Digital Commons Network^™

Methodological Variations In Environmental Justice Screening Tools And Their Impact On Disadvantaged Community Designations, Thomas Robbins, Qingran Li, Stephen Bird

Faculty Publications

Government agencies in the United States have developed environmental justice screening tools (EJSTs) and designations to promote equitable distribution of benefits from environmental policies to disadvantaged communities (DACs). However, the methodological choices embedded in these tools, including the selection, weighting, and aggregation of environmental justice indicators, vary across EJSTs, and their implications for DAC designation outcomes are poorly understood. Here we systematically compare four EJSTs at the federal and state levels and show that these tools produce substantial variation in the DAC census tracts, with some tools emphasizing socioeconomic burdens while others prioritize environmental risks. Using quantitative regression models, we …

How The African American Contribution To Early American Literature Aided In Shaping The American Literary Identity, Jennifer E. Thompson

Masters Theses

This study argues that Jupiter Hammon’s early African American literature actively helped shape American literary identity rather than just mirroring it. By blending Christian morality with human rights, Hammon challenged Eurocentric narratives, validated Black humanity, and established a foundational tradition for anti-slavery writing. Traditional theories often contest this national inclusion through critical viewpoints. These views treat slavery as a distinct model, arguing that these texts represent separate responses to bondage rather than unified contributions to a shared national canon. This research redefines the American literary canon by showing how Hammon's historic publications dismantled eighteenth-century racist ideals about intellectual capacity. His …

Who Killed Lucio Blanco? Border Incursions & Sovereignty Along The Rio Grande, Jaime L. Alvarez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The assassination of Lucio Blanco along the banks of the Rio Grande in 1922 was not an isolated episode of political violence but the culmination of nearly a century-old practice of contested sovereignty, border incursions, and lack of law enforcement. This dissertation thus examines the borderlands of Texas and Mexico from the nineteenth century through the aftermath of the Mexican Revolution. Within this time frame, this dissertation demonstrates that the international boundary functioned less as a fixed division between two sovereign states and more as a political gray zone in which authority, identity, violence, and political power were continually negotiated. …

The Impact Of Direct Democracy On Policy Formation, Tricia Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As political polarization and distrust in elected representatives increases in American politics, voters are turning to direct democracy as a mechanism to drive policy making. Proponents of both legislative mechanisms and the use of direct democracy argue that their means of policy making is the most democratic. The Founding Fathers chose a representative system to limit the influence of faction and try and prevent Tocqueville’s tyranny of the majority. This study examines both direct democracy and legislative outcomes at the state level through the lens of adult use cannabis sales policy. Adult use cannabis sales were first legalized in the …

A Framework For Teaching Maya Aspect System: Pedagogical Strategies For Maya Grammar, Quetzil E. Castañeda

Journal of Maya Heritage

Abstract. Maya, an Indigenous language spoken primarily in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, remains under-resourced in materials for second-language and heritage-language learners. Its agglutinative morphology, split ergativity, and aspect system pose particular pedagogical challenges, especially when Maya grammar is explained through Spanish or English tense categories. Based on a critical review of existing teaching resources and the author’s more than twenty years of experience teaching Maya, this article proposes a pedagogical framework for understanding its aspect grammar. Rather than organizing verbal morphology around tense, the framework distinguishes four principal conjugational forms: Ongoing Incomplete, Simple Past, Completed Present, and Subjunctive. It also introduces …

Refereed Research - Indispensable Yet Not Fully Legitimate: Street Markets As Invisible Subsistence Infrastructure, Raji Srinivasan, Maria C. Merino

Subsistence Marketplaces

Street markets are key provisioning systems across the Global South, supplying fresh food, employment, and retail access absent formal infrastructure. Yet despite street markets’ functional indispensability to millions of low-income consumers, their legitimacy is chronically contested, affirmed by vendors and communities yet challenged by planners, developers, and state authorities who apply formal-economy criteria in evaluating them. We theorize this as a legitimacy paradox and ask what structural mechanisms sustain it? Using composite vignettes grounded in fieldwork, we theorize three mechanisms. First, visibility without recognition: street markets are hyper-visible yet excluded from cognitive templates of legitimate, formal retail. Second, asymmetric essentiality: …

Response To Reviewers — Emancipations Symposium On Profit And Power, Ronen Palan

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

No abstract provided.

