Digital Commons Network^™

Enhancing Pedestrian Safety Around Jacksonville State University: A Gis-Based Perception And Crash Analysis, Husain O. Alegimenlen

Theses

This study uses a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based approach to assess pedestrian safety around Jacksonville State University (JSU) by combining vehicle crash data with perception surveys from 111 pedestrians and 97 drivers. The research identifies high-risk areas, explores contributing factors, and recommends targeted safety improvements.

A total of 209 geocoded crash records (2021 to 2024) were analyzed using Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and hotspot analysis in ArcGIS Pro. Crash clusters appeared along Pelham Road North and Mountain Street, marking key vehicular risk zones. Three major pedestrian danger areas were found: (1) Nisbet Street NW and Cardinal Lane NW, (2) …

Reducing Rates And Improving Care Of Incarcerated Pregnant People In Georgia Through The Georgia Women's Care Act: A Policy Analysis And Advocacy Project, Allegra Renee Crews Walker Msn, Cnm

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Maternal mortality rate and the rate of incarcerated women are significantly higher in the U.S. than in comparable nations, with Georgia's rates exceeding the national average. The U.S. and Georgia do not meet the internationally accepted standards for women in prisons, the Bangkok Rules. The Georgia Women's CARE Act seeks to reduce rates of incarcerated pregnant individuals by allowing sentence deferment, alternative sentencing, and eliminating or reducing cash bail when appropriate. The bill also establishes standards for tracking pregnant incarcerated women through federal and state prisons and jails.

Aims: This policy analysis and advocacy project aims to bring awareness …

Her Fundamentals: Justice Abella And Section 2(B) Of The Charter, Jamie Cameron

Articles & Book Chapters

Justice Abella’s legendary aspirations for human rights all but defined her jurisprudence, and under s,2 she earned praise elsewhere for her opinions on religious freedom (s.2(a) of the Charter) and the right to strike under s.2(d)’s guarantee of associational freedom. Apart from Doré v. Barreau de Québec, her s.2(b) jurisprudence on freedom of expression has attracted less scholarly attention. This article highlights Justice Abella’s leadership under s.2(b) in protecting expressive freedom’s democratic values, developing a more robust form of proportionality balancing under s.1, and advocating for doctrinal recognition of freedom of the press and media as an independent …

Holding Ground In The Cerulean Tide: Minority Party Legislators' Strategies For Advancing Climate Policies In Landslide States, Sukjae Lee

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation addresses a key puzzle: Why do states sometimes adopt nationally polarized policies, such as climate change legislation, even when doing so does not align with strict partisan interests? The analysis focuses on “landslide states,” where a single party overwhelmingly dominates, and the minority party cannot realistically expect to gain a majority. In these environments, reduced partisan conflict allows minority party legislators to break from traditional partisan paths. As a result, I argue that electoral motivations drive them to signal moderation by advancing liberal policy agendas or incorporating provisions that minimize backlash from their core constituents in landslide states. …

Insurance Era: Risk, Governance, And The Privatization Of Security In Postwar America: An Essay Review, Katherine Hempstead

Connecticut Insurance Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Waiting Is The Hardest Part: The Constitutionality Of Firearm Waiting Periods, F. Lee Francis

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

This Article examines the constitutionality of firearm waiting period laws through the lens of the Supreme Court’s evolving Second Amendment jurisprudence. Although such laws are frequently defended as prudent public safety measures, their validity turns not on legislative purpose but on constitutional principle, particularly as framed in District of Columbia v. Heller and New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen.

Under those decisions, the scope of the Second Amendment is determined not by judicial balancing of contemporary interests, but by reference to the Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation. The Article surveys that tradition and finds no …

The Wrongly Read Right: Insurrection And The Second Amendment Right To Bear Arms, Aman Mcleod, Jacob M. Jones

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

Several judges and scholars have interpreted the Second Amendment as creating a right to bear arms to facilitate armed resistance against the government whenever it threatens to impose tyranny. These arguments have been made in books, scholarly articles, and court decisions. Many of the proponents of the pro-armed insurrection interpretation of the Second Amendment root this point of view in the history of the right to bear arms in the Anglo-American legal tradition. This Article argues that the Second Amendment does not create a right to bear arms to resist government authority because such a right is inconsistent with several …

De-Policing: An Updated Empirical Analysis Of Crime And Federal Police Reform, Griffin Edwards, Stephen Rushin

Washington and Lee Law Review

This Article builds on prior work by empirically analyzing the effect of federal intervention in local police departments on crime and clearance rates, using updated data and methodologies.

