Digital Commons Network^™

Cop29: Moving Forward?, Kathleen Rowan, Andrew N. Rowan

WellBeing News

COP29 was labelled the “Finance COP” but many countries were disappointed by the final funding support agreement.

How Misogyny In Gaming Affects Black Women/Poc, Niccarri Allen

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

This research query explores the gaming industry and how its misogynistic issues affect the Black community in its forums. Research has shown that there has been a suppressed issue of prejudice against women of color in many gaming spaces in the last 20 years. Video games, created for healing and interactive spaces for communities seemingly have normalized its harming nature to minority groups. My research will look into aspects of how gender bias and racism mix into the gaming industry and cause distress among its players. I will research how misrepresentation in the character personas in video games lead to …

Hidden In A Handbag, Emmaline Landes

Honors Theses

The Hidden in a Handbag exhibition is comprised of a series of three medium size paintings using a heightened color palette. The painting style used for the artwork draws on elements of Photorealism as pioneered by Aubrey Flack. My work focuses on the personal act of revealing the contents of a woman’s spilled purse. By requesting that friends and family share the spilled contents of their purses without alteration, as well as the contents of my own purse, I capture a raw and private glimpse into these women’s daily lives. These paintings are rendered in larger-than-life detail, so that these …

Honorable Mention Research Paper: The Impact Of External Factors On Urban Youth Behaviors, Erin Simmons

Kevin and Tam Ross Undergraduate Research Prize

This study examines how community, family, and educational dynamics impact behavioral and academic outcomes for students in urban communities, focusing on Black and Latinx youth. Through qualitative research involving interviews and observations, the study explores how factors like family instability, economic challenges, and community violence influence students’ behaviors and motivations in school. Findings reveal that unresolved trauma and external stresses manifest in the behavior and emotions of students within the classroom, affecting both student engagement and achievement. The research offers insights for educators, counselors/ therapists, social workers, families and policymakers to develop supportive interventions that address students’ unique experiences.

2024 December 5 - From My Notepads Newsletter, Office Of The President, East Tennessee State University, Brian Noland

From My Notepads: A Newsletter from President Brian Noland

No abstract provided.

Bridging The Gap: Examining The Discrepancies In Communication Skills Between University Education And Employer Expectations, Valerie Chan

Honors Theses

Effective communication is a critical skill in the workplace, yet a persistent gap exists between the communication abilities of university graduates and the expectations of employers. This study explores the alignment between the communication skills taught in the Western Essential Studies (WES) general education curriculum at Western Michigan University (WMU) and the communication needs identified by employers. By examining four communication types—oral, written, interpersonal, and digital—this research investigates the similarities and differences in how faculty and employers define and emphasize communication skills.

Findings reveal a misalignment between the skills emphasized in university curricula and those prioritized in the workplace. Faculty …

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 9 - December 5, 2024

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 9 - December 5, 2024. 16 pages.

Pretexts For War And The Preinvasion Crisis In Ukraine, Ron Gurantz

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

©2024 Ron Gurantz

The US strategy in the run-up to the invasion of Ukraine appeared to undermine Russian efforts to justify the war. While studies of international crises typically focus on the goals of deterrence and escalation management, recent events in Ukraine show that counterjustification is another important objective. Russia used covert activities and deception to try and create a pretext for its invasion, and the United States aggressively countered these efforts. This monograph presents an exhaustive study of the US military, diplomatic, and informational strategy in the run-up to the invasion of Ukraine and derives lessons about counterjustification that …

Is The Canada Disability Benefits Program Consistent With The Social Model Of Disablement? The Perils And Promises Of Equality Rights Through Income Support Programs, Ravi Malhotra

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

The social model of disablement stands for the proposition that it is structural barriers that impede the lives of people with disabilities. Disabled people should be included in all spheres of life, including employment, through the removal and eradication of barriers. At first glance, the expansion of disability benefits appears to contradict the goal of inclusion of people with disabilities in employment. In this article, I argue that the passage of the Canada Disability Benefit Act is fully consonant with the social model of disability. Using the work of disability rights scholar Marta Russell and the philosopher Cornelius Castoriadis, as …

