Digital Commons Network^™

Barrel-Rides And She-Elves: Audience And Anticipation In Peter Jackson’S Hobbit Trilogy [Note], Janet Croft

Faculty Publications

Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy, to the audience that loved the Lord of the Rings films, is an exciting opportunity to revisit Tolkien’s fantastic world and see favorite characters acting out their earlier adventures. The reader of the books, though, is often likely to find the difference in tone between the children’s book and the vastly expanded films jarring. This essay will explore audience expectations, the difficulties of filming a “prequel” after a “sequel,” and issues of “anticipation” in relation to character development.

Evaluating Floral Species Richness As A Predictor For Pollinator Diversity Across Crp Sites, Alayna Whitson, Ai Wen, Kenneth Elgersma, Morgan Sullivan, Greyson Brandt, Grant Van Nieuwenhuyzen

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

The Conservation Reservation Program (CRP) is the nation's largest management effort to preserve and protect fragile landscapes that have been eroded due to excessive agricultural practices.

A major consequence of vast agricultural usage includes an extreme decline in pollinators due to substantial habitat loss. In response to this crisis, a CRP incentive called CP- 42 was introduced to target habitat reconstruction through seed mixes that support these pollinators' nutritional needs. The seed mixes are made up of floral cocktails that provide an ongoing nutrient safety net from spring to fall to create a bloom cycle.

Opportunistic plants (unsown, invasive species) …

Bird Habitat Selection In A Mosaic Restoration, Sykora Smith, Claire Newton, Myah Sierens, Mark C. Myers

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

Birds are known to specialize in habitats based on vegetation characteristics like litter and bare ground cover, vegetation stature, and density (Fisher and Davis 2010). On a global scale, birds reside in certain regions where the vegetation suits their needs. Habitat selection by species is influenced by many factors, including food and resource availability and vegetation structure (Gumede et al. 2022). In restored tallgrass prairie habitats, plots of different ages and management histories may have varied vegetation characteristics, resulting in a mosaic of heterogeneous patches that may influence bird habitat use and maintain grassland bird species diversity (Hovick et al. …

Comparison Of Passive Acoustic Monitoring And Visual Surveys On Birds At Irvine Prairie, Claire Newton, Sykora Smith, Myah Sierens, Mark Myers

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

Traditional visual bird surveys performed by human surveyors include point count methods and strip transect surveys. The developing technologies of acoustic recording units are a tool for surveying bird communities by sound, reducing the hours researchers spend in the field for long-term monitoring. Passive acoustic monitoring of birds in Iowa has proven to be a valuable method of detecting species of conservation concern as well as general species richness (Dixon et al 2023; McGovern et al 2024). There is continued debate on the performance of human surveyors compared to the quickly advancing technologies for sound identification (Goodman et al 2025). …

Seasonal Morphological Growth Patterns Of Cattail Taxa (Typha Spp.), Grant P. Van Nieuwenhuyzen, Greyson A. Brandt, Alayna G. Whitson, Kenneth J. Elgersma

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

While considerable research has focused on cattail ecology and invasion dynamics, less attention has been given to seasonal changes in morphology during early growth. Consequently, the extent to which morphological characteristics stabilize and can be used for accurate species identification throughout the growing season remains poorly understood. Based on our current state of knowledge, it's expected that early in the summer season, a spike in growth will occur for all morphological characteristics. These traits may eventually plateau in the later months, providing a time period of morphological stability.

Description Of Leptuca Capillosa Sp. Nov., A New Fiddler Crab Species (Crustacea, Decapoda, Ocypodidae) From The Continental Coast Of Ecuador, Carl Thurman, Mariana Capparelli

Faculty Publications

A new species of fiddler crab, Leptuca capillosa sp. nov., is described based on two preserved specimens from the U.S. National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian) as the holotype and paratype. In addition, specimens (N = 46) collected at eight locations along the Pacific cost of Ecuador were used for an anatomical description and a biometric study. Biometric relationships among major anatomical features are described by linear-regression algorithms with coefficients of correlation and determination. From a previously published DNA analysis of the new species, L. capillosa sp. nov. is related to other Leptuca species in the Gelasiminae subfamily of …

Ka Lei No Kane: The Whole Libretto, Harvey Hess

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.

