Digital Commons Network^™

Parallels In Plight: Finding Commonalities In African American And Latino Experiences In Post-Katrina New Orleans, Caroline Elliott Gillespie

Honors Theses

Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast region on August 29, 2005 and caused extensive damage throughout the affected areas. In New Orleans, flooding due to levee breaches compounded the damage and created a need for a sizable labor force to clean up and rebuild the city. Non-local Latinos overwhelmingly responded to this call and began to arrive in New Orleans in the weeks after the storm. This influx sparked new tensions between New Orleans' traditional low-income African American community and the new group of low-income and often undocumented Latinos. Despite these tensions, both African Americans and Latinos faced considerable and …

Southern Baptists And Charismatics On Spiritual Warfare: The Ecumenical Implications, Sarah Parker Morris

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the topic of spiritual warfare and compares the views of Southern Baptist and Charismatic Christians. For this thesis, the definition of spiritual warfare I am using is a cosmic and metaphysical struggle between God and His adversaries. What similarities and differences are present on this topic have implications for the ecumenical movement. These two denominations have been chosen for study due to their different historical backgrounds. VvTiile the Southern Baptist Convention emerged in the Civil War South in White churches, the Charismatic/Pentecostal movement emerged amongst and was led by African Americans. The methodologies I implemented for my …

The Economic Impact Of Professional Sports Stadiums: Touchdown Or Timeout?, Alexander Parrish Tanner

Honors Theses

This study focuses on determining the economic impact of professional sports stadiums and teams on municipalities. To determine the impact, this study expanded and improved on the statistical model employed by Charles Santo in his 2005 study by including the National Basketball Association, increasing the period of study, and utilizing recent developments in statistical theory to provide a better statistical model. While this study found several individual instances of statistically significant positive relationships between the various professional sports teams and stadiums and local income, there were no notable overall trends found. From these results, this study concludes that while in …

Gender, Sexuality, And Music Education, Jordan Wesley Tippitt

Honors Theses

Abstract: This thesis was written to study how inequalities of gender and sexuality reveal themselves in music education. I wanted to study gender and sexuality as a social construct to better understand how these groups have an effect on the music education experience. I found that music education is lagging behind most other academic subjects in understanding gender/sexuality; furthermore, the discipline does not seem to be heading in the right direction. I found it tremendously difficult to find any queer theory literature based around music education. After my research I concluded that in its current state, music education is not …

The History And Consequences Of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act Of 2002, Gerald Waltman

Honors Theses

The purpose of this research and thesis is to explore the intended and unintended consequences of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Act arose from a series of financial scandals including those that happened at Enron and WorldCom. The Act is one of the most wide-sweeping pieces of financial legislation in the country’s history, and it has drastically changed the way that publicly traded companies and their auditors conduct their business. A significant challenge to the Act was heard by the United States Supreme Court, and the Court held a portion of the Act to be in violation of the …

Thematic Transformation In The Operas Of Francis Poulenc: Gender, Spiritual, And Psychological, Elizabeth Brooks Bruening

Honors Theses

Although Francis Poulenc is perhaps best known for his one hundred and fifty contributions to the genre of French art song, melodie, this study focuses on his mere three operatic compositions. This work illustrates and analyzes the theme of transformation within each of Francis Poulenc’s three operatic compositions: gender transformation of Les Mamelles des Tiresias (1944), spiritual transformation of Dialogues des Carmelites (1953), and psychological transformation of La Voix humaine (1959). Research was conducted through viewing each production and studying its musical score and libretto. Published works ranging from scholarly articles to Poulenc’s personal journal were consulted in order to …

Casinos In Mississippi: A State And Regional Analysis, Norma Katharine Butts

Honors Theses

The aim of this paper is to complete a case study of the casino industiy in Mississippi its three casino regions. Figures on visitation, employment, and population were taken from the U.S. Census, Federal Reserve, Mississippi Gaming Commission. American Gambling Association, and Mississippi Regional Economic Analysis Project. This paper aims to show how the casino industry in Mississippi has fared compared to other states, how its casino regions have developed, and how they var>'. The review of history, economic theory on casinos and tourism, and data shows how resort areas have the best chance for economic development, and one …

The Art Of Peking Opera: Chinese And European Operatic Traditions: Commonalities And Divergences, Portia Nicole Davis

