Digital Commons Network^™

Informing Policies: Examining Socio-Cultural Factors Influencing The Prevalence Of Gender-Based Violence, Patricia M. Ebubechukwu

Theses and Dissertations

Despite growing policy attention and legal reforms, Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a persistent public health and human rights concern in Nigeria. This study examines the socio-cultural influences on the prevalence of gender-based violence among ever-married women in Nigeria using data from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). Drawing on a nationally representative sample of 19,863 women aged 15 to 49, the research investigates how geopolitical zone, internalized gender norms, religious affiliation, educational attainment, and household wealth shape women’s experiences of physical, sexual, and emotional IPV. Guided by social norms theory and the ecological model of violence, the …

Elite Cues Vs. Economic Vulnerabilities: What Explains Isolationist Foreign Policy Attitudes Among Americans?, Sabyasachi Karmaker

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines whether contemporary isolationist foreign policy attitudes among Americans are better explained by elite political cues or by economic vulnerabilities. Using data from the 2024 American National Election Study (ANES), the study also examines which mechanism holds more explanatory power in shaping isolationist views. The findings show that both elite cues and economic vulnerabilities are associated with isolationist attitudes, but elite cues have greater explanatory power. These results suggest that contemporary American isolationism is more strongly associated with political identity and elite messaging than with economic hardship alone.

Secret-Keeping Experiences Of Young Adults, Jace C. Griffith

Theses and Dissertations

In 2020, researchers Frijns et al. called for a new wave of secret-keeping research which prioritized the person-centric experience of youth keeping secrets. This study added to that collection by comparing two kinds of secret-keeping which are not compared in existing research: secrets which are related to abuse, and secrets which are not. Researchers in the field of child welfare study only abuse-related secret-keeping, almost always qualitatively. Alternatively, researchers of non-abuse secret-keeping or general secret-keeping collect almost entirely quantitative data, absent of the personal experience of secret-keeping.

Through an online survey, 205 undergraduate students were asked to reflect on an …

Between Tradition And Transition: Cultural Negotiations And Contraceptive Perceptions Among Ghanaian Students In The United States, Beatrice Amissah

Theses and Dissertations

As global mobility continues to rise, international students often encounter new cultural norms and health practices that differ from those in their home countries. While some studies have focused on contraception within the context of gender and types, less focus has been placed on diasporic populations, especially how students navigate tensions surrounding contraception within new cultural environments. This study explores how Ghanaian students in the United States interpret, negotiate, and respond to contraceptive messaging while navigating the cultural transition between their heritage and host societies. Drawing on Berry’s (1980)  Acculturation Theory, the study examines the tensions students experience, the strategies …

Creating "An Exemplar Of A Better World": A Dialogic Analysis Of Academic Freedom Surrounding Columbia University Activism From 2023-2025, Ellanore Foltz

Theses and Dissertations

From October of 2023 to August 2025, the community at Columbia University engaged in a series of debates regarding the meaning of academic freedom. Academic freedom, first institutionalized in the United States during the first world war, has shifted over the decades as the purpose of higher education and the threats to higher education changed. In recent years, campus protests regarding Israel and Palestine have sparked new debates about academic freedom that reflect ongoing and sometimes fundamental disagreements about higher education. This study utilizes Relational Dialectics Theory (RDT; Baxter, 2011) to explore the interplay between different discourses of academic freedom …

"Aren't You Old Enough To Know Better?": Judgments Surrounding Infidelity As A Function Of Age And Gender, Josephine Kirby

Theses and Dissertations

Relationships are often deeply affected by infidelity on several indicators such as marital satisfaction, forgiveness, and relationship longevity. With older adults often stereotyped as being asexual and women often being judged more harshly due to a sexual double standard, how do people perceive these groups in the context of infidelity? The purpose of my study was to investigate whether perceptions and judgments surrounding infidelity are affected by the age and gender of the person who committed infidelity. Using an experimental vignette method, participants were randomly assigned one version of a hypothetical couples’ counseling intake assessment form that, in part, described …

Rhetoric Of Realignment: An Analysis Of Trump's 2024 Campaign Rhetoric, David Valadez

Theses and Dissertations

When political coalitions include groups with opposing policy goals, leaders face a challenge: satisfying all constituencies without making commitments that alienate essential supporters. The present study examines strategic ambiguity in the form of deliberately vague political messaging as a tool for managing this challenge. Combining rhetorical analysis with selectorate theory, which explains how leaders achieve and maintain power through reward distribution, the research analyzes Donald Trump’s 2024 Republican National Convention acceptance speech, focusing on immigration rhetoric.

