Digital Commons Network^™

User-Centered Design For Public Financial Services: A Federal Student Loan Management App Case Study, Carmen River Christopher

Theses

Researchers have studied several facets of federal student loans, such as the impacts it has on borrowers’ finances, mentality, and life goals, plus the history of the federal student system and potential changes. There has been little research conducted on how borrowers make decisions regarding repayment, including choosing plans, navigating the repayment system, and understanding the long term implications of their choices. Since this research largely does not exist, there are few tools and resources to help guide borrowers as they manage the large, complex, and dynamic landscape that is navigating the federal loan system and repaying their debt. I …

Anastasis: Slow Fashion, Barbara Bultman

Theses

This thesis explores how slow fashion principles contribute to the longevity and cultural significance of iconic garments. Using qualitative research methods, including historical analysis, literature review, and practice-based design research, this project analyzes and recreates six iconic garments: the little black dress, trench coat, wrap dress, shift dress, wide-leg trouser, and women’s suit. The research investigates couture-level construction techniques, sustainable materials, and timeless silhouettes, demonstrating how these strategies can extend garment lifespan and foster emotional attachment between consumers and clothing. Ultimately, the research concludes that slow fashion provides a practical framework for creating durable, meaningful garments that support both environmental …

The Judicial Subjectivity In The Fair Use Analysis Of Andy Warhol Foundation For The Visual Arts, Inc. V. Goldsmith And Its Implications, Donna Khademi

Theses

The case of Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. v. Goldsmith demonstrates the subjective nature of the fair use doctrine. Scholars suggest that judges are often forced to interpret expressive works without specialized training in art, leading to inconsistent rulings. These discrepancies can lead to legal ambiguity and potentially weaken First Amendment protections. A deeper understanding of authorship, appropriation, and contemporary art highlights their crucial role in evaluating expressive works. By examining current legislation and judicial precedents, this paper shows the subjective and inconsistent nature of the present legal framework and offers a set of related proposals. It …

Staging Collapse: Anita Berber’S Cocaine And Morphium As Disability Aesthetic Performance, Blair Summers

Theses

This thesis examines Anita Berber’s performances Cocaine and Morphium within the cultural climate of Weimar Germany, where the body became closely tied to ideals of health, productivity, and national renewal. Through the framework of disability aesthetics as defined by Tobin Siebers, this study argues that Berber transforms addiction, collapse, and bodily decay into a visual and affective language of artistic and political critique. Rather than present the body as disciplined or morally ideal, Berber stages instability, excess, and death through gesture, costume, set design, and music. In doing so, she reimagines the stigmatized female body as a site of agency …

Analyzing Comparisons Of Seascapes By Caspar David Friedrich And Fitz Henry Lane Through A Digital Gallery Show, Adrianna Murphy

Theses

This project focuses on a comparative digital exhibition and analysis between Caspar David Friedrich and Fitz Henry Lane’s seascape artwork. Both artists have not been shown together in a gallery; thus this research into common themes in their works reveals a new perspective on early- to mid-19th-century seascape art. This perspective shows how their different geographies and historical contexts converge through the shared visual language of contemplation, morality, and reflecting in the mystery of life through nature. The project aims to create a digital gallery that showcases an ideal layout and a comparison of the artists, with curated works that …

Historic Churches Of Sheboygan, Erin Brehmer

Theses

This project focuses on the histories and architecture of six nineteenth- and early twentieth-century churches in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and developing a museum program about them. The aim of the project is to add to the art historical knowledge of Midwest architecture by researching the Greek Revival architecture used by First Baptist Church of Sheboygan; the Gothic Revival styles used by Grace Episcopal Church, St. Luke United Methodist Church, Hope Reformed Church, and St. Clement Catholic Church; and the Byzantine ornamentation used by St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church. Furthermore, this project uses the historical findings to create a museum public program …

An Introduction To World Art History: Course Curriculum, Skyler M. Bancroft

Theses

Art history as a field has inherent biases that are primarily rooted in Western traditions. A majority of the content which students are exposed to focuses on regions such as Europe and the Americas, with less focus on Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. The purpose of this thesis project is to develop a secondary school curriculum that approaches art history from a world perspective to foster students’ sense of cultural awareness and empathy, as well as the development of skills such as critical thinking and visual literacy. Students will leave this course with a greater understanding of art from various …

Unveiled Voices: An Ode To Black Brides A Digital Resource Guide For Black Brides And Inclusive Bridal Design, Jaslyn A. Banks

Theses

This project examines the lack of inclusivity within the bridal industry, with a specific focus on the absence of skin-tone appropriate illusion mesh and diverse representation for Black brides. Through a combination of scholarly research and visual analysis, this study identifies how Eurocentric design standards continue to influence fabric development, marketing practices, and overall bridal aesthetics.