Honors Theses

Peking opera is an art form that combines music, singing, dancing, acting, and acrobatics. The skill necessary for performance is shown through the vigorous training required of the actors that portray characters on stage. A study of Peking opera’s history allows a better understanding of the developments and changes that have occurred to make Peking opera what it is today. Peking opera’s costuming and makeup, stylized movements, and stage presence set it apart from other Chinese art forms and operas that one could see around the world today. One major development of Peking opera occurred during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76). …

Nuove Esplorazioni In Ognina, Sicily, Gabrielle Dianne Coggin

Honors Theses

My thesis was built around my excavations in Sicily during the summer of 2012. I researched a church on a small islet, and some of its findings over the years. Not only did I use my excavation notes, but I also used the notes from the earlier excavation of the same site in the 1960s. I needed expert advice on the building and the lamp that was found, so I contacted a Byzantine architecture specialist, and an ancient lamp specialist to obtain their opinions on the site. In order to understand the findings from 2012,1 researched the basic history of …

Liberal Policy And The Peasant Condition In Garibaldi's Sicily, 1860, Robert Liming Corban

Honors Theses

My thesis was built around my excavations in Sicily during the summer of 2012. I researched a church on a small islet, and some of its findings over the years. Not only did I use my excavation notes, but I also used the notes from the earlier excavation of the same site in the 1960s. I needed expert advice on the building and the lamp that was found, so I contacted a Byzantine architecture specialist, and an ancient lamp specialist to obtain their opinions on the site. In order to understand the findings from 2012,1 researched the basic history of …

The Pilgrimage Of Ibn Jubayr: A Microhistory Of Travel During The Late Twelfth Century, Trevor David Johnson

Honors Theses

This thesis focuses on The Travels of Ibn Jubayr. Ibn Jubayr was a Muslim pilgrim from medieval Spain who made a religious pilgrimage to Mecca between 1183 and 1185. Temporally this places him on the eve of the Third Crusade. Ibn Jubayr traveled throughout the Mediterranean world and the Arabian Peninsula. It is his travelogue that provides a template for understanding the conditions of travelling that Ibn Jubayr and his contemporaries would have faced. The primary research question of my study is: what did travel in the late twelfth century entail? The core of this thesis revolves around the aspects …

Millions Of Owners, Not Hundreds Of Millionaires: An Analysis Of The Middle Class As A Requisite Condition For Democracy In Contemporary Russia, Isaac Alan Lichlyter

Honors Theses

Building on Lipset's modernization theory, this thesis makes the argument that a robust, independent middle class is vital for the long term sustenance of liberal democracy in Russia. Following a discussion of scholarly literature on what constitutes democracy and the middle class, a historical analysis compares and contrasts the trajectories of the middle class and democracy in Russia from the late-Soviet Era to the present, This thesis draws on public opinion polling, media reports (both Russian and foreign), and scholarly works to perform a mixed qualitative and quantitative analysis to show that middle class Russians provide the most reliable base …

When Cultures Collide: A Comparative Study Of The Culinary Cultures Of Uruguay And The Lebanese Community In The Mississippi Delta, Claire Nicola Reid

Honors Theses

Every world culture defines itself differently through the application of similar qualifying processes. Gastronomy is an important one of these processes. This thesis aims to explain how food both aids in and exists as a reflection of cultural identity by asking these questions: What are the specifics of how gastronomical processes are applied in Uruguay and the Mississippi Delta? Do the two regions share similar cultural identification structures? If so, in what ways are they similar, and what do these similarities mean in the context of identity construction? In doing this, | aim to explain why culinary practices, more so …

Federal Farm Subsidies And Industrial Agriculture: A Case Study In Mississippi Agriculture And Policy Analysis, Travis Lenti Gray

Honors Theses

Over the last century, federal agricultural policy has shifted from supporting family farmers to protecting profits for a handful of the largest agricultural corporations and food producers. By guaranteeing a price-floor for commodity crops, farm subsidies encourage farmers to overproduce with no regard to traditional supply and demand economics. Under the current system, commodity crops are exceptionally cheap. The emphasis on quantity over quality has led to an array of negative externalities in this country, which include environmental, public health, and economic consequences.

