Digital Commons Network^™

Judicial Independence In U.S. States: The Influence Of Political Competition On Legislative Threats To State Supreme Courts, Jack Eve

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The purpose of this study is to examine how political competition in state governments influences the independence of state supreme courts. This study adapts existing theories from comparative judicial research of democratic countries to the U.S. subnational context. Through a comparative study of 50 U.S. states, I test whether political dynamics in subnational entities align with existing transnational theories of political competition and judicial independence. Political competition in states is measured by the partisan composition of state legislatures, competitiveness of state elections, and partisan control of state branches of government. Judicial independence is measured using court-curbing legislation as a proxy, …

When Confidence Is Not Accurate: Effects Of Emotionality On Actual Versus Predicted Memory Performance, Julia J. Branen, Makaylah E. Beltran

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

From recalling crimes to passing exams, memory is a critical cognitive function for effectively navigating everyday life. Often, we expect that we will remember what is emotionally significant to us, especially when those feelings are negative. However, past research has indicated that may not be the case. The goal of this study, which I helped conduct alongside my professor and fellow research assistants, was to investigate the relationship between memory accuracy and confidence in one’s own memory for emotionally negative words (such as "grief") as compared to neutral words (such as "graph"). We recruited 65 UM psychology students through SONA, …

Situating Standing Doctrine In Environmental Litigation, Wyatt Balius

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Controversies over issues of standing in federal civil litigation are hotly contested, as they strike at the heart of separation of powers issues and broader notions of the intent of civil action. Here I identify two competing theories of the purpose of standing and its requirements as such. Restrictive standing, as argued by Professor Ann Woolhandler, seeks to inherently link civil redress with an injury-in-fact requirement for both public and private law claims. Expansive standing, as argued by Professor Cass R. Sunstein, seeks to ground civil redress exclusively within violations of Congressionally designated causes of action. I argue that the …

Flight Of The Germans: The Displacement And Survival Of Eastern European Germans In The 1940s, Kadin Markus Hawley

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Throughout the 1940s, millions of Europeans were displaced by the infrastructural destruction of war, government actions and prejudices. While the first half of the decade saw many displaced by the implementation of ethnic polices like Generalplan Ost (General Plan East) in Eastern Europe by Nazi Germany, displacement would continue into the late 1940s as postwar politics created new political and ideological borders. This project will focus on the experiences of ethnic Germans from Eastern Europe under Nazi occupation and in the aftermath of war. It will ask how Nazi policies, the International Refugee Organization’s actions, postwar reconstruction efforts led by …

Bronze And Bulletin Boards: Indigenous Language In Formal And Informal Campus Space, Adria Capozzoli

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

What histories and lives are acknowledged in officially sanctioned institutional memorials and place-names? In recent years, academic institutions in the United States and other Anglophone nations have installed a significant amount of Indigenous-language signage on their campuses. Administrators at the University of Montana have installed a number of signs in Indigenous languages, including an intended new "centerpiece" monument at the Oval due to be installed in 2025. Also in 2025, UM is simultaneously finalizing installation of an expensive three-meter-tall sign at a new "gateway" to campus. This project seeks to inquire where, and in what contexts, acknowledgement of Indigenous languages …

Granting Rights To Nature: Environmental Personhood In The U.S. And Worldwide, Daxton W. Summers

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This project explores the concept of granting legal personhood to natural environments, with a focus on the Clark Fork River in Missoula, Montana. Granting legal personhood rights to the environment has been used around the world to recognize and protect rivers, mountains, and other environmental entities. However, the U.S. legal systems have been slow to adopt this approach. This research essay examines why the U.S. has been lagging, analyzes foreign legal frameworks that have granted personhood to environmental entities and examines if any could be adapted to grant rights and protections to the Clark Fork River.

The research process involves …

Find Your Fit: Supporting Individuals Experiencing Neurodivergence Through Post-Higher Education Career Transitions, Julia Brink, Faith Marshall, Allison Webster, Kalei Smith, Maya Franscella, Ava Heintzelman, Rosie Sterk, Sophia Boughey

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Individuals experiencing neurodivergence often face unique challenges when transitioning from higher education to the workforce, such as barriers in self-advocacy, workplace accommodations, and professional communication. Despite growing awareness, career readiness resources tailored to their needs and learning styles remain limited both locally and globally. This study seeks to answer the question: “How might communities ensure that people who experience neurodivergence are more successful in the workforce?” To address this question, this study examines the development, implementation, and evaluation of an eight-week neurodiversity-specific career readiness course aimed at addressing gaps in employment support for individuals experiencing neurodivergence in the University of …

Recreation Repair Reimagined, Luca Welle, Koson Verkler, Sam Garza, Fraser Ormiston

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Textile waste, including that produced by the outdoor industry, is a huge environmental and social problem. An incomprehensible number of items are discarded each year, many of which end up contributing to pollution across the globe. Some of this equipment is costly, both in terms of the externalities of production and disposal and the price tag consumers see, the latter of which poses an issue of accessibility to many people. We have worked to address these challenges by facilitating an opportunity as well as a space in which people can repair and repurpose worn gear and textiles so as to …

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

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

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.

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.

