Digital Commons Network^™

Valuating The Impact Of Unexploded Ordnance (Uxo) In Savannakhet, Laos Through Ecosystem Services Assessments, Nathan Lu

Pitzer Senior Theses

Unexploded ordnance (UXO) impact on countries is not well-documented, since post-war surveys or data collection are often hindered by a lack of appropriate funding and reparation. In Laos, UXO has hardly been cleared since 1964 and thus leaves room for spatially and temporally analyzing the severity of environmental and economic degradation in the area. This study uses the framework of ecosystem services, particularly carbon stock, as a way to provide quantitative metrics of impact to local governments and stakeholders. Through remote sensing data in Savannakhet Province, evidence-based land-use change data was spatially analyzed with geocoded UXO bomb mission locations and …

Beyond The Bin: Transforming Relationships With Waste Through A Collaborative Inquiry-Based Environmental Education Curriculum, Kaylee V. Morris

Pitzer Senior Theses

This thesis presents Beyond the Bin, a collaborative inquiry-based environmental education curriculum designed to transform how young learners understand and interact with waste. Motivated by the limitations of current downstream waste education—focused primarily on consumer behavior and individual disposal practices—this project argues for an upstream approach that identifies the underlying cause of these prevalent systems of disposability. Grounded in environmental education theory, affective learning, and ecological literacy, the curriculum encourages students to rethink waste as a material with creative potential rather than something to discard. Through creative engagement, experiential learning, and community-based initiatives, the curriculum fosters collaboration between students, teachers, …

To Seek And Sustain: A Theoretical Exploration And Choreographic Analysis Of Embodied Safety, Holand B. Dennis

Pitzer Senior Theses

The following project is a choreographic exploration framed by a literature review of the polyvagal theory, the BrainDance, and processes of regulation and co-regulation. Combined and interwoven, they demonstrate the potentiality of embodied safety. The performative work, “To Seek and Sustain”, celebrates a collective authorship of movement, emphasizes process over product, and centers dancers' subjective experiences. The polyvagal theory and the BrainDance were the catalyst for this piece; their descriptions drove the choreographic intentions and the dance’s expressive nature. “To Seek and Sustain” demonstrates how to identify and embody physiological safety through choreographed movement.

Farming As Life: Reframing Smallholder Farming As A Site Of Self-Sufficiency And Cultural Heritage In Botswana, Natasha Yen

Pitzer Senior Theses

Dominant neoliberal frameworks often frame smallholder farming through a deficiency lens, reducing it to metrics of productivity, efficiency, and profitability. These perspectives overlook the deeper material, cultural, and social significance that farming holds in the lives of smallholder farmers. In Botswana—where approximately 70% of the rural population engages in smallholder farming—farming remains a vital part of everyday life, yet few studies adopt a culturalist or holistic lens to examine its meaning. To center smallholder farmers’ lived experiences and perspectives, this study is based on semi-structured interviews with ten smallholder farmers in southeast Botswana. Grounded in a culturalist framework and critical …

Untangling The Classification Of Surfaces: An Accessibility-Centered Perspective On Topology, Charlotte N. Richards

Pitzer Senior Theses

Mathematics has clear benefits in education, from preparing students for future careers to teaching them how to problem-solve. While mathematics achievement has been falling in recent decades, students claim that the problem is not the mathematics itself, but the ‘boring’ classroom material that feels removed from real life. More advanced mathematics topics, such as topology, could offer a solution, as their applications lie in countless fields. However, topology has been restricted to upper-level mathematics, disregarding the potential benefits of making this material broadly reachable for a junior high-school audience. In this paper, we analyze five different proofs of the theorem …

The Impacts Of Dietary And Educational Intervention In Addressing Adult Obesity In The Mexican Population, Matthew C. Servin

CMC Senior Theses

Mexico’s obesity epidemic has been an ongoing issue for the past few decades, with multiple studies attributing this to the disparities in accessing healthy food and health education. Designing a solution to Mexico’s adult obesity crisis will focus on studying the effects of an intervention plan that addresses these obesogenic factors. This proposed study will assess how a token system and health education sessions may impact the risk of obesity in the adult Mexican population. This study also will consider any limitations that arise when only one of the two intervention methods are used. As these interventions are implemented over …

