Digital Commons Network^™

Crafting The Narrative: A Look At Long-Form Storytelling Through The Art Of Quilling, Jaycee R. Lundell

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis explores the journeys of four contemporary quilling artists and their works. It dives into the creative process of conducting the interviews, capturing the footage, and making the documentary. The documentary also explores the history of quilling including its resurgence in the 1980s and the complicated process of navigating the declining numbers of the International Quilling Guild while the craft spreads across the internet, potentially losing its rich history and standards of excellence. Since quilling is a lesser known art, this thesis is also an attempt to spread the knowledge of the craft since there are very few scholarly …

The Lumberjack, April 22, 2026

Cal Poly Humboldt's Student Newspaper

The student newspaper of Humboldt State University.

Redistricting And Voter Suppression In A Post-Pandemic America, Joshua Slatter

Global Insight

The 2020 election was a referendum on many pressing issues of the time. COVID-19, climate change, and civil unrest propelled Americans to the voting booth in unprecedented numbers, shattering previous turnout records for both previous Vice President Joe Biden and the incumbent Donald Trump. Biden and the Democratic Party field won, but narrowly. With the Democratic Party ostensibly holding only a slim majority in the House and the Vice Presidency as a tiebreaker in a dead-locked Senate, there have been large cries of a “stolen election” and “rampant voter fraud.” This has prompted several states, usually with Republican majorities, to …

Letter From The Editor, Dmitry Rudkevich Jr.

Global Insight

No abstract provided.

Contributors, Global Insight Editorial Team

Global Insight

No abstract provided.

Westernization And Its Effects On The Sound Of Japan, Coleton Boles

Global Insight

A major source of influence on Japanese musicians has historically been Western art, and the resulting music has also served to influence much of Western contemporary music. This paper forms a timeline containing some key moments in Japanese music history, including the pioneering of Japanese-language rock, synth-pop, and Shibuya-kei. This investigation into these important moments is supplemented by quotes from interviews of musicians, including Haruomi Hosono of Yellow Magic Orchestra and Happy End, Keigo Oyamada of Flipper’s Guitar, and Yasuharu Konishi of Pizzicato Five. This paper finds that a country’s art and culture, in this case Japanese music, can evolve …

Full Issue, Global Insight Editorial Team

Global Insight

No abstract provided.

The Abortion Debate In Post-Roe America, Umber Batool

Global Insight

This paper exhibits the argument surrounding the ethicality of abortion, its restrictive laws, and the makeup of child welfare organizations that may influence one’s decision whether or not to have an abortion. Abortion laws were unregulated in the US until the 1800s. Since then, laws have been changed many times, largely depending on the state the law has been ordained in. Texas’s recent passing of the abortion-restricting Senate Bill 8 in September 2021, as well as the national overturning of the 1973 abortion-permitting Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case in June 2022, have sparked debate on this topic. Defining and …

Propaganda In America How To Recognize And Defend Against It, Chae Balistreri

Global Insight

Corporations and governments use modern propaganda techniques to influence and manipulate the public, incurring social and environmental consequences which are compounding over time. This paper provides both historical and modern examples of propaganda, then highlights key issues that arise as a byproduct, such as planned obsolescence, astroturfing, and the internet filter bubble. Companies like Google and Facebook use proprietary algorithms to shape the internet as well as their users’ minds through dopamine-driven feedback loops. The effects of a consumer driven culture spill over into the environment, with plastic pollution and e-waste littering the shores of distant countries. This paper details …

The Misrepresentation Of American Sign Language And Deaf Culture In Mainstream Film Media A Call For Inclusive Representation, Katherine M. Hamilton, Dr. Lisalee Egbert

Global Insight

Mass film media has the power to shape popular culture and influence public opinions and perceptions; thus, properly portraying Deaf characters, the correct linguistic model of American Sign Language (ASL), and Deaf Culture in this powerful medium is crucial. This research examines the misrepresentation of Deaf Culture and ASL in film and its impact on realworld interactions between Deaf and hearing c/Communties. By analyzing historical film trends, bringing modern trends to light, and creating educational tools, this study aims to create measurable change in media practice. The study uses online questionnaires and interviews with ASL-fluent participants from the Deaf Community …

Russian Political Warfare: What It Is, What It's Not, And Why It Isn't Working, Lance Bokinskie

