Digital Commons Network^™

Safe Power Vermont: A Look Into The Campaign To Retire The Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station., Dylan M. Kreis

Capstone Collection

This case study provides an in-depth look into the campaign to retire an aging nuclear power plant located in the southeast corner of Vermont. The Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VY) began commercial operations in 1972 under a forty year operating license issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Opposition to the plant’s existence has been unwavering and has increased in intensity since the sale of the plant in 2002. The Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation (VYNPC), a consortium of local and regional utilities, sold VY to an out-of-state corporation owner known as Entergy. The company was quick to apply …

International Service-Learning Program In Guatemala On Mayan Education, Language Maintenance & Social Activism: A Program For The City College Of New York, Cuny, Kenneth Yanes

Capstone Collection

ABSTRACT: The CLC program design, International Service-Learning Program in Guatemala on Mayan Education, Language Maintenance & Social Activism: A Program for The City College of New York, CUNY, proposes a six-week program with a chief focus on service, research and experiential learning. The program aims to introduce all participants to the current issues in Mayan culture and society through lectures and service-learning activities at Casa Xelajú and affiliated NGOs in the Quetzaltenango area. As an international service-learning program, its participants will be incorporated to assist host organizations that have a similar interest to the curriculum of the course. Participants are …

Three Sisters Exchange: Building Alliances And Promoting Justice From The United States To Ecuador, Ariel Climer

Capstone Collection

This paper presents a proposal for a social justice and action-based study abroad program with foundations in the short-term reality tours of the education and human rights-based NGO, Global Exchange, a far-reaching non-profit with friendships built on solidarity against the spread of elite globalization. The program is called the Three Sisters Exchange to honor the sustainable design of indigenous crop planting prevalent around the world. The design comes at a time when international educators offer few programs with foci in social justice. The international education field needs more sustainable programs that take into account global systems. A propagation of such …

The Role Of Youth In Post-Conflict Reconstruction (The Case Of Liberia), Marit Woods

Capstone Collection

African youth today no longer want to view themselves as future leaders; instead they want to be viewed as leaders of today who have the ability to shape their own future. Despite the limited opportunities available to youth in the developing world, they strive to become contributors to their communities. Once the world realizes the importance of empowering youth, young Africans will have more opportunities to excel. The purpose of this inquiry is to answer “What opportunities are available for Liberian youth (15-35 years old), and how can these opportunities enhance youth participation in the National Reconstruction Process?” Utilizing qualitative …

Positive Discomfort: Structured Student Reflection In International Service-Based Programs: A Social Justice Curriculum, Stephanie K. Kraemer

Capstone Collection

In the fall of 2009, Princeton University launched the Princeton Bridge Year Program—a service-based, international, pre-freshman “bridge” or “gap” year for 20 accepted students sent to four different countries. Princeton chose the international social enterprise ProWorld Service Corps as its partner organization to run the Bridge Year Program in Urubamba, Peru. Princeton University and ProWorld Peru both state a very clear intention in running this program: to transform participants. Their explicit goal is to turn out students who have a global perspective and are compassionate, humble, aware, innovative and inspired.

But how should program-providers, out in the field, actually accomplish …

The Procedure Of Election Law In Federal Courts, Joshua A. Douglas

Law Faculty Scholarly Articles

Election law scholars have paid scant attention to the different procedures by which courts decide election law cases. Further, there has been little exploration of the reasons why certain processes exist, and there is even less discussion of which procedures are best for election law cases. One commentator has advocated for state legislatures to define clearly certain procedural matters for election contests, including: “(1) who can be a contestant; (2) what standard of evidence to require; and (3) how to expedite contests.” But there are more fundamental and foundational questions: What goals are we trying to achieve in enacting special …

Toward A Set Of Theoretical Best Practices For Web 2.0 And Web-Based Technologies, Matthew Kruger-Ross, Lori B. Holcomb

Educational Foundations & Policy Studies Faculty Publications

Many educators are excited by and support the innovative and pedagogically invigorating technologies offered by the interactive and collaborative Web 2.0 movement. To date, much of the research on the integration of Web 2.0 tools has focused on technical and procedural generalizations about how one might incorporate these technologies into the classroom. While some research has addressed content specific uses of these tools, only a limited amount has explored best practices for using these technologies to encourage learning. While these studies are groundbreaking and serve an important purpose, this article aims to shift the ongoing conversation toward a first draft …

Pilgrimage: Communitas And Contestation, Unity And Difference - An Introduction, Michael A. Di Giovine

Anthropology & Sociology Faculty Publications

In this introduction to Tourism's special issue, 'Pilgrimage: Communitas and Contestation, Unity and Difference,' guest editor Michael A. Di Giovine explores the intellectual history of the anthropological theory of communitas — which Victor Turner has argued is a foundational element of pilgrimage — and its broader application to tourism research. Communitas denotes a spontaneous sensation of mutual communication and unity that arises among pilgrims, which transcends the quotidian markers of social structure, such as class, status, education, employment, or political affiliations. While the theory has proven to be foundational in the social scientific study of pilgrimage and, later, (secular) tourism, …