Artful Approaches For The Study Of Multiracial Student Experiences: Not Artifact, But Aperture, Orkideh Mohajeri, Victoria Malaney-Brown

Educational Leadership & Higher Education Administration Faculty Publications

Within higher education, various methodologies are used to collect data on student experiences, including both quantitative and qualitative approaches. This paper highlights the importance of attending to artful methodologies particularly when learning with/from mixed and multiracial postsecondary students. We share three artful productions generated by multiracial undergraduate and graduate students from three separate studies, conducted over a range of time from 2017 to 2020. We argue that in each case, the art itself goes far beyond an artifact or "thick description" and instead serves as an aperture to new possibilities for inquiry and analysis. Not only are artful methods a …

Accommodating Pregnancy In Academic Libraries: Tips For Librarians And Supervisors, Samantha Peter, Katie Quirin Manwiller

Educational Leadership & Higher Education Administration Faculty Publications

Pregnancy and disability are rarely seen as overlapping experiences within Amer­ican society’s limited concepts of disability. Disabled pregnant people face inva­sive ableism from the general public and their healthcare providers. However, people with disabilities report similar rates of pregnancy as those without disabilities. Even for nondisabled pregnant people, pregnancy itself can be inherently disabling. While many nondisabled people will not personally identify with disability during their pregnancy, their symptoms may necessitate accommodation to continue working. As such, we must look at the intersections of disability and pregnancy when creating inclusive libraries. This chapter provides a practical guide to accommodating pregnancy …

The Americans With Disabilities Act And Academic Library Workers, Katie Quirin Manwiller

Educational Leadership & Higher Education Administration Faculty Publications

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) established the legal requirement for equal access to employment for disabled Americans, but the processes for inclusion established by the law are rarely discussed in the workplace. This chapter will outline the requirements under Title I of the ADA for employment related to discrimination in the workplace and reasonable accommodations. Crucially, it provides practical recommendations for navigating these processes to help disabled academic library workers advocate for themselves and others. Lastly, it provides tips for library supervisors on how to creative inclusive environments that go beyond the bare minimum of accessibility required by the …

Hope For A New Us/Earth Via E-Co-Aectivity And Jeong (정 情), Jea Sophia Oh

Philosophy Faculty Publications

In E-Co-Affectivity, Marjolein Oele explores the deep connectivity and relational entanglements of plants, animals, humans, and the soil as elemental components of a co-affective community. Her deconstructive reading of the Aristotelian conception of degrees of three souls, with such hierarchy of humans-animals-vegetables via what she calls categorical contamination,” is a brilliant example of how re-reading the western canon can cast important interpretive light upon contemporary ethico-political questions. Oele’s work shows how it is crucial to foreground (eco)feminist re-interpretations of the writings of major figures in the western philosophical traditions. It is reconstruction and construction of feminist hermeneutics so that it …

The Impact Of Class Size On Students’ Learning Outcome And Educational Experience: A Comprehensive Examination Of Students At Msu, Mankato, Yakubu Ali

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The topic of class size and its relationship to students' learning outcomes and educational experiences has been extensively examined in the field of education. While prior research has explored associations between class size and academic performance, less is known about how class size shapes professor-student and student-peer interactions and how these interactions relate to students' perceived learning outcomes and overall educational experiences. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study conducted a comprehensive examination of undergraduate students at MSU, Mankato, combining quantitative survey responses with qualitative reflections. Findings suggest that class size is closely tied to patterns of engagement, with smaller classes …

L'Dor V'Dor, Shoshana L. Greene

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2025

This project details a service-learning experience at Central Florida Hillel. Serving the community involved on-the-ground leadership and meaningful engagement by supporting signature events like the communal Challah Bake and warm, weekly Shabbos Dinners. This work demonstrated that true service involves leaders directly engaged with volunteers, modeling dedication. The project significantly impacted Hillel’s social infrastructure and accessibility, ensuring a reliable, low-barrier, welcoming space for students seeking cultural connection and companionship. This consistent volunteer effort increased organizational capacity, allowing staff to focus core resources on student mentorship rather than basic logistics. Ultimately, the stability and consistency of these events reinforced the sense …

