Digital Commons Network^™

Faulkner's Wake: The Emergence Of Literary Oxford, John Louis Fuller

Honors Theses

The genesis of this project was a commercial I saw on television advertising the University of Mississippi. “Is it the words that capture a place, or the place that captures the words?” noted actor and Mississippi native Morgan Freeman asked. I had been confident in my knowledge of literary Oxford, but the commercial made me wonder just what had created this literary environment I took for granted. I set about my task dividing the culture into three realms of influence, the town and its history, the school and its academic authority, and Square Books and its economic influence. As I …

Networking Is Not Everything: The Factors That Led To The Eventual Decline Of The Brigate Rosse, Courtney Janos Geraci

Honors Theses

This thesis concerns the Brigate Rosse, an Italian terrorist organization that was active from the late-1960s to the mid-1980s, the networks through which the Brigate Rosse chose to work, how these networks helped/hindered the success of the Brigate Rosse, and how the murder of Aldo Moro marked the turning point in the BR s success. To gather data, T looked at primary sources, such as communications that were sent by the BR and government documents, as well as secondary sources which examined the actions of the Brigate Rosse, the networks they maintained, and the social and political circumstances of Italy …

Battling From The Bottom Up: The Alleviation Of Violence Against Women By The Non-Governmental Sector In South Africa, Shane Julia Richardson

Honors Theses

This thesis seeks to examine the work of the Non-Governmental sector in alleviating violence against women in South Africa. The first chapter analyzes VAW in two time periods—1948-1994 and the post-Apartheid era, 1994-2002. The second chapter provides an overview of the roles and methodology of NGOs in post-Apartheid South Africa and presents a list of strategies that an effective NGO must employ. Finally, Chapter 3 is a case study of POWA (People Opposing Women Abuse), a Johannesburg-based VAW NGO. The case study uses the strategies and typology laid out in Chapter 2 to evaluate the work of POWA. The researcher …

The Daughter’S Struggle For Definition Both With And Against The Mother In Achieving Selfhood In Five Contemporary American Novels, Camille Leigh Comer

Honors Theses

The following thesis analyzes the mother-daughter relationships in Rebecca Wells’ Little Altars Everywhere and Divine Secrets of the Ya~Ya Sisterhood, Janet Fitch’s White Oleander and Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees. Attempting to illustrate the central significance of relations between mothers and daughters in everyday life, I chose the four novels based on their recent popularity in mainstream society. For instance, both Divine Secrets and White Oleander have been made into films within the past few years. In gathering data for my thesis, I focused on information explaining why the relationships between mothers and daughters are especially potent …

The Use Of Dna Microarrays To Compare The Gene Expression Profiles Of Paclitaxel And Acetic Acid 2,2'-Thiobis, Bis [[(2-Hydroxyphynyl) Methylene]Hydrazid] In A549 Cells: Part 1, Jennifer Diane Ellzey

Honors Theses

There are several classes of anticancer drugs, including the antimicrotubule drugs, which halt mitosis by interfering with the activity of microtubules, the cylindrical protein polymers that play a role in segregating chromosomes during mitosis. While most antimicrotubule drugs act by destabilizing the microtubule polymer and reducing microtubule assembly, paclitaxel, a drug first isolated from the bark of Taxus brevefolia, halts mitosis by stabilizing microtubules, thus interfering with the dynamics of polymerization and depolymerization that are crucial to their function. In light of the mounting resistance to paclitaxel, it is more important than ever to discover new drugs with a similar …

European Lingua Franca? Germany's Relationship With English In The Late Twentieth Century, Anna Elise Fleming

Honors Theses

The following thesis analyses the maintenance of national education, business, and social infrastructures (such as popular media and advertisement) for the English language within German borders. This linguistic situation in Germany, combined with the pressure of English as a global language, signifies the possibility of English becoming the lingua franca (common language) for Europe (both European Union and non-European Union countries), especially in the areas of higher education, business, and media.

A Number Theoretical Approach To Public Key Cryptography, Nathan Morley Holt

Honors Theses

My journey with design cannot be adequately studied without a deeper understanding of my passion for freedom. Through this paper, my use of the word “freedom ’ represents breaking free from bondage. Poverty is bondage. Homelessness is bondage. Slavery is bondage. Radically, I also choose to consider apathy a bondage. During my time at The University of Mississippi, one of the ways I have grown as a graphic artist is through my pursuit to make a difference. Pairing artistic techniques with help others, I have discovered design’s unique ability to initiate action. Speaking louder than words, design can convey messages …

Are Stock Prices Related To New York's Climatic Conditions?, Matthew M. Cullen

Honors Theses

The past five years has shown tremendous growth in a new wave and style of investing strategy. This new style, known as behavioral investing, attempts to analyze financial markets through the eye of a social scientist rather than a financial professional. Its followers try to see market movements as affected not necessarily by the business or economy but by the cognition and mood of buyers and seller. This paper analyzes the effect of climatic conditions on mood and the effect that has on market movements and volume. For the most part, it was found that there is no significant relationship …

