Digital Commons Network^™

Economic Emancipation In The Plantation South: Women In William Faulkner, Margaret Mitchell, Ernest Gaines, And Sherley Anne Williams, Rosemary Moak

Honors Theses

This thesis is intended to investigate women’s plantation economies from the varying perspectives of Margaret Mitchell, William Faulkner, Sherley Anne Williams, and Ernest Gaines. The materials used for research were primary texts: Gone With the Wind, The Unvanquished, Dessa Rose, and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman^ along with multiple secondary sources. Faulkner and Mitchell show white plantation mistresses take advantage of their newfound independence and economic opportunities due to the absence of the patriarch during the Civil War. While these plantation mistresses prove to be economic powers, their slaves remain in traditional roles. They are depicted to be content …

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 …

9/11 And The Butterfly Effect, Taylor Eubanks

Honors Theses

September 11, 2001, is a day that forever changed and impacted this nation. Following the worst terror attacks in our nation's history, the citizens of this nation showed the absolute best parts of humanity and simultaneously the lowest depths of ignorance and hate. Immediately in the days following 9/11, an incredible sense of solidarity and pride for our nation was felt no matter what part of the country you were in. It seemed as though every home had an American flag hanging from their porch in unison. This level of Patriotism can be a truly beautiful thing, however, it can …

Matriarchal Monsters: Literary Villians Through The Lens Of Gender, Katherine Currie

Honors Theses

The exposure of American readers to the literary monster culminates at an incredibly young and impressionable age. The genre of children’s literature seems to rely heavily on the impact of the presence of villainous monster characters. From the “boogey man” to “Cruella de Vil” to “The Grinch,” children are presented at a very young age with the character of evil. As a result of our early experience with villains, we as readers accept the “bad guy” created in a novel to be classified under the category of “monster.” However, most readers have never even pondered or questioned the label of …

An Analysis Of Lithic Debitage From Mound C At The Winterville Mounds Archaeological Site (22ws500), Barbara Mcclendon

Honors Theses

The Winterville Mounds, located in Northwest Mississippi, was once home to one of the largest chiefdoms in the Southeast. It served as a both a religious and political center and housed the ruling class atop its twenty-three manmade mounds. Recent excavation on Mound C at Winterville has uncovered an unusually large quantity of lithic artifacts. In an effort to shed light on the presence of such utilitarian tools where elites resided, this study utilized individual flake analysis on 830 pieces of lithic debitage, including cores, flakes, shatter, and tools. After documenting significant evidence of early through late stage lithic reduction …

Virtue For Commercial Purpose: A Look At Production Code Censorship In The 1930s, Jacob Key

Honors Theses

This paper is a study of the conservative political bias inherent to the Motion Picture Production Code as it applies to Great Depression cinema. Many films in this period attempted to explore progressive themes but were edited or prohibited outright under the Code’s authority. Father Daniel Lord, the Code’s author, greatly feared cinema’s cultural and moral influences, but may have been unaware of the political ramifications of his work. On the other hand, his boss, Will H. Hays, was an ambitious man fully in support of the Code’s ability to censor politics that differed from his own. The unlikely partnership …

"So God-Damned Far Away": Soldiers' Experiences In The Vietnam War, Tara M. Bell

Honors Theses

This paper is based off of a collection of Vietnam War letters that I processed at the Western Michigan University Archives and Regional History Collections. They are all written to a local woman, Carol, by five soldiers, named Mitch, Dennis, Ron, Willis, and Kenneth. Carol’s responses are not included in the collection.

