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Chimes: September 22, 2025, Calvin University

Chimes

Parking prices increase: How are students feeling? by Addy Offutt & Ian Tjoelker

"Famous last words": Calvin Theatre Company's latest 24-hour theatre by McKenna Wilkilson

Student Senate's bright hopes for a new year by Jorie Cho

Dining in looks different this year: Ex-ploring dining hall changes by Evangeline Anga

Constitution Day celebration sparks dialogue on campus by Ella Vanden Berg

To cut language is to cut identity: A call to Calvin's conscience by Sarah Sparling

Retracted: Idea Density And Grammatical Complexity As Neurocognitive Markers, Diego Iacono, Gloria Feltis

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Language, a uniquely human cognitive faculty, is fundamentally characterized by its capacity for complex thoughts and structured expressions. This review examines two critical measures of linguistic performance: idea density (ID) and grammatical complexity (GC). ID quantifies the richness of information conveyed per unit of language, reflecting semantic efficiency and conceptual processing. GC, conversely, measures the structural sophistication of syntax, indicative of hierarchical organization and rule-based operations. We explore the neurobiological underpinnings of these measures, identifying key brain regions and white matter pathways involved in their generation and comprehension. This includes linking ID to a distributed network of semantic hubs, like …

The Sudanese Identity In The Mirror Of Colonial And Post-Independence History, Abdalla Galaleldeen

The Journal of Social Encounters

After independence, Sudan’s political elite adopted colonial-inspired policies that sought to divide the country into North and South (Arabs versus Africans). This policy was further reinforced by the civil wars and by the failures of the Sudanese political elite to construct a cohesive national identity. In the post-independence period, one elite group aligned itself with an Arab identity, while another embraced an African identity. Logically, therefore, both identities—Islamic-Arab and African—encompass the majority of the population. Yet, while Islamists and Africanists each claimed to represent this majority, neither addressed the contradictions inherent in their positions. As the tension between the Islamic-Arab …

Engaging The Somali Diaspora: A Case Study Of One Agency’S Community Programming Approach, Farhia Abdi

The Journal of Social Encounters

This case study investigates how a local community agency engages with the Somali diaspora to design and implement culturally responsive services, such as the Settlement and Integration Program. It also explores the potential of fostering meaningful dialogue with community members to inform the development of culturally sensitive programming. The research question guiding this study was developed by findings from previous research, which highlighted the significance of community engagement, sustained dialogue, and the necessity for agencies to design clearly defined programs. These programs should prioritize active participation from community members in both the creation and implementation of tailored initiatives.

Dalit Poetry On The Eve Of Indian Independence: Gurram Jashuva And The Quest For Critical Consciousness And Collective Remembering, Chris Conway

The Journal of Social Encounters

The Dalit Literary movement irrupted on the scene in the early 1970s in the state of Maharashtra, India. Unblinking in its criticism of casteism and unnerving in its depiction of Dalit oppression, the movement sought to concretize the political aims of B.R. Ambedkar (1891-1956) through cultivating a critical Dalit consciousness liberated from caste identity and history. The movement enjoyed success in uniting Dalit groups across the country under this new name. However, fifty years later a new generation of Dalit and Dalit-supporting thinkers have begun to critically examine the implications of Dalit identity focusing particularly on its rootedness in suffering …

Democracy, Rights, Historical Memory, And Interfaith Relations In The Works Of Fatima Mernissi And Asma Uddin, Jon Armajani

The Journal of Social Encounters

The works of Moroccan-born Muslim scholar Fatima Mernissi (1940-2015) and United States-born Muslim scholar Asma T. Uddin (b. 1980) are distinctive contributions in modern conversations about the intersections of Islam, law, human and civil rights as well as historical memory and interfaith relations (AncestryLibrary, n.d.; Fox, 2015; Florida Bar, n.d.; Justia Lawyers, n.d.; Rodoski, 2011; Sadiqi, 2018).[i] Mernissi, who was a professor of sociology at Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco, and Uddin, who is an attorney and scholar based in the United States, are influential and delve into the intricate relationships between Islamic ideas and modern legal frameworks, …

Our Bare Life: The Care Manifesto, Homo Sacer, And Hannah Arendt On Memory, Spontaneous Community, And Postwar Authoritarianism, Sam Grayck

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Problem Videogame Playing Scale: A Preliminary Study Of Measurement Invariance Between English And Malay, Jia Yuin Fam, Rumaya Juhari, Zainal Madon, Mohd Najmi Daud