The analysis reveals that Trump’s ambiguity was selective rather than habitual. On immigration, where tech/corporate interests wanting skilled workers clashed with nationalist groups demanding …

Staff Attitudes Toward Ai Adoption At A Private Research University, Ashley C. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses the limited research on university staff attitudes toward artificial intelligence use and adoption. Using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) research framework, the General Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence Scale (GAAIS), and quantitative survey methodology, the study examines the attitudes of higher education staff toward AI, specifically examining whether demographic or professional characteristics are factors. The findings indicate that staff had moderately negative attitudes toward AI while also expressing some concerns. The results suggest that more resources and support for AI are needed for staff to address concerns. It also suggests that construct-level analysis …

Reconciliation, Draper Matthews

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis exhibition, Reconciliation, examines how memory, loss, and lived experience shape personal identity over time. Through sculptural works composed of cast, blown, and hot-sculpted glass combined with mixed media, the exhibition explores the pressures that life events place upon individuals and the ways those pressures persist, transform, and become integrated into the self. The work considers identity not as a fixed state but as a continual process of negotiation between past experiences, present circumstances, and future possibilities.

Central to the project is the material analogy between glass and human experience. Glass, a material formed under extreme heat and pressure …

"I Didn't Teach It Again Because It Wasn't Worth It": How Grades 6-12 English Language Arts Teachers Select Texts And Navigate The Obstacles That Impede Them, Steve Poggendorf

Theses and Dissertations

Classroom texts not only function as tools through which teachers can build curricula, but they can also engage and empower learners. Despite the importance of engaging texts in the classroom, teachers encounter obstacles, both social and institutional, that impede their ability to select the texts they believe will best foster student engagement and empowerment. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate how teachers make text selections, as well as the nature of the obstacles that stand in the way of teachers who hope to inspire and engage their students through lessons built around texts of their choosing. The …

The Engagement Gap: Rethinking How Campaigns Reach Gen Z, Maria F. Barragan

US Political Polarization

The divide between youth and belief in democratic institutions widens and leaders are left scrambling to engage with Gen Zers. After analyzing the political campaigns of Mayor Mamdani and President Trump, the blueprint to succeed in reaching a younger voting demographic is clear. By focusing on issues that young people care about, talking to them through platforms they use, and creating community spaces to spread their message previously projected patterns of civic engagement for our generation are revitalized.

New Era Of Academic Advising: Integration Of Artificial Intelligence Within Academic Advising By, Rachel Elaine Schmitz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Academic advising is a critical component of student success, directly impacting institutional retention, GPA, and student autonomy. This thesis explores the transition of this profession into my proposed fifth era characterized by the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a supportive tool, rather than a replacement, for human connection. Grounded in Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations Theory (IRT), this study examines advisors’ perception of how advanced technology can impact the interpersonal process between students and advisors. A qualitative methodology was used, consisting of seven (N = 7) semi-structured interviews with professional advisors at South Dakota State University. Thematic analysis revealed that AI …

Production Of Fungal Biomass And Crude Chitin From Cheese Whey: Effects Of Whey Type And Lactose Hydrolysis On Aspergillus Niger And Trichoderma Reesei, Anye Catharine Nora Drum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chitin is a biodegradable and biocompatible biopolymer with broad applications in the food, biomedical, pharmaceutical, and packaging industries. Conventional chitin production from crustacean shells is associated with seasonal availability, intensive chemical processing, and environmental concerns, creating interest in more sustainable alternatives. Filamentous fungi represent a promising source of chitin because of their rapid growth and ability to utilize low cost agro-industrial residues. This study evaluated the feasibility of producing fungal biomass and crude chitin from cheese whey through submerged fermentation while investigating the effects of whey type and enzymatic lactose hydrolysis on fungal growth, substrate utilization, and wastewater remediation. Aspergillus …

A Narrative Review Of The High-Carbohydrate Fueling Revolution (≥100 G/H) In The Professional Peloton, Patrick B. Wilson