Congress passed 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (formerly 42 U.S.C. § 14141) in 1994 to give the United States Attorney General the authority to seek equitable relief against local and state law enforcement agencies engaged in patterns or practices of misconduct. Since its passage, the Department of Justice has investigated and intervened into dozens of American police departments, including some of the largest police departments in the country. Federal intervention represents one of …

Assessing The Accelerated Threat Of Bioterrorism In The Age Of Ai, Janelle Radcliffe

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

This Note argues that the accelerated use and growth of easily accessible artificial intelligence systems will result in malicious individuals using artificial intelligence to engage in acts of bioterrorism. Part I will discuss how artificial intelligence works generally. Part II will discuss how AI can be used in carrying out attacks of bioterrorism. Part III will discuss suggested governmental regulations, including the creation of a new Data Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence Regulating Department that can conduct the evaluation and limitation of publicly available information, use threat modeling to strengthen biosecurity measures, make artificial intelligence use in terrorism a criminal …

From Victimization To Offense: A Scoping Review Of Attachment Theory And Social Learning Theory In Explaining Hypersexual Behaviors In Male Sexual Offenders With Histories Of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Madison R. Rivers

Senior Theses

The association between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and hypersexual behaviors in both juvenile and adult male sexual offenders has been investigated; however, a clear theoretical framework explaining this connection remains debated. This review aims to evaluate which theoretical frameworks—such as Social Learning Theory and Attachment Theory—best explain the link between CSA and hypersexuality in male sexual offenders. A systematic search and analysis of existing literature was conducted, including studies on the psychological, behavioral, and developmental impacts of CSA on hypersexual behaviors. Both Social Learning Theory and Attachment Theory were critically assessed, particularly focusing on the pathways from victimization to offending …

Prosecuting Police, Guyora Binder, Anthony O'Rourke, Rick Su

Journal Articles

Prosecutors face criticism for prosecuting too many minority members and too few police. Recently, some reformers have won prosecutorial elections by pledging to change these priorities. Yet scholars have identified two impediments to police prosecutions. First, county prosecutors often answer to suburban voters indifferent to the excesses of city police. Second, prosecutors depend on those police to investigate their cases and to endorse them as effective. This Article argues that the influence of residents and police on prosecutorial decisions depends on the political geography of a prosecutor’s office. As a result, whether a prosecutor’s office is “city-based,” “regional,” or “state-appointed” …

Seed 1001 Critical Issues In Us Education, Roberto Martinez

Open Educational Resources

All levels of public education in the United States today have become the focus for often competing political, economic, social, and cultural visions of how and why we should educate the nation’s youth. This course offers students the opportunity to become knowledgeable about critical issues in American education and the controversies surrounding them, while considering the historical, political, sociological, and economic dimensions of each. Among the issues the course will address are a) the purpose of public education in a democracy; b) the private/public split in education, with a focus on home schooling, charters, parochial, and private K-20 schools; c) …

Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Gendered Happiness: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Oecd Countries, Anusha Khan

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper explores how socioeconomic factors influence life satisfaction across OECD countries and how these effects vary by gender. Using a cross-sectional dataset, the study runs three separate regressions, total, men’s, and women’s happiness to test whether factors like health, education, safety, and support networks impact life satisfaction differently for men and women. A Random Forest model is also used to validate the robustness of selected predictors. Findings show that health and support matter universally, but men’s well-being is more closely tied to educational attainment, while women’s happiness is more sensitive to feelings of safety.

Commencement Program: 2025, Governors State University

Commencement Documents and Videos

May 17, 2025
10 a.m.

Student Speaker: Ms. Catherine Miles

College of Education and Human Development
College of Health and Human Services

May 17, 2025

4 p.m.

Student Speaker: Ms. Kaylie Dahms

College of Business
College of Arts and Sciences

A Course Of Study Instructing The Importance Of Amateur Radio In Times Of Disasters And Emergencies, Dennis Ryan

Ed.D. Capstone Reports

No abstract provided.

