Digital Commons Network^™

Analyzing Attitudes On Social Welfare: Partisanship Versus Self-Interest, Jack D. Ryder

Student Publications

What influences Americans' attitudes on social welfare? Why do some Americans vote seemingly against their interests? Using data from the 2020 National Election Survey, this paper will test hypotheses examining how rurality and Republican partisanship are associated with lower favorability toward social welfare spending. This paper will also analyze the current literature on immigration, locality, and partisanship to see how they shape attitudes toward welfare spending. Overall, the regression models show that Republican partisanship is more correlated with support for social welfare cuts than an individual’s rurality. This study is important for understanding how partisanship shapes attitudes on policy and …

Finding Black Girl Joy: The Lived Experiences Of Rural Black Girls, Tisha Scott-Addison

College of Education

This qualitative study examines the lived experiences of rural Black girls to gain a deeper understanding of how structural inequities manifest in their daily school lives. Grounded in intersectionality theory, the research examined how the convergence of race, gender, age, and geography influences the treatment and perceptions of Black girls within rural school settings. The central research questions guiding the study were: How do rural Black girls describe their experiences with school discipline, adultification, and a sense of belonging, and how do these experiences shape their educational journeys? Twenty Black female students in rural schools participated in semi-structured interviews. Data …

Urban Political Ecology And Informal City: Using The Capabilities Approach In Co-Designing With Slum Communities, Patrick Vance S. Nogoy

Philosophy Department Faculty Publications

Slum communities which compose an informal city offer a serious challenge to urban metabolism approaches that promise to be inclusive in confronting environmental injustice. In particular, urban political ecology (UPE) frameworks critically examine power structures and relational dynamics in the environment where objectionable injustices are identified and corrected. However, Holifield (2009) finds UPE limiting as it excludes marginalized communities and other important factors. The main reason Holifield highlights is the dominance of Marxist UPE frameworks that interpret environmental injustices narrowly as results of uneven social power relations and dynamics driven primarily by neo-liberal capitalist behaviors, institutions, and activities. Alternatively, he …

Entre Hogares Y Fronteras: Trayectorias Migratorias Y Acceso A Los Derechos De Trabajadoras Paraguayas De Casas Particulares En La Ciudad Autónoma De Buenos Aires, Lizeth Victoria Rocha Rocha

Argentina: Social Movements and Human Rights

Hay una gran concentración de migrantes paraguayas que trabajan en el sector del servicio de casas particulares en la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. A pesar del marco legal de igualdad de Argentina, las experiencias y trayectorias migratorias de estas mujeres siguen sin ser suficientemente estudiadas, en particular en lo que respecta a las desigualdades sistemáticas a las que se enfrentan. Este estudio ofrece una pequeña visión de la exploración de este tema. Se centra en las experiencias de cuatro mujeres paraguayas que han trabajado en casas particulares de Buenos Aires en los últimos cinco años. Al analizar sus historias, …

We Have Always Been Here: Trans Oral History Project Grant Application, Finn Vincent-Fix

Historic Preservation Final Projects

This project is a grant application for the HOPE Fund, a permanent community endowment established at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan for the purpose of providing grants to organizations serving local LGBTQ+ communities. The grant would have been used to finance the We Have Always Been Here: Trans Oral History Project (WHABH), which seeks to preserve the stories of transgender individuals living in SE Michigan utilizing the practice of oral history. Grant funding would allow project personnel to conduct, transcribe, publish, and preserve the stories of a marginalized population whose rights are actively being threatened in the highest courts …

The Imperative Of Regeneration: Exploring The Dimensions Of Tourism And Agriculture In Bali, Ava Whitney