From Monopoly To Orchestration: The Hilltop And Farm Youth And The Changing Organization Of State Coercion - The Israeli Case, Idan Yaron

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

Drawing on more than a decade of ethnographic fieldwork – as a social anthropologist, studying the Far Right in Israel, on the ground, and through intimate and prolonged relationships with opinion leaders and rank-and-file activists – this essay examines the Hilltop and Farm Youth in the West Bank to reconsider Charles Tilly's influential account of state formation and the organization of coercion. It asks a simple but troubling question: why would a powerful modern state, fully capable of suppressing autonomous violent actors, sometimes allow them to persist? I argue that Tilly's theory should be confirmed, adapted, and amended. His fundamental …

Border Fascism And The Fascistization Of Society, Nicholas P. De Genova

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

The massive destruction and social dislocation wrought by capitalist crisis has culminated, historically, in the brutal cataclysms of fascism and other forms of authoritarian rule. Today, across the globe, we are confronted with the aggressive advance and entrenchment of a variety of such authoritarian political projects. Anxious discourses about ascendant fascism have become perfectly mainstream. These developments command our acute attention and critical analysis. This essay addresses these dire questions and the conceptual vexations surrounding the concept of fascism, particularly as it has been elaborated in various Marxist analyses.  Specifically, much of the debate around fascism as an analytical category …

Multilayered Childhood Adversity And Mortality: A Population-Based Cohort Study Of 1.2 Million Individuals, Naja Hulvej Rod, Signe Kær Bennetsen, Leonie K. Elsenburg, Clive E. Sabel, David Taylor–Robinson, Dora Kovacs, Adrian G. Zucco, Tjeerd Rudmer De Vries

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Background: Childhood adversity is multi-layered, extending beyond the family to include broader neighbourhood and health contexts. We aimed to investigate how these multiple layers of childhood adversity relate to the risk of death in young adulthood. Methods: Children were followed from birth into young adulthood (16–42 years) using nationwide register data on multi-layered childhood adversity and mortality. Individual adversity included perinatal adversity (preterm or small-for-gestational-age) and mental and physical health-service use. Family adversity included five distinct groups using group-based multi-trajectory modelling based on 12 adversities. Neighbourhood adversity included material deprivation in small-area geographical zones. We evaluated associations of these layers …

Black Existential–Spiritual Counseling: A Content Analysis, Miles Matise

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Black American existential–spiritual counseling integrates existential philosophy with the unique cultural, historical, and spiritual contexts of Black Americans to address their psychological and spiritual needs. Rooted in the lived experience of systemic oppression, alienation, and the quest for identity and freedom, this counseling approach emphasizes meaning-making, personal responsibility, and authentic living. It acknowledges the interconnectedness of spirituality and psychology, recognizing the importance of the Black church, music, and communal values in fostering resilience and empowerment. Drawing on existential themes, such as mortality, freedom, loneliness, and purpose, this approach supports clients in navigating sociocultural stressors and generational trauma through a spiritually …

Revealing Cryptic Lineage Diversity In The Persian Gulf And Oman Sea Groupers (Perciformes: Epinephelidae): Phylogenetic And Species Delimitation Insights, Ehsan Damadi, Faezeh Yazdani Moghaddam, Masoumeh Gholipour Cheshm Gilak, Mehdi Ghanbarifardi

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Groupers (Epinephelidae) are a taxon of great commercial interest due to their large body size and high market value, and are also an important ecological species for biodiversity conservation in coral reef ecosystems. Despite their importance, phenotypic convergence among species generally leads to incorrect taxonomic identification, an issue enhanced by molecular studies revealing the presence of a high cryptic diversity and complicating conventional systematic frameworks. Herein, grouper species diversity in the ecologically heterogeneous Persian Gulf and Oman Sea was investigated to resolve taxonomic ambiguities and assess patterns of cryptic diversity. Mitochondrial COI gene sequencing was used in conjunction with integrative …

Book Review: The Eurasian Century: Hot Wars, Cold Wars, And The Making Of The Modern World, Hal Brands

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Hal Brands

Reviewed by: John Erickson, senior engineer, Axiom Technologies, and Dr. John A. Nagl, General John J. Pershing Professor of Warfighting Studies, Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations, US Army War College

In The Eurasian Century, Hal Brands explores how the geopolitical center of gravity has shifted to Eurasia, where autocratic powers challenge the liberal international order. Drawing on history, strategy, and geography, Brands argues that America must remain engaged to prevent a global descent into instability. This timely and provocative book reveals why the twenty-first century’s defining struggles will be fought across the world’s most …