Are Building Design Rating Systems Effective Towards The Goal Of Sustainability In The Design And Construction Of Public And Private Buildings And How Will New Energy Performance And Sustainable Design Requirements Affect The Professional Liability Of Building Design Professionals?, Samuel D. Transue

HIM 1990-2015

The following paper will explore the future of sustainable building practices as it relates to building design rating systems and whether building design rating systems are effective in conserving energy and resources in the construction of new buildings. This paper will begin by highlighting some of the general principles behind sustainable design practices, and the challenges of determining if building design rating systems are utilized effectively towards the goal of sustainability. In addition, the paper will highlight issues specific to ongoing litigation in Gifford v. U.S. Green Building Council and allegations made within the lawsuit that question the methodology and …

The Relationship Between Number Of Toys, Infant Distractibility, And Mothers' Teaching Utterances, Lap Van Nguyen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship among the number of toys in an infant’s play environment, infant’s distractibility, and how often a mother teaches her infant during a play session. This study takes samples from videotapes of 12-month old children playing with their mothers during a 5 minute free-play situation. Twenty-two mother and infant pairs were selected for this study based on their previous participation in a language study. The measures used in this study were: (1) the number of maternal teaching utterances to her infant; (2) the total number of utterances that mother used during …

Hungry And Taking The Bus? Assessing Food Outlet Accessibility In Central Florida, Katelan E. Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Little academic research has been conducted examining access to transportation by those in need. The small amount of research that has been done focuses primarily on mobility issues of the elderly and the disabled, despite findings that income level is an important determinant in access to transportation. The few studies that have examined access to transportation in relation to income simply cite the difficulties that those in poverty face when attempting to access vital resources as problematic, yet very few focus specifically on this issue. This thesis examines how free food recipients commute to and from local pantries, and whether …

An Analysis Of The Effect Of Involuntary Mobility On Student Achievement As Measured By The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, Mark Willard Mullins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the impact of involuntary mobility on the academic achievement of tenth grade students in a Central Florida school district. Students of involuntary mobility were selected as the result of new attendance boundaries due to new high school construction. Students were compared against non-mobile peers at schools of like demographics (i.e. poverty level and ethnicity). Mobility status (involuntary or no mobility) was the independent variable. The dependent variable, academic achievement, was measured by students’ tenth grade developmental scale scores in reading and mathematics on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Students’ ninth grade test scores were used as a …

Religious Women And Homosexuality A Denominational Breakdown, Mandi Nicole Barringer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to examine women‟s attitudes toward homosexuality by religiosity, and how these attitudes may vary across denominations. To examine this, I will use the General Social Survey to analyze the extent to which women‟s attitudes toward same-sex relations vary by denominational affiliation, religious participation, and spirituality. Based on the current literature, women are generally considered to be more tolerant than men regarding homosexuality. However, research has not examined the extent to which their attitudes vary across denominational affiliation. This research will contribute to the current literature by examining variations by denomination, religiosity, and spirituality in …

Do Immigrant Students Consume Less Energy Than Native-Born American Students?, Lei Lei

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper uses a sociological model to compare the residential energy consumption between immigrant students and native-born American students and to explain the difference by demographic characteristics, values, and specific attitudes. Further, it tries to explore whether the relationship between immigration status and residential energy consumption is mediated by value orientation towards frugality and specific attitudes towards energy conservation. The data of an online survey among native-born and foreign-born students at the University of Central Florida are used. The results suggest that immigrants consume less energy at home than native-born Americans, but the time stayed in the US doesn’t have …

Structural Dynamics Of Organizations During The Evolution Of Interorganizational Networks In Disaster Response, Alireza Abbasi, Naim Kapucu

Faculty Bibliography 2010s

This study analyzes the evolution of interorganizational response networks over time. The study aims to investigate an organization's position and role as a result of the dynamic changes that occur through the evolution of interorganizational response networks. Social network analysis measures are applied in order to evaluate not only network structure and specifications but also an organizations focal structure and role changes over time. Using Hurricane Charley's coordination data of the activities of several organizations involved in the response process over time, the study evaluates networks and the organizations' network structural changes over a period of time. The results show …

Exploring Women's Life Course Experiences With Weight Using Story Theory, Poff Allison Edmonds

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study included women who had gone through the menopausal transition and had experienced obesity, and it focused on their weight histories and experiences across the life course. The goal of this research was to add to the body of knowledge concerning weight gain by applying a novel middle range theory (story theory). Story theory was used to collect and interpret from women’s life course stories the critical themes and patterns of their weight gain. Oral accounts were elicited during personal interviews from a convenience sample of ten women recruited from a weight loss and exercise program in Central …

The Tyler Perry Effect Examining The Influence Of Black Media Images On The Black Identity, Nicole E. Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the influence of Tyler Perry‟s House of Payne and Meet the Browns on black viewers‟ racial identity, based on a survey of 145 members of four predominantly African American churches in the Central Florida area. Mirroring Allen, Dawson, and Brown‟s (1989) model of an African American racial belief system, this study proposed that both shows would positively influence three dimensions of the black identity including closeness to blacks, black separatism, and the belief in positive stereotypes about blacks, while negatively influencing the dimension that emphasizes negative stereotypes about blacks. Socioeconomic status and religiosity were also hypothesized to …