Leading Change, Saving Lives: The Leadership Behind The National Marrow Donor Program, Madison Rhubart, Isabella De Araujo Mota

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2025

As part of the LEAD Scholar Academy service-learning project, our group partnered with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives through cell therapy and bone marrow donation. The purpose of our project was to support NMDP’s mission of expanding the marrow donor registry and to explore how leadership principles can be applied through meaningful community engagement.

Our volunteer work included assembling and labeling swab kits, assisting with donor registration drives, and educating UCF students about the importance of joining the registry. Through these activities, we not only contributed to lifesaving outreach efforts but also …

Smile, It Makes A Difference, Evan Jarosiewicz

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2025

No abstract provided.

Bringing Military History To Life, Nathan T. Chamberlain

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

The purpose of this project was to be able to learn about public history in a military history setting. The two key activities that I did were; creating an exhibit for a fellow Navy Veteran, and helping with an Oral History event at the museum where we heard from two World War II veterans. The exhibit was especially important to me as it helped me to tell the story of a fellow Navy Veteran. It was also a helpful experience for me to be able to create all of the advertising for the oral history event. These projects helped me …

From Urban Space To Everyday Place : Appropriation Of Public Leisure Areas In Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Marcos Guimarães (Guimaraes)

Journal of Urban Culture Research

The dramatic changes occurred in the organization of cities reverberate in the very individual and interpersonal levels of spatial relationships. This essay approaches the public space by transposing fundamental concepts identified among the urban cultural system to the everyday experience of particular places. This transposition gives an insight into the comprehension of the built environment by exploring links between scales. The referential frame adopted is the set of discourses by Soja (2000) on the post-metropolis. The study cases, two contrasted leisure areas situated in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte, are potential spots for the cultural and spatial appropriation of …

Examining The Social And Cultural Implications Of Philippine Folk Dance To College Of Arts And Sciences (Cas) Students In One State University In The Philippines, John Michael D. Aquino

Journal of Urban Culture Research

The researcher aims to examine the social and cultural implications of Philippine Folk Dance to students in particular to their perceptions, attitudes, and how it affects the identity of the Filipinos. This study employed a phenomenological research design and purposive sampling in choosing the participant based on the given criteria. Semi-structured interviews was utilized and employed validated interview guide from the field expert and pilot testing. Thematic analysis was used in analyzing the data. The results revealed that the perception of the students profound admiration for the meaning, purpose, and beauty of traditional dances. Also emphasized are the value of …

Consumer Preferences For African Prints Across Age Groups In Southwest Nigeria, Adebayo Abiodun Adeloye

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This study examined the perceptions and preferences of African print consumers across different age groups in Southwest Nigeria. The study examined the relationship between cultural, social, and economic factors shaping consumer choices of African print fabric usage. A mixed-methods research design was employed, integrating a quantitative online survey with qualitative focus group discussion. The research instruments were validated through expert review, pilot testing, and reliability analysis, yielding a Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.86, which confirmed strong internal consistency. A sample size of 384 was determined using an online sample size calculator. The online questionnaire was distributed across the six states of …

Musical Analysis Of Chanting Melodies In The Teochew Chinese Yoga Tantra Ritual In Thailand, Rachan Sornchai, Narongchai Pidokrajt, Poonpit Amatyakul

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This study explores the musical elements of the Dharma Sankhita chants in the Mahayana Teochew Chinese Yoga Tantra ritual at Kak Hang Niam Huk Lim Monastery, Bangkok, Thailand. It examines the ritual’s background and musical analysis. Practiced by both Teochew and Cantonese Chinese, the ritual known in Teochew as “Bang Iem Kao” is a profound act of filial piety and ancestor veneration, rooted in the Eight Cardinal Virtues of Chinese ethics. The ceremony is held to dedicate merit to deceased ancestors and preserve cultural traditions. It can be performed at both family and community levels, encouraging intergenerational participation and solidarity. …

