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Honors Theses

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Competition Or Community? Manifest And Unexpressed Functions Of The No Child Left Behind Act Of 2001, Sara Benjamin Jan 2008

Competition Or Community? Manifest And Unexpressed Functions Of The No Child Left Behind Act Of 2001, Sara Benjamin

Honors Theses

Any contemporary discussion of the American education system inevitably includes a discussion of current federal policy as set out in The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). Signed into law on January 8, 2002, NCLB has sparked tremendous controversy in the field of education. Although the title would suggest otherwise, NCLB does not aim to make sure no child is left behind. Instead, one might argue that it aims to provide quantifiable measures of comparison so as to allow the U.S. to assert educational and economic dominance in the global community. Thus, we can see a distinction between …


Carbon Neutrality At Colby College, Jamie K. O’Connell Jan 2008

Carbon Neutrality At Colby College, Jamie K. O’Connell

Honors Theses

Carbon neutral is a term used to describe any organization, entity, or process that has a net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions level of zero (Dautremont-Smith et al. 2007a). Since carbon neutrality only requires a net greenhouse gas emissions level of zero, organizations do not need to eliminate all carbon pollution to become carbon neutral. Net emissions differ from gross emissions in that gross emissions are the sum of all emissions released by the individual or entity, whereas net emissions are equivalent to the gross emissions minus any carbon offsets. A carbon offset is any activity that reduces carbon emissions so …


In The Absence Of Family: How Ideas Of The Substitute Family In Honduran Children's Homes Shape Perception Of The Needs Of At-Risk Youth, Stephanie Bowman Jan 2008

In The Absence Of Family: How Ideas Of The Substitute Family In Honduran Children's Homes Shape Perception Of The Needs Of At-Risk Youth, Stephanie Bowman

Honors Theses

Through an interdisciplinary analysis of children’s homes in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, this project reflects on how conceptions of family affect the prioritization of the needs of the homes’ beneficiaries. One consequence of the impoverished nature of Honduras are orphaned, abandoned, mistreated, malnourished, abused, neglected and disowned children who have come to live in group children’s homes that, for the most part, meet their short-term physical needs. But what about children’s developmental, social and educational needs? In this study, we analyze what needs homes meet according to the kind of familial substitute they provide as either a group home or …


Language Of Sex: Moral Socialization And Reproductive Education In Public Schools, Melyn Heckelman Jan 2008

Language Of Sex: Moral Socialization And Reproductive Education In Public Schools, Melyn Heckelman

Honors Theses

This thesis is the product of my five weeks of ethnography in three classrooms in Waterville, Maine and the surrounding area, in addition to individual and group interviews with both students and the educators themselves. It seeks to understand why, in a culture so saturated with images of sexuality and naked bodies, the teachers I observed were largely unwilling or unable to discuss human sexuality in public schools as anything more than a public health issue. Since the 1960s sex educators have been fighting to teach about contraceptives. Recent longitudinal studies have confirmed what proponents of comprehensive education have been …


Crisis Rhetoric : A Theory Of Communication In Times Of Crisis, Eric D. Loepp Jan 2008

Crisis Rhetoric : A Theory Of Communication In Times Of Crisis, Eric D. Loepp

Honors Theses

We conducted an experiment to assess the effect of presidential rhetoric in a time of crisis. Our study was based in part on terror management theory, which posits that subtle reminders of death (mortality salience) lead to increased support of leaders an authority figures. Subjects were randomly placed in either a mortality salient condition or control condition. We also composed two speeches - one charismatic and one non-charismatic - and subjects were randomly assigned to hear one of the two. Based on elements of terror management theory, we hypothesized that in a time of crisis the charismatic speech would be …


Modulation Of Fast-Inactivating Potassium Channels By Accessory Subunits And Fatty Acids : A Role For Calcium?, Michelle M. Drzewiecki Jan 2008

Modulation Of Fast-Inactivating Potassium Channels By Accessory Subunits And Fatty Acids : A Role For Calcium?, Michelle M. Drzewiecki