Towards The Advancement Of Violence Recognition In Security Footage With Explainable Neural Networks, Paris Her

Dissertations (1934 -)

This dissertation investigates the problem of violence recognition in surveillance footage using computer vision and machine learning techniques. More specifically, our goal is to achieve interpretable and explainable deep learning models because violence recognition is a sensitive task. We first propose to perform violence recognition using a 3D convolutional neural network through intuitive hyperparameter tuning and transfer learning. We utilize a state-of-the-art 3D model used for general activity recognition that is lightweight and adjustable. Along with that, we introduce a data augmentation technique called "resize-within" which uses interpolation, rather than cropping, to resize the original input video to a new …

Understanding The Experiences Of Nonprofit Leaders In Psychotherapy, Anna Bramlett

Dissertations (1934 -)

Nonprofit leaders are at the helm of organizations that contribute significantly and meaningfully to society. Nonprofit organizations provide a range of services across sectors that include healthcare, education, mental health, civic engagement, and many others. Existing literature attends to the challenges nonprofit leaders face in their work roles, with managing boards and fundraising frequently cited as stressors. Little is known about the mental health experiences of nonprofit leaders, including common mental health diagnoses they experience, prevalence of mental health symptoms, or effective interventions for mental health concerns. The present study sought to explore the experiences of nonprofit leaders who attend …

Los Muxes De Juchitán: Resistance, Identity, And Expressions Of Gender In The Zapotec Culture, Leah Mack

Audre Lorde Prize

This work is a cultural analysis of the Indigenous Zapotec third-gender community in Juchitán, México called the muxes. It examines the historical context that explains how the muxes have survived the process of Spanish colonization: a history of resistance and pride in their Indigenous identities. This essay also explains the European norms of the gender binary and how the norms in Juchitán are different and unique. Then, it analyzes a few cultural spaces that are important to the Zapotec Indigenous identity and the gender identity of the muxes, such as the market and the festive celebrations known as Las Velas. …

Balancing Security And Customer Satisfaction: Strategies To Combat Retail Theft, Stacy V. Kloth

Master of Public Administration Capstone Papers

Retailers face unprecedented inventory losses, which significantly impact their profitability. This capstone paper examines theft as a primary driver of retail shrinkage, highlighting the evolution of theft tactics and the substantial financial losses resulting from these activities. Comprehensive security strategies are necessary, incorporating technology, employee training, and collaboration with law enforcement. Effective shrinkage prevention is crucial for maintaining a customer-friendly environment and achieving sales goals. Balancing security with customer satisfaction, considering the impact of anti-theft technology, and implementing a robust data collection program are essential for enhancing sales and profitability. This paper contributes to the ongoing effort to balance customer …

Lbsci 700 / Info 7001. The Technology Of Information., Brandon K. Jeffries Mr.

Open Educational Resources

This course will introduce the student to the conceptual and practical elements of visual and computer literacy for the library and information science profession. Particular attention will be paid to the place and role of libraries and information centers. A laboratory session following each class will give students the opportunity to apply some of the concepts learned in class.

In Sickness And In Health: Care And Complacency In Aid Efforts For Migrant Youth In Eastern France, Nzana K. Thillot , '25

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

This thesis examines the perspectives of educators working with unaccompanied migrant minors (MNAs) in eastern France, focusing on how they perceive and navigate the care system and creates their own communities of care within the gaps of the bureaucratic French system. Through qualitative analysis, it explores how educators interpret the structural challenges MNAs face, including access to healthcare, social integration, and legal protections. By centering educators’ voices, this study highlights their role as intermediaries between MNAs and the French system that determines their access to essential services. It interrogates how these professionals negotiate institutional constraints, advocate for the well-being and …

Low Cost Ndvi Aerial Imager For Plant Health Monitoring, Roe Crawford , '25, Brandon Mickelson , '25

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

Due to the spread of Beech Leaf Disease, Swarthmore College and the Scott Arboretum expect to lose all of the beech trees on campus in the next five years. Methods of monitoring plant health are required to act as early warnings for tree loss so that the Arboretum can manage deadfall, erosion, and other adverse effects. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is a multispectral imaging technique that can assess plant health. NDVI is a common satellite remote sensing technique that has shown promise in drone remote sensing applications. With recent decreases in the costs of optical components, we determined that …

‘To Zero By Thirty-Five’ Geoexchange System Optimization, Andrew Moy , '25

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

Swarthmore College’s ’To Zero by Thirty Five’ project involves the construction of a geothermal exchange plant to provide heating and cooling to campus buildings. This report follows the implementation of the project and the impact of building envelopes on the effectiveness of the system. Groups of potential upgrades and their impacts on building performance were analyzed using integer linear programming and the PuLP python library. This analysis provides recommendations on which buildings to upgrade according to the priorities of Swarthmore College.