Indonesia: Arts, Religion, and Social Change

This research centers on the impacts of mass tourism, development, and modernization on the landscape and culture of Bali and investigates regenerative alternatives in agriculture and tourism. Regenerative thinking offers a vision of travel and subsistence that preserves the ecology of the landscape and the integrity of Balinese culture. Organic farming and permaculture principles are traditional agricultural practices in Bali that have existed for generations, imbued with the Tri Hita Karana philosophy of Balinese Hinduism. Agriculture is a facet of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) that transmits ecological and cultural wisdom to future generations about how to relate to the natural …

Fall 2025

La Louisiane

The magazine of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

The Splintering Of American Public Law, Marco Basile

University of Chicago Law Review

Constitutional tradition has never mattered more for arguing about what the Constitution means. Yet the very idea of a constitutional tradition presents a shape-shifting target. Rather than an entirely distinct body of law, early U.S. constitutional law mixed and blurred with the law of nations in a broader category of “public law” that, unlike other forms of law, sought to govern the sovereign state itself through not only legal institutions but also political structures and actors outside courts.

This Article argues that U.S. constitutional law and international law diverged after the Civil War when courts came to apply them differently …

Montana Folk Festival 2025, Butte, Montana, Rachel Baer, Ava Worbets, Kika Bradford

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This study was conducted for the Montana Folk Festival to provide insight into the characteristics of attendees of the 2025 Montana Folk Festival. 968 attendees from the event completed the survey. Results show that 80% of respondents were residents of Montana, of which 37% were from Butte-Silver Bow County. Out-of-county respondents spent an average of 4.5 nights in Montana, reporting a total spending of $263,194.25, mostly in hotel/motel/bed and breakfasts and restaurants/bars. Results provide event organizers with useful data for future event planning, making improvements to the event, event marketing/promotion, and understanding the visitor spending associated with the event.

Navigating Survival Without Rights: The Case Of Sub-Saharan And Sudanese Migrants In Tunisia, Amel Mohdali

Tunisia and Italy: Politics and Religious Integration in the Mediterranean

This study examines irregular migration and the lived experiences of migrants and asylum seekers in Tunisia, focusing on how individuals navigate prolonged transit in the absence of legal status, protection, and formal rights. Based on qualitative interviews with eight migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa, and Sudanese refugees displaced by mass violence, the research approaches migration not as a single act of movement but as an extended condition shaped by housing, employment, mobility, and access to safety. Across interviews, Tunisia is described as a transit country that unexpectedly became a site of residence due to expired visas, exit fines, and restricted onward …

A Translation Of Akira Mizubayashi's Reine De Coeur, Zachary N. Knudson-Swain

Department of Modern Languages and Literatures: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Akira Mizubayashi's Reine de Coeur is a story about intergenerational trauma, and the ability music has to mend broken bonds. This translation is an attempt to bring the musicality of his language into English and convey Mizubayashi's unique cultural perspective in an English language context.

Advisor: Jordan Stump

Nutrition In Context: How Cultural Beliefs, Gender Norms, Social Environments, And Interventions Shape Maternal Nutrition In Nepal, Rebecca Fan

Switzerland: Global Health and Development Policy

Maternal nutrition is recognized as one of the most significant and modifiable determinants of persistent inequities in maternal and neonatal health. In Nepal, what women are able to eat and how they experience pregnancy are all shaped by a complex interplay of cultural beliefs, gendered expectations, household dynamics, structural barriers, and nutrition intervention efforts. This study examines these intersecting factors through ethnographic accounts, peer-reviewed scientific literature, expert interviews, and an analysis of current interventions operating across different levels. Specifically, to understand the social environments shaping maternal nutrition, the paper explores cultural beliefs and misconceptions surrounding food, women’s limited control over …