This research attempts to determine the economic feasibility of farm subsidy reform by examining the impact of …

An Investigation Of The Green Grove Initiative, Haley Brooke Kesterson

Honors Theses

Game days, particularly football game days, at division one universities generate a great deal of waste. At the University of Mississippi, the amount of waste generated on home football game Saturdays has been increasing. Increasing recycling by spectators may decrease the amount of waste generated and reduce the negative environmental impact of game days. The purpose of this case study was to explore the development and evaluation of interventions that may be effective for increasing recycling behaviors. Various interventions were implemented at each game of the 2012 season. Recyclables were collected and waste was measured following each game. Games with …

The Effect Of The Female Athlete Triad On Performance: Both Physiologically And Psychologically, Constance Darlington

Honors Theses

The female athlete triad is a condition that is composed of an interaction of three separate disorders: low energy intake due to the presence of an eating disorder or disordered eating, menstrual dysfunction, such as, oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea, and osteoporosis. Separately, each disorder can affect performance; however, when the disorders are combined, the consequences are magnified. The female triad has a profound effect on an athlete's performance both physiologically and psychologically. The female athlete triad can affect any female athlete; however, it is more prevalent among the athletes that specialize in aesthetic sports or sports that emphasize leanness, for example, …

The Debate On Marine Mammals In Captivity, Lorna C. Scribner

Honors Theses

Are marine mammal species better off today because of captivity? Is captivity ethical and should it be continued? As this debate grows stronger, both of these sides of the argument offer substantial evidence in their favor. In this paper, I discuss data for both sides and evaluate the justifications of marine mammal captivity. Ideally, no matter the outcome, this research will educate the public on influential factors of wild and captive populations.

A Study Of The Relationship Between Student Attitudes Toward Reading And Achievement In Reading In Fifth-Grade Students, Christen Shelley

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between fifth grade student attitudes toward reading and student achievement in reading. The researcher hypothesized that from this study a correlation between student attitudes toward reading and student achievement in reading would be found.

Daring To Dream, Michelle Carreon

Honors Theses

Many people are unaware of the DREAM Act and its benefits; however, many scholars agree that the DREAM Act at the federal level is potentially beneficial to those undocumented students and to the United States. These scholars have researched the various benefits of the DREAM Act, such as an increase in human capital, increase in education revenue, and increase in taxable income. The DREAM Act can potentially give students the opportunity to obtain a higher education and ultimately a job and a better life. Most likely, ignorance of the DREAM Act has obscured the benefits it provides. People are more …

A Woman Is A Dish For The Gods': Shakespeare's Use Of Myth To Criticize Patriarchy, Marissa Polascak

Honors Theses

William Shakespeare's canon is famous throughout the world, studied by scholars as well as read by laymen for leisure. These scholars and laymen value Shakespeare's works for their content and form, at the same time that they criticize them for their flaws. On the surface, it is clear that Shakespeare touches on many issues in his poems and plays, such as love and war, but hidden underneath are messages that are ambiguous. These hidden messages are a product of censorship. During the Renaissance, Sir Francis Walsingham established the State apparatus which helped to protect society against counter-Reformation activists. This apparatus …

Emerging Media In 18th Century Literature: How Jane Austen Invented Facebook, Rebecca Shaver

Honors Theses

The focus on the downfalls and misunderstandings of the Austen anthology has allowed critics to ignore her incredible ability to scientifically dissect the intricate workings of social circles and networks comprised of psychologically accurate characters and interactions. For instance, her portrayals of gender roles (heterosocial/sexual and homosocial/sexual) within those circles were so apt that they often still true today. The transcendental human nature of individuals like Emma's Emma Woodhouse and Mansfield Park's Fanny Price causes us to question how Austen amplifies and enlightens our understanding of how modern social networks, like Facebook or Twitter, stem directly from historically complex affective …

Who's Allowed To Ride The Short Bus?: Un-Defining Disability, Hannah Widdifield

Honors Theses

However easy it may be to do, criminalizing - or less maliciously, categorizing - disability does not make it easier to accommodate. Clumping people with "special needs" together does not meet those needs any more efficiently and labeling those needs as "special" is vague and ineffective. The disabled aren't pegged into their roles for practical reasons, but because of inherited stigmas that are continuously encouraged by institutional policies, popular culture, and art. My thesis is in part an attempt to uncover and articulate a personal and social history of disability. In it I try to puzzle out how misconceptions regarding …

The Failures Of Intelligence Reform, Amber Ciemniewski

Honors Theses

Intelligence reform is the legislation implemented by the federal government that's purpose is to improve the effectiveness and success of the intelligence community. It would seem evident that intelligence reform has failed, but the more important questions lie in where it has failed and how to fix it. In this thesis, it will be argued that reform attempts have failed by focusing on surface problems rather than addressing their sources. Future reforms should focus on the relationship dynamic between the intelligence community and the policymakers it serves. There has been extensive literature published on the problems in the intelligence community …

