …

Montana Alternative Music Archive, Kate Widmer

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

My project, titled “Montana Alternative Music Archive,” is an attempt to gather the history of Montana’s underground alternative music scene throughout the entire state and across as many decades as possible, so as to address the lack of historical documentation on this artistic movement. My guiding reason for this project is due to a personal interest in the subject that has been difficult to develop due to lack of available material, as well as to honor the innovative spirit of generations of punk rockers who remained committed to their inspirations despite living in a regional culture that doesn’t necessarily prioritize …

The War Is Not Enough: Exploring The Thematic And Geopolitical Interplay Between Western And Soviet Spy Films Of The Cold War, Sean Kunau

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

One of the most visible, yet seldom intently regarded depictions of Cold War relations between the Western and Soviet blocs, can be found in the exciting world of the spy film sub-genre. Complementing the complex nature of the various cultural experiences and ideologies spanning this era, the spy films of the Cold War contain the potential to provide viewers with a unique access point for exploring popular depictions and commentaries of such narratives. This analytical research project aims to dissect the thematic resonance of espionage as a valuable concept in understanding the transference of cultural and political ideology between East …

Montana Kaimin, April 24, 2025, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Significant Montana Cases, Lauren Halverson, Lauryn Lamp, Collin Stetzner

Montana Law Review

No abstract provided.

Reclaiming Self-Government: State Preemption And Original Meaning Of The Montana Constitution’S Local Government Provisions, Zarchary M. Krumm

Montana Law Review

No abstract provided.

Montana Kaimin, April 17, 2025, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Montana Kaimin, April 10, 2025, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Documents From The April 9, 2025 Meeting Of The Associated Students Of The University Of Montana (Asum)., Associated Students Of The University Of Montana

Senate Meeting Agendas and Minutes, 2007-Present

Minutes and agenda from the April 9, 2025 Meeting of the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM).

Montana Kaimin, April 3, 2025, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Bylaws Of The Associated Students Of The University Of Montana As Of March 4, 2025, University Of Montana--Missoula. Associated Students

ASUM Governing Documents, 2019-present

Bylaws of the Associated Students of the University of Montana as of SB32-24/25: Resolution Amending Article V, Section 5 of ASUM Bylaws. This resolution passed during the February 26, 2025 ASUM Senate Meeting during a Roll Call Vote 18-0-0.

Fiscal Policy Of The Associated Students Of The University Of Montana As Of February 25, 2025, Associated Students Of The University Of Montana, University Of Montana--Missoula. Associated Students

ASUM Governing Documents, 2019-present

Fiscal Policy of the Associated Students of the University of Montana as of SB19 - Revising Section 28 of the ASUM Fiscal Policy.

Reflections From Lived Experience: Disability And Public Libraries, Jeff Gutierrez

Independent Living and Community Participation

Summary of an interactive conference session that captured the views of rural Center for Independent Living (CIL) staff and consumers on the intersection of disability and public libraries in rural areas.

Navigating Personal Jurisdiction Based On Social Media Activity - Tips For Practitioners, Anna C. Conley

Faculty Law Review Articles

When will a social media post subject a defendant to personal jurisdiction outside their home state? The U.S. Supreme Court has not weighed in on the personal jurisdiction standard in intentional tort cases based on a defendant’s social media activity. Ever-changing technology and social media use have created a fractured legal landscape across circuit courts. This article does two things: (1) Provides an overview of the fractured landscape; and (2) Attempts to distill some guidelines for practitioners dealing with personal jurisdiction in intentional tort cases involving social media activity. The takeaway is that the defendant’s targeting of the forum state, …

Montana Kaimin, March 27, 2025, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Documents From The March 26, 2025 Meeting Of The Associated Students Of The University Of Montana (Asum)., Associated Students Of The University Of Montana

Senate Meeting Agendas and Minutes, 2007-Present

Minutes and agenda from the March 26, 2025 Meeting of the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM).

Montana Kaimin, March 13, 2025, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Environmental Factors Influencing The Development Of Disordered Eating In Female Collegiate Athletes, Ashley Pepper

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Environmental Factors Influencing the Development of Disordered Eating in Female Collegiate Athletes

Pepper, A, Moody, VJ: University of Montana

Context: Disordered eating is a disturbance in a patient's typical eating pattern that spans a wide range of behaviors typically used to lose or maintain an unhealthy weight. Disordered eating behaviors increase the risk of developing eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia. Disordered eating prevalence has been reported as 20% higher in female collegiate athletes when compared to their male counterparts; however, few differences have been reported in prevalence when comparing female college students and female collegiate athletes. …

Science In The Studios: Communicating Science On Social Media Using On-Campus Resources, Danielle Airola M.A.

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Social media platforms offer powerful tools and spaces in which to communicate science to the general public. However, these platforms are equally available for the sharing and spread of pseudoscience and anti-science content. The widespread use of these platforms means an audience of people already exists who use social media as a source of news and information. The burden is on us as scientists and researchers to understand how to use these platforms. To aid in this process, the University of Montana’s Mansfield Library offers spaces in which to create content for social media that are free for us to …

Enhancing Empathy For Teachers Through Interactive Video Game Mechanics, Shanel L. Locke

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

This project explores the power of game mechanics to cultivate empathy for educators by simulating the multifaceted challenges of teaching. While aspiring teachers may feel prepared through formal education, the realities of the profession, such as managing unpredictable classroom dynamics, asserting authority, and juggling a multitude of tasks—often reveal unexpected complexities. These struggles, though common, are rarely discussed openly for fear of discouraging prospective educators, leaving them unprepared for the realities of the field.

Through the development of a serious game, I aim to illuminate these challenges in a controlled yet immersive environment. The game’s mechanics are meticulously designed to …

From Drought To Disparity: Navigating Relief And Barriers For Vulnerable Farmers In The Western Us, Kyla Fugate, Shae Olsen

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

As climate change intensifies, United States Department of Agriculture emergency programs provide crucial relief during crises. Yet, programs like the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) are now being triggered each year as droughts become routine in the western US. Simultaneously, the most climate vulnerable farmers are largely left out of these programs. We examine how institutional structures, program design, and implementation practices shape access to public agricultural support services in the western US, with particular focus on beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers (BSDFs). Drawing from nearly 50 in-depth interviews with USDA staff and farmers across western states, our two papers work …

#Seahorsedad: A Study Of Metaphors In Transmasculine Birther’S Instagram Posts, Alexa Anne Runnion

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

For my master’s thesis, I am examining the narratives of transmasculine birthers, or trans men who have given birth. Specifically, I focus on how these individuals navigate and redefine their reproductive bodies within the context of dominant discourses that say only cisgender women bear children. Recently, there has been a rise of online communities that offer transmasculine individuals who become pregnant a space to share their stories. “Seahorse dad” is a label that transmasculine birthers commonly adopt, and these digital platforms offer a space for seahorse dads to narrate their birthing experiences and find community. At the core of this …

Montana Kaimin, March 6, 2025, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.