Development Of Real-Time Threat Detection Systems With Ai-Driven Cybersecurity In Critical Infrastructure, Noora Zidan Khalaf, Israa Ibraheem Al Barazanchi, Israa Ibraheem Al Barazanchi, A. D. Radhi, A. D. Radhi, Pritesh Shah, Ravi Sekhar

Mesopotamian Journal of CyberSecurity

Protection of infrastructure is becoming increasingly demanding, and the sophistication and severity of cyber threats are increasing daily. Traditional threat detection techniques cannot match the ever-evolving nature of cyber threats, which increases the number of false positives and attack misses. AI-driven methods address these shortfalls via the use of advanced learning algorithms to detect and respond to newly discovered threats in real time. They are largely static rule-based or signature-based attacks, and they do not perform effectively against zero-day attacks and highly organized, advanced attacks. Given the critical need to protect digital infrastructures such as energy, transport, and communications from …

Lbsci 700 / Info 7001. The Technology Of Information., Brandon K. Jeffries Mr.

Open Educational Resources

This course will introduce the student to the conceptual and practical elements of visual and computer literacy for the library and information science profession. Particular attention will be paid to the place and role of libraries and information centers. A laboratory session following each class will give students the opportunity to apply some of the concepts learned in class.

The Impact Of Sustainable Urban Development On The Issuance Of Urban Investment Bonds, Xinglin Shou

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Investment, export, and consumption have been viewed as the three driving forces behind economic development in China. Among these, investment has remarkably contributed to the urbanization in the context of China's sustained growth and development. Urbanization involves the mergingof large and medium-sized cities with surrounding areas, renovation of shantytowns and aging urban neighborhoods, and transformation of rural regions into urban areas, culminating in the establishment of a unified market. Such advancements have promoted infrastructure projects that are spearheadedby local governments and aligned with urbanization, thus catalyzing the growth of China's real estate industry, stimulating the Chinese economy, andextending the urbanization-related …

Understanding Undergraduate Aspirations For Law Enforcement Careers And Motivation In The Classroom, Gabriella N. Burt

Honors Thesis

This study investigates the factors shaping undergraduate student interest in law enforcement careers. By surveying students from various Midwestern universities, this research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between social influences, gender, and curricular exposure in shaping law enforcement career aspirations. Specifically, it examines how motivations for pursuing a public service career, external influences, and background characteristics shape career interest overall. The study also examines how these factors shape career interest between men and women and overall motivation to engage with specific law enforcement course topics. Findings inform policy and curriculum design.

Navigating Challenges: Public Community College Leadership In The Face Of Existential Crisis, Sarah Lynne Lupton-Houston

School of Public Service Theses & Dissertations

This study answers the question: "When faced with an existential crisis, indicated by declines in key performance indicators, how do public leaders make decisions?" The research uses the Garbage Can Model and Incrementalism combined theoretical framework to explore how public administrators navigate crises in complex, hierarchical, and bureaucratic structures where unpredictable challenges often demand adaptive responses. This study offers insights into decision-making processes that blend reactive, opportunistic choices with measured, gradual adjustments.

The findings from this research contribute to the field of public administration by examining the decision-making strategies used by leaders at public community colleges in Virginia during a …

The Use Of Robotic Surveillance In The Uae In 2035: Balancing, Innovation, Regulation, And Privacy, Oasha Yousuf Almohier

Theses

This research explores the future of robotic surveillance in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 2035, aiming to balance innovation, regulatory oversight, and privacy protection. It investigates the intersection of national security objectives, ethical AI governance, and public trust within the UAE’s rapidly advancing smart city and law enforcement environments. The focus areas include regulatory gaps in current AI laws, ethical concerns such as data privacy and algorithmic bias, and the societal perception of AI-powered surveillance systems. The background of this study stems from the UAE’s ambition to lead in AI deployment, especially within public security initiatives such as autonomous …

The Role Of Platform Design In Excessive Short Form Video Use And The Resulting Impacts On Cognitive Processes, Katherine Levey

Senior Theses

Short form video (SFV) platforms such as TikTok and Instagram Reels have rapidly reshaped global media consumption. This thesis investigates how the defining technological elements of SFV platforms contribute to prolonged viewing behavior by inducing flow, a psychological state characterized by deep immersion and diminished self-awareness. Through a review of nineteen scholarly articles, this study examines how features like infinite scroll, auto-play, and algorithmic personalization create a low-effort, high-reward user experience that sustains attention and facilitates continuous engagement. Once immersed, users often fall into a cycle of passive, prolonged scrolling, consuming more content and spending more time than intended. Findings …