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

Purpose: Distinguishing between problematic and non-problematic gamers is a priority concern. Although the Problem Videogame Playing (PVP) Scale might be useful as a screening tool of IGD, there is little evidence to support the measurement invariance of the PVP scale. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the English and Malay versions of the PVP scale. Methods: A total of 646 secondary school students aged between 12 and 18 years were recruited to participate in this study. Results: The unidimensional structure of the PVP scale was confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis. The PVP scale correlates well with other …

Teacher Perceptions Of The Mental Health And Socio-Emotional Challenges Of English Language Learners, Nilufer Guler, Dincer Guler, Kyle Bush

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

A fast-growing percentage of students in K–12 classrooms are English language learner (ELL) students, and a large number of these students are experiencing a vast array of academic and non-academic challenges at school. Many ELL challenges involve inadequate socio-emotional learning (SEL) skill development, as well as mental health obstacles, and many schools are not equipped with the resources needed to address and resolve these challenges for ELLs.

In this study, we focus on teacher observations of the SEL and mental health challenges that K–12 students face. In the initial survey, 120 teachers participated regarding ELLs and these challenges. Following the …

The Role Of Metaphorical Imagery And Textual Gaps In Constructing National Meanings In The Poem “A Nation That Does Not Fade” By Issa Jaraba: An Analytical Study, Mohsena Abdullah Habib Al-Harthi

UB Journal for Humanities

This study aims to examine the poem “A Homeland That Never Fades” by the poet Issa Jarraba through the analysis of two key rhetorical mechanisms: metaphorical imagery and textual ellipsis, represented by the use of the ellipsis mark. The analysis seeks to answer the central question: How does Issa Jarraba employ metaphorical imagery and textual ellipsis in his poem “A Homeland That Never Fades” to construct national meanings and deepen their emotional impact? The study focuses on analyzing the manifestations of metaphorical imagery, while also addressing textual ellipsis as a rhetorical device that offers the reader space for reflection and …

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Versus Self-Monitoring For Patients With Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Prayuth Poowaruttanawiwit, Kwanchai Rattanamanee, Nonnachanok Chaiyot, Saranpreeya Srisinroongruang

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) require intensive glucose monitoring to achieve optimal glycemic control and prevent complications. While self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) has long been the standard approach, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) offers real-time data and trend analysis that may enhance clinical decision-making.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate whether CGM provides superior glycemic outcomes compared with SMBG in individuals with T1DM.

Materials and Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. Four randomized controlled trials involving T1DM patients using either CGM or SMBG were included. …

Board Of Trustees Plumbers And Pipefitters Local V. Jones Lang Lasalle Americas Inc

2025 Decisions

USDC for the District of Delaware

“It’S Just Rap”: Why Texas Courts Must Presume Rap Lyrics Inadmissible As Evidence In Criminal Trials, Sydney Ramirez

St. Mary's Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Nasis Reference List, Bureau Of Sociological Research

Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey (NASIS)

This document contains citations of articles and presentations that have used NASIS data.

Ceuta, Melilla, And The Co-Construction Of Borders And Migrant Identities: Moroccan And Spanish Media Discourse, Farah Ali

Global Language Studies Faculty publications

Ceuta and Melilla are often the epicenter of political debates in Spain and Morocco, in part owing to their Spanish sovereignty being disputed by Morocco. This issue is further complicated by Morocco’s paradoxical role in migration to these cities, serving as a sojourn for migrants while simultaneously policing the borders that it protests. In this study, I use critical discourse analysis and media framing to analyze 200 Moroccan and Spanish news articles to highlight how migrant identities and borders are co-constructed. Findings show that borders are discursively constructed differently across countries and publication languages while also tied to migration, juxtaposing …

Loneliness, Technology, And Culture: Insights From Older Chinese Immigrants’ Experiences, Shao-Yun Chien, Oleg Zaslavsky, Basia Belza, Annie T. Chen

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Loneliness and social isolation significantly impact the well-being of older adults, particularly immigrants from minority groups. Chinese immigrants are the third-largest immigrant group in the United States and may encounter unique challenges related to loneliness and social isolation due to life transitions. The prevalence of loneliness among older Chinese immigrants is 26%, significantly higher than in the broader aging population. Despite information and communication technology (ICT) interventions developed to address these issues, their effectiveness remains unclear, possibly due to neglecting the subjective nature of loneliness and the diverse backgrounds of participants, including racial and cultural differences.

