Digital Commons Network^™

Examination Of The Interaction Of Tourism Seasonality, Hospitality Enterprise Size, And Patronage Rate In Visitor Flow Dynamics In Kisumu Region, Kenya., Destaings N. Nyongesa, Mathias M. Amata, Samuel Irungu

ICHRIE Research Reports

Tourism seasonality has significantly impacted hospitality enterprises' financial stability and operational efficiency. However, its interaction with enterprise size and patronage rate remains underexplored, particularly in urban destinations such as Kisumu Region, Kenya. This study examines how tourism seasonality, hospitality enterprise size, and patronage rate influence visitor flow dynamics. A mixed-methods research design was adopted; the study integrated quantitative analysis of visitor numbers with qualitative insights from key industry stakeholders. Results indicate that Seasonality significantly affects visitor numbers, with larger enterprises exhibiting more pronounced seasonal fluctuations than smaller ones. However, patronage rates do not significantly moderate these trends, suggesting that customer …

Power Dynamics In Arctic Community And Citizen Science: Perspectives From Youth, Educators, And Scientists, Clement Sarah

Arctic and Northern Studies

Arctic research is shifting from a culture of scientist-driven inquiry and extractive relationships with Indigenous communities to a culture more conscious of local priorities and reciprocal research relationships. Today, Arctic research has dual goals of studying circumpolar issues through large-scale research and collaborating with local individuals and communities. The emergence of methods like community and citizen science (CCS), in which non-scientists participate in research, has risen in popularity to meet these priorities. The broad aims of CCS are to advance scientific understanding; aid decision-making; and support individual outcomes. I address the third aim by investigating three growing, yet understudied, groups …

Migrant Women Along The Us-Mexico Border: Femicide And Gender Based Violence, Rylee Bondeson

Senior Theses

This paper examines the social and political factors that affect the rates of gender based violence against migrant women in areas around the US-Mexico border.

#Justicepouradama : The Problem Of Police Brutality With French Police Targeting Former French African Colony Immigrants, Madalyn Von Hassel

Senior Theses

There is an urgent need to address systemic police violence and racial profiling in France, particularly against Black and African communities. It poses a critical question: how do instances of police brutality reflect and reinforce systemic discrimination in French society, and what can be done to dismantle these structures? To answer this, the analysis begins with the 2005 riots, a landmark moment of collective outrage triggered by police actions, which set a precedent for future protests and highlighted the grievances of marginalized communities in the banlieues. It then shifts to the death of Adama Traoré in 2016, whose case became …

Mexico's Gender Violence Alerts: Ambiguous, Under-Resourced, And Uneven Impacts On Women’S Human Rights, Molly Ewing

Senior Theses

Mexico has some of the highest rates of violence against women and femicide in the world and these numbers continue to rise. Over the past few decades, Mexico has attempted to address this issue through a series of penal code reforms, social campaigns, and comprehensive legislation, but the impacts of such measures are undercut and unevenly felt due to a series of under looked contributing factors. Mexico is the first in the world to implement the Gender Violence Alert Mechanism (AVGM), which was established under the General Law on Women’s Access to a Life Free from Violence (LGAMVLV) of 200. …

“I’M Not Belgian, I’M European”: Ontological Security, Common Security & Defense Policy, And Evolving Identity Dynamics Within The European Union, Madeleine Bamford

Senior Theses

Identity dynamics worldwide continue to impact global integration and defense policy. This study aims to fill a gap in scholarship: how political science research can zoom in on the individual and produce effective research at the singular level through ontological security theory. Drawing on Eurobarometer studies and social media comments, this study delineates the evolution of European identity dynamics from 1975 to 2024. The study considers how the idea of ‘Home,’ the othering of outside peoples, and perceived physical security contribute to the constituent perception of defense policy. Furthermore, this study examines various European Union policies that have impacted collective …

Japan’S “Other”: An Investigation Into Nihonjinron’S Influence On Japanese Society, James Novello

Senior Theses

This thesis explores nihonjinron's - a post-war genre of literature concerning what it means to be Japanese - possible influence in Japanese society by examining the prevalence of foreigner stereotypes among the Japanese public. Through examining Harumi Befu's "Hegemony of Homogeneity," Japanese textbooks, entertainment media, private rent housing discrimination, and a survey on immigration sentiments, there is correlational evidence suggesting nihonjinron beliefs may still prevalent in Japanese society.