Honors Theses

Potassium channel interacting proteins (KChIPs) co-assemble with Kv4 a subunits to form native complexes that encode considerable components of neuronal somatodendritic A- type K+current (Is,J in neurons, and transient outward current (ho) in cardiac myocytes. The binding of KChIPs to the cytoplasmic N-termini of Kv4 a subunits enhances surface expression by facilitating intracellular trafficking, stimulates subunit assembly, and regulates the functional gating properties of Kv4 channels. KChIPs, like many other neuronal calcium sensor proteins, contain four EF-hand calcium binding sites; two of which (EF-3 and 4) have particularly high affinity for calcium. Because Ca2+ is an important signaling molecule for …


Democracy In The Workplace : Leadership In Cooperative Business, Jordan Wade Jan 2008

Democracy In The Workplace : Leadership In Cooperative Business, Jordan Wade

Honors Theses

It is the intent of this thesis to explore alternatives to the current methods of corporate governance and to examine business models that apply democratic ideals in the economic sector. Specifically I address one normative and three empirical questions. First, why should democratic principles and ideals be a part of the economic sector? After addressing this normative question by presenting several theoretical responses, I address three practical questions related to worker-participation: Is it possible for democratic and alternative businesses to function successfully in the capitalist market? What would a democratically organized firm look like to the common laborer? What type …


Fostering Leaders For Social Justice : Ally Identity Development And Efficacy, Allison M. Duval Jan 2008

Fostering Leaders For Social Justice : Ally Identity Development And Efficacy, Allison M. Duval

Honors Theses

The goal of this thesis is to develop a conceptual understanding of ally identity and effective and sustainable ally behaviors in order to analyze ally development at the University of Richmond and synthesize brief recommendations for practical applications for cultivating allies. This first chapter on "Enduring Inequality and the Need for Allies" defines allies, explores privilege and constructions of difference in terms of race and gender, exposes the reality of current injustices, and demonstrates the need for allies as leaders of dominant social groups to work alongside leaders of non-dominant social groups in effecting broad social change. The second chapter …


An Bhuil Gaeilge Agat?: Perspectives On The Irish Language In Ireland, Georgia Katherine Fyke Jan 2008

An Bhuil Gaeilge Agat?: Perspectives On The Irish Language In Ireland, Georgia Katherine Fyke

Honors Theses

The future of Irish as a living language is uncertain, and some fear it will vanish completely. In this paper I explore how the main language of Ireland shifted from Irish to English and discuss the perspectives of the Irish themselves toward the Irish language. Chapter 1 summarizes the history of the language from its introduction to the island by the earliest Celts to its current secondary role. Chapter 2 reviews the concepts of language death and revitalization both generally and as they apply to Irish, using models by David Crystal and Joshua Fishman. The final chapter is an analysis …


A Designer’S Portfolio, Hallie Landon Marshall Jan 2008

A Designer’S Portfolio, Hallie Landon Marshall

Honors Theses

The professional graphic design portfolio is a window into the graphic designer’s soul: reflecting both the personal style of the artist and the artist’s ability to adapt their skill and creativity to the needs of a particular project. The designer’s portfolio is also his introduction to the interview and career processes. This portfolio was created to reflect the designer’s lifelong interest in publications and to become the first step in a graphic design career. The project included development of the design pieces; printing and mounting the portfolio; and creating a digital portfolio by designing a website in Adobe Flash. The …


An Analysis Of Networking Between Top Executives Of Companies Suspected Of Backdating Stock Options, Rebecca Kin-Ming Lo Jan 2008

An Analysis Of Networking Between Top Executives Of Companies Suspected Of Backdating Stock Options, Rebecca Kin-Ming Lo

Honors Theses

"More than 100 companies are under investigation for options backdating... If options backdating problems are found at more companies, Congress may be driven to act. ” - Brian Cleaiy (Cleary 2007). The purpose of this thesis is to analyze how the practice of backdating employee stock options has become so widely used. The first hypothesis for this research is that networking between executives and board members of corporations has caused the idea of backdating employee stock options to spread. The second hypothesis is that particular auditing firms are more likely than others to audit corporations accused of backdating employee stock …