News Media Coverage Of Measure Ula: How The Story Of La’S Big Project To Address Homelessness And Affordable Housing Got Sidetracked By The Story Of Big Real Estate, Christopher R. Martin

Faculty Publications

“Measure ULA,” named after United to House LA, was approved by voters in Los Angeles in 2022 to create a dedicated, long-term funding source for solutions to homelessness in LA, including funding the construction of affordable homes and preventing homelessness by helping tenants stay in their homes. The funding would come from a new tax on the most expensive real estate transactions in L.A. (i.e., mansion tax), and would affect fewer than 4% of all property transactions. At the end of three years of local news coverage about Measure ULA from the Los Angeles Times and LAist, the news audience …

The Historical Persistence Of Working-Class Culture: How Laborers Created The Ethical Foundation Of Western Civilization, Kenneth Atkinson

Faculty Publications

This article highlights four historical events that shape our present: the world’s first industrial strike in ancient Egypt to protest workers’ health and safety; working-class efforts to improve labor conditions during the Roman Republic and Middle Ages through strikes and the creation of guilds; the social justice activism of the prophets of Western religions (all working-class folks!); and the creation of the selfie and the transition from a culture of character to our present obsession with celebrities and individualism that began during the Renaissance. Each case highlights unique features of working-class culture, working class reactions to societal changes, and the …

Operational Responsibility In Ai Governance: A User-Centric Liability Framework, Zhengyang Chen

Faculty Publications

Who bears responsibility when artificial intelligence systems cause harm? This question has become central to AI ethics and governance. Most existing approaches focus on developers, yet this faces serious practical and theoretical problems. Drawing on tort law, agency law, and philosophy of technology, this paper argues that AI should be understood as an instrument whose outputs remain the responsibility of human operators rather than developers. We call this 'user-centric governance.' Placing accountability with deployers promotes public trust by creating clear lines of responsibility, a concern that governance approaches have often overlooked. It preserves democratic accountability by keeping human actors answerable …

Sesquicentennial Commencement [Program], May 15-16, 2026, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Commencement Programs

Contents:

Brief History of UNI --- 2
Board of Regents --- 3
Institutional Leadership --- 3
Ceremony Symbols & Traditions --- 4
Commencement Over the Years --- 6
University Honors Program --- 8
Graduation with Honors --- 8
Legacy Graduates --- 8
Military Science --- 9
Merchant Scholarship --- 9
Outstanding Student Leader --- 9
Commencement Student Speakers --- 9
Purple and Old Gold Awards --- 10
Lux Service Award --- 11
7 p.m. Program --- 13
College of Education --- 15
David W. Wilson College of Business --- 22
10 a.m. Program --- 29
College of Humanities, Arts & …

Tradition, Transition, & Identity: Models Of Masculinity In Marvel Superhero Films, Mikey Brown

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

• Media & Film
  • Shapes cultural values, social expectations and ideas about identity
• Marvel Cinematic Universe
  • One of the most influential forces in todays pop culture (Johnson 2012)
• Masculinity & Adolescence
  • Adolescence use media to understand identity & social expectations

Missing Children: The Underrepresentation Of Youth In Mental Health Data, Sammie Mcdonald

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

While research continues to grow, it is apparent that there are still gaps in knowledge. This research was inspired by my ongoing internship at Allen Child Protection Center, where I have seen children left behind for not recognizing an outdated radio during cognitive testing, as well as my experience as a fraternal twin with a 10 year diagnosis gap between me and my brother. This led me to investigate diagnostic disparities in children’s mental health data.

To better understand if children are experiencing mental health diagnosis disparities, I am analyzing 9 waves of data from the Substance Abuse and Mental …

Feminization Poverty: Comparing The United States And Afghanistan, Molly Cue, Carly Henrickson, Lauren Classen, Swarupa Evans, Lauren Huston

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Feminization poverty is a prevalent worldwide issue containing many layers such as societal norms, single-mothered household, the gender wage gap, unpaid care work, and cost of childcare. When comparing the United States and Afghanistan, there are similarities in these issues. Both countries live in primarily patriarchal societies, which heavily contributes to feminization poverty. In the United States, over 14.8 million women are currently living in poverty compared to roughly 25 million women in Afghanistan. There are some strategic interventions utilized to fight feminization poverty in both countries. Therefore, the objective of this project is to compare the effectiveness of these …

Women's Access To Education: A Global Perspective, Olivia Clausen, Lillie-Kay Colby, Ellie-Lynn Colby

