Digital Commons Network^™

Music As A Cultural Context For Change : A Study Of Rock Music Of The 1950s And 60s, Sarah Toraason

Honors Theses

Art is important because it sensitizes people and makes them aware of important issues and events. '[M]usic can reveal the nature of feelings with a detail and truth that language cannot approach." (Pielke 1986) It has the capacity to reach a huge audience. It is a "language understood by all without instruction ... Music is a way of holding off time, making the present fill all space. It joins us with others yet defends our privacy. It lifts the spirit, assuages grief, and sometimes teaches as well. Above all, music creates values, along with a social structure that nurtures, defends, …

Student Change Leadership, A Renewal Process For Organizations : A Case Study Of The 1995 Panhellenic Rush Revision, Melanie Sandukas

Honors Theses

Greek organizations experienced a national revival in the late eighties. According to Mrs. Scott's figures, rush participation increased on sixty percent of campuses in 1995. However, in these times of negative publicity and litigation, nervous university administrators question the merit of the Greek system. In "The Survival of Greek Life: Concerns and Solutions" Robert Ackerman states, "The fact that change is necessary suggests that some fraternities and sororities are falling short of the ideals upon which they were founded." He observes, "Change, when it does occur, all too often appears to result from an attempt to avoid problems or from …

Student Development In Residence Life Systems: A Framework For Understanding Intentional Education/Outputs, Jason Jacoby

Honors Theses

The residence life strategic planning committee consists of the staff of the Richmond College Dean's Office. They are primarily Area Coordinators and are headed by the Assistant Dean of Richmond College. I am the only student on this committee and am using this opportunity to participate in their activity of creating a strategic plan to be implemented in next year's residence life activities. The plan must work within the parameters of the University's strategic plan, Engagement in Learning. This committee divided the process into four areas: Intentional Education/Outputs, Staff Support and Development, Students and Their Community, Publicity/Awareness. Each of these …

Women's Rights In China : A Paradigm Shift In Progress, Jennifer Hoag

Honors Theses

Chinese women have been historically oppressed. Female children have been killed. Women's feet have been bound. They have denied access to education. Female oppression is part of Chinese tradition which is the most powerful influence in China. Economic independence and increased education have lead women to mobilize. This paper asserts that this mobilization has created a feminist movement which in turn is causing a paradigm shift in the way Chinese view women.

Great change has taken place in China in the last century. The image of women has changed from that of a commodity that is not to be seen …

Academic Versus Popular Press Perspectives In Sport Leadership : A Comparative Analysis, Frank Spina

Honors Theses

Athletic competition has been an increasingly integral part of society for the better part of three millennia. Beginning with the dawn of the ancient Olympics, sports have remained a highly valued component of all cultures in forms as different as the Medieval Tournament and the World Series. The role such competition plays has also taken on varying forms including sanctioned violence, alternative entertainment, spectatorism, and exercise, and has ultimately evolved into the current status of sports as a multi-billion dollar industry. Surely this popularity of professional competition is indicative of the powerful impact of sports on modem life: "few phenomena …

A Development Model For The Human Resources Department Of The Reynolds Metals Company, Elizabeth A. Crowe

Honors Theses

The benefits of having done this type of action/research/process-oriented project are two-fold. First, there is the situational knowledge that we have gained from incorporating an internship into our project; second is the actual product (the development tool) which will actually be used by Human Resources employees at the Reynolds Metals Company. These results reflect exactly the type of experience that we had hoped to have.

The incorporation of an experiential aspect is something that we both sought out in coordinating our senior project. Our enormous personal growth can be measured by comparing our initial confusion and bewilderment with our current …

Eleanor And Hillary : First Lady Leadership In The Contexts Of History And Contemporary Culture, Beth Allen

Honors Theses

The work of this paper is important to leadership studies for two reasons. First of all, such examination furthers the exploration of first lady leadership and interprets the lives and works of ER and HRC in a new way. Also, this paper will help test the validity of a new model of contingency theory. Wren and Swatez explain that leadership studies needs such a model, one "that identifies and affirms the various levels of historical and cultural forces that act upon the leadership process" (247).

Contingency theories of leadership examine the relationship between leaders, followers, and the situation, and often …

Leadership Training & Development In Secondary Schools, Vanessa M. Hesling

Honors Theses

After visiting several schools, talking to teachers and administrators, and actually presenting leadership workshops to youth, we have recognized the need to promote leadership education. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to develop ways advocating leadership education in high schools, through such means as conferences, camps, school in-service programs, and leadership texts. We have developed various programs focusing on many aspects of leadership, including motivation, conflict resolution, communication, ethics, decision making, vision, service, and group dynamics. We strongly believe that the merits of our programs, coupled with our theoretical background, will profoundly impact students' lives. Leadership is not a …

Disaproving The Military As An Effective Paradigm Of Leadership: A Critical Analysis, Alison M. Sestina

Honors Theses

In the study of leadership, there are many existing paradigms which address the different contexts and abilities of leadership. The example of the military is often used as a leadership paradigm; however, while the organization and internal development included in the military can be respected as an effective machine, in reality, the military cannot be considered an effective leadership paradigm.

