Digital Commons Network^™

The Evolution And Impact Of The Token Black Friend Trope In American Media, Sophie E. Rice, Kurt Milberger

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

This research explores the history of the token Black friend trope in American media and how these misrepresentations continue to influence popular culture and negatively impact Black Americans. Historically, the token Black friend stereotype singles out Black characters to fill gaps in the plot through comedy, intelligence, or self-sacrifice, all while being excluded from the white protagonist’s larger narrative. The prevalence of this trope is apparent through several contemporary and classic examples, which are used to evaluate the effects of the token Black friend trope on American culture. To deconstruct these misrepresentations, this essay supplements these examples with scholarship …

Prophet, Stephen D. Kelly

Valparaiso Fiction Review

No abstract provided.

The Secret, Kristen Hamelin Tracey

Valparaiso Fiction Review

No abstract provided.

Angelfish Is Spinning, Anne Elliott

Valparaiso Fiction Review

No abstract provided.

Prefatory Notes

Valparaiso Fiction Review

No abstract provided.

Bcai – Project-First Ai Business Creation Platform: Defensive Publication (3 December 2025), Clinton Orah

Defensive Publications Series

This document publicly discloses a novel artificial intelligence-powered business

development platform that implements a Project-First Architecture for guiding

entrepreneurs through the complete startup lifecycle — from ideation to market

launch. The system integrates sequential phase-locked workflows, AI

orchestration agents, gamified progress tracking, and hybrid monetization

models to create a comprehensive digital co-founder experience. This publication

establishes prior art for the described innovations.

Experiences And Perceptions Of Patients, Caregivers, And Healthcare Professionals With Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics For The Treatment Of Schizophrenia: Qualitative Results From The Multinational Advance Study, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Introduction: Schizophrenia imposes a substantial burden on individuals and society. Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) improve adherence and reduce relapse and hospitalization rates compared with oral treatments for schizophrenia, yet LAI use varies globally. The qualitative interview portion of the global Attitudes DriVing regional differences in long-acting injectable ANtipsychotic utilization for schizophrenia among healthcare professionals (HCPs), patients, and CaregivErs (ADVANCE) study explored the patient journey from schizophrenia diagnosis to treatment, treatment goals, and experiences and perspectives on LAIs that may influence their use. Methods: ADVANCE included HCPs, patients, and caregivers from Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Israel, Spain, South Korea, and the …

Expanding Epilepsy Representation: On Education And Awareness, Aliyah Wise

Honors Projects

The present-day American public education system has evolved to try to teach young students about more cultures and people of different lifestyles. However, despite these reforms to push for an inclusive education system, there is still minimal effort to teach students about disabilities and the people who live with them. As a student living with epilepsy, I have observed a lack of education or conversation about this disability. The purpose of this research project is to ask: How does miseducation on epilepsy contribute to harmful stereotypes and lead to real issues for people living with this disability? How should neurotypical …

2025-09 September Newsletter, Sammi Williams

NMOER Newsletters

No abstract provided.

2025-05 May Newsletter, Sammi Williams

NMOER Newsletters

No abstract provided.

A Leap Of Good Faith: Intent Requirements In Trademark Applications Across Major Markets, Maximillian Scott Matiauda

University of Miami International and Comparative Law Review

This Article examines how four major trademark regimes—the United Kingdom, United States, China, and European Union—define and regulate bad-faith trademark applications. It traces the historical and legislative foundations of intent-to-use doctrines, compares contemporary statutory frameworks and judicial interpretations, and evaluates pivotal developments such as the U.K. Supreme Court’s SkyKick ruling and China’s ongoing trademark reforms. Although the jurisdictions employ distinct legal tools, the Article finds a converging emphasis on curbing opportunistic or abusive filings. The Article ultimately advocates for greater international alignment in articulating and enforcing good-faith standards within trademark law.

The Samsung Succession And Art Donations: The Necessity Of Tax Incentives In Preserving And Expanding The Cultural Heritage Of South Korea, Sophia Do

University of Miami International and Comparative Law Review

Until recently, South Korea’s laws did not allow the donation of art as a form of inheritance tax payment. In fact, there has been a general lack of tax benefits on art donations in the country. Experts often attribute this deficiency to two reasons: the lack of a national and widespread art appraisal system and the traditional view that such tax laws benefit only the rich. The tide, however, turned in 2020. Two national events provided the impetus for tax law reform that allows the donation of art as a form of inheritance tax payment: the Samsung succession and the …

Framing The Dialogue By Revisiting Fundamental Principles For Indirect Copyright Liability In China: History, Economics And Tort Law Analysis, Xiao Ma

University of Miami International and Comparative Law Review

The issue of indirect copyright liability has been debated for many years, particularly with the rise of technological advancements like cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI). China has frequently revised its laws and regulations to address copyright–related cases, often drawing from the experience of the common law system. However, this has sparked stakeholder disagreement on implementing filtering obligations for online services, raising the duty of care for online intermediaries, and whether safe harbor rules are still relevant.

