Digital Commons Network^™

Toxic Narratives, Toxic Communities, And Enforcement Of Environmental (In)Justice, Alyse Bertenthal

Washington Law Review

The United States has committed to enforce environmental justice in ways it never has before. A spate of new policies aims to increase resources for environmental agencies’ enforcement sections, improve training for environmental enforcement staff, and ensure community engagement in environmental enforcement decision-making. Yet there exists mounting evidence that enforcement of environmental laws happens less frequently and less vigorously in low-income and minoritized communities.

We need to understand why that is happening. Many commentators, opining from a distance, point to insufficient resources for environmental enforcement and legal and political constraints on environmental agencies. While not discounting these reasons, this Article …

Vavanga, Vavalo, And Fakakaukau With Vā-Tā, Siosiua F.P. Lafitani

Pacific Studies

This article addresses the profound cognitive and cultural significance of vavanga (contemplation) and vavalo (contemplation), which are contempla- tive frameworks deeply rooted in the concept of vā (space) within Tongan language and culture. These frameworks serve as gateways to expansive cogni- tive exploration, stretching the boundaries of imagination and contemplation. Fakakaukau (thinking), double or dual actor (named because it bridges the realms of cognition and practicality), uses instrumental concepts such as fifili (inquisitiveness) and fekeli (meticulous exploration) to navigate the landscapes of inquiry. Throughout this exploration, a critical distinction emerges between tā as tempo and the cognitive concepts of contemplation …

Rwu Law Alumni Newsletter December 2024, Roger Williams University School Of Law, Pbn Connect, Edward Fitzpatrick, Danna Lorch

RWU Law

No abstract provided.

North Sinai Bedouin Veil From The May Weber Ethnographic Study Collection, Jupiter Beck

Department of Anthropology

This report is on a North Sinai Bedouin Veil/Burqa from the May Weber Ethnographic Study Collection. It details the materials, the methods of construction, the attribution, and the cultural significance of the veil/burqa.

Becoming A Poor Church For The Poor: The Vincentian Charism, An Invitation To The Church’S Bold Reform Today, Dominique Iyolo

Vincentian Studies

Dominique Iyolo explains how the Vincentian charism anticipated and is reflected in Pope Francis’s Evangelii Gaudium, and how it is being put into practice for the service of the poor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Madagascar. Iyolo discusses the theology behind the preferential option for the poor and also describes how their suffering is caused by a spiritual poverty of the rest of the world.

Epistemic Spaces And Fields: A New Framework For Social Epistemology Applied To The Internet, Zizhe Cheng

Honors Theses

This thesis introduces "Epistemic Spaces and Fields," a novel framework for social epistemology inspired by the analogies of space and fields in physics to better elucidate how epistemic environments shape epistemic practices. Part A establishes the theoretical underpinnings of epistemic spaces and fields, demonstrating how social, cultural , and power dynamics distort individuals' capacities to obtain and communicate knowledge. Part B applies this framework to the digital realm, examining how the Internet and social media reshape our epistemic contexts and introduce new challenges to critical thinking.

When Is It Convenient For Indigenous Women To Influence State Policies?, Alaide Vences Estudillo, Norma Don Juan Pérez, Patricia Torres Sandoval, Fabiola Del Jurado Mendoza

Peace and Conflict Studies

This paper examines the difficulties that a network of Indigenous women in Mexico deal with when they seek peace for their people under a hybrid political structure. This paper discusses some distinctive aspects of the politics that these women engage in, how they conceive their political ideas, and how they use these ideas to structurally transform the colonial relationship that the liberal state maintains toward their people. They devise various strategies to influence state policies and to withstand the discrimination they face whenever they participate in democratic affairs.

Redefining Religion: Challenging Eurocentric Narratives Through Conjure, Naomi Love

Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship

No abstract provided.

2025 Child Language Acquisition Symposium For Indigenous Communities Program Booklet, Tamera C. Yazzie, Kayleigh L. Russell, Melvatha R. Chee

Indigenous Child Language Research Center

Program booklet for the inaugural Child Language Acquisition Symposium for Indigenous Communities.

Motivated By Hope: Why We Strive For The Improbable, Varkey K. Titus Jr.