Exercise Science Faculty Publications

High-carbohydrate fueling in cycling (defined as ≥ 100 g/h for this paper) has received significant media attention in recent years. Whether this practice improves performance, however, remains an unresolved issue in the scientific literature. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide an up-to-date analysis of the practice of high-carbohydrate fueling, with a specific focus on potential performance implications in professional cycling. Topics covered include historical carbohydrate intake guidelines, research directly comparing high-carbohydrate fueling with traditional fueling guidelines, theorized benefits of high-carbohydrate fueling specific to cycling, potential risks associated with high-carbohydrate fueling, and personalizing carbohydrate intakes. Among a small …

The Stored Communications Act At 40: Re-Examining Ecs And Rcs In The Age Of Ai, Shanzay Pervaiz

Joint PIJIP/TLS Research Paper Series

Shanzay Pervaiz, Senior Legal Researcher, examines the Stored Communications Act (SCA) almost forty years after its enactment, focusing on how its core definitions of “electronic communication service” (ECS) and “remote computing service” (RCS) play a central role in regulating domestic and global government access to data. The definitions still shape key U.S. authorities such as FISA Section 702, the CLOUD Act, and international instruments governing law enforcement access to data, including the Budapest Convention and the United Nations Convention on Cybercrime. The paper also looks at the legislative history of the SCA, how U.S. courts define ECS and RCS, and …

2025 Cardozo Life (Winter), Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Cardozo Life Magazine

Table of Contents:

Top News & Events, page 3

Alumni News, page 15

50 Years of Daring to Illuminate, page 18

A Fearless, Undaunted Approach to Building a New Law School, page 26

50 Years of Daring to Innovate, page 42

Faculty in the Media, page 66

Faculty Scholarship, page 70

Retirements, page 76

Student Briefs, page 79

Alumni Signature Events, page 83

Classnotes, page 87

Cardozo in a Word, page 92

Exploring The Ephemeral: California’S Light And Space Artists, Shasta Power

Undergraduate Research Awards

Advancements in technology during the 20th and 21st centuries have allowed for new forms of art to be created, and new mediums to be explored— evidenced by the Light and Space Movement which emerged out of Southern California in the 1960s. Artists of this movement occupied a unique position within the larger scene of art history at the time; they were at the center of political turmoil and technological revolution, working in the same spaces and at times even alongside the engineers and psychologists interested in space: both outer and inner. Mary Corse, a painter, Fred Eversley, a sculptor, and …

Navigating The Market: Challenges And Success Factors For Independent Wedding And Event Planning Businesses In The United States, Madeleine Castanon

Hospitality Student Publications

Wedding and event planning is a growing part of the hospitality industry in the United States. It brings in more than five billion dollars each year and supports thousands of small business owners. Even so, independent planners do not get much attention in academic research. Most studies on small businesses do not focus on the specific problems that event planners face. This paper looks at those challenges and what helps planners succeed. The research method used is a review of existing literature on topics like cash flow, seasonal businesses, vendor relationships, and social media marketing. The main finding is that …

Granulomatous Cellular Signatures In Nontuberculous And Tuberculous Mycobacterial Infections, Brianna M. Doratt, Ethan G. Napier, Mahdi Eskandarian Boroujeni, Sarah Douglas, Michael H. Davies, Luiz Bermudez, Eliot Spindel, Erin F. Mccaffrey, Ilhem Messaoudi

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are acid-fast bacilli that trigger granuloma formation, a hallmark immune response aimed at containing infection. While the biology of Mtb granulomas has been widely investigated, far less is known about granulomas caused by NTM infection, despite the increasing prevalence and clinical challenge of NTM cases worldwide. Because granulomas influence infection control, pathology, and treatment response, understanding their cellular organization and signaling is critical to improving therapeutic strategies. Therefore, we characterized granulomas formed following infection of rhesus macaques with Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) and compared them to granulomas from cynomolgus macaques infected with …

Be The Mentor, Sydney Mace, Alison Blee, Noah Waltz, Molly Woods, Brooklyn Grimm

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

No abstract provided.