This Article argues that the current regime of digital copyright liability rests on three pillars: historical, economic, and tort law theories. The author …

The Equality And Subordination Of Jesus To The Father: A Critique Of The Eternal Functional Subordination Of Christ In View Of The Kenotic Principle In Philippians 2:5-11, Willem A. Oosthuizen

Student Research

ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Thesis Southern Adventist University School of Religion Title: THE EQUALITY AND SUBORDINATION OF JESUS TO THE FATHER: A CRITIQUE OF THE ETERNAL FUNCTIONAL SUBORDINATION OF CHRIST IN VIEW OF THE KENOTIC PRINCIPLE IN PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 Name of the researcher: Willem A. Oosthuizen Name and degree of faculty adviser: Hyunsok John Doh, Ph.D. Date completed: May 2024 In Philippians 2:5-11, Paul encourages the Church to model the humility of Christ, as demonstrated by Jesus' kenosis during the incarnation. Recently, this passage has become a source of debate on the issue of Jesus' position and His relationship …

Kaleidoscope, Katherine Kennedy

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Awkward, sullen, and superior, Avery has never been good with people, and that’s fine by him. Painting is the only thing he has ever liked; the only thing he’s ever been good at. Starting college is his chance to give himself completely to his passion and see what he’s capable of when he’s not wasting time pretending to be interested in other people.

That’s why being seated next to Daisy in Studio Art is a catastrophe.

Daisy is everything Avery finds annoying; she’s overly friendly, chatty, and emotional. But over the course of the semester, Avery finds himself drawn in …

Government Regulations-Consumer And Worker Protection Laws Business Law, Lorelei Salas

Open Educational Resources

This assignment challenges the students to dive deeper into consumer and worker protection laws, by expanding their knowledge base or exploring personal experience with these issues.

Workstation Redesign, Mclean Dowell, Anna Seville, Luz Corral Parra, Farah Talib

Senior Design Project For Engineers

Tellerex is a leading ATM refurbishing and repair company operating from Atlanta, Georgia. Due to its rapid growth, the company is facing challenges pertaining to their parts repair and refurbishing lab. Tellerex aims to fulfill orders by 4:00 pm on the day they are placed, guaranteeing their clients same-day shipping. Orders often build up throughout the day, causing lab technicians to stress, rush through orders, and lose organization.

Tellerex has requested our help regarding one of their repair/refurbishment labs. Our goal is to redesign the lab workspace through human ergonomics and Lean Six-Sigma principles. The company wants us to create …

University Of New Hampshire 2025-2026 Faculty Senate Xxx - December 8, 2025 Minutes Summary, Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Agendas & Minutes

No abstract provided.

Math Meets Climate: The Energy Balance Model, Maria I. Sanchez Muniz

Open Educational Resources

This assignment introduces students to the mathematics of Earth’s climate through the classical energy balance model. Students analyze how incoming solar radiation, outgoing thermal radiation, and temperature-dependent albedo interact to determine Earth’s equilibrium temperature. Using analytical calculations and computational tools, students identify equilibrium states, assess their stability, and interpret the results through the lens of dynamical systems and bifurcation theory. The activity builds conceptual understanding of climate feedbacks, greenhouse effects, and tipping behavior using a transparent, one-variable model. Designed for applied mathematics and interdisciplinary STEM courses, this assignment emphasizes computation, physical interpretation, and real-world relevance. It is released as a …

Contract Law And The U.S. Legal System, Business Law Assignment, Lorelei Salas

Open Educational Resources

This assignment ties legal concepts covered in business law to specific scenarios that can measure comprehension of contracts and the US legal system

What Is The Liahona Project?, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

This article summarizes the genesis of the Liahona Project, the process involved, and the resulting materials.