An Initial Report On The Search For The Missing Gamelan Heritage Of The Sumenep Palace, Madura, East Java-Indonesia, Aris Setiawan, Zulkarnain Mistortoify

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This research endeavors to locate the long-lost heirloom gamelan from the Sumenep Palace. Since the abolition of aristocratic status in 1883, the Sumenep Palace has lost political and economic legitimacy. To maintain the luxurious lifestyle of the aristocratic court, valuable items, including gamelans, were sold. The heirloom gamelans in the Sumenep Palace are believed to have been gifts from the Mataram Palace, often exchanged during various events, such as marriages. Employing an investigative ethnographic approach, this study gathered data through in-depth interviews with cultural practitioners, palace descendants, and private collectors; direct observation of remaining artifacts; and analysis of historical documents …

Transnational History And Asean’S Young Scholars In Regional Connectivity : Perspectives From Mainland Southeast Asia, Liem Vu Duc, Thu Ha Nguyen Thi

Journal of Urban Culture Research

Past legacies profoundly shape contemporary relationships between ASEAN’s countries. Unfortunately, voices of history do not always generate a healthy motivation for regional connectivity, but recall painful images of warfare and conflict between polities that developed into present-day Southeast Asian nation-states. Such histories can be seen in ongoing disputes over the South China Sea, or at a temple on the Thai-Cambodian border. Taking countries in mainland Southeast Asia as a case study, this paper explores the role history education and Southeast Asian studies play in managing past legacy and facilitating the ASEAN Community with a particular focus on the integration of …

The Impact Of K-Pop On Thai Popular Music : A Study Of Cross-Cultural Communication & Influence, Chananya Piratanatsakul, Vich Boonrod

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This study examines K-Pop's influence on Thai popular music, focusing on cross-cultural communication and its impact on the Thai music industry. Using a mixed-methods approach including content analysis, interviews with industry professionals, and a consumer survey, this study investigate changes in musical style, production, marketing, and audience reception. The findings reveal significant K-Pop-influenced shifts in Thai pop music, encompassing musical composition, visual aesthetics, artist development, and fan engagement. The study argues this phenomenon represents a complex interplay of cultural adaptation and localization rather than mere imitation, reflecting broader cultural globalization trends. The study provides insights into the negotiation between global …

Exploring National Identity Through Modern Monumental And Decorative Tapestry Of Kazakhstan, Baurzhan Doszhanov, Ainash Nauryzbayeva, Yerbol Kairanov, Mukhamejan Suleimenov, Malik Mukanov

Journal of Urban Culture Research

In the context of technical and global transformations, art persists in articulating national identity. The aim of this study is to analyze in depth the art of monumental decorative tapestry in Kazakhstan, with a focus on its contribution to the search for a new paradigm and national identity in contemporary visual arts. Methods of analyzing and comparing artistic works of tapestry artists of contemporary Kazakhstan were used. This research analyses chosen works and their impact on the cultural environment, demonstrating that current monumental and decorative tapestries in Kazakhstan serve not merely as aesthetic objects but also actively contribute to the …

Memory And Pride Through Photographic Collage Arts : The Art Within - Collage Me Proud, Pornrak Chowvanayotin, Ithinath Tantivitittapong

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This article presents The Art Within - Collage Me Proud, an inclusive art initiative in Thailand involving undergraduate art students and persons with Down syndrome. Originating from photographic documentation of traditional Thai performance, the project developed into a participatory collage-making process that encouraged self-expression, co-creation, and shared memory. Through visual storytelling, participants selected meaningful photographs and transformed them into personal artworks with support from students and parents. Findings reveal consistently positive outcomes: participants reported pride, joy, and confidence; caregivers observed improved social interaction and wellbeing; and students demonstrated enhanced empathy, communication, and critical awareness of art’s role in society. Data …

Nature Contained – A Practice-Led Art Project : Within The Principles Of Ikebana And On The Nature Of Harmony, Cherie Chai Tze Lo, Sone Simatrang, Eakachat Joneurairatana

