Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

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 …

Brick Biographies, Molly O'Dell

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Every brick has a story. Some have witnessed decades of students rushing to class, others have felt the weight of graduation caps landing. For years, the personalized bricks on the University of Montana’s Oval served as small but sturdy tributes, etched with names, messages, and memories. Now, as these bricks are starting to be worn away, are their stories shifting too?

This ethnographic study follows the journey of these commemorative bricks from 1993 and 2004, exploring their significance to the individuals who purchased them and the community that walked across them daily. Through interviews, archival research, and a bit of …

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 …

Foraging Opportunists: Encouraging Reconnection With The Land, Madelyne Miller, Aine Fannon, Ada Scott, Sylvia Blodorn, Luke Pruitt

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

There is a large cultural disconnect between humans and natural areas, and the utilization of natural resources is rarely reciprocal. In addition, opportunistic (commonly called invasive) plants can outcompete native species if they are not managed, though this management typically involves heavy chemical use. There is also a deficit in resources surrounding other management strategies such as foraging for non-native species. To address these issues, our group has explored the potential uses of opportunistic plants. Initially introduced to novel areas both intentionally and unintentionally, these plants can serve as food, medicine, and art materials. We aim to reduce chemical use …

Rooseveltian Maxim: How Theodore Roosevelt's Naval Diplomacy Shaped U.S. Power, Nicholas Painter

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) saw the United States rise to a position of considerable geopolitical power, largely due to Roosevelt himself. His administration’s development of foreign policies shaped the influence of the United States in the Pacific Region and eventually positioned the U.S. as a global power. By focusing on Roosevelt’s dealings with the Empire of Japan, it is clear how Roosevelt shaped the global view of the United States before World War I. Roosevelt’s power as a diplomat is clear in his relationship with Japan, and examining this relationship offers a snapshot of how Roosevelt’s actions influenced …

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

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Just Home: Understanding Cycle Of Housing Instability And Justice Involvement In Missoula County, Mckenzie Javorka, Elizabeth Sabbath, Kaitlin Fertaly

Independent Living and Community Participation

The Just Home project in Missoula County, Montana, is a collaborative initiative supported by the MacArthur Foundation to address the intersection of housing instability and justice system involvement. Led by Homeword, Inc. and the Missoula County Community Justice Department, the project seeks to develop sustainable, community-driven solutions that reduce incarceration and improve housing outcomes for vulnerable populations. To inform this work, the University of Montana’s Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities conducted a comprehensive community needs assessment using mixed methods, including administrative data analysis, qualitative interviews with service providers, and community engagement with unhoused and justice-involved individuals.

Findings show that housing …

Lessons From Walker V. State: Institutional Reform Litigation And The Right To Dignity In Montana, Hannah Good

Montana Law Review

No abstract provided.

Investiture Remarks, Anthony D. Johnstone

Montana Law Review

No abstract provided.

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

Montana Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Future Of The Discovery Doctrine: One View From Outside Indian Country, Blake A. Watson

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.

Documents From The April 2, 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 2, 2025 Meeting of the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM).

Collaborative Research Report: Building Home Care Worker Capacity, Luke Santore, Catherine Ipsen, Stephen Mccall, Jiyeon Kim, Genna M. Mashinchi

Employment

RTC:Rural and PHI researchers examine the rising demand for home-based care and ways to increase the workforce and retain home care workers through worker-supportive policies such as increased wages and healthcare insurance.

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, …

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.

House Rules Of The Associated Students Of The University Of Montana As Of December 14, 2021, University Of Montana--Missoula. Associated Students, Associated Students Of The University Of Montana

ASUM Governing Documents, 2019-present

Fiscal Policy of the Associated Students of the University of Montana as of SB17-24/25: Amending House Rules Section 2.

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, …