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The Neuroanatomical, Neurochemical, And Phenomenological Correlates Of Social Bonding, Empathy, And Flow In Music Improvisation, Edward A. Roth

Dissertations

The three studies in this dissertation explore the biological and phenomenological under-pinnings of music improvisation related to bonding, empathy, and flow. Musical improvisation is a multi-dimensional behavior encompassing motor, cognitive, affective, and often social domains, and as such, it is reasonable to consider that music improvisation shares many characteristics with other forms of non-musical extemporaneous behavior, such as carrying on a verbal dialogue. The primary aims of this three-study dissertation were to (1) determine the feasibility of the study designs and interdisciplinary methods; (2) examine potential differences in the neuroanatomical and neurophysiological correlates of improvisation between non-musicians and musicians; and …

Xenophobia In The Covid-19 Era, Joanne Jeya

Honors Theses

COVID-19 has altered people's daily lives across the globe and heightened tensions in response to changing economic, social, and political conditions. In the United States, xenophobia has seemingly escalated in the COVID-19 era, particularly towards Asians and people of Asian descent. The assumed reasoning for this rise in anti-Asian sentiment is tied to the presumed origins of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome‐Coronavirus‐2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, first detected in Wuhan, China, prompting some to initially call the disease the Wuhan or Chinese virus, among other racialized terms like the "Kung-flu." It remains to be seen if xenophobic acts have increased throughout the …

Decentering The Book(Room) And (Re)Centering Students’ Interest In Contemporary Issues: Theories, Questions, And Relevance, Annamary Consalvo, Katharine Covino, Natalie Chase

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

This article offers a framework by which teacher educators can offer novice teachers of English a way to open up the teaching of literature away from book-centric practices and toward those of inquiry. A six-step process, accompanied by a detailed example, is offered that acknowledges the traditional bookroom options and connects to the wide array of literary theories that can generate essential questions and move teaching away from atomized, right-wrong kinds of instruction and toward addressing issues of interest and importance to youth.

Reading Agrippa Von Nettesheim’S De Occulta Philosophia Libri Tres: Textual Structure And Central Arguments, Allison Kavey

Accessus

Abstract: This article reads Agrippa von Nettesheim’s De Occulta Philosophia Libri Tres (1531/1533) as a comprehensive model of the universe that integrates magic as part of the original Creation. It focuses on the text’s structure to make sense of a book that has sometimes been dismissed as an encyclopedia or read primarily through the lens of Agrippa’s other works. It concludes that each of the three sections of this text provides evidence to support Agrippa’s model of the universe and that an early modern reader would have had the ability and reading style to put those pieces together. It further …

05 From Synthesis To Compromise: The Four Daughters Of God In Early English Drama, Hans-Jürgen Diller

Early Drama, Art, and Music

A reprint of a study of the Four Daughters of God in Middle English drama, originally published in Early Drama, Art, and Music Review 18, no. 2 (Spring 1996).

Ethnic Comparisons In Perceptions Of Health, Happiness, Hope, And Related Social Determinants Of Health In A Majority-Minority Midwestern Town, Virginia Chaidez, Yumou Qiu, Angela L. Palmer-Wackerly, Julie A. Tippens, Gilbert R. Parra, Patrick Habecker, Kimberly Gocchi Carrasco, Jordan Soliz, Lisa M. Pytlikzillig, Kirk Dombrowski

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

In a rural Midwestern community sample (n=273), large proportions of Somalis and Whites ranked overall health as "Very good" (57% and 50%, respectively), while Hispanics (42%) considered it "Good". Across all groups, most are either "Happy" or "Very happy" with their jobs—64%, 91%, 83%—or their families—85%, 93%, 91.6%— with reference to Hispanics, Somalis, and Whites, respectively. When asked “In the past 30 days, how often did you feel hopeless?”, 83% of Somalis and two-thirds (67%) of Whites responded, "None of the time", while half (50%) of Hispanics indicated the same. Overall, Hispanics appeared to be less …

Ever-Present “Illegality:” How Political Climate Impacts Undocumented Latinx Parents’ Engagement In Students’ Postsecondary Access And Success, Stephany Cuevas

Journal of College Access

Using the ecological systems theory, this study highlights the significant impact the political climate in the United States (i.e., anti-immigrant sentiments and violence) has on undocumented Latinx parents’ engagement in their children’s education. Drawing from a larger qualitative, interview-based study that explored how undocumented Latinx parents were involved and engaged in their children’s postsecondary access and success (Cuevas, 2019; 2020), this study focuses on undocumented parents’ experiences and processing of the 2016 Presidential Election. Findings illustrate how the explicit racist, anti-immigrant, and nativist narratives then-Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump campaigned under and won forced undocumented Latinx parents to (re)evaluate how …