Ecological Encouragement: The Role Of Agricultural Knowledge In Southern Illinois, Natalie Faris

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Importance Of Understanding How The Underlying Principles Of Decompression Theory Apply Differently To Dive Computers Than To Dive Tables, Matthew R. Taitt

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Maya Ritual And Myth: Human Sacrifice In The Context Of The Ballgame And The Relationship To The Popol Vuh, Jessica Zaccagnini

Honors Theses

The ballgame existed as an integral facet of Mayan life. Ritual and mythic expression are inextricably linked to the execution of the ballgame and are deeply integrated into Mayan culture. Ritual human sacrifice is an unquestionable aspect related to the ballgame. The Maya rulers extended the outcome of the ballgarne by satisfying the deities through ritual and human sacrifice (Scarborough 1991 :143). The Quiche book of epic narratives, named the Papal Vuh, is a recurring theme in the exploration of the ballgame and it is deeply weighted with mythic significance. A discussion of how this theme is interwoven into the …

An Interdisciplinary Approach To Teaching Contemporary U.S. History: Music As A Voice For Civil Rights Protest 1950-Present, Robert D. Kuban

Honors Theses

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Teaching Contemporary U.S.History: Music as a Voice for Civil Rights Protest,1950-Present. This departmental honors project was created to take an in-depth look into popular music's voice as a medium for Civil Rights protest. This unit composed of eight lesson plans is to serve as a resource for teachers to create a real and tangible interdisciplinary approach to teaching contemporary U. S. history. The material covered is derived from popular music of its time, yet based strongly on research ofactual events. These lessons cover a narrow yet vital and significant scope of civil rights protest, action, and …

The Truman Doctrine Vs. The Bush Doctrine: Justifying War With Iraq, Lindsay St. Germain

Honors Theses

It is commonly thought that presidential doctrines set a precedent for the country to follow. These doctrines are intended to reflect the attitudes, and values of not only the president in power, but the best interests of the United States in general. Using public opinion surveys, historical documents, and current news articles and books, I will analyze the Truman Doctrine, enunciated in 1947, and the Bush Doctrine, put forth in 2001. In doing so, I hope to compare military actions justified using both doctrines, and point out what I see to be the flaws and triumphs of the Bush Doctrine; …

Women's Diaries In An Online Era, Emily Ostendorf

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Methamphetamine In The United States: A Social Constructionist Perspective, Natalie Metz

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

What If The Irish Had Won The Battle Of The Boyne?, Erin O'Brien

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Salvation Of The Kindertransport: A Ray Of Hope For Nearly Ten Thousand Jewish Children, Cheryl Holder

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

A Telecommuter Program For Second To None, Inc., Michael J. Postma

Honors Theses

Telecommuting, or working from a remote location, is a very popular idea that has gained growing support from employees and companies over the past decade. The opportunity to stay home and do work appeals to employees, and the ability to reduce overhead costs appeals to the company. Developing a program that outlines how this arrangement would take place is vital. Outlined are a few of the components that should be included in this type of arrangement.

First, the telecommuter situation will be on a trial basis for a predetermined amount of time. The company or the employee has the right …

Michigan Township Zoning Boards Of Appeals Members' Perceptions Of Their Authority, Mark J. Magyar

Honors Theses

With the following investigation I seek to answer the questions: How aligned are the perceptions of Michigan township zoning boards of appeals (ZBAs) members' regarding their authorities with the authorities expressly and implicitly prescribed for them by state statute? If they are not aligned, do ZBA members need further education in the statute? ZBA members are not formally educated in the statute but are guided by secondary sources. While these sources are crucial to the proper administration of ZBAs' objectives, there is often an element of bias in interpretation to varying degrees. I want to determine whether or not education …

From Expression To Interpersonal: A History Of The Wmu Department Of Communication, Mercedes L. Varasteh

Honors Theses

As the Western Michigan University community celebrates its Centennial year, it is intriguing to consider not only how much the university has grown in the number of buildings or its student population, but to also recognize how the many academic disciplines have developed over the years.

Inefficient National Political Parties In Brazil And The Effects On Economic Policy, Jason Sullivan

Honors Theses

I intended to study the domestic and international issues that pushed and pulled at the government in its creation of its economic policy. I intended to focus on the executive branch of the government and the international organizations and sovereign nations that influenced the policy decisions surrounding the specific year of 1997. However, as I researched I found something that I think is as just as important if not more important in creating Brazil's economic policy. As I researched it became evident that the characteristics of the Brazilian political parties had an influence on how all policies are formulated, more …

The Unfinished Woman: Images Of Single Women In Wharton, Parker, And Paley, Erin Wolverton

Honors Theses

Is the life of a single woman really worth living? The question permeates the culture of the post-feminist era. Women without children and without a committed relationship in their lives can be categorized in two ways: those who deliberately dismiss the idea of a spouse and those who have not found an acceptable one yet. Both categories carry their own social stigmas: a woman who can't trap a man is a failure, a woman who doesn't want one is unnatural. These prejudices have been a part of women's unconscious behavior since the earliest days of feminism.

