Digital Commons Network^™

Food, Family, And The Factors Influencing The Frequencies And Characteristics Of Family Dinners In America, Iii, Ronald E. Overing

Theses & ETDs

This thesis is an investigation into the factors influencing the frequencies of family dinners, which allowed for an examination of contemporary family life in America. Dinner was chosen because it is the most social meal of the day and because of the meal�s potential for being a powerful site of socialization. Historical research was used to explain the context leading to the formation of family dinners, which began as a reaction to the industrial revolution started by the Protestant middle-class during the 1850s. After the history chapter, the frequency of family dinners since the 1970s was found in existing literature, …

Nomadic Pastoralism In Mongolia's Age Of The Market, James William Birmingham

Theses & ETDs

The pastoralists of Mongolia have recently gone through a dramatic shift in their economy and government � one arguably even more challenging to their traditional subsistence economy than the Soviet era that preceded it. Mongolian nomadic pastoralism is now dealing with global capitalism. This thesis will analyze this transition�s effect on the nomadic pastoralists of Mongolia. It will focus on the tension between the traditional methods of the pastoralists and the capitalist policies that are being employed in modern Mongolia.

Stirring Up The Hive Ngo Discourse And Indigenous Subalternity The Case Of Las Abejas Chiapas, Mexico, Lucia Isabel Stavig

Theses & ETDs

There exists a large body of scholarly literature on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in development and democratization, the relations between NGOs in the global North and South, and the methods of accountability of NGOs to their funding agencies and clients. Much of this literature assumes that NGOs� presence and support of democratization, grassroots activism, and social transformation is positive. However, there is a growing body of literature that critiques this assumption. This thesis adds to this body by exploring the relationship between a group of human rights NGOs in Chiapas and the Las Abejas indigenous social movement organization. I analyze this …

Jazz Poetry The American Idiom, Isabel Maioriello-Gallus

Theses & ETDs

In the early 1920s, poets in America began using a vocabulary based on folk forms and speech. African-American folk culture started playing a central role in the arts and became a way to construct cultural identity. Jazz music and classic blues were on the rise as the popular music of the time. The music and poetry were evolving parallel to one another and share many similar characteristics. This thesis analyzes the poetic works of six authors involved in the genre of jazz poetry. My research is chronological beginning at the start of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and continuing …

Made In New York, Stayed In New York Cultural Production And The Mayor's Office Of Film, Theatre, And Broadcasting, Harrison Bender

Theses & ETDs

To what extent can film commissions affect the production of material culture? What role do municipal institutions play in regional culture industries? When thinking about the production of material culture, we don�t always think of tangential institutions as having any meaningful part in the production of culture. I use semi-structured interviews and bibliographic analysis to ascertain the extent to which the Mayor�s Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting, the acting film commission in New York City, meaningfully affects the production of material culture. The results of my work illuminate the relationship between the MOFTB and the cultural/visual media industry networks …

Domestic Cats Coat Color And Personality, Do Calicos Really Have Catitude?, Jacqueline Munera

Theses & ETDs

For cats in shelters, coat color may influence a potential adopter�s choice of cat, how long a cat stays in a shelter and how likely he or she is to be euthanized, but cat personality is reported as a primary reason for adopters� satisfaction with their cats. Cat personality evaluations may help shelters facilitate appropriate and successful adoptions, while reducing euthanasia and return rates. Many people have a perception of coat color, particularly tortoiseshell and calico, as a representative indicator of cat personality, while research on the relationship between the two is lacking. This study utilized behavior assessments and scoring …

What I Call Myself Exploring Ethnic Identities And Selections Of Ethnic Labels For Hispanic/Latino Second Generation Immigrants, Maria D. Duenas

Theses & ETDs

In this thesis, I explore how young adult members of the so-called Hispanic/Latino ethnic group develop their ethnic self-identifications in the context of the government- and socially-created racial/ethnic categories. Through eleven in-depth interviews with second generation Hispanic/Latino immigrants between 18 and 25 years old, I identify four preferred self-identifications: pan-ethnic (ambivalently Hispanic instead of Latino), country-specific, situational labels and rejection of all racial and ethnic labels. Ethnic identity is formed and labels are selected primarily in relation to others, specifically: family (their connection to their native countries) and neighborhoods (racial/ethnic makeup, specifically Latin American presence).