Carol, Mitch, and Willis all graduated in the same class from Vicksburg High School. From using databases and yearbooks, I learned that Carol knew each of the soldiers from organizations they both belonged in. Although I could not exactly determine how Carol knew Ron and Kenneth, it seems …

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Cold War For Kids, Kaitlyn Shaw

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Faulkner In Japan: A “Second Occupation”, Robin P. Helton

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

A Higher Duty:' The Sectionalization Of American Institutions Of Higher Education, Patricia Grace Ethel Gauthier

Honors Theses

This thesis is a comparative study of the rise of sectionalism in northern and southern antebellum American institutions of higher education. The West Point Military Academy, which maintained a roughly equal number of southern and northern cadets. presents a case-study of how faculty, staff, and students dealt with sectionalism in a mixed group. Information was gathered from numerous sources including college histories, archival material from the University of Mississippi, and southern military school studies. Several general trends were discovered from this data. 1) Southern academia actively encouraged the development of sectionalism because it provided public funding and enrollment for southern …

S㭠Se Puede... ¿Leer?: Assessing The Success Of The Cuban And Nicaraguan Literacy Initiatives, Camille Lyn Lesseig

Honors Theses

This research examines the literacy programs conducted in 1961 Cuba and 1980 Nicaragua. Given the similarities in the structure and implementation of the plan as well as the congruencies in rhetoric promoting the plans, this thesis explores the various internal and external variables that affected each country’s program to better understand the widely different results. To research these countries’ programs, I examined both primary and secondary source material related to each country, their educational programs specifically, as well as information about US foreign policy relationships with the countries during this time. Although both programs were initially successful in reducing illiteracy …

Analyzing Predator-Prey Models Using Systems Of Ordinary Linear Differential Equations, Lucas C. Pulley

Honors Theses

The main operating concern of all species in any ecosystem or natural environment is rooted in the battle for survival.  This constant battle for survival is most highlighted in the two main modes of species interaction; categorized as predation or competition.  This research focused on applying biological mathematics to analyzing predation relationships, especially the relationship between the Canadian Lynx and the Snowshoe Hare.  This predation relationship is quite special, because these species interact in a relatively isolated manner compared to others, meaning their populations fluctuated in a regular cycle.  These population fluctuations can be defined and analyzed mathematically using systems …

Networks Of Resistance : Black Virginians Remember Civil War Loyalties, Amanda Kleintop

Honors Theses

On June 22, 1877, William Charity explained his neighborhood’s Civil War loyalties to special commissioner Isaac Baldwin of the Southern Claims Commission (SCC): “The colored people were mostly all for the union.” Charity, a free black Virginian, recognized that “mostly” did not mean all. He went on to suggest: “some of them were blind.” As a self-identified Unionist, Charity had difficulty envisioning a black man who was not loyal to the Union cause and emancipation during the Civil War. Current debates, however, have seized on those black Virginians Charity called “blind,” taking the “mostly” Unionist majority for granted. Like Charity, …

The Second Front: The Internal Struggle For Post-Colonial Power In French Indochina And Algeria, Alexander Ludlow Cochran

Honors Theses

This thesis details events that occurred prior to, and during the French-Indochina War of 1946-1952 and the French-Algerian War of 1954-1962. In order to provide greater historical context to my area of study, I extensively researched the history of each nation in the 20*'^ Century. I utilized a variety of sources, including primary sources and secondary sources. My method of research involved the taking of copious notes, and synthesizing the information into a coherent argument and thesis. In the case studies of both Indochina and Algeria, I will provide pertinent background information about events leading up to the colonial war, …

We The Peoples Of The United States Of America: Constituting American Identities Through Pluralism And Narrative, Michael .. Yohai

Honors Theses

W. E. B. DuBois writes in his 1897 essay, “The Conservation of Races,” that every black person living in America must, sooner or later, ask herself the following question: “What , after all, am I? Am I an American or am I a Negro? Can I be both? Or is it my duty to cease to be a Negro as soon as possible and be an American?”1 DuBois’ question, “Can I be both?” still lingers for blacks and other non‐white groups in America. However, the racial demographic reality of the America is changing and with it, the connotations of the …

An Ethical History Of Photography In Combat And Of Combat Photography In The United States During World War Ii, Molly Shoener

Honors Theses

With the United States‘ entry into the Second World War, the word ?censorship? was seen largely as antithetical to, rather than a necessary counterpart to, victory among Americans. People did not want to be censored in their writing, photographs or speech,but it proved to be necessary even before the war began, in order to protect government secrets and the people on the home-front from scenes that were too disturbing. Even before the war had officially begun, there were problems with censorship among journalists and newspapers. The initial response of outrage in reference to censorship in the United States was common …