In response to these findings, this project introduces a digital lookbook titled Unveiled Voices: An Ode to Black Brides A Digital Resource Guide for Black Brides and Inclusive Bridal Design, which serves as a curated resource highlighting Black bridal designers who prioritize inclusivity, cultural …

Leveraging Generative Artificial Intelligence To Launch An Independent Game Studio, Douglas Evans

Theses

This project report examines how Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI) can be integrated into the early formation and operations of an independent/indie game studio. Using a qualitative, practice-based single-case study approach, the project focused on Boar’s Head Studio, LLC. A human-in-the-loop approach was maintained with Generative AI used to support company formation, ideation, planning, documentation, analysis, coding assistance, marketing preparation, and community-building preparation

The report concludes that Generative AI can serve as a meaningful system integrated into the studio pipeline when used with structured, repeatable, human-in-the-loop processes. The project contributes a practical, case-based framework that may be useful to other …

Integrating Artificial Intelligence Into Academic Writing: Development Of A Student-Centered Ethical Toolkit, Matteo Landais

Theses

The rapid growth of generative artificial intelligence in higher education has introduced new challenges surrounding authorship, academic integrity, and the role of writing in student learning. While institutional responses have often focused on restriction, surveillance, and AI detection, students continue to incorporate AI tools into their writing practices in increasingly normalized ways. This project argues that the issue is not simply whether students use AI, but how they use it and whether that use supports meaningful engagement with the writing process.

This applied project proposes a process-oriented and student-centered framework for the ethical integration of AI into academic writing. Learning …

Edvard Munch And The Feminine Sublime, Saralyn Goodspeed

Theses

This paper explores the theory of the sublime in relation to Edvard Munch’s depictions of women. Departing from the common view that Munch was simply anxious about the “New Woman” that emerged in the late nineteenth-century, I argue that Munch’s conflicting emotions regarding women were sublime in nature, rooted in his childhood relationship with his mother. A formal analysis is conducted on three of Munch’s works: Inheritance (1897), Three Stages of Woman or Sphinx (1894), and Madonna (1895). These analyses link Munch’s representations of women to a maternal sublime.

Integrating Embodied Expertise Into Dress History Academia Through Practice-Led Actualistic Recreations: A New Methodology And Test Thereof, Rowan Paramour

Theses

This thesis examines the usage of practice-led methodology for historic dress recreation projects and how to implement and objectively analyze the findings from such research in an academically rigorous fashion. In section one, I examine the distinction between different types of recreation practices, the establishment of embodied practice within historic dress research, address concerns centering practice-led methodology, and develop a methodology for practice-led historic dress recreation projects and rubric for assessment of that methodology. In section two, I fully test the methodology and rubric by utilizing it in my own recreation and present this process using the methodology’s proposed deliverables …

Artificial Intelligence In Video Production, Jonathan Ringor

Theses

This project examines the role of artificial intelligence in video advertisement production and explores whether AI can help bridge the gap between everyday users and professional advertising. The project combined both creative production and audience research. To do this, three original AI-generated advertisements were created in distinct commercial formats: a pharmaceutical advertisement, a petcentered narrative commercial, and a lifestyle montage advertisement. After the advertisements were completed, audience response was measured through a survey of U.S.-based participants. Participants evaluated each advertisement on realism, emotional engagement, trustworthiness, polish, and authenticity. The results showed that the advertisements were not perceived equally. The pet …

The Road To Effective Leadership: The Role Of Practical Training In Shaping Leadership Skills Of Students For Success In Educational Leadership, Fatima Ali Saeed Salem Alnuaimi

Theses

Educational leadership programs play an important role in preparing future leaders to deal with the challenges of educational settings. However, relying only on theoretical knowledge may not be enough to develop the skills and mindset required for an effective leadership role. In addition, this study aimed to explore the role of practical training and experiential learning in shaping leadership skills and leadership identity among students enrolled in educational leadership programs. This study utilized a mixed-methods design. First, quantitative data were collected via a questionnaire distributed to 24 participants, including master’s and PhD students and educators in leadership roles in schools. …

Political Legacies Of Malcolm X, Sumair Ahluwalia

Theses

This study explores the ways in which Malcolm X’s legacy has been co-opted by various institutions and actors, including, but not limited to, politicians, historians, the general public, the federal government, and other commentators. As a result of this co-optation, Malcolm’s revolutionary ideals have been diluted or sanitized in the years since his assassination in 1965. Different approaches have been utilized to reframe Malcolm’s legacy, which include associating him with American liberalism, framing his arguments at the end of his life as markedly less radical, and external interference with popular works about Malcolm, including The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Additionally, …

The Developmental And Emotional Journey Of Bear Trap Garden From Proposal To Production, Mikayla Delos-Santos