Yogic Diffusion The Effects Of Yogic Practice And Philosophy On Beliefs About Complementary And Alternative Medicine, Jacqueline Marie Siven

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research is a qualitative study that aimed to anthropologically explore the effects of consistent long-term yogic practice on the acceptance and practice of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among yoga practitioners at a South Florida yoga center. I wished to determine, through in-depth interviews, whether or not yogic practice affects acceptance of CAM. The main objective was to interview individuals from a single yoga center that have practiced yoga at least once per week for at least one year concerning their beliefs about CAM, yoga, and health. This project will begin to fill the gap in social science, in …

La Démarche Du Population Council: Promouvoir La Santé, La Sécurité Et La Productivité Transitions Vers L'Âge Adulte, Population Council

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

Ce document “Promouvoir des transitions vers l’âge adulte saines, securisées et productives” donne un aperçu de l’attention du Population Council sur les adolescents qui a commencé au début des années 1990. L'accent a été accompagné d'un engagement à ouvrir le champ des études et des programmes consacrés aux adolescents en élargissant le simple domaine de la sexualité, de la santé génésique et des comportements aux grandes questions sociales et économiques qui sous-tendent la santé et le bien-être des adolescents. En 1998, avec la publication de The Uncharted Passage—un examen de référence de la situation des adolescentes dans les pays en …

The Search For Rapists’ “Real” Motives, David P. Bryden, Maren M. Grier

Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology

No abstract provided.

Deviance, Risk, And Law: Reflections On The Demand For The Preventive Detention Of Suspected Terrorists, Joseph Margulies

Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology

No abstract provided.

Mental Disorder And Criminal Law, Stephen J. Morse

Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology

No abstract provided.

Sex Trafficking And The Sex Industry: The Need For Evidence-Based Theory And Legislation, Ronald Weitzer

Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology

No abstract provided.

Paradise Lost, Found Or Created? Expectations Between Teachers And Vulnerable Children: Case Study On Peace House Secondary School, Northern Tanzania, Kelli Bee

Capstone Collection

The orphans and vulnerable children of northern Tanzania are offered a unique opportunity of education if selected to attend Peace House Secondary School. The school selects the most needy of this ostracized demographic and offers high quality education by focusing on student-centered techniques.

This study investigates the expectations between students and teachers using ethnographic methods carried out in 2010 and 2011, including student-wide survey, classroom observations and interviews with both teachers and students. Student perspective was intentionally of particular focus in data collection.

The study found that expectations which were shared by all participants revolve around passing exams. Students are …

Experiences In Coexistence And Anti-Normalization Phenomenological Case Study: Arab Alumni Of The Arava, Lauren Rauch

Capstone Collection

Many Arabs are confronted with the accusation that they are “normalizing with the Zionist enemy” when they participate in people-to-people programs with Israeli Jews. This paper explores the phenomenon of Arab participation in the Arava Institute of Environmental Studies, an academic coexistence program in Israel, and how the participants relate their experiences to the anti-normalization discourse. At the Arava Institute, Palestinian and Jordanians study and live alongside Israelis; Arab participants are often labeled “normalizers” within their society, a term associated with being a traitor or collaborator. From an anti-normalization perspective, people-to-people programs promote a positive public image of Israel and …

Forgotten Foods: The Impact Of Western Development On Eating Habits Among Women In Dehradun, India, Stephanie L. Leite

Capstone Collection

This paper investigates the impact that Western development has had on eating habits among women living in the greater Dehradun area of India over the last century. Research was undertaken while working at Bija Vidyapeeth, an organic farm and educational center operated by the Indian-based Non-Governmental Organization, Navdanya. Primary data was collected by interviewing twelve women from four families, spanning three generations and ranging in age from 106 to 20. Two of the four families live in the urban center of Dehradun, while the other two families practice farming outside the city limits. Interviews revealed a generational change in eating …

Directing Beyond The Boundaries: A Director's Journey To Personal Style In Directing Diaspora, Mary Elizabeth Wlodarczyk

Theses

Even though, the text of Diaspora was technically "mine" in the sense that J wrote Diaspora, the play text itself became a separate creature at its completion. So the production of Diaspora was not so much my directing a play I wrote, as much as it was an agreement between me and the new text, an autonomous life. In this exacting negotiation, I had to chose where I reside on the spectrum directing philosophies, whether I would embrace complete fidelity to the text or would I see the directing process as more intuitive and flexible (Benedetti 14-15)?

The writers and …

The Rhetoric Of Sacrifice, James W. Watts

Religion - All Scholarship

No abstract provided.

A Family Portrait, Amelia Salinas

A with Honors Projects

Family portrait using modified attachment theory going back two generations.

Soc 1838g : Introductory Sociology, Sociology And Anthropology

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.