An Empirical Investigation Into The Demand For Mass Produced Artistic Products, Chaitanya Katikala

Theses & ETDs

Thesis addresses concerns of early economists about the nature of demand for artistic products by looking at modern day creative works. In attempt to isolate the aesthetic value from other uses, the project focuses on mass produced artistic products. The industry is analyzed from three hypotheses of how consumers value art: conversational value, emotional value, and collection value. The data showed emotional value was best to describe how consumers used artworks. There was evidence against consumers using art for its conversational value and the evidence for collection value was inconclusive. A fourth value was also brought forward by the data …

Hammers And Sweat, Self And Other The Gift Of Habitat For Humanity Volunteerism, Taylor Kennedy

Theses & ETDs

This ethnographic thesis compares three Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Southwest Florida, those of Manatee, Sarasota, and Collier County. Through in-depth interviews with volunteers and staff members on the construction sites, this thesis surveys the reasons people volunteer and focuses upon socially motivated reasons. Analysis of relationships developed and managed through on-site service and articulations of the social dynamic between volunteers and homeowners�both observed and ideal�will inform a broader question of the altruistic nature of Habitat for Humanity. Secondarily, this analysis will assess differences between the three affiliates, or institutional variability, and note possible impacts upon the volunteers' motivation and …

Selling Suburbia An Actor-Network Analysis Of The Construction Of Levittown, Ny, Matthew Goeke

Theses & ETDs

In 1947, Levitt & Sons began building the building small, affordable homes for veterans on suburban Long Island by the thousands. Within a few years, Levittown became both the most famous postwar suburb and the target of relentless criticism. This thesis uses the construction of Levittown as a method to examine the vast array of factors that enabled detached suburban home ownership to dominate the American landscape in the second half of the 20th century. By studying this suburb, I evaluate the merits of some competing views on the �causes� of suburban development. Using Michel Callon and Bruno Latour's actor-network …

Ain't Nothin' To It But To Do It Collaboration And Reflexivity In Experimental Performance, Caitlin Mcmullen, Christina Martin

Theses & ETDs

This thesis is the written component of a performance project co-conducted over the 2009-2010 academic year. This project was comprised of fall workshop rehearsals, composition of set pieces in January, and a final performance event. Working collaboratively with an ensemble of students, we structured improvisational games and created a distinct compositional vocabulary based on these games. We composed pieces individually as directors for a final performance, which took place on Sunday, January 31st, 2010. We did not begin this project with a specific end product in mind. This process was highly reflexive; we allowed the experience of rehearsals to guide …

Shared Spaces Residence Hall Architecture And Sense Of Community, Geoffrey Vitiello

Theses & ETDs

What role does the built environment play in fostering or inhibiting a sense of community in a residence hall setting? What role do residents play in engaging residential spaces and transforming them into loci of community interaction? This study employs a mixed methodological approach to investigate these questions. Using New College of Florida as a site, I use a combination of qualitative observations of the residence halls, an online survey gauging student housing preference and a sense of residential community, and semi-structured interviews with residents of each residence hall to explore in depth the diverse array of factors that contribute …

Challenging Stereotypes, Testing Hypotheses, And Presenting Truths About Santeria, Christina Goldstein

Theses & ETDs

This exploration challenges the stereotypes attributed to Santeria by the dominant Protestant culture and media of the United States, examines the observations of bygone and contemporary anthropologists, and offers new insights on the religion. It employs material from interviews with santeros and santeras living in Tampa, sacred stories, songs, and poems, and personal anecdotes to convey that the popular depictions of Santeria are not founded on reality, and that charges of irrationality and darkness and criticism of embodiment in the religion as primitive are unjustified, to test the hypotheses of Santeria�s new openness, Afro-centrism, syncretism, and growing racial and ethnic …

Ain't Nothin' To It But To Do It Collaboration And Reflexivity In Experimental Performance, Christina Martin, Caitlin Mcmullen

Theses & ETDs

This thesis is the written component of a performance project co-conducted over the 2009-2010 academic year. This project was comprised of fall workshop rehearsals, composition of set pieces in January, and a final performance event. Working collaboratively with an ensemble of students, we structured improvisational games and created a distinct compositional vocabulary based on these games. We composed pieces individually as directors for a final performance, which took place on Sunday, January 31st, 2010. We did not begin this project with a specific end product in mind. This process was highly reflexive; we allowed the experience of rehearsals to guide …