Research Purpose: This …

Lost In Translation? Using Generative Ai To Make Academic Expertise Easier For Partners To Discover, Jackson Anderson, Timothy Cain

International Forum on Expert Finder Systems

Universities increasingly recognize the value of interdisciplinary collaboration as a powerful way to tackle complex challenges. However, establishing effective partnerships across institutions, industry, and government is often difficult due to siloed organizational structures and language barriers between sectors.

The Ohio Innovation Exchange (OIEx) provides a centralized web portal enabling users to discover expertise, research opportunities, intellectual property, and specialized equipment and services across Ohio's higher education landscape. Built upon Symplectic Elements, OIEx directly facilitates connections between academia and industry partners to foster collaboration and innovation.

Simply bringing potential collaborators together is often not enough: effective partnerships depend on clear communication …

Educational Services And Language Congruency In Low-Income Children Who Are Deaf Of Hard-Of-Hearing, Courtney J. Austin, Dylan Chan, Jihyun Stephans

Research Colloquium

Background: Children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH) are required by United States law to have access to educational services through the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA). However, access to language-congruent providers, as well as supplemental services, varies considerably. Household income is associated with poorer hearing care access and outcomes in DHH children. We predict that access to supplemental, language-congruent DHH services is poorer in DHH children from lower-income homes.

Methods: This is a secondary, ad hoc exploratory study of DHH children aged 0-27 months enrolled in a randomized clinical trial (CT.gov: NCT04928209). Children were enrolled across all …

From Resettlement To Employment: Bridging Barriers And Empowering Refugee Women Through Workforce Training In Tampa Bay, Mikayla William, Haley Mendillo, Aileen Pinell, Brittany Gordon

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Approximately 12,425 refugees aged 18-60, resettled in Hillsborough County in fiscal year 2023, highlighting a need for targeted programs supporting refugees in building career skills and gaining confidence in navigating the job market. Refugee women face unique challenges as they integrate into the U.S. workforce, including communication barriers, limited work history, and adapting to workplace norms. A workforce readiness program tailored to refugee women in Tampa Bay provides essential career development tools, fostering economic independence and integration through culturally sensitive training methods. Over a two-day program, a structured curriculum was implemented to accommodate varying educational backgrounds and English proficiency levels. …

Machine Learning Insights Into Multilingual Children's English Reading Achievement: Evaluating The Predictive Power Of Kindergarten Factors On Elementary English Reading Achievement, Nam Nguyen

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Existing machine learning research that examines factors influencing student’s academic achievement largely focuses on monolingual rather than multilingual students. To address this gap, we employ machine learning to analyze the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K:2011) data of 3,542 nationally representative multilingual children from 970 U.S. schools, who were followed from kindergarten (Fall 2010) to 5th grade (Spring 2016). Our study models and compares the predictive power of six key factors in kindergarten (early reading ability, cognitive and language skills, socio-emotional skills, child characteristics, home literacy environment, and school/classroom characteristics) on English reading achievement across primary years. …

Revolutionary Sisters: The Rise Of Chicana Feminism, Christian Rodriguez

History in the Making

This essay examines the rise of Chicana feminism during the Chicano Rights Movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. It covers the reasons why women felt the need to create an organization outside of the movement that focused on specific women’s issues and the importance of building sisterhood with Chicanas. As great as it was for women to have a space where they could organize and discuss the advancement of Chicanas, there were other women who did not feel that feminism should even be a topic for discussion. The essay also touches on queer liberation, the importance of art, …

The Black Curse: The Curse Of Ham And The Mark Of Cain As Justification For Black Subjugation, Margaret Phillips

History in the Making

The concept of race, particularly the construction of blackness and anti-blackness, emerged during the Medieval and Early Modern periods around the Mediterranean and its surrounding cultures. It is a concept of religious origin, in that it first depended on the worldview of the Abrahamic faiths—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam— and their interpretations of the narratives surrounding the Biblical figures Cain and Ham. This established the “mark” of black skin as a curse placed by the Abrahamic God that made up the foundational justifications for racial hierarchies and the subjugation of black Africans. The convenient narrative framed blackness as inherently inferior and …

Transitioning A Generative Model-Powered Assistant Into Translation Mode, Andrew Hard, Shujian Zhang, Aditya Barua, John Lambert, Wenxuan Zhou