Theses

Beginning with the conception of an idea and ending with a three-year reflection, this thesis outlines the creation of a full-length play: Bear Trap Garden by Mikayla Delos-Santos, which will have a production with the School of Theatre and Dance at Southern Illinois University Carbondale on April 23-26, 2026. Bear Trap Garden is a dystopian crime drama that takes place in a matriarchal society in the distant future. Emme, a bright and eager sixteen-year- old volunteers in the boys’ school. She meets Elliot, a boy who was raised outside the system by his mother, now dead, and his father, now …

The Efficacy Of Ethical Data: An Analytical Study By, Lamar Gebara

Theses

As artificial intelligence and machine learning models become increasingly embedded in decision-making systems across industries, questions about the ethical sourcing of data have grown more pressing; model performance relies heavily on vast, diverse datasets, many of which are harvested without consent, transparency, or equitable representation. This study aims to compare analytics outcomes (accuracy, bias, fairness, and explainability) between ethically sourced and unethically sourced datasets. Using CRISP-DM methodology, the study will develop matched classification models on both dataset types, evaluate their performance and fairness using open-source tools such as Fairlearn and AIF360, and assess broader implications for trust, accountability, and regulatory …

At The Crossing, Timothy Mulhall

Theses

At the Crossing is a body of photographic work that stemmed from daily walks through the Genesee Valley Park. Having moved to a new and unfamiliar place, these walks were a way of drawing closer to the city of Rochester and the people who call it home. In the process, I discovered the vitality and democratic function of the park and its relationship to the larger city. In this space, people gather, celebrate, rest, and dream. It exists as a wild refuge, a pressure valve within the overall function of the city. In this way, it is one of the …

Loosie: A Nesting Furniture Collection, Maurice Bryan

Theses

A persistent challenge in housing design is the efficient use of limited space, particularly in densely populated urban environments, where residents balance comfort with the need to minimize clutter and spatial constraints. This study investigates strategies for optimizing interior space through space-saving methods, using multifunctional furniture design. The primary objective is to develop multipurpose design solutions that enable users to express personal style while maximizing spatial efficiency, with a focus on approaches that emphasize multifunctionality and transformability. These strategies enable residents to use living spaces more efficiently, accommodate a broader range of activities, overcome clutter and spatial constraints, express individual …

Deaf Space 2.0 - Adapted And Scaled To Large Urban Infrastructures, Youngjin Yi

Theses

This thesis investigates how DeafSpace principles can be adapted and scaled beyond interior environments to operate effectively within large urban infrastructures. While DeafSpace has been successfully applied in controlled, building-scale contexts, its potential at the scale of sidewalks, transit hubs, and public circulation systems remains underexplored. Contemporary urban environments rely heavily on auditory cues to communicate movement, safety, and orientation, creating barriers for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and limiting clarity for the public at large. Through architectural observation, spatial analysis, and scenario-based evaluation conducted at the Rochester Institute of Technology campus and downtown Rochester, this research examines how architectural form, …

The Making Of Shi'a Resistance In Afghanistan: Historical Roots, Communist Rule, And Soviet Occupation, 1978–1989, Sayed Sajjad Hojet

Theses

This thesis examines Shi'a political mobilization in Afghanistan from the 1978 Saur Revolution through the Soviet occupation, ending in 1989. It argues that Shi'a resistance was not simply a religious reaction to Marxist rule but a complex movement shaped by long-term marginalization, influenced by rival political ideas, and connected to cross-border networks in Iran. It traces how persecution under Amir Abdurrahman Khan created a system of political exclusion that shaped Shi'a collective identity before the communist takeover, and how ideologies such Marxism and Political Islam further politicized Shi'a youth in the mid-twentieth century. The PDPA's coercive policies after 1978 helped …

Avoiding White Elephants: An Empirical Assessment On The Failure Of Airport Capacity To Drive Tourism Receipts, Somanithel Kheang

Theses

This study investigates the relationship between airport infrastructure capacity and international tourism receipts across 12 major Asian and European economies from 2000 to 2019. Using a Panel Fixed Effects framework, the analysis tests the "Supply-Led Growth" hypothesis to determine if physical infrastructure expansion independently drives tourism revenue. To address potential endogeneity and reverse causality, the study employs specification where all independent variables are lagged by one year.The empirical results yield a robust null finding: airport capacity does not exhibit a statistically significant impact on tourism receipts. Conversely, government consumption is identified as a potent driver of tourism performance, with a …

Resurrecting The Lost City Of Kaskaskia: An Archival, Gis, And Archaeological Investigation Of Illinois’ First Capital, Rebecca Ramey

Theses

This thesis centers around the question of how much remains of historical Kaskaskia, Illinois in the archaeological context, and examines the common historical narrative and its lack of inclusion of non-white voices. Kaskaskia was a vibrant, diasporic community that shaped the founding of Illinois. Through archival research, ArcGIS, geophysical surveys, and an archaeological investigation, this thesis proves that it is possible to bring those voices back through the archaeological record. Kaskaskia has long been ignored by the broader research community, and this thesis aims to show just how much potential Kaskaskia has at contributing to our understanding of the founding …