The New Capitalism Cultural Transitions Seen In The Works Of Victor Pelevin, Jesse Brown O'Dell

Theses & ETDs

Russia's transition from Soviet, structured communism to free-market capitalism had a radical effect on the Russian population. Especially in Moscow, the spread of Western capitalism and the inclusion of foreign markets created an economic boom superior to any that took place during Soviet times. Literature was strongly affected by this transition, and the metamorphoses in writing can be seen in many contemporary works. This thesis will seek to contextualize the works of Victor Pelevin within the historical and cultural movements that were in effect as he developed them. The primary focus will be to emphasize the consequences of the fall …

Conservation And Restoration In Archaeology Practical Complexities In The Implementation Of International Agreements, Alana Boynton

Theses & ETDs

A growing concern for the preservation of an expanding definition of heritage has led to the adoption and revision of numerous international charters, such as the Athens Charter (1931) and the Venice Charter (1964), which outline guiding principles for the conservation and restoration of archaeological and historic sites. My thesis will trace the origin of these charters, and explain their evolution into the 21st century by examining the historical context in which they were created. Using the sites of Zaculeu, Tikal, and Naj� Tunich in Guatemala as case studies, I will analyze and evaluate the social, political, ethical, and practical …

2010-2011 Nova Southeastern University Undergraduate Student Catalog, Nova Southeastern University

Undergraduate Programs Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Chapter 2- Global Perspectives On Water For Food, Prem S. Paul, Monica Norby, Gillian Klucas, Ashley Washburn, Elizabeth Banset, Vicki Miller

Office of Research and Economic Development: Publications

The water crisis will play a major role in the future of global poverty, yet little awareness of this critical issue exists and few discussions are taking place about securing water for food, Jeff Raikes said. In a call to action, Raikes advocated an integrated and interdisciplinary approach, one that pulls on all levers to solve the pending crisis.

The Crisis
Already about 75 to 80 percent of human water consumption is used to grow food, Raikes said. The projected doubling in food demand, coupled with climate change’s impact on geographic availability of water, will significantly increase the demand for …

Exploring Unmet Needs And Barriers To Phychological And Behavioral Health Services In Rural Appalachia, Sarah Rachel Jarvis

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Residents living in rural communities face many challenges, one of which is the need for adequate mental health services. Various factors including accessibility, quality, and social stigma often impact an individual’s decision to seek services, especially when they are related to psychological distress. This project highlights the characteristics of several rural communities within Appalachia to determine if there is an unmet need for psychological services and what barriers may be keeping potential patients from seeking psychological services. Both archival and survey data will be analyzed to determine the perceived need for psychological services and what barriers community leaders feel are …

The Human Journey: Embracing The Essential Learning Outcomes, Michelle Loris

English Faculty Publications

At the beginning of the second decade of the twenty-first century, a new vision for college learning is clearly in view. Through its Liberal Education and America's Promise (LEAP) initiative, the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) has outlined what contemporary college students need to know and be able to do--in ever-changing economic, political, environmental, global, and cross-cultural contexts. The LEAP essential learning outcomes provide a framework to guide student learning in both general education and the major. The LEAP initiative calls upon college administrators and faculty members to give priority to these essential learning outcomes in order to …

Review: Karen Ward Mahar (2008): Women Filmmakers In Early Hollywood, Sara Ross

Communication, Media & The Arts Faculty Publications

Book review

Mahar, Karen Ward. Women Filmmakers in Early Hollywood. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008.

This book will be a useful reference for feminist and film historians looking to expand their understanding of how film and business history can help to explain the gendering of filmmaking.

Hiv-Aids And The Gendering Of Stigma In Tamil Nadu South India, Cecilia Van Hollen

Anthropology - All Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Introducing Purchase On Demand @ Scribner Library, 2009-2010, Andy Krzystynaik

Upstate New York Science Librarians Conference

No abstract provided.

