Digital Commons Network^™

Analysis Of The Menstrual Product Initiative At The University Of Northern Iowa, Catrina Marie Tounjian

Honors Program Theses

Period poverty is defined as the inability to access menstrual products or adequate feminine hygiene due to economic vulnerability. This ultimately can cause social, political, and educational barriers. In the USA, 1 in 5 menstruating students will miss school since they are unable to obtain period products. The relationship between period poverty and educational disparities is not well understood but needs to be addressed to ensure equitable education. The provision of free menstrual products in public restrooms has slowly become more prevalent as a potential interventional approach. At the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in Cedar Falls, Iowa, there is …

A New Application Of The Coimbra Method On Cranial Entheseal Changes, Emily Marie Carlo

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Language As Privilege: Socioeconomic Status And The Politics Of Foreign Language Learning, Brenda Koumondji

Honors Program Theses

This study investigates the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and foreign language learning among young adult learners. Much research suggests that parental education level, household income, and access to educational resources significantly shape language learning attitudes and behaviors. However, United States scholars have lagged in this analysis. Through a mixed-methods research approach, this study combines quantitative surveys and qualitative data to gather comprehensive insights on how SES influences foreign language acquisition, motivation, and advantages. Findings reveal that students with higher SES backgrounds consistently report greater access to language learning resources and significantly higher proficiency levels. While parental education might not …

Examining The Role Of Mental Health In Prisoner Reentry, Ireland Laughlin

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Hireability Of Female Hispanic Applicants By Accent/Career Type And Participant First Language, Lauren R. Logue

Honors Program Theses

There has been an influx of Hispanic immigrants in the United States, and negative attitudes toward these individuals have been increasingly expressed in the current political climate. There is discrimination toward the Hispanic community, and this includes in the workplace. One factor that may impact discrimination is accents. This study examined perceptions of women with Hispanic accents in an organizational context. Most previous research in this area has examined the perceptions of male job candidates with other types of accents. 314 participants evaluated a female job candidate who either had a Hispanic accent, did not have an accent (but had …

How Do Documentaries Depict The Experiences Of Juveniles In Correctional Facilities?, Emma Decker

Honors Program Theses

The juvenile justice system is an entity that is separate from the criminal justice system, with the intended purpose of accommodating the unique needs of juveniles. This system has the primary goals of rehabilitation and punishment, with an emphasis on rehabilitation. Most of the general population has had little to no contact with the juvenile justice system.. In order to fill this gap, a great portion of the public relies on media representation to build up a foundation of knowledge. This can include gaining information from news sources as well as crime based tv shows and documentaries. Little research has …

Attitudes Toward Juvenile Offenders: How Juvenile Justice Personnel Perceive Juvenile Recidivism, Morgan Barnette

Honors Program Theses

This study examined the relationship between juvenile justice personnel and the predictive factors of juvenile recidivism. With rising juvenile crime rates across the country, investigation into the causes of juvenile recidivism has also risen. However, not much research has been dedicated to the way juvenile justice personnel view juvenile recidivism. This study surveyed a sample of six juvenile justice personnel including judges, a lawyer, a probation officer, and a detention officer. The survey explored the types of crimes juveniles are perceived to be committing, the frequency of interactions with repeat offenders juvenile justice personnel are having in their respective professions, …

Inked Narratives: Exploring The Motivations Behind Tattoo Culture, Katelyn Bakker

Honors Program Theses

This study explores the motivations behind tattoo acquisition and the meanings individuals attribute to their tattoos, with a focus on a college-aged population in the Midwest. Using an online survey, I gathered responses from 649 participants to understand the cultural, social, and personal factors influencing tattoo decisions. The results show that tattoos are increasingly viewed as a form of self-expression, with significant differences in motivations between genders. Key motivations for obtaining tattoos include honoring relationships, personal expression, and commemorating life events. Additionally, the study highlights the role of peer influence in tattoo acquisition, suggesting that exposure to tattooed friends is …