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Access to education for women has been restricted in various ways across the globe throughout history. Many of these restrictions have led to gender disparities in access to work, which pushes women into more vulnerable situations, such as poverty, abuse, or forced marriages. The goal of this research is to raise awareness and knowledge about women’s and girls’ education in South Sudan, given its 93% illiteracy rate among women. According to UNESCO, among the 84% of countries that legally protect the right to education, only 57% explicitly guarantee it without discrimination on the basis of sex and/or gender. Education for …

The Importance Of Education: A Comparison Of Educational Systems In The United States And South Sudan, Allie Haughenbury, Faith Defenbaugh, Emma Randecker, Hadley Farrell, Haylea Tillman

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

The significance of education in creating opportunities for individuals has been established as important to both individual growth and national development. The purpose of this project is to assess the role of education by comparing the educational system in the United States with that of South Sudan in terms of structure, accessibility, and barriers. The U.S. has a well developed educational system with access to public education for (almost) all children, whereas children in South Sudan face significant challenges to receiving an education. These challenges include a lack of infrastructure, a lack of trained educators, a lack of resources, and …

The Role Of Google Translate In Supporting Writing Accuracy And Classroom Expectations Among Esl Students: A Qualitative Case Study, Thi Thu Ngan Ho

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Google Translate Use in Intensive English Programs

• Widespread but Informal Use
  • Google Translate is widely used by English as Second Language learners, but often privately and without explicit classroom discussion.
• Benefits and Challenges
  • Students rely on Google Translate in different ways during writing, yet little is known about how they use it in real time.
• Critical Research Gap
  • Most studies examine Google Translate's outcomes, but very few explore how students actually use it during real-time writing.

The Impact Of Teacher Burnout On Learning Ability In Elementary Children With Aces, Kassidy Lake Patterson

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) impact individuals both psychologically and physically into adulthood. Children with ACEs often face challenges in learning, emotional regulation, and behavioral outbursts. Consequently, teachers supporting these students may experience Secondary Traumatic Stress and burnout. This examines the relationship between teacher burnout and students' ACEs. Using a mixed-methods approach guided by the Transactional model, the research discusses Allostatic Load and Toxic Stress theories. Teachers in the Waterloo area (n=10) completed the Professional Quality of Life Survey and the Trauma Informed Education Knowledge Survey. Findings indicate that teachers exhibit moderate burnout levels and possess high trauma knowledge, particularly those …

We Don't Get Our Voices Heard, We Work: Power, Perception, And The Working-Class, Jadin Grieser

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

What dynamics influence the working-class to vote against their economic interests?

By performing thirteen interviews with working-class Iowans about their perceptions of politics and feeling of power over politics, this project found a pattern of powerlessness caused by a disconnect with government officials. Through examining how the dimensions of power with people’s internal feelings of powerlessness, this project offers a look into how the working-class has become powerless and how this powerlessness interacts with their perceptions of politics.

My main finding was that people perceive business interests have power over politics, with this being the same for conservatives, moderates, and …

Ica Newsletter, Spring 2026, Iowa Communication Association

ICA Newsletter

Contents:

--- President's Note
--- 2026 ICA Conference: Sept. 25-26
--- Westphal Student Paper Call - 2026
--- Call For Outstanding Adjunct Teacher Award
--- Call for Outstanding New Teacher Award
--- ICA Book Club
--- Going to CSCA? Check out ICA members’ presentations in Minneapolis
--- Iowa Journal of Communication Call for Submissions: Volume 58.1
--- Iowa Journal of Communication Call for GIFTS Submissions: Volume 58. 2
--- Our ICA Board

Csbs Kudos, Spring 2026, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Social And Behavioral Sciences.

CSBS Kudos

Contents:

--- Faculty Accolades
--- Retirements - Ken Atkinson, Gregory Bruess, Todd Evans, Mark Grey, James Hall, Wallace Hettle, Mary Losch
--- Promotions - Disa Cornish, Tyler O'Brien, Jayme Renfro, Eran Hanke, Kyle Endres
--- In Memoriam - Mary Louise Franken, John Johnson, Susan Welch, Charlotte C. Wells
--- $1.22 million grant to UNI’s Center for Civic Education
--- University of Northern Iowa receives $2.4 million grant to launch Humanities Hub
--- UNI announces restructuring to strengthen humanities and public service education
--- UNI launches online non-thesis Master of Arts in Geography
--- UNI teacher education program continues to boast …