Poverty Among Adults With Disabilities: Barriers To Promoting Asset Accumulation In Individual Development Accounts, Katherine Mcdonald, Michal Soffer, Peter Blanck

Public Health, Food Studies, and Nutrition

Adults with disabilities disproportionally experience poverty. We examine one novel strategy to promote economic well-being among adults with disabilities living in or near poverty, namely Individual Development Accounts (IDAs). IDAs are designed to help individuals save money and subsequently accumulate assets. Although adults with disabilities account for the majority of IDA participants, scant attention has been paid to their IDA saving performance. We describe the significance of accumulating assets, particularly as it relates to adults with disabilities. We then map the nature of IDA programs and analyze barriers to participation in IDAs and asset accumulation related to conflicting federal policies …

Building Civic Capacity On Campus Through A Radically Inclusive Teaching And Learning Initiative, Alice Lesnick, Alison Cook-Sather

Education Program Faculty Research and Scholarship

In this article we explore the definition and development of civic capacity at a liberal arts college through a specific teaching and learning initiative. This initiative encourages faculty, staff, and students to share the roles of teacher, learner, and colleague as they gain educational opportunities and foster these for others. Through a description of two programs and analysis of participants’ reflections, we identify four stages of change that foster civic capacity. We suggest that this initiative invites a re-interpretation of the institution as a site of educational opportunities and raises questions about how to broaden access to these opportunities.

Provision Of Second-Chance Education: The Hong Kong Experience, David Lim

Support & Other Units (THEi)

Purpose – Many students do not benefit from mainstream education and are forced to leave it. Governments and non‐government organisations concerned with the social injustice and problems that such rejection could cause offer these students second‐chance education programmes. This paper aims to examine the effectiveness of such opportunities, using as a case‐study the Vocational Training Council (VTC) of Hong Kong, which offers programmes in vocational education and training (VET) but draws lessons for the offer of such programmes elsewhere. Design/methodology/approach – The study uses a case‐study approach but sets it within the general literature on, and discussion of, second‐chance education. …

Head Coverings In The Virtual Umma: The Case Of Niqab, Heather Marie Akou

Textile Society of America: Symposium Proceedings

A growing body of literature points to the Internet as a place where Muslims are re-imagining themselves as part of a global, interconnected, religious culture—a new virtual umma. Along with issues such as politics, Islamic law, the interpretation of text, and procedures for rituals, hijab (modest dress) is a frequent topic of conversation. Compared to the physical world, where debates are heavily framed by time, place, and the habits of daily life, on the World Wide Web ideas and products flow much more easily. A new convert in Canada, for example, could use the Internet to read translated passages from …

Reclaiming Moral Development Through A Course Development Rubric, Timothy Daughterty, Lisa Johnson

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Moral development (growth in personal and social responsibility) was originally a primary goal of higher education in the United States and continues to be cited in many college catalogs, but few institutions currently make a commitment to intentionally addressing personal and social responsibility through the core experiences of their students (Hersh & Schneider, 2005). The processes of specialization and fragmentation, along with the pursuit of value-free inquiry, have led institutions to retreat from investing in moral development as a component of robust liberal education (McNeel,1994). As “colleges and universities are increasingly under pressure to offer educational programs of immediate economic …

Tao And The Lost Art Of Leadership, Scott Paynton

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

I often tell people that I am literally a lifetime student of academic leadership. I grew up watching my father navigate his career in the academy as a professor of Sociology, including serving as Department Chair. Much to his pleasure I followed suit, pursuing a fun and challenging career as a professor of Communication in the same state university system. Over the course of my journey in academe, I’ve observed, and participated in, almost every level of academic leadership. From serving as chair of too many committees to remember, Department Chair, Vice-President of the Academic Senate, University Ombudsperson, and now …

Technological Innovations And In The Banking Sector: An Evaluation Of The Rate Of Diffusion Of The Automated Teller Machine, Igwe Chinedu

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

The internet widely regarded as the third wave of revolution, (after the industrial revolution and the agricultural revolution) heralds the age of electronic revolution and is fast becoming the central nervous system of a universal consumer marketplace and an essential means of conducting and coordinating business activities. For the banking sector, the internet marks the transition from the brick and mortar stage of banking to the branchless stage. In a word, Information Technology (IT) has moderated the constraints of time, space, and information access in world trade and commerce as a whole. The growing popularity of Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) …