Global Insight

This article defines Russia’s multifaceted approach to political warfare and analyzes its effectiveness in achieving foreign policy objectives. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is an exemplary case study to define the aspects of 21st-century Russian political warfare and analyze its efficacy as an approach to foreign policy. This case study will lend meaningful support to the claim that the utility of Russian political warfare is severely limited by the adhocratic foreign policy encouraged by the Kremlin—specifically, the lack of an overarching proscriptive foreign policy strategy and a functioning bureaucracy to enforce the pursuit of outlined objectives, definitive organizational purviews, and …

Book Review, Da-Shiva Francois

Global Insight

Book Review of Teaching Performance Practices in Remote and Hybrid Spaces, edited by Jeanmarie Higgins and Elisha Clark Halpin. Routledge, 2022. 230 pages. $42.95. ISBN 978-1-0032-2905-6.      

Foreword, Katherine M. Hamilton

Global Insight

No abstract provided.

Contributors, Global Insight Editorial Team

Global Insight

counterparts, animals. Current standards of the industry bring up concern for the ethical treatment of animals; additionally,

Letter From The Editor, Sean Woodard

Global Insight

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Global Insight Editorial Team

Global Insight

No abstract provided.

The Price Of Democracy: How Federal Tax Receipts Can Enhance Public Awareness, Transparency, And Civic Discourse, Hannah Bordeau

Honors Theses

Each year, the IRS collects roughly $2.18 trillion in income taxes alone, accounting for approximately 48% of the government's total revenue. However, the IRS does not audit individual tax receipts for citizens, preventing them from seeing a visual breakdown of where their money is allocated. To better understand how citizens feel about governmental spending, this project will utilize a mixed-methods approach, incorporating a qualitative case study to explore the developments (or lack thereof) regarding a “tax receipt” and conducting interviews to gain insights into public perception of a tax receipt program. In addition to the interviews, this project will explore …

Developing Adult Glioma Model In Drosophila, Anna Lindenmuth

Honors Theses

Glial brain tumors typically occur in older adults and have no known cure. Therefore, it is important to study the growth and physiological effects that this disease causes in hopes of finding an adequate solution. A great and inexpensive model to study glial cell tumors is flies because they share similar neurological pathways with humans. Our lab studies glioma brain tumors in larval stages of Drosophila, but no adult models have been made to account for and match the occurrence of cancer developing in older adults. Therefore, this study’s purpose is to create and study the growth of glial cell …

Gender-Based Violence In El Salvador: The Role Of Political Developments And The Impact On The Rights Of Salvadoran Women, Maison E. Mclean

Honors Theses

This thesis analyzes the ways women in El Salvador are subjected to genderbased violence (GBV), including domestic violence, reproductive violence, economic violence, and marital rape. It examines the institutional social and political conditions that shape women’s experiences with violence, with particular attention to recent policy changes under the Bukele administration. Through literature and media analysis, as well as interviews with activists, researchers, solidarity groups, and human rights organizations, this research explores how shifts in government policy and institutional practices have impacted protections and resources available to women facing GBV. In addition to examining legal frameworks, this thesis highlights the obstacles …

Ud College Student Health Literacy And Well-Being, Olivia R. Upchurch

Honors Theses

In my Honors Thesis Research Project, I studied University of Dayton (UD) students' health literacy and well-being. Well-being is a state of being comfortable and happy. It includes mental well-being and physical activity. Mental well-being is a state of positive psychological, social, and emotional health. Physical activity is bodily movement that promotes physical health. Health literacy is the ability of someone to understand and effectively use health information to make well-informed decisions regarding their health. This project is important because college represents a time when young adults begin to manage their well-being and healthcare independently from their parents or guardians. …

Engineering The Human Future: Human Gene Editing And Its Portrayal In Film, Faith Le Nguyen

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Full Board Meeting Minutes, Clemson University Board Of Trustees, 2026 April 22, Clemson University Board Of Trustees, Clemson University Board Of Trustees

Minutes

No abstract provided.

Sb22-25/26: Resolution Generally Revising Asum Personnel Policy, Buddy Wilson

Senate Resolutions, 2007-Present

SB22-25/26: Resolution Generally Revising ASUM Personnel Policy. This resolution passed [14-0-0] on a roll call vote during the April 22, 2026 meeting of the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM).