Can Belief Be Compelled? Evidence From Salem, Stewart Justman

Global Humanities and Religions Faculty Publications

In his Letter Concerning Toleration Locke argues forcefully that belief cannot be compelled under any circumstances. I put this proposition to the test by examining false confessions extracted during the Salem witch-hunt only three years after Locke’s letter was translated into English. Evidence in the Salem records—in particular, a deposition signed by six accused witches—establishes that a number of confessors believed their own false narratives at the time they offered them. Of great psychological interest, these cases give us a sense of what the Salem hysteria felt like to those engulfed by it. They also invalidate Locke’s claim that belief …

On Cue: The Performance Of Affliction In Salem, Stewart Justman

Global Humanities and Religions Faculty Publications

The Salem witch-crisis of 1692 began with the manifestation of bizarre, medically inexplicable symptoms by children. During the interrogation of suspected witches in the courtroom, groups of the “afflicted” exhibited their sufferings in unison. As the record shows, these demonstrations were not just tolerated but endorsed and even cued by the presiding magistrates. In a setting where confession was strong evidence of guilt, emotive displays by accusers with a license to perform might well squeeze a confession out of a suspect. In a number of cases, including the critical first confession, that is just what appears to have happened. However, …

April 2025 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

Department Of Mathematical Sciences Newsletter, Spring 2025, University Of Montana--Missoula. Department Of Mathematical Sciences

Newsletters from the Department of Mathematical Sciences at UM

At the Intersection Between Choreography & Calculations / Dominic Beccari -- Christian López Mercado: From Meteorology to Math / Fred Peck -- Robert McKelvey 1929-2025: In Memoriam -- Notes from the Chair / John Bardsley -- UM Math Day Returns / Matt Roscoe -- Richard Lane 1941-2025 -- The Mathematics Enthusiast’s Worldwide Readership in 2024 -- An Unusual Visitor to the Math Department -- Donations to the Math Department -- Degree Recipients 2024-2025 -- Spring 2025 Scholarships & Awards -- Servus from Austria! / Mary Catlett

Grief Into Growth: Msw Portfolio, Shelby Ann Lampi

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Cultivating My Social Work Identity: Integrating Past, Context, And Relationship, Jessica K. Kumm

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

My application to the Master of Social Work (MSW) program was sent as a means to move beyond the constraints of the classroom walls as teacher and provide meaningful and tailored support to individuals who were falling through the cracks of the system. My experience in this program was transformative, in ways that were expected and unexpected. I recognize significant expansion in my perspective alongside growing confidence in applying newly acquired skills, both clear indicators of my professional and personal development. The insights garnered from personal experiences, academic lectures, and practicum placements shifted my theoretical foundations and personal worldviews. What …

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

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

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 …

Juvenile Arthritis, Body Image, And Disordered Eating: An Exploration Of Experiences, Katelyn A. Melcher

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

This qualitative study examined eating and body experiences among youth with juvenile arthritis (JA). JA, an autoimmune condition affecting nearly 300,000 youth in the United States, poses significant challenges including chronic pain, disability, and psychological concerns such as anxiety and depression. Although adolescence is a critical developmental time for body image and disordered eating concerns to emerge, no qualitative research has explored the interactions of JA, body image, and eating behaviors among youth. Twelve youth with a JA diagnosis participated in a semi-structured qualitative interview examining their experiences with JA and their feelings about their bodies and food as they …

A Century Of The Irish Border: Revisiting Militarization In The Post-Brexit Era, Carolyn E. Crowder

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Since Irish independence in 1923, the border between Ireland and the United Kingdom has undergone periods of militarization and demilitarization; but has been effectively demilitarized since 1998. Amid increases in border conflicts worldwide, crucial questions emerge: What caused these periods of militarization and demilitarization, and why has the border sustained its demilitarized status, even with Brexit’s destabilizing effects? Will the border be remilitarized in the future? To answer these questions, I apply and test two international relations theories, structural realism and social constructivism. In the absence of publicly available data, I gathered and coded an original dataset of Irish border …

Assessing The Micro- And Macroscopic Changes Of Taphonomically Altered Bone, Shelby Feirstein

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Forensic identifications may be hampered when perpetrators find unique ways of obscuring their victims’ identities, such as fire and household corrosive substances. Thermal alteration, sodium hydroxide, and hydrochloric acid are known to change both the structural integrity and composition of skeletal elements; but the patterns of these processes, nor how each may affect the potential for obtaining identifying DNA data, are well understood.

Burned bone concomitantly follows a defined color spectrum and eventually reaches calcination, consisting only of its original inorganic mineral, hydroxyapatite, which is naturally white in color and brittle.

In contrast, analyses of chemical exposure focus on total …

Predictive Power Of Metalinguistic Skills In Children With Developmental Language Disorder, Melissa Phelan

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Children with developmental language disorder (DLD) have difficulty understanding and using spoken language, which negatively impacts their academic outcomes and psychosocial wellbeing. DLD is highly prevalent, affecting approximately two out of every 25 children, but less than 40% of children with DLD are ever identified to receive services. Currently, we rely on parent and teacher referrals to find DLD, which is clearly insufficient. Additionally, 50% of children with DLD will also develop the reading disorder dyslexia, meaning they will struggle with both spoken and written language. Given schools’ limited time and resources, we need an efficient method for (a) identifying …

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

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Connections, 2024, University Of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library

Connections

No abstract provided.

March 2025 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

A. Overview Of The 1970 Flathead Lake Seismic Survey, Robert Lankston

1970 Flathead Lake Seismic Survey

This book describes the evolution of the Wold-Friedel subbottom profiling system that was used during the 1970 reflection seismic survey at Flathead Lake. The book summarizes the key phases of acquisition and use of the reflection seismic data that were collected and describes the evolution of the physical and digital archives of that seismic project.

Montana Kaimin, February 20, 2025, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.