Learning For A Sustainable Future: Embedding Sustainability Literacy In Honors Curricula Within Higher Education, Zoe E. Belinda

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

This research investigates the sustainability literacy levels of first-year Davidson Honors College (DHC) students at the University of Montana (UM) to develop a baseline for average sustainability knowledge at the beginning of students’ post-secondary education. The goals of this research are to (1) determine if there are differences in sustainability literacy scores between students in sustainability-related fields of study and their counterparts, (2) identify weaknesses in students’ current sustainability literacy, and (3) develop curriculum suggestions to improve sustainability knowledge. To address these research questions, all first-year DHC students in 2024 and 2025 were surveyed using a modified version of the …

The Impact Of Community-Based Educational Workshops On The Sexual Health Literacy And Sexual Satisfaction Of Lgbtq+ Adults, Meaghan Burns, Kathryn Burke Otd, Otr/L

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstones

A large number of adults who were brought up in the United States have limited sexual health literacy because of incomprehensive sexual education in adolescence. Many adults view sexual activity as an important component that contributes to their quality of life. Occupational Therapists can address sex and intimacy to improve literacy and satisfaction for adults with limited knowledge. The proposed study uses a quasi-experimental design with pre/post surveys to assess the efficacy of educational programming surrounding topics on sexual health literacy and satisfaction. The intended setting and population are adult members who attend programming and events at the Taunton location …

De-Escalation By Design: Addressing Police Misconduct Involving People With Hidden Disabilities Through Ada Amendments, Bryan Ableman

California Western Law Review

No abstract provided.

Extreme, Outrageous, And Reawakened: Reforming Iied To Address Stalking And Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Abuse, Tatijana Brienza-Underwood

California Western Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Zero-Sum Reorganization: Realigning The Code For Hospital Sale-Leasebacks, Belecia Villafan

California Western Law Review

No abstract provided.

Amicus Incorporated, Adam N. Eckart

Mitchell Hamline Law Review

Attorneys have long advanced change through the court system—including through high-stakes, high-profile litigation in front of the Supreme Court of the United States. Attorneys appearing before the Court often represent individuals, nonprofit organizations, or the gov-ernment, and often seek to drive social reform through the platforms of their organizations. But attorneys representing big businesses also advo-cate for change through action at the Supreme Court. While businesses are not new to speaking out in front of the Court, they have become in-creasingly active in cases focused on social issues, including by submit-ting amicus briefs to the Court in support of a …

Premium Injustice: Addressing The Harms That Cash Bail Premiums Inflict On The Non-Convicted, Jeffery L. Young

Mitchell Hamline Law Review

No abstract provided.

Combating Forced Labor: Why Trade Laws Work Better, Julia Steggerda-Corey

Mitchell Hamline Law Review

Nearly twenty-eight million people across the globe are coerced into involuntary work or service. This forced labor occurs in virtually every industry and at every stage of supply chains and goods production. Nation-states have sought to address this epidemic for decades through anti-slavery, trade, and human rights laws. These mechanisms have largely failed and forced labor in the supply chain remains an underpin-ning of modern capitalism. To be effective, legal mechanisms must in-centivize businesses to make strategic decisions that bring about an end to forced labor. This Article is the first to analyze the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence …

Rebalancing The Milk Market: A Shared-Burden Framework For Dairy And Plant-Based Producers, Isabelle Ulrich

Mitchell Hamline Law Review

This Note examines the structural and regulatory differences between traditional dairy products and the rapidly expanding plant-based milk products in the United States. Through analysis of historical Federal Milk Marketing Order policies, mandatory checkoff programs, and contrasting labeling standards in the United States and European Union, this Note reveals how plant-based milk producers enjoy competitive advantages without sharing the financial or regulatory burden that traditional dairy producers face. This Note argues for a shared-burden policy requiring all entities marketing “milk,” whether dairy or plant-based, to contribute to promotional and regulatory funds. This framework will restore market fairness, preserve consumer choice, …

Nonesuch Road, Allie Goolrick

Screenwriting and Film Studies Theses (MA/MFA)

Ambitious TV news producer Lex is killing the game at work but on the brink of failing when it comes to parenting her 6-year-old son, Sawyer. Her life in a high-pressure newsroom—defined by urgency, metrics, and relentless tragedy—has made her forget what is really important in her real life.

A bad call that puts her son directly in the path of some serious gun violence forces her to take a professional break and retreat to her family’s farm in Virginia to regroup. There, she reconnects with her no-nonsense Aunt Mel and a cast of characters from the past and is …