France’S Exclusion Politics: Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric And Political Capital (1972-2002), Alicia Strader

Senior Theses

This thesis explores the politics of exclusion in France, focusing on how immigrants have been marginalized due to politicians' strategic use of anti-immigrant rhetoric. The study examines the rise of Jean-Marie Le Pen, and the increasing political capital gained through his xenophobic platform, highlighting the pivotal moment when other politicians began to adopt similar tactics to secure their own electoral success. By examining secondary sources and magazine articles from 1972 to 2002, this research investigates how the politicization of immigration issues contributed to the marginalization of immigrant communities in France. It argues that the exploitation of anti-immigrant sentiment, particularly after …

Unconsciousness Is Erasure: A Case Study Of Dominant Frameworks And Their Effect On The Representation Of Alaska Native Women Artists In The University Of Alaska Museum Of The North Rose Berry Alaska Art Gallery, Megan Koch

Communication

This case study examines dominant frameworks and their effect on the representation of Alaska Native women artists within the University of Alaska Museum of the North's (UAMN) Rose Berry Alaska Art (RBAA) Gallery. Focusing on the power dynamics inherent in museum exhibitions, this research investigates how dominant practices may silence marginalized voices by utilizing dominant group theory (DGT) and co-cultural theory (CCT). Through qualitative thematic analysis of the RBAA Gallery's descriptive statement and content analysis of 163 artwork records for pieces on exhibit from the Arctos database, this study addresses three research questions: RQ1: What communication approaches and interactional outcomes …

"With A Heavy Heart": A Literature Review Exploring The Embodiment Of Grief And Its Implications For Grief Processing, Mollie Pratt

Expressive Therapies Theses

Though a plethora of literature has explored the connection between bereavement and the body, much of that research has focused on bereavement’s effects on physical health. Little research has been conducted to explore bereaved individuals’ embodiment of their grief, and even less has investigated the implications of those embodied sensations on the possible use of embodiment in interventions for grief processing. This literature review aimed to gain a better understanding of how grief is felt by and expressed through the body. The literature was synthesized, and common embodied themes reported by bereaved individuals were identified. Additionally, a discussion of possible …

School-Based Dance/Movement Therapy For Adolescents In Special Education: A Critical Literature Review, Sarah G. Hannan

Expressive Therapies Theses

In response to the increase in the number of students who receive special education services in the United States, along with a heightening need for accessible mental health services, school-based therapy is a growing area of research. Dance/movement therapy is an expressive arts therapy modality designed to support diverse populations in multiple settings. This literature review aimed to critically examine and synthesize research pertaining to school-based dance/movement therapy for adolescents in special education. This review examined the impact of school-based dance/movement therapy on social-emotional skills and related outcomes for adolescents in special education and found positive trends for improvement in …

Metal As A Tool For Gender Liberation In Music Therapy: A Literature Review, Ashley B. Mccarthy

Expressive Therapies Theses

Metal music is a genre which appears to be minimally researched and utilized within the context of music therapy. Despite its often loud and disruptive musical sound and sometimes violent lyrics, many fans of metal report mental health benefits from engaging with the music and participating in metal subculture. It is also well documented that metal as a genre is deeply rooted in a culture of White cisheteronormative masculinity, which often results in the scene being hostile toward women and gender minority fans and artists. Yet, many of these individuals express feelings of liberations brought on through engagement with metal …

Places Of Life, Places Of Death: Caves In Pre-Hispanic Huachichil Conscience In Northern Mexico, Kate Prashby

Indigenous Studies

In 1931, a US geologist took ten skulls from a pre-Hispanic burial cave in historic Huachichil territory in northeastern Mexico and brought them to a US museum. To assist in repatriation efforts, this thesis uses ethnoarchaeology to suggest how ancient Huachichiles may have used caves and what they may have believed about those caves. Drawing from ethnographic accounts from the US Southwest, Aridoamerica, and Mesoamerica, this thesis establishes two possible models of belief that Huachichil cosmology may have followed regarding caves. A second pre­ Hispanic Huachichil burial cave and its surrounding caves are also examined using participant observation and interviews …

In Their Own Words: Exploring The Political Lives Of Women Legislators In Guam, Sarah G. Elmore-Hernandez

Anthropology

In 2018, Guam experienced a historic political transformation with the election of its first woman governor and a supermajority of women senators. This electoral outcome was widely framed as a feminist milestone, reinforcing dominant narratives that equate increased female representation with progressive policy advancements. This study critically examines these assumptions by shifting the focus from quantitative representation to the political strategies and lived experiences of Guam’s women lawmakers. Employing oral history interviews, this research investigates how lawmakers conceptualize their political roles, navigate institutional structures, and shape legislative agendas. The findings reveal that while many advocate for policy priorities traditionally associated …

Evaluating Sustainability Policies By Measuring Well-Being: Evidence From Mongolia, Amgalan Batsuuri