Transboundary Animal Diseases And Their Likelihood To Be Used In An Agroterrorist Attack On The United States, James Willard Allen

Honors Theses

All data and information contained in this investigation are open source and publically available. The assessment uses six different transboundary animal diseases which are not currently routine occurrences in the United States and through analytic methods, assesses the likelihood that each might be used in an agroterrorist attack on the United States' animal production sector. The assessment examines each disease using key details that would directly affect the likelihood of its use in an attack, focusing on potential economic damage. The three main animal populations considered are bovine, swine, and poultry due to their large size and value in domestic …

The Recent Trend Of Mass Killing: What Causes Civil Wars To Escalate To Using Genocide, Brenna Danielle Depies

Honors Theses

In the last century the international community has become more concerned about the damage that civil wars can cause. Over the years, more cases of civil war are reported to lead into genocide, and this thesis looks to figure out why this is. There are many scholarly theories about the origins of genocide, but I aim to focus strictly on those genocides that occur in reaction to a civil conflict. When looking at the root causes of conflict, I claim that civil wars are more likely to lead to the use of genocide if the origins of the conflict are …

Fundamental Humanitarian Principles In Aid Organizations: Impartiality And Neutrality In The Great Lakes Refugee Crisis, Maggie Elizabeth Savely

Honors Theses

Since the origin of formal humanitarianism with the Geneva Conventions of 1864, aid organizations have become a major player on the global stage. Humanitarian aid has gone through significant changes over the years, being influenced by international events and the evolution of international relations. As with other international actors, aid organizations encounter a number of dilemmas, and this thesis aims to address one of the more recent struggles of aid agencies. The fundamental principles of impartiality and neutrality have become controversial, especially in complex humanitarian situations such as the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide. This catastrophe is known as the …

Synthesis And Testing Of Second Generation Azatilbenes, Maurice Hardy

Honors Theses

Based on previous research, azastilbenes have been reported as effective chemical sensors for organophosphates and organothiophosphates; they are related classes and the active components of agricultural pesticides, environmental pollutants and chemical warfare agents. This project builds on previous work and involves the synthesis of a variety of these azastilbenes and the testing of their respective properties. Azastilbene sensors are prepared using high-yield organic synthetic methodology developed in Professor Murray's lab. The next step involves testing the sensors through a measure, by UV-Vis spectroscopy and fluorometry, of an optical change upon the addition of analyte to a solution containing azastilbene sensor.

Confucianism And The Modern East Asian, Paul Jennings Treutel

Honors Theses

This thesis sought to measure “Confucianism” in China, Japan, and South Korea. To this end, a thorough investigation of possible methods to measure Confucianism and exactly what “Confucianism” means was conducted. AsiaBarometer’s 2006 survey data was chosen as the basis of the quantitative portion of this study. Survey questions deemed good measures of Confucian values were compiled into four indexes. These indexes were used as dependent variables in four separate regressions, controlling for such demographic variables as age, sex, geographic location, income, etc. The regression results and their interpretation showed a picture of Confucianism considerably different than that discussed by …

'A Great Disturbance In The Force:' Thematic Dissonance Between The Two Star Wars Trilogies, Lauren Baiers

Honors Theses

All fans, scholars, and critics have their favorite films. Some support all of the films equally, some embrace the special editions, and others deny the existence of any movies other than the original versions of the first three films released. No matter what critics and fans say, all of the live-action movies are Star Wars movies: they follow the same mythology and bear the words "Star Wars" in their titles. However, the themes of the two trilogies of the Star Wars saga conflict. The prequel trilogy undermines the concerns of the original Star Wars trilogy by subverting the themes of …

Erasing The Steps Of Kingdom: Indigenous Autonomy In Chiapas, Mexico And The Zapatistas' Re-Conception Of Power, Tara Brian

Honors Theses

Although the Zapatista rebellion in Chiapas, Mexico in 1994 emerged from a long history of guerrilla struggle in Central America, the indigenous movement offered something new: a bold re-conception of power and a novel approach to revolution that shifted the locus of struggle away from state capture to the realm of civil society, opened the revolution to previously excluded participants, and conceived of innovate means to manage power within Zapatista autonomous zones. In this thesis, I begin with a discussion of the ways in which the Zapatistas’ rhetoric of revolution and power has inspired theorists and activists around the world …