Development Of Chemical Reaction Airbag Safety System For Multi-Rotor Uav To Mitigate Free-Fall Collision Impact, Brady Kent Villiger

Theses

With Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) becoming more advanced, the demand of companies that plan to use them for commercial use has only increased. Amazon plans to use UAVs for shipping purposes, Esri uses UAVs for surveying purposes, and many government organizations use UAVs for search and rescue, infrastructure inspection, and power line inspection. With all these uses, UAV safety becomes a major concern. If a UAV were to fail mid-flight there would be an issue if it collided with a person or an expensive piece of equipment after a free-fall. In this paper, the proposed safety system would be a …

Predicting Flight Fares With Machine Learning: Enhancing Aviation Industry Pricing Forecasting, Reem Almulla

Theses

This research investigates the increasing challenge of accurate flight fare prediction for travel agencies that are functioning and working in the post-pandemic aviation market. As the prices fluctuate while demand is unstable and competition pressure increases, therefore it influences decision-making and profitability. In most cases, traditional ticket pricing methods often can be ineffective when capturing complex and non-linear relationships within factors that influence the ticket fare dynamics. As a result, highlighting the urge of more adaptive pricing and data-driven predictive machine learning models. In response to this challenge, the research examines the effectiveness of machine learning techniques for enhancing flight …

Genui: Customizing And Improving User Interfaces In Real-Time With Generative Ai, Ursula Parker

Theses

MOTIVATION: Users must conform to the interfaces they are given, which are designed for a generalized user base rather than individual workflows or preferences. Existing UI customizations are often limited to fixed options predetermined by developers, restricting meaningful user control. Advances in generative AI introduce the possibility of modifying the underlying code of a production system that defines interfaces, enabling more flexible and targeted adaptations. However, the feasibility, scalability, and usability of such user-driven customization remain open questions. GOAL: The goal of this work is to help people customize their user interfaces, by investigating how they can linguistically specify the …

Energy And Cost In Cold Climates: Comparing Passive And Active Solar Design Upgrades For Homes And Their Ability To Reduce Energy Bills In Western New York, Gillespie Merod

Theses

This study examines the comparative effectiveness of passive solar design strategies and active solar systems for reducing residential energy expenditures while maintaining thermal comfort in Climate Zone 6A/B, with a focus on Western New York. A baseline single-family residence was created in Autodesk Revit and analyzed with Autodesk Insight (EnergyPlus) to assess energy performance across multiple upgrade scenarios. These scenarios encompassed targeted envelope enhancements, passive solar design strategies, deep energy retrofits, and photovoltaic (PV) system integrations. Results indicate passive measures, especially air sealing and insulation, can cut energy use by up to 76% with deep retrofits, though upfront costs and …

Antidistillation Sampling For Classification Models, Khawaja Abaid Ullah

Theses

Knowledge distillation enables adversaries to replicate the functionality of proprietary machine learning models by querying their APIs and training surrogate student models on the returned soft-label distributions. Antidistillation Sampling (ADS), recently proposed for large language models, perturbs the output distribution of a teacher model at inference time to degrade the quality of the resulting distilled model while preserving utility for legitimate users. We adapt ADS to the supervised classification setting and identify a structural obstacle to its direct transfer: the high-confidence, near-one-hot output distributions characteristic of well-trained classifiers leave insufficient probability mass on non-target classes for the additive penalty to …

Like A Rolling Lychee, George Meng

Theses

I grew up in Shanghai, China—a megacity with over 25 million people. I was privileged enough to avoid the grueling fate of taking the National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao). At 16, I moved to Sewanee, a small college town in rural Appalachia with a population of only 3,000. Overshadowed by that curiosity was the collision of two worlds and my sense of belonging and identity. I wasn’t fully aware of how I watched and copied others’ behaviors and mannerisms to blend in as an adolescent. Being a minority in the middle of nowhere Tennessee meant I was conditioned into fitting …

أثر الفيتو على فعالية مجلس الامن في النزاعات الدولية المعاصرة "دراسة تحليلية", محمد سلطان الكويتي

Theses

The Impact of the Veto on the Effectiveness of the Security Council in Contemporary International Conflicts: "An Analytical Study"

The League of Nations, which was established in 1919 after World War I to maintain peace, failed in its mission. Therefore, in 1945 the victorious allies established the United Nations through San Francisco Conference on June 25, 1945. This was followed by the establishment of the Security Council, with its primary responsibility in maintaining international peace and security. The establishment of the Security Council represented a tremendous hope for achieving world peace after the horrors of World War II. However, The …