“常蓄東遊之志” : 杜甫晚年神仙思想的地理傳記學考察, Zhitian Wang

嶺南學報 Lingnan Journal of Chinese Studies

樊晃《杜工部小集序》談到杜甫晚年“常蓄東遊之志”。從這一記載入手並對照杜甫詩歌可以發現，杜甫晚年確實有再次東遊吳越的計劃。吳越自六朝以來便是神仙思想盛行之地，也成爲道教“同天福地”聚集的區域。杜甫之所以對吳越念念不忘者，除了因有親友在此之外，更爲重要的是受了神仙思想的指引。除了“東遊”杜甫晚年也表達過“南征/南遊”的意圖。“東遊”的目的地是吳越，而“南征”的目的地是武陵桃源（唐朗州，今湖南常德）乃至嶺南。二者雖然目的地不同，但同樣都是爲了求仙問道。江南乃至嶺南一帶，在六朝以來“洞天福地”的道教地理中佔據了重要位置，吸引了包括杜甫在内的道教信徒前來修仙朝聖。歷來讀者更多注意到杜甫的家國情懷，却忽視了神仙思想對杜甫的强大吸引力。運用傳記地理學的方法，可以幫助我們更好地理解杜甫晚年的心跡與行乘，加深對杜甫晚年詩歌的理解。

In “Preface to Du Gongbu’s Small Collection”, Fan Huang said that in his later years, Du Fu “always have the ambition to travel east (changxu dongyou zhizhi)”. It can be seen from this account and Du Fu’s poetry that in his later years, Du Fu did have a plan to travel east to Wu-Yueh (presently Zhejiang and Southern Jiangsu province) again. Since the Six Dynasties, Wu-Yueh had become an area where the idea of immortality prevailed, and many “grotto heavens and blessed earths” (dongtian fudi) in Taoist system were gathered there. The reason why Du Fu …

Getting There From Here: Reflecting On Compassionate Migration Policy, Steven W. Bender

William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice

Having written about Latinx issues for more than three decades, with a focus on immigration policy for at least the last two decades, I see no middle ground in this time of Trump. Those who relish hurt and hate, and those scholars who wrote the kindling for that bonfire, must be basking in the glow of their handiwork. Those of us who I claim are on the right side of history must search through the ashes for hope—the where, when, and how to nurture humanity on scorched ground. Counting myself among those searching for hope, I acknowledge the indulgence offered …

Behind The Prompt: The Environmental Impact Of Llm Inference, Lucy Hegenderfer, Isaac Huang

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

As the size and demand for large language models (LLMs) increase, the environmental impact of computational inference often exceeds training; yet industry lacks a standardized method of calculating this expanding environmental footprint. Complexity arises with task-specific computational demands, infrastructure overhead, and various GPU architectures, making cross-model assessments burdensome. Combining environmental engineering and computer science principles by validating Jegham et al.’s meta-model, we predict the carbon emissions and water consumption during inference, providing metrics to raise user awareness of AI’s growing environmental footprint. Additional work supports integration into a multi-agent conversational system that encourages responsible scheduling and prompting, guiding the user …

How Students’ Geographical Area Influences Their Level Of Interest In Engineering After Participating In The Epic Program, Cristina Ruiz

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

The purpose of this study was to look at how a student’s location can shape their interest in engineering after taking part in the EPIC program. My research question asked: How do students’ geographical area influences their level of interest in engineering after participating in EPIC? To answer this, I compared students from different income groups: higher, middle, and lower, which was determined by using ZIP code data tied to average income and education levels. I also did a closer look at students from the Santa Maria region. Many of these students were connected to the Migrant Education Program, which …

Governance In The Absence Of Government, Tracy H. Pearl

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing at an unprecedented pace, with generative systems exerting growing influence over social, economic, and political life. While AI offers opportunities for innovation and efficiency, it also poses risks ranging from misinformation and job displacement to existential threats if highly autonomous systems evade human control. Across industry, government, and civil society, there is broad consensus that AI requires oversight. Yet traditional U.S. regulatory approaches face six significant barriers: (1) technology outpacing legislation, (2) limited AI expertise among policymakers, (3) regulatory capture, (4) political gridlock, (5) outdated governance structures, and (6) the inherent complexity of AI. Combined …