Building Critical Bridges: The Role Of University Presidents In Collaborating With Undocumented Student Activists, Rachel Freeman, Daniela Iniestra Varelas, Daniel Castillo

Journal of College Access

Undocumented students across the country have powerfully organized for the development of equitable programs and policies for undocumented students in higher education. Presidents of colleges and universities play a key role in working with undocumented activists to influence the development of these programs. Our research team with The UndocuScholars Project at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) spotlights university presidents who have been leaders in the field in working with undocumented students through the documentary film series College Presidents with Undocumented Students. In this article, we discuss the second film in the series showcasing President Elsa Núñez of the …

Development Of Palestinian Social Work In Israel: The Formative Years (1968–1982), Ibrahim Mahajne, Anwar Khatib, Arnon A. Bar-On

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Based on primary and secondary sources and interviews with Arab social workers employed in welfare bureaus during the time under review, the article describes the development of Palestinian social work in Israel in its formative years (1968–1982). The primary finding is that this development took place under a "policy of contempt" towards the Palestinian community's needs. The authorities acknowledged these needs but perpetuated a discriminatory allocation of resources in meeting them compared to Jewish Israelis and disregarded the society's narrative by maintaining a dual welfare system: one for the country's Jewish citizens and a lesser one for their …

Journal Of Sociology And Social Welfare Vol. 48, No. 2

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Complete issue of Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare Volume 48, Number 2

The Rwandan Diaspora: Residual Politics And The Culture Of Silence, Jennifer Marson-Reed, Olivia Mclaughlin

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The present article examines the political environment in Rwanda following the 1994 genocide from the perspective of diaspora members. Research was conducted via in-person and telephone interviews from May 2015 to March 2016 with eight members of the Rwandan diaspora in the United States and Canada. The primary research objective questioned how members of this particular diaspora attempt to achieve justice and reconciliation among one another. However, current Rwandan politics became a central discussion point during interviews, particularly the residual effect among the diaspora. Interviews suggest that the current political climate in Rwanda may have created a culture of silence …

Are Non-Religious College Students The New Anti-Racists On The Block?: An Exploration Of The Effects Of Non-Religiosity On College Students’ White Racial Identities, Paula K. Miller

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of non-religiosity on white college students’ racial identities. Previous research on this topic is minimal and has focused on the impact of non-religiosity on attitudinal components of white racial identity. We expand this work using the White Racial Identity Scale, which measures white racial identity through a variety of attitudes, behaviors, and cultural preferences. We found that non-religious white students were more likely than religious white students to report racially progressive attitudes, behaviors, and cultural preferences, including less investment in American and ethnic practices, less trust in mainstream American institutions, …

Racist Nativism In The College Access Experiences Of Undocumented Latinx Students, Brianna R. Ramirez

Journal of College Access

This study explores undocumented Latinx students' college access experiences through a racist nativist framework to understand how the ideologies of racism and xenophobia underlie the possibilities of pursuing college aspirations. This article describes five particular ways in which racist nativism underlies undocumented Latinx college access experiences. These included 1) systematic lack of institutional college knowledge, 2) restricted college outreach, 3) instilling fear in pursuing college aspirations, 4) discriminatory financial aid policies and practices, and 5) contradictory rhetoric of "deservingness" of educational and life opportunities. This paper supports an understanding of undocumented Latinx student educational processes at the intersection of systems …

An Interdisciplinary Analysis Of Health Equity As Evaluated Through The Covid-19 Response Concerning French-Speaking Refugees., Margaret Henning

Honors Theses

A collaborative approach is needed to understand the multifaceted medical bias and inequalities experienced by refugee camps of Francophone (French-speaking) nations. A combination of interest and passion for anthropology, medicine, and the French language presents a unique window of intersectionality to analyze this issue. Through a comprehensive review of literature published in both English and French languages, and connections with directors and leaders of refugee camps located in France and French-speaking African nations, we have elucidated a few examples of alarming medical bias experienced by both refugees and migrants. Although an exhaustive list of medical bias could be presented on …

Wmu Board Of Trustees Formal Session December 10, 2020, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

Acceptance of the Agenda – Bolger
Approval of the Minutes (November 5, 2020 Meeting) – Bolger
Remarks by the Chair – Bolger
Remarks by the President – Montgomery
Comments by the Faculty Senate President – Kritzman
Comments by the Western Student Association President – West
Comments by the Graduate Student Association President – Morris
Presentation – Student Athlete Achievement – Beauregard, Harrison, and Caliendo
Annual Presidential Assessment – Rinvelt
Outgoing Trustee Appreciation for Behen and Bolger – Schuemann
Public Comments Regarding Action Items – Schuemann