Who Owns The Dead: The Unequal Access To Repatriation In Us Law, Sydney Blum

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

One, Two, Unemployment’S Coming For You: How Slasher Films Reflect Societal Fears, Arwen G. Hansen

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Student Affairs Professionals' Sensemaking Following Student Disclosures Of Mental Health Concerns, Andrea L. Meluch, Alison Doehring, Maria Hannah

Iowa Journal of Communication

Based on semi-structured interviews with 23 participants, this study explores how student affairs professionals in higher education make sense of the role-related and communication-related challenges that they face when students disclose mental health concerns. Study results indicated that participants construct their role as student affairs professionals as advocates and sources of support for students struggling with mental health. However, despite framing their role as “helpers” to students, participants noted that they must navigate mental health resources within and beyond their institution, manage constraints on their role, and grapple with external factors that inhibit students’ ability to receive mental health support. …

Assessing Residents' Water Knowledge, Communication Preferences, And Risk Perceptions: Insights For Practice And Future Communication, Ashleigh M. Day, Eric S. Cerino, Zoe Zidzik, Laura Umphrey

Iowa Journal of Communication

The purpose of this research was to better understand Flagstaff, Arizona (AZ) residents’ water knowledge, media uses, information sources, and water-related risk perceptions. After collecting survey responses from residents (n=476), results highlighted that most residents know their water supplier, but their risk perceptions varied as related to waterborne diseases and water scarcity. Particularly, participants felt more susceptible to water scarcity issues than waterborne diseases and felt that water scarcity was more severe than waterborne diseases. Further, when considering getting water-related information, many participants preferred receiving information via digital devices. Regarding social media use, participants held the strongest preference for receiving …

Toxic Sweetness And Abstinence: The Citationality Of Robert Lustig's Anti-Sugar Rhetoric, Tyler J. Snelling

Iowa Journal of Communication

Robert Lustig’s (2009) lecture on YouTube “Sugar: The Bitter Truth” animated a widespread conversation about whether sugar poisons bodies. Discourse following the lecture warrants analysis to gage how the meaning of the lecture transformed from a critique of food systems into individual actions. I argue that citationality of “Sugar: The Bitter Truth” fosters healthism by grounding sugar’s toxicity in scientific and affective reasoning that compels individual actions like abstinence from sugar. The pediatrician's lecture enabled the construction of a supposedly "moral eater" who removes sugar from consumption to avoid the poison's consequences. This paper offers tools for examining the spread …

Remembering July 36th: A Semiotic Analysis Of The Student-People's Revolutionary Graffiti, Jordan D. Smith

Iowa Journal of Communication

The use of graffiti as a tool for political solidarity has been universally documented in the academic lexicon. Using symbols of resilience, justice, disenfranchisement, and hope, graffiti is a unique phenomenon for visual rhetorical studies. The variety of artifacts spanning millennia document socio-political shifts, economic disparity, and messages of rebirth for systems in crisis. This study conducts a semiotic analysis of protest graffiti created during Bangladesh’s Student-People Uprising of July 2024 to explore how visual and linguistic signs construct messages of hope and solidarity. Using Ferdinand de Saussure’s (2021) semiotic framework, this research examines the symbolic and rhetorical elements present …

Culture, Labor Laws, And Foreign Investment: An Analysis On The Impact Of Uncertainty Avoidance, Annalee Benisek

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Unheard Voices: The Hidden Influence Of Non-American Accents On Patient Outcomes And Provider Perception In Healthcare Situations In The United States, Gift Oluwatosin Olalusi

Iowa Journal of Communication

Stigma surrounding non-native American accents in the United States adversely influences the health-related decisions and behaviors of those who speak with such accents. Grounded in stigma management communication theory (SMCT), this study explored how individuals with non-native American accents communicatively manage accent stigma experiences in healthcare situations in the United States through ten semi-structured interviews. SMCT’s strategies of accepting, avoiding, ignoring, evading responsibility, and denying were identified by participants as the management strategies employed when they face stigmatization. The findings suggest that stereotype threat and patients’ stigma management strategies are important phenomena that can impact the healthcare outcome of patients …