Auto-Ethnography As A Communicative And Therapeutic Means Of Addressing Eating Disorders, Julie Irvin

Honors Theses

Under the premise that human beings are natural storytellers, narratives are an essential part of our lives and the way we shape and form our stories impacts our daily activities. When life struggles transpire, we typically make sense of our world through narratives, which is why therapists sometimes draw upon narrative therapy. By exploring different types of narratives-the basic genre of a life-story, testimonio, literary narrative, ethnography, and auto-ethnography-the mode that presents itself as a viable means of intrapersonal communication, possibly producing change, is auto-ethnography. Examining the need for narrative within the conditions of eating disorders, the question arises as …

American Identity In The Illinois Territory, 1809-1818, Daniel Northrup Finucane

Honors Theses

Many histories have been writen about Illinois, both by early inhabitants and modern scholars. The histories are quite inclusive, yet none specifically address the topic that I am examining. Scarce material exists regarding the Americanism of the early settlers in Illinois. But, in fashioning my argument on the subject, I have taken from a variety of these cources bits and pieces of information about geography, demographics, economics, politics, and social life. My hope is that these facts and arguments will help to substantiate my suggestions regarding the mindsets of territorial Illinoisians. The work coming closest to my focus is an …

The Christian Century And The Fluidity Of American Ideologies, 1919-1932, Michael Levin

Honors Theses

The most fundamental belief echoed in the Christian Century during the '20s was a persistent optimism about human progress. Editors of the journal devoted such a great deal of energy to the task of diagnosing the ills of society because they held the improvement of the American system to be both beneficial and achievable. It is from this platform of optimism that the Century derived the various components of its complex worldview: its religious morality, pragamatic approach, and its egalitarian belief. All of these principles were dependent on the notion that tomorrow could and would be better than today. The …

Concepts Of Despair In Walker Percy's The Moviegoer, James Alan Finney

Honors Theses

This paper explores the concept of despair in Walker Percy's 1962 National Book Award winning novel The Moviegoer. It explores the philosophy of Kierkegaard's The Sickness unto Death as an important antecedent of the novel's portrayal of Binx Bolling's existential crisis. Additionally, the paper discusses Walker Percy's own thought about the devaluation of subjective experience in a modem scienctific world. Using these concepts as a vocabulary, the paper performs a reading of the text of the novel. The text asserts that the reader's own valuation of God and objectivity determine the possiblity or nonpossibility of Binx 's salvation by faith.

Hadivadlo In Chattanooga : A Critical Assessment Of The Process Of Producing School For Fools, Ben Williams

Honors Theses

The goal of this project was to create an experimental theatre production called School for Fools in the Studio Theatre of the UTC Fine Arts Center in February of 2003. Spanning nearly an entire year, the process for me was one of compiling a dramaturg's notebook ofresearch and materials related to the play, adapting and revising the text from the original, written by Belgian playwright Michel de Ghelderode in 1937, creating costume and set designs, appropriating a cast, raising funds for the production, and then directing the play. Particularly important to this production was the idea of style. In essence, …

The Clarinet Through Western's Century: An Exploration Of Its Twentieth Century Repertoire With Additional Historical Commentary On Western Michigan University, Christopher M. Jacobson

Honors Theses

No abstract available.

The Ethics Of Service : A New Approach To Service Learning, Jonathan C. Zur

Honors Theses

The new model of service presented in this paper gives a framework for considering the possibilities for ethically grounded service. It does not solve al I of the problems with competing interests or tradeoffs in wellbeing, but is a solid foundation upon which many important discussions can be based. By examining the continuum of self-interest, the discussion of intent, preparedness, and outcome, and consideration for mandatory service, the paper has offered a comprehensive assessment of the ethics of service. The four parties - the volunteer, the client, the university, and the service site - have particular responsibilities to their own …

Synthesis Of Montiporynes A And B, Traci Jenelle Speed

Honors Theses

This thesis reports the first complete synthesis of monriporynes A and B. isomeric diacetylenes that bear α, β unsaturated ketone functionalities. Recently isolated from the stony coral Montipora sp. these compounds are reported to possess in vitro cytotoxic activity against several human solid tumor cells. We have synthesized both isomers in three simple steps. In the first step, l-iodononyne was prepared by reacting 1-nonyne with N-iodosuccinimide and a catalytic amount of silver nitrate. This iodoalkyne was then coupled with propargyl alcohol using copper iodide as the catalyst to give 2,4dodecadiynyl alcohol. Finally, the diacetylenic alcohol was subjected to the Swern …