Natural Resources

The study examines the relationship between sustainability policies and resident well-being within Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's Ger district, through a case study of the 19th subdistrict of the Bayanzurkh district. The primary research question is: Are well-being attributes being used to determine the efficacy of sustainability policies? Using mixed methods, survey questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups with 30 participants across three stakeholder groups (Ger district residents, subdistrict officials, and district officials), the research identified 15 key well-being attributes. The identified well-being attributes were used to assess whether these attributes serve as efficacy determinants in sustainability policies across national, municipal, and district governance …

Post-Typhoon Merbok Impact On Geographically Isolated Western Alaska Communities And Sustainable Recovery Process For Vulnerable Populations, Daryl Schaffer

Natural Resources

A sustainable climate-resilient community depends on their location and what is considered to be resilient. In western Alaska, primarily sustainable Indigenous subsistence lifestyle communities have proven quite resilient to climate for over 5000 years. Indigenous communities have been experiencing exponentially greater challenges from changes of climate in recent years. One storm, which traversed the entire 1300-mile geographically isolated Alaska west coast in September 2022, was more significant than previous generations. Extratropical post-typhoon Merbok became part of a disaster cascade as many communities had already endured various disasters to their locations and livelihoods which made them more vulnerable to include prior …

Sea Ice Strain, Stress, And Fracture Activity At Kilometer Scales, Emily R. Fedders

Oceanography

Through-thickness fractures including cracks, leads, and pressure ridges divide sea ice into individual plates and plate assemblies. While they remain intact, plates deform via continuous strain as they interact. Radar interferometry can identify active fractures at plate assembly boundaries and measure the continuous strains between them at high spatial resolution and spatial scales from meters to kilometers. However, interferograms are only sensitive to the one­ dimensional component of surface strain parallel to a radar’s lines of sight. Working with coauthors, I develop a novel analytical inverse model to estimate two-dimensional, horizontal surface motion from the one-dimensional information provided by interferograms …

Rural And Urban Disparities In Access To Glp-1 Agonists For Patients With Obesity, Christine J. Hackler-Moorman

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

The increasing interest in glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, such as semaglutide, which are often prescribed as a first-line treatment for managing Type II diabetes, as well as for non-diabetic purposes—such as weight management and improving metabolic health—highlights their potential in preventive care. This promise inspires hope for a future where preventive healthcare is more effective and accessible to a wider audience. Nonetheless, significant geographic disparities in access to healthcare, especially between rural and urban areas, create obstacles that prevent numerous patients from reaping the benefits of these essential medications. In rural communities, challenges like cost, availability, and awareness are often …

Dumy And The Nation: How Folklore And Folk Songs Help Compose A Distinct Ukrainian Narrative, Amy Herd

Senior Theses

Historiography and ethnography have played a critical role in the development of modern Slavic nationalisms, particularly in Ukraine. As these studies became increasingly popular in the nineteenth century, scholars and members of the bourgeoisie identified folk culture as the key component for the making of the modern nation. Viewed as an authentic window into national history and tradition due to their limited interaction with the modernizing world, rural folk offered the perfect opportunity to illustrate how Ukraine had always been distinct from Russia and its other historical oppressors. As folk culture fervor gripped the intellectual elite of Eastern Europe, however, …

Imperial Fabrication Of Ethnic Cleansing: Czarist Through Soviet Russian Practices And Policies Responsibility In The Ethnic Cleansing Of Georgians In Abkhazia., George Kane

Senior Theses

This thesis explores the direct correlation and connection between Goergia’s struggles against Russian imperialism and the ethnic cleansing of Georgians from Abkhazia that resulted from the 1990s Georgian-Abkhaz Conflict. After examining the historical and cultural ties of the Abkhaz as one of the many Georgian nationalities, this thesis examines the concerted effort by Czarist and Soviet Russia to separate the two identities in order to further imperial ambitions in the Caucasus region. This targeted separation over decades, along with direct Russian military support during the conflict, would then result in an ethnic cleansing taking place perpetrated by the Abkhaz against …

Visibility Without Justice: The Wayuu’S Paradox Of Resistance Amid Marginalization And Systemic Violence, Courtney Kren

Senior Theses

The Wayuu, Colombia’s largest Indigenous group, endure systemic marginalization and various forms of structural, direct, and slow violence, which is compounded by preexisting vulnerabilities such as water scarcity, malnutrition, and displacement in La Guajira, a border region situated between Colombia and Venezuela. These challenges are worsened by state neglect, inaction, and environmental degradation caused by El Cerrejón, Latin America’s largest open-pit coal mine. Despite awareness of their suffering, both the Colombian state and Glencore, the company that owns El Cerrejón, perpetuate these harms, with the state hiding behind protective legal frameworks intended to protect and uphold the Wayuu’s rights but, …

Evaluating The Opportunities And Limitations Of Social Enterprises In Addressing Period Poverty In Rural India, Abigael Hartlieb

Senior Theses

Social enterprises play a significant role in advancing social justice and global health by employing innovative strategies to address health disparities within underserved communities. Period poverty, defined as the lack of access to feminine hygiene products, represents a global health challenge. Social enterprises have emerged as a tool to combat this issue in several countries, including India, but face barriers in widespread implementation in rural areas. This study evaluates the opportunities and limitations social enterprises have in combating period poverty in rural India with a focus on Goonj, a New-Delhi based social enterprise dedicated to bridging the gaps of resources …

Spring Commencement: May 17, 2025, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Spring Commencement program from May 17, 2025.