Violence And Taoist Ethics In Ursula K. Le Guin’S The Word For World Is Forest, Aleena Achamma Paul, Swathi Krishna S

UKL: The Journal of Ursula K. Le Guin Studies

This note critically investigates the ethico-moral intricacies of violence/peace in Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Word for World is Forest (1976) while arguing that her radical political sensibilities are informed by her ardent Taoist worldview. Amidst the urgent tussle for domination by the colonizing Terrans and the struggle for survival by the native Athsheans in the fictional planet Athshe, Le Guin incorporates her incisive critique of imperialist exploitation and militarism while upholding the non-dualistic ethics of Taoism. Moving beyond the moral imperatives and either/or debates, Le Guin illustrates how from time-to-time violence turns to be the singular means of self-preservation …

Socioeconomic Status And Educational Opportunities Through The Eyes Of Students And Teachers: Diverse Realities, Shared Insights, Jill Schany

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Sowl and Crain (2021) argue that despite recognizing the uniqueness of the place when it comes to rural demographics and needs, policies regarding education and the economy often prioritize urban areas, defining rural in opposition to urban without adequately addressing the specific needs of rural youth. Studies examining geographical disparities in educational outcomes traditionally concentrated on achievement gaps within urban and suburban areas, highlighting more startling gaps in cities with heightened racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequality and segregation. Literature also extensively discusses neighborhood effects on educational outcomes in densely populated regions, offering valuable insights into the distribution of educational opportunities …

More Than Just A Game: What Higher Education Can Learn From Player Agency, Kyle Haiman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Higher education presents students with the challenge of balancing institutional expectations for autonomy with the need for community and support. In a world that is becoming more individualized and less empathetic, agency, or engaging in intentional action,plays a crucial role in navigating this tension. Agency has been linked to academic success and real-world problem solving, yet its development among college-aged students remains an ongoing challenge. Games and game-based learning offer a unique lens through which to explore agency, as players regularly engage in decision making, problem solving, and self-directed learning.

This qualitative study examined how college students at a regional, …

Assessing Equity, Environmental Social Justice And Intersectionality In U.S. Federal Policies: A Comparative And Temporal Analysis Of The Department Of Transportation, Department Of Energy, And Environmental Protection Agency, Sneha Basu

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

As the climate crisis intensifies, U.S. federal policies play a critical role in addressing the disproportionate environmental burdens borne by marginalized communities. This thesis assesses how equity, environmental social justice, and intersectionality have been integrated into the policy documents of three key federal agencies: Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Energy (DOE), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over a 20-year period (2004–2024). Using a quantitative content analysis of 46 policy documents, the study evaluates five core dimensions: depth of discussion, clarity of language, inclusiveness of marginalized groups, action-oriented language, and environmental justice considerations. The research reveals significant interagency disparities, with …

Every Teacher A Reading Teacher: An Exploration Of Teacher Preparation And Literacy Instruction, Jossette N. Finney

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The number of students lacking literacy proficiency is on the rise, with only 33% of students assessed in Grades 4 and 31% of students assessed in Grade 8 scoring at or above NAEP proficiency in reading (National Center for Education Statistics, 2022). The purpose of this study was to understand more about the attitudes and beliefs of classroom teachers, preservice teachers, and content area literacy instructors surrounding content area literacy instruction, and how those beliefs affected their likelihood to incorporate literacy across the curriculum. The theoretical framework for this study included the critical literacy theory along with Paolo Freire’s pedagogy …

Commencement [Program], December 21, 2024, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Commencement Programs

The program of the commencement ceremonies, including a list of institutional leadership, a list of the departments by college, awards given at the ceremonies, and a list of undergraduate and graduate degree candidates. This commencement program is not an official graduate list.

Contents:

Board of Regents --- 2
Institutional Leadership --- 2
Ceremony Symbols & Traditions --- 3
Academic Honorary Organizations --- 4
University Ambassador Organizations --- 5
University Honors Program --- 6
Graduation with Honors --- 6
Legacy Graduates --- 6
Military Science --- 7
Merchant Scholarship --- 7
Outstanding Student Leader --- 7
Commencement Student Speakers --- 7 …

Community Engagement Newsletter, December 2024, University Of Northern Iowa. Office Of Community Engagement.