Colour Without Extraction: Towards Ethical Pigments, Tonya Meyrick, Jacinta Kay

Textile Intersections Conference Series

This paper investigates how recycled textile waste, reconstituted as particulate pigment, reshapes understandings of material intelligence in textile design, proposing a specifically chromatic account. Through iterative dyeing trials on cellulose substrates conducted within the Perpetual Pigments research initiative, the study examines what occurs when colour is treated as an active participant rather than a controllable output. Drawing on new materialist theory and circular economy frameworks, the paper argues that waste-derived pigments introduce relational dynamics that challenge industrial assumptions of chromatic stability and control. Despite growing interest in bio-colour, recycled pigment systems remain underexamined within design research. This paper responds to …

Beyond Softness: Examining How Vocabulary Marginalises The Material Narrative Of Native British Wool, Zoë Fletcher, Nicci James

Textile Intersections Conference Series

Softness has become the dominant metric through which wool is evaluated in knitwear design. This paper argues that such language privileges fibres associated with Merino and marginalises native British and regional wools with distinct breed-specific qualities. Drawing on practice-based research, material experiments with native British wool yarns, and literature on wool fibre and supply chains, we examine how existing terminology fails to support design engagement with these materials. In response, we propose a five-part framework, Place, People, Process, Properties and Practice, to support a more nuanced wool literacy. Developing richer vocabulary for native British wool is not simply a matter …

Evolutive Textiles Design With The Variability Of Natural Dyes: A Color-Driven Approach Of Textile Design, Lou Ramage, Camille Fuzier

Textile Intersections Conference Series

In a context of over-standardized color production and stability-based evaluations of dyes, this article proposes a way to embrace and implement natural dyes’ temporal variabilities in evolutive textiles design and discusses how taking these into account modifies textile design practices. As a designer and a material scientist working with a dyer craftswoman, we present an adaptation of color characterisation methods and a chromo-chronological database, and how these tools result in a proof of concept of a tufted piece with pattern apparition, paving the way for a color-driven textile design.

Understanding The Political Profile Of Long Island’S Central American Electorate: A Case Study Of Long Island’S Majority-Latino Towns, Brett J. Patrick

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

As Salvadoran and Guatemalan migrants settled en masse across Long Island from the 1980s to the 2010s, seven Latino-majority towns emerged, each with distinct voting patterns that diverge from broader national Latino trends and from one another. This study examines how and why these Central American communities vote by integrating precinct-level election returns with the U.S. Census’ American Community Survey data. Using variables such as income, population density, education, citizenship status, and language, it identifies correlations between demographic conditions and partisan vote share. This approach reveals how socioeconomic factors shape political behavior within Salvadoran-American and Guatemalan-American enclaves in Nassau and …

Low-Income, Minority-Serving Public Schools In Southern California Have Disproportionately High Surface Temperatures, Joaquin Murillo, Gabriella R. Dauber, Joshua B. Fisher, Gregory R. Goldsmith

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Extensive evidence demonstrates that people from minority backgrounds often face unequal exposure to extreme heat and have less access to green space that can provide cooling relief. What is less clear is whether these inequities extend to students on school playgrounds, where high temperatures can affect physical health, social and emotional well-being, and learning. We paired high resolution, satellite remote sensing surface temperature data for all 615 of the public schools in Orange County, California (serving ca. 450,000 students) with data on neighborhood household income, race/ethnicity of school enrollment, distance from the coast, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index as a …

Ucc Minutes 9-15-26, Angela Brock

UCC Agendas/Minutes

No abstract provided.

Program Review Report 9-15-26, Angela Brock

Program Review Committee

No abstract provided.

2026 Latinx Heritage Month, Illinois State University, Latin American And Latino/A Studies Program

Latinx Heritage Month Posters

Schedule of events for Illinois State University's Latinx Heritage Month celebration

Turkey’S Water Strategy Towards Iraq And Syria After 2003, Zainab Hussein Hirz

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

This study analyzes Turkey’s water strategy toward Iraq and Syria after 2003, focusing on its geopolitical dimensions, risks, and implications for the water security of the two downstream countries, which depend heavily on trans boundary water resources. It examines the impact of Turkish water projects, particularly dams and irrigation schemes, on regulating the flows of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and their repercussions for water security in Iraq and Syria. The study finds that declining water inflows result from interacting factors, primarily the expansion of Turkish water projects, alongside climate change and domestic factors related to water resources management. These …