Beyond The North Star: The Southward Flight Of Enslaved People To Mexico, Kayro Gonzalez

Theses (2016-Present)

When most people think of the Underground Railroad, they often picture brave individuals escaping the slave-owning South, seeking safety in the northern United States or Canada. However, it's essential to recognize that the fight for freedom went far beyond those regions. In 1830, Mexico abolished slavery, leading many escapees from enslaved areas across the United States. With freedom just a few miles away, hundreds of American slaves established several secretive and advanced routes into Mexico’s northern states, settling in newly founded free black colonies like San Lorenzo de los Negros and El Nacimiento de los Negros, among others. Using data …

Subsistence As Resistance: Reconceptualizing The Theory Of Progressive Property To Incubate Resistance To Consumerism, D.S. Pensley

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

This Article reconceptualizes the theory of progressive property by juxtaposing legal theory with the empirical study of a subsistence economy in the U.S. Subarctic. Progressive property holds that owners are bound by obligations to non-owners as a means to achieve human flourishing. The theory is constrained by the primacy of private property in Western thought, and it also lacks the ecological ethic required for sustainability. Drawing from my fieldwork, I suggest that human flourishing must additionally incubate resistance to consumerism.

Federal statute, 16 U.S.C. § 3113, defines subsistence as “the customary and traditional uses by rural Alaska residents of wild, …

Friends Of The Hilton M. Briggs Library, Fall 2025, Hilton M. Briggs Library

Friends of the Hilton M. Briggs Library Newsletters

Volume 11, Issue 1.

Features:
A brand-new collection: SD Livestock brand books span 130 years
Elizabeth Fox Named South Dakota Librarian of the Year
Notes from the Dean of the Library
Student Assistant Excellence Award Recipients
Archives launches Adopt a Collection program
Briggs Library Wish List
Lisa Lindell honored for outstanding scholarship
Grants benefit Archives collection and promote affordable learning

Gulf Coast Faculty Council Minutes - September 23 2025, Eric A. Saillant

Gulf Coast Faculty Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Validation And Trend Analysis Of Satellite-Derived Surface Water Temperature Observations Over Adirondack Lakes, Marzi Azarderakhsh, Carolien Mossel, Abdou Rachid Bah, Aisha Malik, Fahmeda Khanom, Jonathan Borrelli, Pete Mcintyre, Hamidreza Norouzi, Kevin Rose

Publications and Research

This study aims to validate and evaluate satellite remote sensing observations from the Landsat series over 135 lakes in the Adirondack State Park, located in upstate New York, and to examine their surface temperature trends over the past 40 years. It utilizes data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), along with Landsat 5 and 7. Park-scale results were derived by extracting MODIS surface temperatures within the park boundary, while lake-scale results were estimated using Landsat 5 (1984-2012) and Landsat 7 (1999-2023) observations. In addition, field observations were utilized to perform a comprehensive validation and evaluation of satellite-based surface temperature …

The Role Of Gamified Learning In Developing Math Confidence And Procedural Fluency, Celeste Nosow

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone project sought to answer: In what ways might a gamified math fluency resource focused on increasing math confidence facilitate learning for preadolescent students struggling in math? Research into game-based learning, motivation, and mindset revealed that students can benefit from engaging, collaborative, and low-stakes learning experiences that build fluency through games. Additionally, the environment should foster math confidence and competence in preadolescent learners. The project culminated in the development of a website offering free, low-preparation math games appropriate for grades 3–5. Designed for teachers and substitute educators, the learning materials provided emphasize social interaction, inclusivity, and equitable access. This …

Scaffolding Social Studies Texts For Below Grade-Level Readers To Promote Literacy Growth And Student Engagement, Brendan Maloney

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this capstone project is: How can I scaffold fifth grade social studies texts for immigrant students who are far below a fifth grade reading level to maintain content standards, student engagement, and promote literacy growth? The capstone paper documents multiple approaches to fostering student engagement and effective ways to grow literacy skills in learning spaces. The document also follows the creation of a unit of curriculum to foster student engagement and literacy growth, targeting Latin American immigrant students whose reading levels are below grade-level. The unit topic focuses on Central and South American Native civilizations …