A Disappearing Boundary?: The Changing Distinction Between Combatants And Civilians From The First World War To The Present Day, Aimee Kidder

Honors Theses

The issue of terrorism has stimulated intellectual debate regarding the rights and protections that should be afforded to civilians. However, the practice of targeting noncombatants in warfare extends far beyond terrorism and has roots deep in the historical past. This study looks at violence against civilians over a series of case studies from the First and Second World Wars as well as the French-Algerian War of the 1950s and 1960s. By looking at the changing legal distinctions between combatants and noncombatants, the study first establishes a trend in international law toward increasing protection of civilians. Yet, these legal advances are …

Implementing The Good Friday Agreement: Overcoming Challenges And Obstacles, Joseph Michael Debraggio

Honors Theses

On April 10, 1998, history was made in Northern Ireland. Years of sectarian violence would end as the Belfast Agreement, known more popularly (and perhaps more fittingly due to the religious identities defining the two sides) as the Good Friday Agreement, was signed bringing peace to Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland Office, 2007). This paper will look at the Good Friday Agreement in detail. By analyzing the historical factors leading up to 1998, the Agreement itself, and the post-Agreement implementation stage,it is possible to pick out the relative successes and failures of the Agreement, and of its implementation.

Assia Djebar And The Algerian Woman: From Silence To Song, Mary Maher

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the work of Assia Djebar in terms of its context, content, and objectives. Djebar's writing is lyrical and captivating, yet its grounding in experience gives her words a quality of truth and wisdom. To fully understand the function of her work and the significance of its content, the context in which Djebar writes is momentous. Outlining a brief history of the Algerian woman's experience gives a practical understanding of the individual and collective struggles of Algerian women. The violent and unique participation of women in the Algerian War of Independence and their subsequent insignificance under the patriarchal …

The Use Of Torture As A Tool Of Anti-Terrorism: Deriving Lessons For The Future Through A Comparison Of Argentina’S Dirty War To The United States’ Global War On Terror, Kent Douglas Ford

Honors Theses

KENT DOUGLAS FORD: The Use of Torture as a Tool ofAnti-Terrorism: Deriving Lessons for the Future through a Comparison of Argentina’s Dirty War to the United States’ Global War on Terror (Under the direction ofDr. Douglass Sullivan-Gonzalez)

A frequent criticism ofinternational law, particularly the area concerning human rights, is that it attempts to create order in an anarchic state without the analogous counterpart of domestic law’s enforcement agents. This thesis looks at how the international human rights legal regime has developed since World War II in order to understand its role in the systematic use of enforced disappearances and torture …

From Degenerate Monsters To Revenge Of The Big Mac: A Study Of French Anti-Americanism, Jill Peets

Honors Theses

Jill Peets: From Degenerate Monsters to Revenge of the Big Mac: A Study of French anti-Americanism (Under the direction of Dr. Anne Quinney)

Franco-American relations date back to the eighteenth century and are a topic that historians have studied for years. France has never been to war with the United States, yet the French are ardently anti-American. The phenomenon of French anti-Americanism is what this thesis seeks to understand and explain. Through various secondary sources, historical data, and public opinion polls, the thesis examines events throughout time, from the American Revolution in 1776 until the Haitian earthquake in 2010. By …

Euskal Herritarrak Gara: A Study Of A People And Their History, Culture, And Identity, Madison Rebekah Halbrook

Honors Theses

Throughout history, Basque nationalism has constantly been defined by a series of struggles to protect their unique culture and identity and by a reaction of the Basque people to resist outside change and influence. This thesis will identify, examine, and discuss both the causes and the effects of this sentiment, and also why and how it has developed the way that it has. There are a number of factors in which this struggle can be seen. They include the fight to protect the Basque region fi'om foreign invaders, the struggle to retain political autonomy within a larger group, and certain …

Harold Burson: A Legend In Public Relations In The 20th Century, Megan Heather Smith

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.