Department of Philosophy: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Some of the most rewarding actions we take in life are difficult. The outcomes of these actions are surrounded by uncertainty, and what relevant data is available indicates a high probability of failure. Current philosophical work proposes that hope can resolve the puzzle of how people can rationally choose to engage in difficult actions, but this work constrains hope’s motivational role to actions whose successful outcomes reside within the realm of an individual’s own agency. I expand the explanatory role of hope motivating action to include cases whose outcomes depend on some combination of factors internal and external to the …

December 2024 Table Of Contents Newsletter - Science Librarian / Google Lens, Kayla Birt Flegal

Table of Contents Newsletter

After many years of animal cams, unwavering support of all the science departments, and the best laugh on campus, the DePauw Libraries are saying merry retirement to Caroline Gilson! Caroline made an indelible mark on students and faculty through her work in science librarianship at DePauw. You can write a thank you to Caroline by stopping by TheDesk at Roy O. West. Join the celebration for Caroline on Thursday, December 5, 1:30-3pm in Roy O. West’s Laptop Lab (119).

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 33. The Story In Evolution., Charles H. Smith

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) is best known for his independent formulation of the principle of natural selection. In this work I first review my understanding of Wallace’s intellectual development on this subject, including the notion that he had no model for the evolution of higher consciousness as of his first treatment of natural selection in 1858. This leads to some conclusions about his approach to the subject, and links to parallel ideas inherent in the philosophy of Baruch de Spinoza (1632-1677).

Recovering Constitutional Identity In Colonial South India: Sedition, Sovereignty, And Small-C Constitutionalism In Pudukkottai, Bharath Gururagavendran

National Law School Journal

Constitutional identity is easiest to identify when it has already been credentialed: by a constitutional text, constituent authorisation, or judicial recognition. What remains visible when those markers are absent? Through a historically grounded study of the ‘Little Kingdom’ of Pudukkottai, a princely state in colonial South India, this article examines whether constitutional identity can be recovered from the small-c life of a polity whose opportunities for formal constitution-making were structurally foreclosed. Pudukkottai had no big-C moment. Its constitutional life, if it had one, must be reconstructed from less authoritative materials. The article argues that the absence of a constitutional text …

The Role Of Christianity In Shaping Agrarian Policies And Environmental Interactions: A Comparative Analysis Of The Uk And The Netherlands, Grace N. Brimble

University Honors Theses

This thesis explores the enduring influence of Protestant Christianity on agrarian practices and environmental policies in the UK and the Netherlands, focusing on how historical religious values shape modern ecological and political landscapes. Despite increasing secularism, Protestant ethics--emphasising stewardship, diligence, and moral responsibility--persist culturally, influencing debates on sustainability, rural identity, and land use. Using case studies such as nitrogen policy protests in the Netherlands and post-Brexit agricultural transitions in the UK, this analysis highlights the symbolic role of Christian values in framing resistance and adaptation to contemporary challenges. The research combines discourse analysis and ethnographic perspectives to uncover the interplay …

Uniting Science And Society: The Role Of Leadership Studies, Scientific, And Political Leaders In Combating Science Polarization, Kathryn E. Reda

Interdisciplinary Journal of Leadership Studies

This commentary discusses the recent political polarization of scientific research and how this polarization threatens the neutrality of science in American society. It contends further that leadership studies, along with scientific studies, have become a contentious battleground themselves, particularly on topics like climate change, energy policy, and the COVID-19 pandemic. This is exacerbated by mass media misinformation and declining public trust. Science polarization poses a significant challenge for leadership as it erodes informed decision making, making it crucial for leaders to bridge rather than deepen ideological divides. Leadership studies as a discipline has a responsibility to explore the causes of …

Archaeology In The Fourth Dimension: Studying Landscapes With Multitemporal Planetscope Satellite Data, Wolfgang Alders, Dylan S. Davis, Julia Jong Haines

Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies Publications and Presentations

For the last seven years, PlanetScope satellites have started near-daily imaging of parts of the Earth’s surface, making high-density multitemporal, multispectral, 3-m pixel imagery accessible to researchers. Multitemporal satellite data enables landscape archaeologists to examine changes in environmental conditions at time scales ranging from daily to decadal. This kind of temporal resolution can accentuate landscape features on the ground by de-emphasizing non-permanent signatures caused by seasonal or even daily changes in vegetation. We argue that the availability of high spatial and temporal resolution multispectral imagery from Planet Inc. will enable new approaches to studying archaeological visibility in landscapes. While palimpsests …

“Tormented By Difficulties Of Every Kind”: Catholic Teaching On Contraception In Social Context, Kathleen Cavender-Mccoy, Conor M. Kelly