Water Circulation Beneath A Hovering Suas For Water Quality Monitoring Applications, Erin E. Hackett, Boone Fleenor, Jensine C. Coggin, Duvall Dickerson-Evans, Nikolaos Vitzilaios, Whitney E. Schuler, Paige K. Williams, Michael L. Myrick

Marine Science

Water quality has traditionally been measured via in situ sensors and satellites. The latter has limited applicability for smaller inland water bodies, while the former requires significant logistics, labor, and expense for routine sampling, and reactive/spurious sampling is often not feasible as a result (e.g., sampling pre-/post-storm). Consequently, small uncrewed aircraft system-based (sUAS-based) sampling has emerged as a potential solution to bridge these sampling gaps and challenges. But sampling from an sUAS is complicated by the need to pump water from depth, rather than suspending a sensor from the sUAS, due to concern over sampling sUAS-impacted waters. Here, we measure …

Art Therapists' Experience Utilizing Virtual Reality’S Multibrush In Group Art Making With Young Adults., Lidice Cohen

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

Young adults aged 20-35 experience disproportionately high rates of mental health conditions yet exhibit low treatment-seeking behaviors, creating a significant care gap. Digital interventions—particularly Virtual Reality (VR)—show promise for reaching this tech-savvy group. The primary research question explored art therapists' insights utilizing this modality, while a secondary aim examined whether creating VR response art (VRRA) enhanced understanding of the group process. Three credentialed art therapists and nine young adults participated, sharing insights via interviews after VR group sessions and VRRA creation. Thematic analysis revealed that adaptation to VR influenced group dynamics, self-expression through embodiment, collaboration, boundary management, sensory stimulation, and …

Thriving Not Surviving: A Thriving Nursing Student Concept Analysis, Laura Skoronski Chavez

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The primary aim of this review was to complete a concept analysis of a thriving nursing student. The overall goal was to produce a new, more holistic definition of a thriving nursing student instead of a successful nursing student.

With the current nursing shortage, many nursing programs are focused on retention and the success of their graduates (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2023). This has shifted focus not just on success as an end-product, but early identification of at-risk students and methods to help them achieve academic achievement (Williams & Dahan, 2022). Because of this shift, the current …

Editors’ Introduction: New Editors, New Directions In Writing Assessment, Mathew Gomes, Lizbett Tinoco, Stacy Wittstock

English

The JWA 18.2 editors’ introduction contains a welcome by the new journal editors, Mathew Gomes, Lizbett Tinoco, and Stacy Wittstock. It also provides an overview of the two articles and symposium in the issue: Bradley Queen, Kate Kirby, Maryam Eslami, and Kameryn Denaro’s (2025) exploration of ePortfolios as instruments of fairness; Daniel Ernst’s (2025) examination of the use of automated writing evaluation (AWE) technology in writing assessment; and Megan Von Bergen’s (2025) critique of labor-based grading discussions by Kryger and Zimmerman (2020) and Carillo (2021), followed by responses from Griffin X. Zimmerman (2025) and Ellen Carillo (2025).

The Echo: December 8, 2025, Taylor University

2025-2026 (Volume 113)

No abstract provided.

Chimes: December 8, 2025, Calvin University

Chimes

Women's volleyball's memorable season ends in the DIII quarterfinals by Zach Kern

Facilities expands recycling program on campus by Ian Tjoelker

A history of the liberal arts at Calvin: 1890s to today by McKenna Wilkinson

Christmas beyond Calvin: Letters to Santa by Ellery Johnson

"Energy and vision": Calvin's Black Student Union by Jorie Cho

Running with Sophie by Evangeline Anga

Students prepare for upcoming Fall Film & Media Showcase by Ashley Hamons

2025-03 March Newsletter, Sammi Williams

NMOER Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Board Of Directors Meeting Minutes (December 8, 2025), Dmacc

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

This file contains the minutes from the Des Moines Area Community College Board meeting held on December 8, 2025.

Spike Timing Depended Plasticity Produces Unsupervised Learning Of Synergistic Muscle Feedback In A Synthetical Neural Network, Mark Allen Pupkiewicz

Dissertations and Theses

This study investigates how type Ia feedback from muscle spindles can be organized into groups representing agonistic muscle pairs through Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity (STDP). A single degree of freedom joint is actuated with four biologically modeled muscles forming two agonistic pairs. In order to emulate the sensory dynamics of biological muscle spindles, sensors in the model record the active length and velocity states of each muscle, the two primary factors eliciting type Ia afferent responses. In biological networks, synapses from Ia sensory neurons frequently activate interneurons representing agonistic muscle sources. This research investigates whether this organization can emerge in …