Education, Employment, And Coastal Carolina University: What Are Ccu Students' Plans After Graduation?, Thomas M. Fernandez

Honors Theses

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has shown that while unemployment amongst young college graduates is high, joblessness decreases as students pursue post-baccalaureate degrees. And with national unemployment near 8 percent, it is important for college students to consider what obstacles they may face when entering the workforce. Challenges may include sociohistorical (parent educational attainment) and socioeconomic factors as well as obstacles surrounding various forms of human capital. Using some of these challenges youth face when entering college and/or the workforce, this study predicts the decisions Coastal Carolina University (CCU) students will make post-graduation based upon four elements: parental education, academic …

Title Ix Compliance: A Comparison Of Division I Equality, Jacqueline Leake

Honors Theses

The passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 has had a significant impact on college athletics. However, there is still a large disparity between opportunities offered for men and women. This study determined the true gender equality within Division I athletics. Inequalities were assessed in the areas of athletic participation, athletically related student aid, recruiting expenses, and total expenses. Data from these areas were gathered from the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Analysis Cutting Tool. Ratios and the difference between the ideal and current values were calculated for each category. Institutions were ranked in each category, as well …

What Impact Does Cause-Related Marketing Have On Professional Sports Teams?, Christina Damore

Honors Theses

In today's competitive business climate, firms must find new and innovative ways to differentiate their brand from others in their field. American Express Credit Card Company discovered such a marketing tool in 1981 when they sponsored the Statue of Liberty Restoration Project by donating a predetermined percentage of their card sales. The purpose of the sponsorship was twofold: American Express wished to increase card usage as well as support a cause to gain an overall better corporate image. In the end, American Express experienced a 28% increase in card usage and was able to donate $1.7 million to the Statue …

The Influence Of Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Protein Urm1 On Prion Formation, Jacob Beaver

Honors Theses

Prions are infections proteins that are auto-catalyzing (form by altering a regular protein into the structurally different prion form), and are the cause of many common diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and Bovine Spongiform encephalopathy (or Mad Cow disease). This experiment tested the effect of three different plasmids, pH317, pER62 and pmp46 on prion formation in both wild-type and Urm1 deletion mutants in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The proposed hypothesis was overexpression of the prion forming protein would increase the frequency of prion formation, as well as yield less sustainable prion amyloids (or prion aggregations) that are easier to …

Mergers And Acquisitions In Small And Medium Sized Enterprises In The Health Care Industry: The Effect Of Regulations On Merger And Acquisition Success, Jessica Bucci

Honors Theses

This study aims to address the lack of information present on small and medium sized enterprises in the merger and acquisition process. An analysis of M&As in the health care industry was conducted The regulations in the health care industry are also investigated in order to demonstrate their effect on SMEs wishing to participate in M&As. A qualitative analysis was conducted to analyze interviews of physicians who have participating in M&As. The results demonstrate the similarities and differences in large and SME M&As.

"Tengo Cara De Ladron?" "Do I Have The Face Of A Thief?": An Investigative Study Of Stereotypes And Racism In Ecuador, Caryn Cortez

Honors Theses

Racism and stereotypes are still very apparent in Ecuadorian society, yet time and time again, I have found people who claim racism does not exist in Ecuador. Fascinated by how such an obvious (for an outsider) part of Ecuadorian society could be systematically denied by so many people who were part of that society, I decided to explore the issue of racism further and sought to find out, through the use of in-depth qualitative interviews and ethnographic research, how students at La Universidad Estatal de Cuenca narratively construct racial identity and racism.

Challenging The Ideal: A Comparative Study Of Suzanne Valadon And William Bouguereau, Mary Sheehy

Honors Theses

The female nude has been represented in art for millennia. From the Paleolithic Woman of Willendorf fertility symbol (22,000 to 24,000 BCE, Fig. 1), to Titian's Venus of Urbino (1538 Fig. 2), women have frequently been depicted as sexualized creatures. Standard ideal body types have been established for each era through the thousands of pieces of art picturing nude women. Archaic women were expected to have large breasts and hips in order to show their fertility. Medieval representations of Mary Magdalene were usually nude and provocative. Women were supposed to see these images of Mary Magdalene and remember to keep …