Action Items – Bolger

• Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct Policy – Crawford
• Trustee Emeritus Recognition for …

Wmu Board Of Trustees Formal Session December 10, 2020, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

1. Acceptance of the Agenda – Bolger
2. Approval of the Minutes (November 5, 2020 Meeting) – Bolger
3. Remarks by the Chair – Bolger
4. Remarks by the President – Montgomery
5. Comments by the Faculty Senate President – Kritzman
6. Comments by the Western Student Association President – West
7. Comments by the Graduate Student Association President – Morris
8. Presentation – Student Athlete Achievement – Beauregard, Harrison, and Caliendo
9. Annual Presidential Assessment – Rinvelt
10. Outgoing Trustee Appreciation for Behen and Bolger – Schuemann
11. Public Comments Regarding Action Items – Schuemann
12. Action Items – Bolger
    1. Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct Policy – Crawford
13. Trustee Emeritus Recognition for …

“Space For All?”: An Analysis Of Race, Gender, And Society In The Cult Classic Doctor Who., Liron Sussman

Honors Theses

Much like the Doctor, people are constantly growing and evolving, and it is out of a desire for human connection that people strive, always, to improve and as a long-running television program, Doctor Who reflects that desire for connection. This analysis explores race, gender, and society as portrayed in the modern series of Doctor Who (2005-).

Wmu Board Of Trustees Formal Session September 17, 2020, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

• Formal Agenda
• Proposed Meeting Minutes
• General Fund Budget Fiscal Year 2020-21
• State Capital Outlay – Priority List
• Building Project Priority List
• Parking Permit Fee Adjustment
• Student Code Change
• Personnel Report
• Operating Cash Accounts
• Annuity and Life Income Funds - Public

Pandemicaccounts_1054, Anonymous

Community Pandemic Accounts

This is a response to the Pandemic Community Accounts questionnaire, created in April 2020 by Western Michigan University Libraries faculty.

Each upload contains raw survey responses from a single participant who consented to participating and who also completed the free-response narrative. The questionnaire contains a mix of free response and multiple choice questions, including: (1) agreement to participate and be included in the collection, (2) indication of first time participation, (3) name, (4) age, (5) WMU community inclusion, (6) job title, (7) population density of current residence, (8) state and county of current residence, (9) household size, (10) pets, (11) …

Western Michigan University Magazine, Spring/Summer 2020, Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University Magazine (1997-present)

• University News
• Uncharted Waters: Campus community navigates unprecedented shift to distance learning
• Unique Collection: University Libraries acquires David Small and Sarah Stewart archive
• Alumni Profiles
• Product design students envisioning future of mobility with Eaton partnership
• For the birds: Avian adventures at Asylum Lake Preserve
• Student aviation opportunities take off with launch of Aviate partnership
• Community Collaborations
• Renewable energy researchers at WMU receive $9.6 million grant
• Figures of speech: Instructor helps Kalamazoo TV anchor recover his voice
• Taboo topics course uses dialogue to break through barriers
• Classnotes
• In Memoriam

Those Beyond The Walls: An Archaeological Examination Of Michilimackinac’S Extramural Domestic Settlement, 1760-1781, James Cain Dunnigan

Masters Theses

Ideal for both the French and British, the location of Fort Michilimackinac was selected to serve as a key entrepôt for European goods from the colonized east coast to be traded for furs from the Upper Country. The diverse population that formed around Michilimackinac included French and British soldiers, traders, craftsmen, and their families, as well as large seasonal populations of Native Americans. While the Fort’s interior continues to be vigorously examined, little focus has been directed to the larger, multicultural village that emerged outside the fort’s walls in the latter half of the eighteenth century. Excavations from 1970-1973, conducted …

Performing Mystical Union In Mechthild Of Magdeburg’S The Flowing Light Of The Godhead, Jessi C. Piggott

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

Thirteenth-century mystic Mechthild of Magdeburg characterizes her revelations not as visions but as greetings, a term she uses to encompass gestures, verbal exchanges, and experiences perceived through multiple senses. Mechthild’s mysticism is thus best understood as a series of scenarios, the embodied nature of which cannot be fully contained by text. Using a performance studies approach, this paper identifies the traces of performance—textual prompts inextricable from their (explicit or implied, real or imagined) completion in physical and vocal acts—that can be found throughout Mechthild’s Flowing Light of the Godhead. How does Mechthild’s use of performance repertoires convey the mystical …

Tiny Homes As A Method To Increase Equitable Housing: Tiny Homes Detroit And Kalamazoo, Katie Kozlowski