The Raye Montague Digital Collection, Paola Cavallari

Theses and Dissertations

The Raye Montague Digital Collection consists of 735 items that have been digitized and catalogued to tell the story of Raye Montague, the United States Navy hidden figure. The Collection addresses the need to remedy decades of historical invisibility Raye Montague was subjected to because of gender and racial discrimination despite her fundamental contributions to U.S. history. This thesis details how the Collection inserts Raye Montague within a broader historical context that uncovers the role Black women had as federal employees in the U.S. military during and after World War II. It also explains how, in designing the Collection, I …

Fostering The Forum: Examining The Progress And Challenges In Cultivating A Free Speech Campus At Western Michigan University, Kalloli Bhatt

Honors Theses

The First Amendment’s breadth has narrowed on college and university campuses. Students, once staunch defenders of free speech, have become the censors themselves. In fact, there have been so many incidents of speaker disinvitations and scholars under scrutiny that the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, otherwise known as FIRE, has amassed years’ worth of data documenting these occurrences. This phenomenon has been so widespread for so long that scholars have been sounding the warning bells since 1987 (Bloom, 1987). While it may seem as if these problems occur at bigger universities, events that have violated First Amendment rights of …

Kenyon Collegian - December 5, 2024

The Kenyon Collegian

No abstract provided.

Factors Of Police Decision-Making Of Veterans In Crisis, Paul N. Guzman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since 9/11, the need for veteran crisis intervention has increased. Police agencies often respond to veterans in crisis by deploying officers who have completed Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, and many of the officers are prior military. However, little research has focused specifically on the factors influencing police officers’ decision-making when responding to veterans in crisis. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the association and predictability between event type, veteran behavior, police officer military experience, police officer CIT, and the disposition of veterans as measured by arrest, referral for mental health services, and the use of force. …

Factors Of Police Decision-Making Of Veterans In Crisis, Paul N. Guzman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since 9/11, the need for veteran crisis intervention has increased. Police agencies often respond to veterans in crisis by deploying officers who have completed Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, and many of the officers are prior military. However, little research has focused specifically on the factors influencing police officers’ decision-making when responding to veterans in crisis. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the association and predictability between event type, veteran behavior, police officer military experience, police officer CIT, and the disposition of veterans as measured by arrest, referral for mental health services, and the use of force. …

Perceptions Of Clinicians Towards Offenders Who Utilize The Good Lives Model For Sex Offender Treatment, Janel Nicole Harper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Understanding how clinicians perceive offenders who utilize the strength-based good lives model (GLM) in treatment may help facilitate more acceptance among clinicians to incorporate strength-based alternatives as well as provide better therapeutic outcomes in treatment. The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory study was to examine the perceptions of clinicians who utilize the GLM for sex offender treatment. Grounded theory was utilized to formulate a theory regarding clinician perceptions towards offenders and its social change implications. The sample comprised of 11 clinical health professionals from mental health agencies who currently work or have worked with sex offenders within the past …

Reconstructing Long-Term, High-Resolution Groundwater Storage Changes In The Songhua River Basin Using Supplemented Grace And Grace-Fo Data, Chuanqi Liu, Zhijie Zhang, Chi Xu, Wanchang Zhang

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) enables large-scale monitoring of terrestrial water storage changes, significantly contributing to hydrology and related fields. However, the coarse resolution of groundwater storage anomaly (GWSA) data limits local-scale research utilizing GRACE and GRACE-FO missions. In this study, we develop a regional downscaling model based on the linear regression relationship between GWSA and environmental variables, reducing the grid resolution of GWSA obtained from GRACE from approximately 25 km to 1 km. First, we estimate the missing values of monthly continuous terrestrial water storage anomaly (TWSA) for the period from 2003 to 2020 using interpolated multi-channel …