Spacial Distribution Of Banking Services Of Rafidain Bank In City Of Baghdad, Zuhair Hatem Khammas, Zahraa Rady Khalaf Khalaf

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

The Iraqi banking system has witnessed numerous developments during recent decades, evident through the policies and procedures implemented by the Central Bank to enhance banking supervision and develop banking activities. Al- Rafidain Bank is considered one of the first Iraqi banks to issue a huge balance of Iraqi currency after receiving it from the Central Bank, amounting to 1,857,262 million dinars in all types of currency. Iraq was among the first countries to establish what was called Bait Al-Mal, which was similar to the state treasury in present times and was called the Supreme House. These procedures aimed to provide …

The Effect Of Rain On The Hydrology Of The Tigris River Section In Baghdad Governorate, Sawsan Kamal Ahmed

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

Rainfall is a fundamental form of precipitation and is closely linked to various aspects of life; the amount and season of rainfall directly impact the sustainability of life. This study of the impact of rainfall on the Tigris River›s discharge aims to provide a clear understanding of monthly, seasonal, and annual climatic variations in rainfall, analyze deviations from the average rainfall, identify the wettest and driest years, and determine the differences in rainfall percentages across the seasons. The highest rainfall was recorded in winter, ranging between (47.35% and 50.85%). Monthly variations, the number of rainy days, seasonal and annual variations, …

Properties Of Soil In Al-Zubaidiya District In Wasit Governorate, Tiba Khalid Abd Thuwaini, Suad Abdul Kadhim Al-Zuhairi

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

This research aims to identify the chemical properties of the soil in Al-Zubaidiya district, Wasit Governorate. Chemical properties reflect the efficiency of the geographical environment in Al-Zubaidiya district and are the main determinant of soil suitability for agricultural production. The study of these properties goes beyond simply describing the results quantitatively. It aims to reveal the nature of the ionic balance, determine salinity levels, assess nutrient availability, and evaluate the interrelationship between the quality of irrigation water used and the surface soil chemistry. The study relies on the results of laboratory analysis of (21) soil samples and (5) water samples …

Finding The Numinous: An Ecocritical Look At “Dune” And “The Lord Of The Rings” (2025), By Willow Wilson Dipasquale, Douglas Charles Kane

Journal of Tolkien Research

Book review, by Douglas Charles Kane, of Finding the Numinous: An Ecocritical Look at “Dune” and “The Lord of the Rings” (2025), by Willow Wilson DiPasquale

[Cross] Cross Family House Historical Background, Matamoros

Community Historical Archaeology Project with Schools (CHAPS) Oral Histories

No abstract provided.

Bridging The Gap: Enhancing Adult Cancer Survivors’ Self-Efficacy To Spark Activation Through Evidence-Based Community Support, Julie L. Chytil

Group: Nebraska Methodist College

Problem: The number of cancer survivors in the United States is continuing to grow and yet cancer survivors often lack the knowledge of community resources available to them. Survivors must not only know that resources and programs exist but also trust that these tools are relevant and beneficial to them.

Intervention: The purpose of this project was to implement evidence-based strategies in a community setting to improve self-efficacy among adults who are transitioning from frontline cancer treatment to the next phase of survivorship. Strengthening self-efficacy is an important step toward increasing potential future patient activation and supporting long-term survivorship outcomes. …

Urban Spatial Development Control In Tanzania: Analysis Of Factors Influencing Gis Application Using Structural Equation Modelling (Sem)., Happiness Protas Mmanda, Nestory Yamungu

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Rapid urbanization in developing countries has intensified urban expansion, creating challenges for sustainable development. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enhance spatial planning, but empirical evidence on factors influencing their effectiveness remains limited. This study examines determinants of GIS application in Urban Spatial Development Control (USDC). The objectives are to (1) identify and categorize factors affecting GIS use, (2) assess relative strength, and (3) develop a validated structural model explaining GIS adoption in USDC. Data were collected from 103 LGAs by a mixed sampling method. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis classified influencing factors into technology-related (α = 0.869, CR = 0.881), process-related …

Medieval Stem, Illinois Math And Science Academy

IMSA Fusion Curricula

This curriculum is an exploration of science, math and technology that was developed, altered or utilized by civilization during medieval times. This time period helped lay the foundation for modern science and mathematics. Technological advances abounded. This curriculum focuses on agriculture, society and epidemiology, engineering, chemistry and textiles, and technological developments that lead civilization into the Renaissance.