An Investigation Into Developing A Business Plan For A Television Pilot, As Well As, An Examination Of Consumer Perception Toward Interactive Television And The Pilot, Celeste Elizabeth Mckeon Jan 2008

An Investigation Into Developing A Business Plan For A Television Pilot, As Well As, An Examination Of Consumer Perception Toward Interactive Television And The Pilot, Celeste Elizabeth Mckeon

Honors Theses

\\ riling a business plan tor a television pilot can be a daunting task. It can be especially so in today s world, where there are many options for entertainment. To be succcsstul. a program must appeal to advertiser, consumer, and most importantly imestors, or the netw ork. The technology of today allows options for television cxecuti\ cs that were ne\er a\ ailable to earlier generations. Real Life hieiion is an hour long, prime-time, dramedy*, that will utilizes interactive technology in its implementation. The show will look at what motivates people to build relationships with others, as well as, how …


Characterization Of The Lipopolysaccharide Binding Site On The Plasma Protein High Molecular Weight Kininogen, Ryan Cory Perkins Jan 2008

Characterization Of The Lipopolysaccharide Binding Site On The Plasma Protein High Molecular Weight Kininogen, Ryan Cory Perkins

Honors Theses

Bradykinin (BK) participates in the control of local blood flow and blood pressure by causing vascular hyperemia and vascular inflammation. The Bradykinin generating pathway of human plasma consists of prolylcarboxypeptidase (PRCP), prekallikrein (PK), and high molecular weight kininogen (HK). When the complex of HK-PK assembles on endothelial cells or an artificial negatively charged surface, PK is immediately converted to kallikrein by the enzyme PRCP. The formed kallikrein then autodigests HK to liberate BK. The BK that is formed then plays an important role in vascular permeability by stimulating constitutive Bradykinin B2 and inducible B1 receptors to release prostacyclin and nitric …


Graphic Design Work For The Band Riverleft, Benjamin William Deneka Jan 2008

Graphic Design Work For The Band Riverleft, Benjamin William Deneka

Honors Theses

The purpose of my thesis was to create merchandising and promotional artwork for the Oxford, Mississippi-based band RiverLeft and their album “Stranger Things.” I used the design software Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop to create album artwork, posters, and other illustrations to be implemented onto promotional materials. By tying all of the artwork together around a central theme, I created an identity for the band’s marketing and advertisement around the south and beyond. 1


The Evolution Of Sexuality In Vampire Novels, Elizabeth Lauren Butler Jan 2008

The Evolution Of Sexuality In Vampire Novels, Elizabeth Lauren Butler

Honors Theses

Sexuality is a common theme in vampire novels, especially in those intended for adults. The first vampire novels appeared in the 19^ century, and I was curious to know the sexual themes have changed as society has changed. The book industry has been inundated with vampire novels in the last fifteen years, so I read early vampire novels and short stories, vampire novels from the 1970s, and modem vampire novels to analyze how sexuality is dealt with in each. I also read scholarly journals dealing wdth sexuality in vampire novels. Vampirism as a metaphor for sexuality has evolved along with …


Finding Space For Autonomy: Chiapas, The Ezln, And The Dynamics Of The Indigenous Communities, Thomas Joseph Koger Jan 2008

Finding Space For Autonomy: Chiapas, The Ezln, And The Dynamics Of The Indigenous Communities, Thomas Joseph Koger

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


Historical Memory And Muslim Identity In Andalusia, Sarah Lynn Karp Jan 2008

Historical Memory And Muslim Identity In Andalusia, Sarah Lynn Karp

Honors Theses

This paper concerns the negotiation of the medieval history of Islamic Spain for the purposes of identity creation and Muslim minority integration in Andalucia. The argument challenges essentialist hypotheses positing that history is absolute and demonstrates ‘innate’ characteristics of a culture. It provides an example of a contested national past which involves both periods of conflict and periods of peaceful coexistence. Many of the sources used are original language media sources, including newspaper articles, organization websites, and government documents. Interviews, data, and analysis gathered by Gema Martm-Muhoz, Gunther Dietz, Bebee Bahrami, and Nadia el- Shohoumi are used in conjunction with …