“Music Is The Instrument To Bring The Heart Of A Community Together”: Frederic Balazs And The Tucson Symphony Orchestra, 1952-66, Jackie Bodily Biggs

Theses and Dissertations

The audience for classical music is declining, according to data from the National Endowment for the Arts. In the face of such challenges, aspiring music professionals may find inspiration in the musicological illumination of pertinent historical case studies. This paper offers one such example via a foundational exploration of the musical career of Hungarian American violinist, conductor, and composer Frederic Balazs. Though lacking any dedicated scholarly literature to speak of, Balazs’s legacy as the first full-time conductor of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra (TSO) from 1952 to 1966 included establishing arts organizations and nourishing the classical tradition at its very grass …

Lindenwood Digest, April 22, 2026, Lindenwood University

Lindenwood Digest

Event & Date: The Lindenwood University Employee Digest, published on April 22, 2026, outlines various campus activities including the Lindenwood Showcase and Pickleball with the President scheduled for April 23, 2026; Documentary Night on April 27, 2026; and Fashion Education Week occurring from April 27 through May 2, 2026. 

Geographic Grounding: Events are hosted across several venues including Harmon Hall, the Library and Academic Resource Center (LARC), the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts, and the Lindenwood Theater at Lindenwood University, St. Charles, Missouri. 

Key Honorees/Awards: Notable mentions include Phil Sayers as the new Head Women's Basketball Coach; honorees from …

China Maritime Report #52: Everything Everywhere All At Once: The Growing Complexity Of Pla Amphibious Exercises, Jason Wang, Marvin Hamor Bernardo, Pei-Jhen Wu, Andrew S. Erickson

CMSI China Maritime Reports

Main Findings

• In August 2025, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) conducted a large-scale exercise to simulate an invasion of Taiwan. This “capstone” amphibious exercise suggests that People’s Liberation Army (PLA) training and preparations for a future Taiwan campaign are becoming more focused, realistic, and sophisticated.
• The exercise consolidated elements from previous years into a single simulated operation. It integrated a floating causeway system, anti-landing barriers and obstacles, and amphibious Landing Craft Tank (LCT) vessels that landed forces directly onto beachheads.
• For the first time observed, the PLA conducted a phased exercise with simultaneous amphibious landings in three distinct locations. …

Therapeutic Applications Of Tabletop Role-Playing Games In Treatment Of Depressive And Anxious Symptoms In Young Adults, Dash Degrote

Honors Theses

Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) are played by a large population and involve the engagement of social and emotional skills, with the largest portion of the population playing them being adolescents or young adults. The therapeutic application of TTRPGs in the treatment of depressive and anxious symptoms shows potential with this population. In a literature review, three major themes are identified: TTRPG culture, stakeholder perspectives of TTRPGs, and examples of therapeutically-applied TTRPGs. Overall, evidence suggests that TTRPGs can positively impact the concerned symptoms, though more research is needed for games outside of Dungeons & Dragons as well as stakeholder perspectives.

Exercise As A Non-Pharmacological Intervention For The Prevention And Delay Of Alzheimer’S Disease And Dementia, Eden Culver

Honors Theses

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias are rapidly increasing public health concerns due to aging populations and rising life expectancy. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration associated with amyloid-β plaques, tau neurofibrillary tangles, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neuronal loss, leading to impairments in memory, cognition, and daily functioning. Because there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, identifying effective non-pharmacological prevention strategies is essential. This paper examines the role of physical exercise as a preventive and protective intervention for delaying the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Current research demonstrates that exercise supports brain health through several …

The Benefits Of Handcrafting, Madison Mallory

Honors Theses

Handcrafting encompasses physical creative activities such as crochet, wood working, pottery, knitting, and many others. This study includes qualitative research to focus on the impact of handcrafting on individuals. This research was conducted via interviews with 11 individuals. The parameters for individuals to be included in this study is being 18 years of age or older and having experience with handcrafting. Through these interviews two interviewees referred to hand crafting as a form of meditation while seven others expressed feeling similarly using words such as feeling present, calm, focused, and relaxed. Two people share experiences of using handcrafting as coping …

Exploring How Experiential Learning Enhances Undergraduate Education: Insights From The Wmu Cold Case Program With Michigan State Police, Maura Killips

Honors Theses

Experiential learning has become an increasingly important component of undergraduate education, particularly in fields that demand high levels of professional judgment, empathy, and technical skills. This thesis examines how the Western Michigan University (WMU) Cold Case Program (CCP), in partnership with the Michigan State Police, serves as a model of experiential learning that both enriches students’ academic experiences and contributes to real-world investigative work. Drawing on literature about experiential learning as well as my firsthand participation in the program, I analyze how structured hands-on engagement with unsolved homicide and missing persons cases has shaped undergraduate development at WMU.

Key program …