The Role Of Parent Involvement In Enhancing Pediatric Speech And Language Therapy, Katie Lynch, Kenneth Bleile

Research in the Capitol

As speech-language pathologists we provide speech and language therapy for children in a variety of settings. It is crucial to include the client’s family in therapy because family involvement has been shown to promote generalization of skills learned in therapy to a child’s typical environment. Despite this, there are a variety of barriers that exist for families as they try to support their child’s speech and language goals. A literature review will be conducted in an effort to understand how speech-language pathologists can gain an understanding of these barriers and work to understand how vital family involvement is in pediatric …

20th Annual Research In The Capitol [Program], March 9, 2026, University Of Northern Iowa. University Honors Program. Iowa State University. Honors Program. University Of Iowa. Honors Program.

Research in the Capitol Programs

Program of research presentations given at the Capitol by students from the University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa.

Comparing The Cognitive And Physiological Effects Of Traditional And Virtual Reality Exercise In Overweight/Obese Adults: A Pilot Study, Emma Kelsey, Greta Ness, Grayce Bjugan, Darci Wiseman, Terence Moriarty

Faculty Publications

Research suggests that overweight/obese adults (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) have an elevated risk of cognitive decline. Although exercise is recommended to improve both physical and cognitive health, adherence is often low in this population. Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging strategy that may enhance exercise engagement. This pilot study compared the effects of traditional (TRAD) cycling and VR-based exercise on cognitive performance and prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation (O2Hb). Eleven adults (M = 6, F = 5; BMI: 31.1 ± 2.8 kg/m²; VO2max: 30.4 ± 5.7 mL/kg/min) completed a VO2max test and two 16 min moderate-intensity cycling …

Adverse Experiences Of D/Deaf Individuals, Lily Buchholz

Graduate Research Papers

With over 1 million people making up the Deaf and hard of hearing community in the United States, this population faces Adverse Childhood Experiences and intimate partner violence at rates higher than the hearing population. D/deaf people experience adversity specifically related to their inability to hear, including discrimination and daily microaggressions. Researching the adverse experiences of the D/deaf population allows for greater awareness to better serve them in professional settings. Clinicians using this information can provide more trauma-informed services, schools can create healthier and safer learning environments for D/deaf students, and D/deaf communities can support each other through connection and …

Building Value And Maintaining Engagement In State-Level Professional Associations, Steve A. Stuglin, Paul R. Raptis

Iowa Journal of Communication

Engagement with international, national, regional, and state professional associations provides invaluable experiences for scholars at any level, and many scholars maintain several memberships throughout their careers. Each level of association offers different things to members, though, and not every association should be trying to fill the same role or to meet every need. Those interested in the future for a state association should identify what role that association fills, what it can provide, and for which audiences. State associations are best positioned to offer a high-value and low-barrier means of engagement, targeting students and junior professionals for membership and participation. …

Back Matter - Call For Submissions

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

General Music Methods’ Effect On Sel Development: A Review Of Literature, Tessa M. Hansen

Graduate Research Papers

In an increasingly digital world, the demand for social-emotional learning (SEL) in the classroom has become a priority for holistic student development. While music education is often cited as a tool for emotional growth, there is a lack of synthesized research examining how specific, established music pedagogies facilitate these competencies. This literature review investigates the intersection of five foundational music methods–Orff-Schulwerk, Kodály, Suzuki, Dalcroze, and Gordon’s Music Learning Theory (MLT) – and their impact on the five core SEL competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

Findings indicate that the Orff-Schulwerk and Kodály methods provide robust frameworks …

The Impact Of Student-Centered And Teacher-Centered Instruction On Emotional Regulation And Engagement In Elementary Music Classrooms, Sarah Abelsen

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to examine whether upper elementary students demonstrate greater emotional regulation in student-centered versus teacher-centered music classrooms, and how this relates to their engagement, sense of belonging, self-efficacy, and mindset. While existing research suggests that students often find learner-centered approaches more engaging and satisfying, research connecting these practices to emotional regulation in music classrooms is limited. Because many music educators use a combination of instructional approaches, this study compared student-centered and teacher-centered models when implemented separately. Participants included two sections of fifth-grade classroom music within a choice-based program. One class served as the student-centered environment, …

Iowa Journal Of Communication, Volume 58, Number 1, Fall 2026 [Download Entire Issue]

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.