Integrating Art Education And Art Therapy In The Public Schools, Victoria Therese Stout

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Transitions In Masculinity And Hemingway's Developed "Code", Daniel Polk

Honors Theses

The "Hemingway Code" is much more than two words that fit nicely together for a scholar's usage; the words signify a much deeper championing of masculinity, almost a haunting presence. For Ernest Hemingway living life every day, every moment with its fullest masculine fervor, became an obsession, a never-ending quest to be at one with the attitude of never complaining, never crying out, panicking, thinking too much, or regretting. To live a manly life in a series of tactical victories, performed with steadfast ritualistic mannerisms, is to embody masculinity, and therefore the "Hemingway Code."

Secessionist Movements: An Analytical Framework, Panagiotis Pantazopolous

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Can The National Endowment For The Arts Survive?, Dominic Melone

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Pistol Packing Passerby: A Description And Comparison Of Justifiable Homocides In Los Angeles County, Aimee Nagles

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of The Effects Of Worker Promptness On Worker Productivity, Sara C. Kulier

Honors Theses

Supervisor's perceptions about the productivity of prompt workers were assessed. A total of thirty-six subjects participated in the study by completing a Likert scale and short-answer survey. Results indicated that supervisors perceived prompt workers to be more conscientious, responsible, and productive. Several implications for management decisions and further research were discussed.

Paideia In Chattanooga: A Case Study, Carmen Jenkins

Honors Theses

This research investigated the educational reform effort based on Mortimer Adler's Paideia Proposal (Adler, 1982) as implemented in two Chattanooga City Public Schools, Chattanooga school for the Arts and Sciences (CSAS) and Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts (CSLA). Extensive research of local newspaper files to gather historical data concerning the proposal's implementation, ethnographic interviews with community leaders and educators involved in the reform process, and an evaluation of the model were included in the study. Qualitative data to date indicated that reform efforts at CSAS, the pilot school for the Paideia project, and CSLA, the sister school, have been …

The Political Views And Parliamentary Career Of John Selden, J.T. Price

Honors Theses

John Selden rose from a relatively obscure background to become an internationally renowned legal scholar and a key parliamentary leader during the contentious Parliament of 1628-1629. Selden's father was a "ministrell," yet the younger Selden became one of the most respected thinkers in London while still fairly young, and would eventually take a leading role in Parliament. Selden's brilliant mind, personality, and actions as an "honest broker" in his turbulent times made him a man who all sides could respect and who could stay afloat and prosper in the shifting political sands of Seventeenth Century England.

John Selden was the …

Political Leadership: A Study In The State Government, Chet Clark

Honors Theses

For this study, a member of the House of Delegates, who has been designated as a leader by his peers, has been selected for analysis. Delegate William Howell agreed to be observed during the legislative session of the House of Delegates. Three specific areas of leadership were observed during this time period. The decision making process, leader-constituent interaction, and the influence of values on leadership have been chosen as the three key areas of political leadership study.

Leading Change In The Healthcare Industry : Sentara Health Systems, Norfolk, Virginia, Heather S. Heitz

Honors Theses

After going through the steps of implementing a change in Sentara Health Systems, I learned that using my visionary and participatory leadership skills contributed to my success in leading a change in the organization. First, I used my visionary leadership skills to encourage each individual to envision processes, to support each other, and to use resources which would motivate the group to do something that they wanted to do. Also, I used a participatory leadership to ensure that the subordinates were involved in the group's goals throughout the change process. By empowering people to have responsibility when changes are made …

Diners In America : An Evolutionary Process, Jill Gardner

Honors Theses

A diner is now, as it has always been, a restful spot. It is a restful spot that is currently branching out into chains to capitalize on this same sentiment all over the nation. It focuses on the caricature like qualities that people recognize in a diner. People are willing to pay a little more, not much more, but a little more, to get away from McDonald's. These restaurants have been built with old memories but with new conveniences and some new menus. Finally, with health food on the march, I have to ask--where else can you eat a big …

The Entrepreneurial Leadership Puzzle : The Pieces You Need To Start A Business, Charles S. Ribaudo

Honors Theses

While having effective followers is critical, the leadership attributes of the entrepreneur is just as important. Gardner and several other leadership scholars have done significant research on the attributes of leaders. The entrepreneur is just one of many leaders that possess the necessary leadership attributes for success. Starting a company requires such a tremendous time commitment that the leaders within it must be able to handle the stress and ambiguity that goes along with it. This takes leadership to handle this ambiguity of whether they wilt meet the next paycheck. Employees, investors and customers will be looking to them to …

Does Gender Influence Leadership?, Stacy L. Jones

Honors Theses

The question of gender's influence on leadership styles is an important topic in the modern organizational world. The face of the organization is changing, with new demands being made of management. Organizations no longer depend on rigid hierarchies to achieve their goals, but rather these organizations seek innovation and communication. To achieve these new objectives, organizations are searching for leadership from their executives, managers, and employees.