Gothic Gender And Colonized Women: A Gothic Feminist Reading Of Women As The Subaltern In Evelina And Northanger Abbey, Abigail Chandler

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Evelina by Frances Burney and Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen are two woman-authored, Gothic texts that explore themes of feminism and coming of age as subaltern in a patriarchal context. The main character in each must enter the world and become disillusioned to the reality that they are treated as subhuman because they are women. The term subaltern refers to those living in the margins and their suppressed “potential for life and creativity, in given historical circumstances” (Pandey 4735), and primarily focuses on ethnic or racial oppression in postcolonial settings; however, this thesis explores the idea of women in patriarchal …

Data-Driven Simulation Of Sustainable Residential Hvac Systems In Fairbanks, Ak, Joshua Young

Engineering

Residential heating comes at extremely high costs and with harmful air pollution in many Alaskan communities. In Fairbanks, the issue of air pollution has received special attention in recent years, specifically due to the high concentration of small particulate matter resulting from residential space heating. This thesis aims to address energy insecurity and air pollution in Fairbanks by proposing an improved residential HVAC system. A computer simulation was developed to model the operations of several different HVAC configurations for comparison with standard heating oil boiler and portable air conditioner systems. This Python model provided a means of simulating one year …

Assessing The Contribution Of Geography And Host Use To Genetic Structure In New York Populations Of The Parasitoid Wasp, Aphidius Ervi, Haley J. Plasman, David M. Althoff

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Host-associated differentiation (HAD) been proposed as a general mechanism for differentiation of many groups of parasitic organisms including plant-feeding insects and their natural enemies. In particular, parasitoid wasps that attack herbivorous insects have many life habits similar to other parasitic taxa, suggesting that HAD also may be important in differentiation. We tested for the population genetic signature of HAD in a parasitoid wasp, Aphidius ervi (Haliday), a biocontrol agent that uses many species of aphids throughout Europe, but is mainly limited to the clover and alfalfa host-races of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) in North America. We assessed allelic …

Modeling Weasel Distributions In Ohio Using Novel Survey Methods, Tanner Hammond

Student Research and Creative Activity Expo

Using data collected from novel adapted-Hunt drift fence technique (AHDriFT) camera systems, we model the possible distribution of three understudied weasel species across Ohio.

Commencement [Program], May 16-17, 2025, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Commencement Programs

Contents:

Board of Regents --- 2
Institutional Leadership --- 2
Ceremony Symbols & Traditions --- 3
Academic Honorary Organizations --- 4
University Ambassador Organizations --- 5
University Honors Program --- 6
Graduation with Honors --- 6
Legacy Graduates --- 6
Military Science --- 7
Merchant Scholarship --- 7
Outstanding Student Leader --- 7
Commencement Student Speakers --- 7
Purple and Old Gold Awards --- 8
Lux Service Award --- 9
7 p.m. Program --- 10
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences --- 11
Division of Online Education & Individual Studies --- 24
10 a.m. Program --- 27
College of Education …

Assessing Climate Change Resilience Strategies In The Central American Coffee Industry, Calvin Saribay

Master's Projects and Capstones

Coffee is one of the most valuable commodities on the planet, responsible for a global annual income of over $200 billion. The longevity of the coffee industry is directly threatened by the adverse effects of climate change. This report evaluates various climate change resilience strategies used in the Central American coffee industry, including agroforestry farming methods, crop hybridization, and coffee-sector specific climate action programs. The assessment was done through a literature review of two opposite coffee farming methods, a case study of a prominent F1 hybrid coffee breeds, and a program analysis of a coffee-specific climate action program in Costa …

Who Owns The Wind: The Absence Of Community Wind Farms In California, Sky Berry-Weiss

Master's Projects and Capstones

Community ownership structures for wind farms have been around for decades, particularly in European countries, due to high socioeconomic benefits. Given these significant benefits, one might expect community wind to thrive in the United States—especially in a state like California, which prides itself on progressive climate policy and renewable energy leadership. Yet utility-scale community wind remains largely absent from research on California’s energy system, raising questions about its existence in the state. To pinpoint how many utility-scale community owned wind farms are in California, this study surveys every operational wind turbine in the state. After classifying each wind farm by …