The Perils Of Privatizing Water: The Case Of Buenos Aires In Comparative Perspective, Joshua Lee Norris Jan 2008

The Perils Of Privatizing Water: The Case Of Buenos Aires In Comparative Perspective, Joshua Lee Norris

Honors Theses

In 1993, the water providing service of Buenos Aires was privatized in order to increase the number of constituents with water access and improve water quality. The government also needed an infusion of cash to pay off foreign debt and support a new monetary policy pegged to the dollar. Given these two situations, privatization seemed to provide the most logical answer to each of these problems. However, after ten years of water rate increases that prohibited many citizens fi*om receiving water access, the state renationalized water service in Buenos Aires, Although privatization is generally accepted as the most efficient means …


At The Roots Of Faith: A Comparative Analysis Of The History And Appeal Of Buddhism And Christianity In Comtemporary China, Megan Christine Rogers Jan 2008

At The Roots Of Faith: A Comparative Analysis Of The History And Appeal Of Buddhism And Christianity In Comtemporary China, Megan Christine Rogers

Honors Theses

In the late 1970s, China emerged from its Cultural Revolution as a society ostensibly free from religion. In the subsequent years, however, religious belief has grown at an astounding rate, so much so that by the year 2005, around 31.4% of Chinese adults identified themselves as religious. Given the size of China’s population, this percentage translates to over three hundred million believers. Perhaps most remarkably, not only traditional religions such as Buddhism but foreign ones—Protestantism in particular—have reflected this increase. Such rapid growth has often astonished observers and left them struggling to explain the phenomenon: in a largely secular society …


Short Stories, Russell Joseph Rutherford Jan 2008

Short Stories, Russell Joseph Rutherford

Honors Theses

These stories are all too delineated the voice from story to story. I tried to written during a frustrating, disappointing period of my life when I was afraid I’d died unwittingly and was in purgatory until I remembered I’m Baptist and I don’t believe in It seemed like everyone I knew was spending half the time watching the same in them. I used to have this that mess. television and the other half pretending to be larger audience, and I thought my subject matter might be could latch onto. Now I don’t know—I haven’t seen a Real programs on stupid …


Western Michigan University And The Community: A Collaboration, Ashley K. Owen Jan 2008

Western Michigan University And The Community: A Collaboration, Ashley K. Owen

Honors Theses

An Activity on Increasing Collaboration Within and Between Groups Through the Use of Weak Ties


Nasser And Qutb: The Lives And Legacies Of Two Controversial Egyptians, Rachel Leonard Jan 2008

Nasser And Qutb: The Lives And Legacies Of Two Controversial Egyptians, Rachel Leonard

Honors Theses

The problems of the Middle East are complex, in-depth issues that cannot be solved easily. The matters of oil, Islam and very limited participation of the people In government mix to create problems that defy solutions from those within or outside the region. Historians and political scientists have come to examine these issues more closely, especially because of the serious political, religious and military conflicts centered in the area. There has been an upsurge in political Islamist movements, radical, fundamental and otherwise, that tend to frighten policy makers in the West. These movements arose alongside and often in opposition to …


The Expression And Characterization Of Full-Length Prcp In Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells, Mubina Aziz Isani Jan 2008

The Expression And Characterization Of Full-Length Prcp In Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells, Mubina Aziz Isani

Honors Theses

Prolylcarboxypeptidase (PRCP) is involved in the conversion of angiotensin II (Ang II, a potent vasoconstrictor) to angiotensin 1-7 and conversion of bradykinin (BK, a vasodilator) to form des Arg9 bradykinin. PRCP converts plasma prekallikrein (PK) to plasma kallikrein when the high molecular weight kininogen (HK) combines with PK, forming the HK-PK complex that binds to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) membranes. Formed kallikrein then liberates BK jfrom HK, which leads to vasodilation. This physiological function is mediated by the BK type 2 receptor in the G protein-coupled receptor family. The balance between BK production and Ang II inactivation is …