It is of primary importance to determine whether men and women demonstrate the same leadership behaviors or demonstrate significantly different styles of leadership. This knowledge may substantially aid an organization in utilizing the most …

The Multiple Sclerosis Society : One Thing People With Ms Can Count On, Chris O'Neil

Honors Theses

In my study of the Central Virginia Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, I have chosen not to focus on the departure of the Executive Director, Jacqui Kozsuch, who is leaving for personal reasons. I have instead focused on the issues that are going to be relevant and important for the growth of the chapter in the future, such as the board involvement, fund.raising strategies and meeting the needs of the clients.

Based on my research and observation, I think that the chapter has made a turn for the better and has the groundwork laid for future success. All …

A Study Of Leadership Through The Field Of Events Planning, Meredith Bishop

Honors Theses

During the past fouryearsit seems as if I have always been in charge of something, and looking back that "thing" has always been an event. Whether it was Freshman Tree Planting Ceremony, Junior Ring Dance, or Sorority Rush the events have been a culmination of my creativity, organization, and leadership abilities. It is not everyone who wantsto,orwould be able to plan an event for a client (or even their friends) and be proud of the end results. It is stressful,time consuming, and done for other people. It is a test of leadership in a traditional way through personal and interpersonal …

Making Richmond Greater : A Study Of The Greater Richmond Community Corps, Elizabeth A. Devoss

Honors Theses

The impetus or need for a study of the evolution of a group like the Greater Richmond Community Corps relates to the need for community leadership throughout the country. Many urban areas are facing the same crisis-like problems as Richmond. As a result, this study could provide them with a model in addressing these problems and an in-depth look at Richmond's response.

Virginia Commonwealth University's Plan For A Diverse Community, Matthew T. Corkern

Honors Theses

Having always been intrigued by academic administration, it is only appropriate that I chose to study leadership perspectives within this traditional, yet ever changing context. Desiring the challenge of intellectual development as well as an opportunity to bring an effective change, I researched and assembled a pilot project. With use of this procedure, the Office of Academic Planning at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), may now analyze the implementation of various directions and components of their Strategic Plan over the next months for the September 1995 deadline.

The Grotian Quest Revisited, Jeffrey Waggett

Honors Theses

In 1625, more than twenty years prior to the ending of the Thirty Years War with the Treaty of Westphalia, Hugo Grotius wrote De Jure Belli-ac Pacis, outlining his solutions for a troubled world. While the details and particularities of his ideas may not be compatible with today's unsettled and transitory world, what he strove and quested for is as applicable today as it was at the beginning of the modem state system. At the time of Grotius, feudalism was being replaced by statist concerns, centering around territory and a dual centralization of domestic authority and military power. The transitory …

Personal Leadership : A Course Proposal For The Jepson School Curriculum, Carrie S. Smith

Honors Theses

One growth area within the field of leadership studies is the concept of personal leadership. Personal leadership encourages identifying and living by one's own core values. It incorporates defining and adhering to a personal mission statement and vision. Teaching personal leadership means identifying specific practices, exercises, disciplines and habits that aid the individual in learning to lead a principle-centered life. Since the material is translatable into all realms of a leaders life, teaching personal leadership methods to Jepson students will aid them in gaining a better understanding of themselves and will prove to be a practical preparatory course for leadership …

Art And Leadership, Bridgett Miller

Honors Theses

Art and leadership. Are there any connections? There has been very little research done on the relationship between art and leadership. However, it is about time that we become reflective practitioners and examine the context of art as a manifestation of leadership. Art and leadership are similar and primarily united along the lines of their ability to transcend time and use of the right brain hemisphere.

It should now seem quite apparent how the arts and leadership are connected. Both are multi-faceted fields which lack universal definitions. They pose similar questions to the scholars and practitioners within their respective disciplines. …

A Cross Cultural Analysis Of Leadership : Operation Smile Philippines Medical Mission 1995, Elizabethharris F. Harris

Honors Theses

One can not examine leadership in isolate from the context in which it is occurring. National and international factors, as well as culture, are key in understanding leadership. Factors such as a history of political oppression impact how Americans are perceived, and considerations such as religious factors impact the workings of the team. An awareness of these factors is imperative to team leadership, as mistakes or insensitivity can be detrimental to team effectiveness and relations.

It seems that at this stage of the leadership evolution, there is really no international model which effectively accounts for the leadership within a cross-cultural …