Integrating Environmental Education: A Continuing Professional Development For Minnesota Educators In Weaving Local Indigenous Knowledge Systems And Western Science, Sarah Genet

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

As of 2021, Minnesota’s updated academic standards in science for all grade levels include local Indigenous cultures, histories, and perspectives. The Minnesota Department of Education provides limited content and professional development guiding the implementation of these requirements, leaving educators to design and update their curriculum with little formal guidance. This capstone explores integrating Indigenous and Western knowledge systems to help answer the research question: ‘What must be included in environmental education curriculum interwoven with Indigenous and Western perspectives in science to provide a holistic learning experience?’ This capstone presents continuing professional development designed for upper-level secondary science and environmental educators …

Dipl 6000 Na/Wb Introduction To International Relations Theory And Diplomacy, Brian K. Muzas Phd

Diplomacy Syllabi

This course introduces students to the major theoretical traditions of international relations and diplomacy, with particular attention to how these theories help us understand contemporary challenges including cyber warfare, artificial intelligence, technological disruption, and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Asia. We will begin with a critical investigation of the competing assumptions and concepts that form the heart of various theoretical approaches to the study of world politics. As a class we will grapple with the key actors, processes, and variables highlighted by each theory, and assess their relative strengths and weaknesses in explaining both traditional interstate relations …

Effectiveness Of Chinese Dual-Use Shipbuilding Within State-Owned Enterprises, Naveen Wineland

Student Publications

This paper examines how effectively China’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have leveraged dual-use shipbuilding to support the naval modernization of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). While China’s commercial shipbuilding sector now dominates the global market and provides SOEs with massive economies of scale, workforce continuity, and supply chain depth, the ability to translate these advantages into advanced naval shipbuilding has been uneven. Drawing on theoretical frameworks of the developmental state and hidden developmental state, this analysis distinguishes between commercial and naval shipbuilding requirements and examines hull-level production data for major U.S. and Chinese surface combatant classes. The evidence suggests that …

Introduction To Critical Conversation In Canadian Public Law, Joshua Sealy-Harrington, Karen Drake, Kyle Kirkup, Anne Levesque, Jena Mcgill

Articles & Book Chapters

The introductory chapter to Critical Conversations in Canadian Public Law situates the book "in the midst of some of the most significant social, economic, and political struggles of the past decade", from the COVID-19 pandemic to the Gaza genocide. The introduction describes how the book "seeks to reflect and ignite critical conversations about the centrality of public law and its institutions, broadly defined and deeply contested, to the (re)production of current inequities." It outlines two ways in which the collection is "critical": first, the critical legal methods employed by the contributors (e.g., acknowledging law's political operation, understanding law's relationship with …

Loma Linda Nurse - Vol. 34, Loma Linda University School Of Nursing

Loma Linda Nurse

FEATURES

4 | Jordan Robison Profile

6 | LLUSN Mission Service— A Living Legacy

10 | Steps to a New School

12 | Entry Level Master’s at Murietta

LLUSN HIGHLIGHTS

14-21 | ALUMNI NEWS

22-27 | ACADEMICS

28-33 | HOMECOMING

34-37 | FACULTY UPDATES

Dominican Population Decline In New York City After 2020, Laird W. Bergad

Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies

The Dominican population of New York City has experienced a significant decline since reaching its peak of 761,333 in 2021, falling by nearly 13% to 663,169 by 2024. This decline does not appear to be driven by reduced immigration from the Dominican Republic, as yearly arrivals have remained at relatively high levels between 2011 and 2023.

This Latino Data Project Report suggests that there has been an important emigration of Dominicans away from New York City to other areas of the United States. It is likely that the Dominican population of New York City will continue to decline into the …