Fear Of Widespread Voter Fraud, William Chester Basnight

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Millions claim the 2020 presidential election was stolen; there was even an insurrection to try and stop the election from being certified. Despite the lack of evidence, too many people trust politicians who claim elections were rigged or stolen. In this paper, I will study the type of person who fears widespread voter fraud, what media sources are pushing voter fraud headlines, as well as the patterns in social media usage when related to fearing voter fraud. I will do this by using the Chapman survey of American fears, a representative national sample of U.S. adults in 2024. I found …

Unpacking Bias, Accountability, And Ethical Practices In Ai, Manya Chandra, Micol Hebron

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

This study is based on understanding how text-to-image generative AI platforms perpetuate biases such as racism and sexism and decoding how this bias is programmed within large language models and datasets. In this study, the results of generative AI are analyzed through the lens of affect and affect theory, as they are applied to investigate the machine learning and computer theory behind generative AI algorithms. The purpose of the study is to explain why generative AI is biased and whether this bias is generated due to current trends or to deficits and biases within the database that it draws information …

Nuclear Nightmares: The American Fear Of Iranian Nuclear Attacks And Foreign Policy, Tyler Coker

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

In an age of escalating tensions in the Middle East, the American public has to watch with a wary eye for a conflict in which the United States has to get involved overseas. In this paper, I examine the extent to which religiosity influences Americans’ fear of Iranian nuclear attacks. Using Chapman University’s Survey of American Fears, a nationally representative survey asking Americans about what scares them the most, I find an increase in the fear of Iranian nuclear strikes as a respondent’s religiosity increases. In religious circles, fears can be greatly manipulated by the words of a single authority, …

Why Do Americans Fear Terror Attacks More Than The Death Of A Loved One?, Jack Bunzel-Hardie

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

The 21st century has brought with it several instances of domestic and foreign terrorism on the United States. In the post-9/11 world, the general fear of terrorism and the various sources of terror that fall beneath this umbrella term have ballooned to the point of being one of the most prevalent fears in American society during the completion of the 2016 Chapman Survey of American Fears. While it is important to note that significant events such as the rise of ISIS, the Paris and Brussels Attacks, the Pulse Nightclub shooting, and the 2016 Presidential campaign have left individuals among the …

Why Are Female Teen Users Of Social Media Cyberbullied More Compared To Different Age And Gender Groups?, Minzi (Sally) Park

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

My research will focus on the question, why female teen users of social media, such as Instagram, are cyberbullied more compared to other users from different age and or gender groups. I am conducting this research in order to spread awareness of the negative effects of cyberbullying and to encourage in having more empathy towards others when online. Hopefully by approaching and utilizing social media in a way that is more compassionate towards others, there will be less victims and lives lost due to cyberbullying. This research will provide a brief summary of the origins of cyberbullying and how it …

Fall 2024 Student Scholar Symposium Abstract Volume, Chapman University Center For Undergraduate Excellence

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

No abstract provided.

Women’S Fear Of Violent Crime: Examining Media Consumption And Misconceptions Of Violent Crime, Kate Lindfors

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Within the United States, women are disproportionately victimized by crimes of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV). However, media narratives do not accurately represent the threats that women face within society, and women are often unaware of and lack protection from the forms of violence that they are most commonly subjected to. Therefore, this paper examines how the media frames violent crime and the victimization of women, as well as how underrepresentation and misconceptions contribute to the levels of fear that women feel toward violent crime. Through using data from the Chapman University Survey on American Fears from …

Partisan Perspectives On Trust & Corruption In America, Victoria Ascencio

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Facing accusations of bribery, abuse of power, and the unethical exchange of political favors for financial gain, Robert Menendez has been urged to resign as a senator. This case has been highlighted through many outlets, yet his case is only one of many instances of political corruption in recent years. This recurring pattern is leaving Americans to have less and less faith in political actors to uphold moral behavior in their position of power.