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This research redefines unity between art, design and urban architecture, and wellbeing as an active reconciliation and conscious construction. The findings resonate with contemporary creative practices prioritizing audience engagement. A practice-led and process driven design/art project, it explores the notion of harmony through the Japanese Zen of Ikebana (flower arrangement) and Chasitsu (Tea room). Situated in Bangkok, the process incorporates cross-cultural interactions between Thai business life and Japanese meditative traditions. The methodology re-traces Ikebana flowers into static lines of a steel sculpture. Placed within a furniture design showroom’s internal courtyard, the installation is activated dialogically through a survey that probes …

New Generation Of Sangkhalok Figurines, Chanakarn Semachai

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This research on the New Generation of Sangkhalok Figurines aims to investigate the history and craftsmanship of Sangkhalok production, highlighting its distinctive features to guide future developments. It seeks to collect contemporary concepts that resonate with today's audience by engaging the younger generation to establish set guidelines for creating figurines of the new generation. The study employs participatory learning theory, involving a group of Generation Z participants aged 8-15 from three schools. These participants designed figurines based on their ideas, which were then evaluated by experts to determine the best design principles. The refined designs are being incorporated into the …

Local Material Practice As A Collective Spatial System In A Craft Neighborhood, Resza Riskiyanto, Yandi Andri Yatmo, Paramita Atmodiwirjo

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This article demonstrates how spatial production occurs within local material practices as socially and spatially structured phenomenon. Discourses in local material practice often emphasized the repetitive production processes as cultural expressions; however, the spatial dimension of these practices remains under-explored. Understanding how space is produced and utilized in the process of making 'gerabah' as one of the original Indonesian pottery crafts in Yogyakarta provides new insight into the ecological, social, and technological systems that sustain local communities. This research is important to bridge the knowledge between cultural production studies and spatial analysis within the context of local craft industries. The …

Ensemble Music For Social And Emotional Development : A Case Study Of Primary School Children In A Suburban Malaysian Chinese Community, Florence Kuek, Siew May Cheng, Anna Phang, Wen Fen Beh

Journal of Urban Culture Research

Music forms part of the Malaysian national curriculum for primary education, but music education is often compromised by low community interest, resulting in children’s underexposure to musical training. This qualitative study examines the inclusivity, creativity, and sustainability of a community-initiated children’s choral-instrument ensemble established as an after-school, weekly activity in suburban Malaysia, where members were recruited from lower- to middle-income families, and had little means to pursue music otherwise. Data were collected from class observations, children’s “before-after” drawings, and semi-structured interviews with the stakeholders. The trustworthiness and validity were ensured through inter-rating, member checks, and data triangulation. The findings revealed …

Problems Of Contemporary Art In The Regions Of Great Altai, Yelena Lichman, Mikhail Popandopulo, Abdrashid Raimbergenov, Abdulkhamit Raimbergenov, Adilgali Sagimbayev

Journal of Urban Culture Research

The relevance of the study is due to the fact that at present the topic of modern art is studied all over the world. The purpose of study is the complex study of factors that influence the activities of young artists in the art sector, their genre preference and the choice of unique forms to convey their own thoughts. To achieve this goal, theoretical and empirical methods such as statistical analysis, synthesis, induction and deduction were mainly used. The result of the research was a full analysis of the works of modern Kazakh, Mongolian, Chinese and Uzbek artists working in …

The Walasuji Tradition : Forgotten Meanings And Values, Fajar Ciptandi, Ulfah Nafi’Ah, Akramullah -

Journal of Urban Culture Research

The Walasuji tradition is one of the cultural activities of the Bugis Makassar community, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. It can be found at wedding celebrations as a large gate made of bamboo called “Baruga” Walasuji. However, it is hard to find Baruga Walasuji at youth’s wedding nowadays. Whereas the tradition has unique meaning and values which are good to preserve. This study employed a data validation triangulation method involving interviews, literature review, and observations. Subsequently, the analysis was carried out using a qualitative approach known as the "Three Layers of Culture" method. The results of the study show how meaning and …