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

The Catholic Church notably condemns all forms of artificial birth control and advocates natural family planning as the only morally licit means of spacing births. This teaching is presented as the quintessential pathway to the fullness of human sexuality, but many Catholics struggle with it, and the magisterium itself recognizes that this path is not an easy one to follow. This article uses recent developments in Catholic moral theology around the notion of structural sin to examine the structural constraints complicating ordinary Catholics’ pursuit of their tradition’s vision for marital sexuality, demonstrating that larger structural forces can considerably affect the …

Thank You For Your Service, Dwayne Vega

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis offers an intimate exploration of my experiences as a soldier during two deployments to Iraq, describing everyday realities of military life. Rather than glorifying the battlefield with warrior myths, I focus on the emotional toll, survival, and the complex relationships among soldiers. My narrative traces the gradual development of PTSD and my eventual reliance on drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism. Through this personal lens, the thesis seeks to challenge common misconceptions about the soldier's life, offering a raw and authentic portrayal of service, trauma, and the lasting effects it had on my life.

Understanding Social Media As A Communicative Tool To Facilitate Critical Discourse: Using #Blackgirlmagic To Explore How Black Women In Higher Education “Talk Back", Crystal Spruill Carter

Theses and Dissertations

Black women have engaged through social media platforms, as a mechanism to uplift their embodiment, despite being relegated to the margins. The hashtag #BlackGirlMagic (BGM) is linked to narratives of Black women in higher education that are empowering and problematic. The development of the popular social media movement during a time when Black women were being portrayed negatively made engaging in the discourse "talking back" possible. This study explores the lived experiences of Black women college students and recent graduates, using currere as an analytical tool for my own communication journals entries as a data source to structure my reflections …

Thai Choral Music In Intercultural Choral Literature: A Guide To Thai Choral Music, Dolhathai Intawong

Dissertations

Amid the evolving landscape of intercultural choral literature, Thai choral music emerges as a compelling yet underexplored genre, distinguished by its integration of unique linguistic and Thai musical elements. Despite the diverse choral repertoire in global music scene, the lack of resources on Thai diction and practical approach to Thai choral works for teaching and performing Thai choral music has resulted in its absence from choral global repertoires.

To address this gap, this research examines a comprehensive approach to Thai diction, providing a foundation for understanding the intricacies of Thai pronunciation which is applicable to a wide range of vocal …

Msw Portfolio: Education, Application, Reflection, And Growth, Catherine Ristvedt Keller

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Exploring and the social work competencies, values, and dimensions of practice. Defining and moving past positionality. Applying social work ethics, skills, and tools, and exploring how the Independent Living approach can influence the medical model for improved patient outcomes.

Mapping Amis Mill In Rogersville, Tennessee In The 1780s Using Geophysical Methods And Remote Sensing, Amy Collins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Geophysics and remote sensing were used at the Amis Mill and Homesite to determine the location of structures during the 1780s. Areas of interest were surveyed using shallow geophysical and remote sensing techniques including the orchard, horse pasture, original kitchen on the east side of the house, the west side of the house, plowed field, store site, and cemetery. After analyzing the results of the geophysical surveys and remote sensing, 22 sites were chosen to test inside and outside potential features. A large rectangular feature, possibly a tavern with a cellar, was discovered. Four other features were identified, three of …

Perceiving, Processing, And Evaluating Infant Facial Affect In Potential Parents: An Erp Study, Tiffany Bonnagio

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Evidence for differences between assigned female at birth (AFAB) and assigned male at birth (AMAB) perceiving, processing, and evaluating infant faces has been mixed. The current study examined whether expected parental self-efficacy (EPSE) and desire for children predicts event-related potentials (ERPs) to infant facial affect in potential parents. No scale for EPSE exists. Therefore, we reworded the Perceived Maternal Parental Self-Efficacy scale from present to future tense. There was no correlation with EPSE scores, ERPs, or behavioral data. No difference was found between AFAB and AMAB in accurately evaluating infant faces; however, AFABs responded more quickly. ERP data revealed significantly …

Just Deserts: The Moral Foundations Of Antagonistic Personality In Social Aggression, Summer Steely