In this paper, I examine the contrasting perceptions of political influence held by Republicans and Democrats regarding various agents of the political system, including state and …

Triggering Fear: The Relationship Between Party Affiliation, News Sources, And Gun Control, Gabriella J. Bartsch

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Freedom and democratic principles are our government's core and essential for upholding a democratic society. This paper considers the relationship between political identity, media consumption, and the fear of government restrictions on firearms within the United States. This study analyzes correlations between these variables using data from the Chapman Survey of American Fears, Wave 10. Among the interesting findings are that Republicans and conservatives are more likely to fear government restrictions on firearms than Democrats, Independents, and liberals. Another finding is that one's preferred news sources can influence beliefs toward policies, including those on firearm restrictions, and shape people's perceptions …

Aquí Y Ahora: The Role Of Us Spanish-Language Tv News In Financial Vulnerability, Cintya Felix

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

In today’s world, the news we watch often does more than inform us; it can shape how secure or insecure we feel about our future. In this paper, I examine the extent to which an individual’s consumption of particular Spanish-speaking TV news channels contribute to their sense of financial vulnerability. Using an original data set of responses to the questions in the American National Election Studies (ANES), I find a moderately strong relationship between the television news channel Aquí y Ahora, and the degree to which they are worried about their financial situation. While it is true that various factors …

Fear Of Violent Crime: Should You Be More Afraid Of A Stranger Or Your Neighbor, Daliah Amarshi

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Whether you're watching the news or scrolling through social media, you are bound to hear about violent crimes. The constant reminder strikes fear within individuals. What many do not realize is that specific individuals are more susceptible to the fear of violent crime than others. Within this paper, I determine how social media usage, level of education, and gender impact an individual's fear of being murdered by either a stranger or someone they know. To do this, I used the Chapman Survey of American Fears. This survey was conducted on a national sample of adults in the U.S. through a …

Búsqueda De Babosas Marinas: Understanding Barriers Of Environmental Literacy And Climate Advocacy Within Southern California Spanish-Speakers, Cintya Felix, Ashley Lam, Lorena Muñoz, Micah Kim

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

The Hispanic and Latino populations are the largest ethnic minority in California, and more than 10.4 million Californians consider Spanish their first language. However, English is the primary language in most educational and public spaces. This means Spanish-speaking communities have limited access to coastal ecosystems and learning opportunities about coastal areas impacted by climate change and extreme weather, which becomes a barrier to civic engagement, climate advocacy, and local decision-making. During the 2023 summer, we partnered with local climate advocacy organizations and held educational programs at two public beaches in southern California. The presentations in English and Spanish taught foundational …

Daisy: A Multimedia Experimental Theater Love Letter Exploring Self, Love, Growth, And Human Connection Through The Dual Sides Of A Young Woman’S Soul, Daisy Shang

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Life is born of love, and women love from the heart.In the 21st century, amidst the information revolution, the rise of diverse industries, the redefinition of marriage and family, and the prevalence of either being a social queen or an emotional recluse, we, as women, often face this challenge: how do we perceive ourselves and love? As a multimedia female artist with a rich artistic background and diverse experiences, Daisy is a 120-minute multimedia experimental theater piece that I have written, directed, designed, and performed. It focuses on the conflicts and awakenings experienced by contemporary women in their pursuit of …

Head To Toe: What Do We Think About Heels Dance?, Peyton Winsett

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Through both observation as a dance consumer and personal experience as a dance student, heels dance has noticeably risen in prominence within the commercial dance industry in recent years. This style has primarily been showcased through professional dance classes and in commercial and concept video projects. This study seeks to understand the reasons behind this sudden growth in appeal, the potential social implications of this increasing popularity, and the varying perspectives on this style across generations. It synthesizes past research and analyzes a survey conducted with current students in Chapman University's dance department. This presentation will investigate the motivations driving …