Defensive Publications Series

Conversational large language models (LLMs) often have limited capabilities when functioning as a real-time interpreter. These models can fail to follow instructions consistently, resulting in responses in the incorrect language or attempts to answer a user's question instead of providing a direct translation. This issue stems from a lack of training data that reflects the typical turn-by-turn, interleaved conversation flow between two speakers of different languages. Some implementations are directed to transitioning a generative model-powered assistant into a translation mode in which the assistant facilitates structured conversational turns between two users speaking different languages, with the generative model acting as …

Alternative Multilingual Paradigms Using Translanguaging: Decolonizing Strategies For Blacks And Indigenous Literacies In The Global South, Mercia Santana Flannery, Oseas Bezerra Viana Júnior (Universidade Federal Do Agreste De Pernmabuco, Brazil),, Kleber Aparecido Da Silva (Universidade De Brasília, Brazil).

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

The Need For Alternative Pedagogies, Mercia Santana Flannery, Oseas Bezerra Viana Júnior (Universidade Federal Do Agreste De Pernmabuco, Brazil), Kleber Aparecido Da Silva (Universidade De Brasília, Brazil)

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Our ever-evolving societies have faced a myriad of changes in a relatively short span of time. From a heavy focus on globalization to its undesired effects in education across the Global South, from migratory movements, shifting political and ideological landscapes to technological innovations, the impacts on how our students learn and engage with the world has also been in flux. Considering these complexities, this chapter highlights the urgent need for alternative practices and perspectives in language education, and for adaptation in light of the context specific contingencies that teachers and learners face.

Teacher Educators’ Languaging For More Just English Language Education In Ecuador, Adeline De Angelis

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

This article describes how English language teacher educators in Ecuador envision their languaging practices contributing to more just English language education in a Global South context. The study took a capabilities approach informed by Latin American decolonial theory. Findings are based on a qualitative thematic analysis of focus group interviews conducted with 37 instructors teaching English language teacher education content courses at 18 universities. The findings illustrate two distinct theories of change: through best practices and through contextualization. Teacher educators linked English-only practices with developing teacher English proficiency, holding teachers accountable to standards, and preparing them to ultimately enact global …

Aprender Inglés En La U-Diversidad: The Case Of Colombian University Students With Multiple Marginalized Identities Disrupting Colonial Language Policies And Curricula, Maure Aguirre-Ortega, Yenny Chavarría, Claudia Gutiérrez

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Required to learn English, Black, Indigenous, Migrant and Rural Colombian university students often find themselves oppressed by a colonial curriculum that overlooks their intersecting marginalized identities. Drawing from decoloniality and intersectionality, this paper discusses how coloniality and students’ plethora of identities converge in the English classroom and engage in a dance of oppression and resistance. Mediated by participatory dialogues, results of this (case) study indicate that engaging these minoritized students in a collective initiative to decolonize the English classroom enabled them to a) value the social, cultural, and linguistic identities of their territories b) reflect on the implication of colonial …

An Autoethnographic Study: Perspectives And Insights Of A Cross-Cultural Educator On Curriculum And Pedagogical Variation In Internationalization Of Higher Education, L. Ge

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

This auto-ethnographic inquiry utilizes autobiographical narrative to delve into my experiences and narratives as a cross-cultural educator simultaneously teaching at a Chinese and Canadian university. The aim is to ponder the interconnections, differences, and challenges within formal cross-cultural curriculum design and pedagogy, informal curriculum, and hidden curriculum and engage with academic environments and broader communities. Specifically, the study will examine the content, teaching methodologies, student learning, assessment practices, and the learning environment based on my experiences in an intercultural educational setting, as well as my coping strategies. The constructivist paradigm serves as the theoretical framework to explore my perceptions and …

Decolonizing Colombian Foreign-Language Classroom Assessments: A Meaningful Framework, Patricia Grillet Rodriguez

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

In Colombia, foreign-language evaluation validity appears to be mainly related to the analysis of instruments, leaving aside students’ characteristics, affective schemata and expectations. Drawing from critical pedagogy, this study aimed at raising authenticity and meaningfulness in the development of valid foreign-language assessments in a higher education classroom. Framed in the sociocultural perspective, the teacher/researcher and her students obtained substantial gains by adapting a syllabus and evaluation system to better respond to the needs of their context. It was a collaborative process that implied contextualizing contents, establishing a concept of language ability, and including students’ voices in the design of assessments, …

Introduction, Rosalind Latiner Raby

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.