Master's Theses

Social aggression is associated with adverse psychosocial consequences such as anxiety, depression, isolation, reciprocal violence, and suicidality (Zhu et al., 2024). Psychopathic personality traits and moral deficits have been linked to antisocial behavior, including social aggression; however, the role of moral value systems and trait moral disengagement in the context of social aggression is less clear. A more granular analysis of their utility may illuminate new pathways toward intervention. To advance this goal, the present study explored the relationships between the values of Moral Foundations Theory and social aggression among college students (N = 301). Two moral foundations (i.e., care …

Understanding The Performance And Perception Of Odawa Warfare, 1615–1700, Eric P. Morningstar

Masters Theses

This research employs the ethnohistorical method to explore how the Odawa people perceived and carried out warfare from 1615 to 1700. While historians have examined the Odawa, these Native peoples have frequently not been the central focus in the secondary literature. Many primary sources also offer a vague answer as to how the Odawa conceived and carried out warfare. This study aims to clarify historiographical inconsistencies by quantitatively analyzing a database, constructed by the author, of specific primary references to known hostilities between the Odawa, other Native groups, and Europeans. The analysis includes specific variables germane to hostilities such as …

'Buy Me Some Peanuts And Cracker Jacks': How Peanuts, Chewing Gum, Hot Dogs, And Beer Became Icons Of Americana Through Baseball, Miles Houman Cipriano

Graduate Masters Theses

BUY ME SOME PEANUTS AND CRACKER JACKS’: HOW PEANUTS, CHEWING GUM, HOT DOGS, AND BEER BECAME ICONS OF AMERICANA THROUGH BASEBALL December 2024 Miles Houman Cipriano B.A., Westfield State University M.A., University of Massachusetts Boston Directed by Professor Bonnie Miller Peanuts, chewing gum, hot dogs, and beer are often closely associated with the game of baseball. Beginning in the mid to late nineteenth century, baseball was a rising form of entertainment in the United States of America, and part of the spectator experience was the purchase of concessions. The business of concessions in America has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry …

“Go, Rebuild My House”: Empowering The Church Of The Poor Through The Eyes Of Saint Vincent De Paul, Daniel Franklin E. Pilario

Vincentian Studies

Daniel Franklin E. Pilario interprets the Vincentian charism by relating the concepts of mercy, mission, and synodality to Vincent de Paul’s teaching and ministry. Pope Francis has identified these as the keys to the Church’s reform, which is meant as the Christian response to suffering. Mercy (or compassion) is God’s defining characteristic. As Vincent de Paul taught, God was incarnated as a servant of the world to relieve its pain. We, who are made in God’s image, should therefore also be defined by compassion. If we are, then our most fundamental religious practice (mission) is service to the poor. Mission …

The Poor As Theologians, Jorge Costadoat

Vincentian Studies

Jorge Costadoat presents a brief history of liberation theology, which originated in Latin America and the Caribbean. God incarnated himself as a poor person and speaks through them and their experiences. For these reasons, the poor “evangelize the Church,” and belief in the preferential option for the poor is part of what defines Christianity. Opting for the poor means improving their earthly condition as well as acknowledging the way they should be privileged in the Church. Costadoat agrees with Carlos Mesters, who says theology is meant not “to interpret the Bible but to interpret life with the help of the …

Fight At The Museum: An Ethnographic Study Investigating Staff And Volunteers At Wwii Museums And Memorials, Miranda Noland

Master's Theses

Museums are places where events of the past can be explained, appreciated, and understood. While efforts are often taken to provide a neutral position in the presentation of complicated and emotional historical events, there may exist external pressure to present a more overtly nationalist narrative to please a particular audience or group of funders (Fujitani 1997). This creates a conflict of interest with respect to fair, accurate, and/or honest representation (White 1997b) for museum staff to navigate.

The goal of this thesis is to investigate stories that museums are permitted to tell within the context of Japanese and American narratives …

A Study Of The Ceramics At The Ebert Canebrake Site (1mc25), Andrew Patterson

Master's Theses

The Ebert Canebrake site is a small multi-component village in Macon County, Alabama. The primary focus of this thesis is to explain the presence of two distinct ceramic traditions on-site during the Mississippi period (AD 1000-1450). Local Shine II ceramics are typified by sand tempering and are related to the Lamar culture of eastern Georgia and western Alabama. Big Eddy phase ceramics are typified by shell tempering and Moundville-like designs from the Black Warrior River Valley in western Alabama. The temporal and spatial relationship of these materials on site is examined through an artifact analysis based upon stratified samples recovered …