Honors Theses

This thesis assesses the relative merits of housing programs such as Tiny Homes Detroit for other places where equitable and affordable housing is in short supply such as Kalamazoo, MI. For context, prior to information on Tiny Homes, and Tiny Homes in Detroit, information about the forces that shaped the contemporary housing crisis in both Detroit and Kalamazoo are provided. Topics in these preliminary sections include information on Redlining, Subprime Mortgages, Equitable Development, and Gentrification. For a variety of factors summarized in the thesis, Tiny Home Communities are a possible solution that, on a micro scale, can provide the most …

Faculty Retirement Dinner 2020, Western Michigan University

Faculty Recognition

Faculty Retirement Recognition Dinner

May 2020

Honored Guests:

• Dr. Sisay Asefa
• Dr. William J. Charland
• Ms. E. Bryce Dickey
• Dr. Alyce M. Dickinson
• Dr. Howard J. Dooley
• Ms. Janette Gabel-Goes
• Mr. Edward L. Harkness
• Ms. Tricia Hennessy
• Mrs. Kathryn L. Hillenbrand
• Dr. Alan J. Hovestadt
• Dr. Mitch A. Kachun
• Dr. Pairin Katerattanakul
• Dr. James A. Leja
• Dr. Gary R. Matthews
• Dr. Yirong Mo
• Dr. James M. Murray
• Dr. Dennis. D. Pence
• Ms. Maria A. Perez-Stable
• Dr. Mary E. Peterson
• Dr. Lewis R. Pyenson
• Ms. Judity A. Rypma
• Dr. Robert A. Wertkin
• Ms. Jo Wiley
• Mr. Bradley Wong
• Dr. Jay A. …

Her Father's Daughter: Gender, Power, And Religion In The Early Spanish Kingdoms, Jessica A. Boon

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

Perspectives Of Health Care Providers In The Dominican Republic Towards Pregnant Haitian Women, Diana Hernandez

Honors Theses

Due to the lack of basic health care in Haiti, many Haitian women cross the border looking for a better public health service in the Dominican Republic. However, differences in cultural and medical practices exist between both countries. Thus, for my thesis, I intend to study and explain the challenges that Dominican health care providers feel might impede their abilities to provide adequate health care to pregnant Haitian patients and how they respond to and manage those challenges that they face.

The Rhetorical Functions Of Levantine Burial Practices During The Chalcolithic Period: Form, Function, And Symbolism As A Pedagogical Tool, Moline Mallamo

Honors Theses

This undergraduate honors thesis project explores the rhetorical implications of burial practices from the southern Levant during the Chalcolithic period. The purpose of this thesis is to expound upon research that has already been conducted in order to offer additional, and sometimes alternative, theories to what currently exists in the literature. I argue that the forms and functions of the burial techniques were used, at least partially, as “tools” to teach cultural and religious beliefs regarding life, death, and the afterlife to the individuals in the community. The inferred relationship between the materiality and symbology of these burial practices provides …

A Comparison Of Traditional Methods Of Osteological Cutmark Analysis Versus The Implementation Of New-Age Technology In The Field Of Anthropology, Kayla Genord

Honors Theses

Bone cutmark analysis is a practice that has been performed by forensic researchers and medical examiners around the world. The traditional method of gathering information for this type of analysis is to draw a detailed picture or take a photo of the bone which can be analyzed for pattern, coloration and orientation of each individual lesion and then the mark itself is measured with non-digital Vernier (hand) calipers or a ruler. In recent years, forensic anthropologists have been using DSLR cameras and digital calipers to record these findings as well as detailed field notes to determine the condition and tool …

Understanding Stem Instructors’ Experiences With And Perceptions Of Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Students: The First Step Towards Increasing Access And Inclusivity, Makayla Long

Honors Theses

Through an anonymous survey we analyzed Western Michigan University (WMU) STEM instructors’ experience with and understanding of teaching and interacting with Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) students. The goal of this study was to capture the experiences of WMU STEM instructors and the resources available to them given their direct impact on Deaf/HoH students’ ability to succeed and receive a post-secondary education. The findings of this study support the claim that instructors are not well supported or aware of the needs of Deaf/HoH students, and do not have access to adequate resources to resolve the issue.

The first steps …

Testing A New Photovoice Model: A Meta-Analysis On Participatory Action Research Methodologies In Geographical Research, Nolan Bergstrom

Masters Theses

Photovoice was developed in the early 1990s for use in public health studies evolving from participatory action research (PAR) and photographic methods. It attempts to mitigate the power dynamics between researcher and researched by allowing participants to be the primary knowledge producers. The Photovoice methodology has left open methodological avenues to implement Photovoice as a research tool in many fields. This research aimed to modify the Photovoice methodology to include mobile technology, social media to create a new model of Photovoice.

This research was conducted in K.I. Sawyer, MI, a small town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan over a …