Community Engagement Newsletter

Contents:

--- Holiday Volunteers Needed
--- Board of Directors Match Program
--- Spring Service-Learning Institute: Save the Date, May 27-28
--- Service-Learning Course Designation
--- Service-Learning Institute - Winter Session Online
--- New Spring Programming: Nonprofit Explore-a-Ganza
--- New Spring Programming: Learn & Serve Bus Tour
--- Seed Coalition Annual Awards Nominations
--- National Survey - Call for Participation

Uni Impact: Faculty/Staff Scholarly Publications And Featured Awards Newsletter, V2i2, 2023, Rod Library. Research & Sponsored Programs. Uni Foundation. University Of Northern Iowa.

UNI Impact: Faculty/Staff Scholarly Publications and Featured Awards Newsletter

Highlights the scholarship, research, and other scholarly work produced by University of Northern Iowa faculty, students, and staff.

This issue covers the period of July - December 2023.

What Do We Do? What We Have Always Done: Keep Fighting Together, University Of Northern Iowa. Gender & Sexual Services. Uni Proud.

UNI Proud Documents

Post election resource packet put together by UNI Proud.

Community Engagement Newsletter, November 2024, University Of Northern Iowa. Office Of Community Engagement.

Community Engagement Newsletter

Contents:

--- Panthers Vote
--- Engagement Opportunities
--- Service-Learning
--- Veridian Community Engagement Fellowship
--- Class of 1957 Heritage Endowment Fund
--- Koob Fund for Student Community Engagement
--- Seed Coalition Annual Awards Nominations

Patricia A. Tomson Center For Violence Prevention Fall 2024 Newsletter, University Of Northern Iowa. Patricia A. Tomson Center For Violence Prevention.

Patricia A. Tomson Center for Violence Prevention Newsletter

Contents:

--- Fall 2024 MVP Train the Trainers
--- Dan Marburger MVP Advocate Award Recipients
--- Welcome New MVP Master Trainers
--- Facilitation Skills Development Videos
--- MVP Student Leadership Summit
--- MVP College Playbook Review Committee
--- Tomson Scholars
--- Oeltjen Scholar
--- Buntrock Foundation Funding
--- Iowa High School Athletic Association's Conference Connections
--- Domestic Violence Awareness Month
--- Iowa Association for Student Councils Conference
--- Iowa School Counselors Assocation Annual Conference
--- AC4C Conference
--- 17th Annual Dissemination and Implementation Conference

Csbs Kudos, Fall 2024, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Social And Behavioral Sciences.

CSBS Kudos

Contents:

--- Faculty Accolades
--- Retirements: Robert Neymeyer
--- CSBS and School of Health & Human Sciences sponsors talk by renowned biologist and writer Sandra Steingraber
--- System of Support Conference
--- Phi Alpha Theta / History Club Lecture Series
--- Women in Politics
--- Panthers Vote
--- In Memoriam: Nancy Hamilton
--- Greg Bruess featured in Northern Iowan's "Panther’s guide to studying abroad in Greece"
--- Family, Aging & Counseling's Cedar Valley Men's Shed featured in WCF Courier
--- Dementia Simulation House featured in KWWL's " Experiencing Dementia: Local Simulation Building Understanding"
--- Psychology's Carolyn Hildebrandt discusses "the psychology …

Uni Schedule Of Classes: Policies And Procedures, Fall 2024, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Schedule of Classes

A listing and schedule of the courses being taught as well as policies and procedures concerning attending classes at the University of Northern Iowa.

Community Engagement Newsletter, October 2024, University Of Northern Iowa. Office Of Community Engagement.

Community Engagement Newsletter

Contents:

--- Panthers Vote
--- Events
--- Service-Learning
--- Funding
--- Community Engagement - Report Hours
--- UNI Engaged Podcast