Storytellers: Stories Within Songs, Carly Amber Phillips Jan 2008

Storytellers: Stories Within Songs, Carly Amber Phillips

Honors Theses

Stories are an important aspect of all cultures, v^^ether modem or ancient. History is passed on through stories, and lessons are learned. Some allow us to explore new dimensions beyond the scope of our own experiences, while others emphasize aspects of our life. Stories can take on a non-traditional format, such as the lyrics of songs. Few genres of music have been able to tell stories as genuine and sincere as those of classical country musicians. This genre of music is important because many of its artists tell stories that parallel the life and history of my family. On a …


Concert Promotion In A College Community: A Guide For The Hopeful Concert Promoter, Lori Ann Simpson Jan 2008

Concert Promotion In A College Community: A Guide For The Hopeful Concert Promoter, Lori Ann Simpson

Honors Theses

This thesis was comprised of research in action in an attempt to plan and promote a concert in a college community. Research began in the summer of 2007 with an internship with Live Nation, the world’s largest concert promoter. After spending three months working in the live music industry, I decided to put that knowledge into practice by organizing an awareness concert for Mississippi Blood Services in Oxford, Mississippi. I spent much time planning this concert, first as a large outdoor event, and after it became evident that would not be possible, a smaller, local event at an Oxford venue. …


The Magnitude Of Repression By Cro Protein In The Presence Of Lambda Operator Variants, Shabnam Sarker Jan 2008

The Magnitude Of Repression By Cro Protein In The Presence Of Lambda Operator Variants, Shabnam Sarker

Honors Theses

Synthetic genetic circuits were constructed to observe the dynamics of repression by the Cro and scCro repressors. Each circuit contained at least one repressor and a reporter gene. Cro repressor is one of two opposite repressors. This artificial switch also had a single-chain cro (scCro) protein that would not have to dimerize like Cro to be fimctional. Such repressors bind operator sites to prevent fiirther transcription fi-om the promoters. The Lac Repressor (LacR) was used to prevent transcription firom Pr. The inducer EPTG was used to remove the Lac Repressor. A reporter gene LacZ is transcribed from Pr. The protein …


Going Places: The Shift Of The Textile Industry To China, Vaughan Abbay Leatherman Jan 2008

Going Places: The Shift Of The Textile Industry To China, Vaughan Abbay Leatherman

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


Behind The Plexi-Glass Partitions: An Intern's View Of American Museums, Brittany L. Miller Nov 2007

Behind The Plexi-Glass Partitions: An Intern's View Of American Museums, Brittany L. Miller

Honors Theses

Describes the author's experiences as an intern in museums. She notes the lack of cohesion between the roles of museums as organizations and as interpreters of history.


Immunological Effects Of Written Disclosure In Athletes, Kristen Thatcher May 2007

Immunological Effects Of Written Disclosure In Athletes, Kristen Thatcher

Honors Theses

Many studies have demonstrated the health benefits of written disclosure of traumatic or stressful events. These benefits include improved psychological well-being, fewer health clinic visits, shorter hospital stays after surgery, and increased immune function. In athletes, high immune function is necessary to ward off illness during training and competition, but much research has shown that athletes tend to have lowered immune function. Therefore, writing about traumatic events may be a way for athletes to remain healthy during their seasons. To test this hypothesis, 21 varsity athletes and 15 individuals who exercised less than three hours per week participated in the …


Why Most Mergers Fail: An Emphasis On The Human Factors, Kimberly Defouw Apr 2007

Why Most Mergers Fail: An Emphasis On The Human Factors, Kimberly Defouw

Honors Theses

Recent studies have shown that 60-80% of all mergers are failures when measured by their ability to outperform the stock market or to deliver profit increases. Mergers must create value and grow the business to have true success. Often mergers fail due to financial and market factors, such as a poor economy, market entry timing, unrealized synergies, or a saturated market. It is easy to overlook the human factors, the characteristics of people that need to be considered when implementing mergers in order for people to interact effectively. While a CEO may be the first to say that people are …