Digital Commons Network^™

Book Review: Resisting The Dehumanization Of Refugees, Staci Martin

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Resisting the Dehumanization of Refugees, edited by Abu-Laban, Frishkopf, Hasmath, and Kirova, has a familiar quality when I read it. The book explores the profound struggle to cocreate a sense of home and belonging amidst the relentless dehumanization refugees face from restrictive policies, biased media portrayals, and societal prejudice. It adopts a transdisciplinary approach, featuring contributions from scholars, practitioners, and refugees themselves, who focus on the Canadian context and draw on broader international comparisons that support both the mechanisms of dehumanization and strategies for resistance.

New Local Function In Grill Topological Spaces, Alyasaa Jassim Bidaiwi, R. B. Esmaeel

Baghdad Science Journal

This Paper introduces a new local function φ_Sζ*in a Grill topological space (X˙, ζ,τ) by using a semi open set, which is a superset of the local function φ_ζ. Additionally, two equivalent operators, Ψs and Γ_Sthat define topology τ_Sζ, were devised based on φ_Sζ*, along with the presentation of various characteristics and properties of φ_Sζ* and the two equivalent operators, Ψ_s and Γ_S. Additionally, newly created sets with weakly open properties (φ_{Sζ …}

Interrelationships Among Social Media Use, University Social Capital, And Mental Health Outcomes In Undergraduate Students, Md Hasan Howlader

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

Mental health concerns among university students have intensified globally, reflected in rising levels of psychological distress, declining life satisfaction, and reduced flourishing. These challenges present urgent implications for public health and higher education policy. Simultaneously, social media use (SMU) has become deeply embedded in students’ daily lives; however, its impact on mental health remains inconclusive. While some studies associate SMU with increased mental health issues, others emphasize its potential to foster social connection. These conflicting perspectives are further complicated by uncertainty regarding the directionality of these relationships—whether SMU influences mental health, or mental health status shapes SMU patterns. Furthermore, existing …

Timeless Poetry, Xuning Li

Theses

Timeless Poetry reimagines classical Chinese poetry through contemporary digital tools, transforming ancient verse into immersive visual experiences. Using Cinema 4D and Blender for 3D modeling and ink-wash–inspired rendering, the project reconstructs poetic landscapes as cinematic-style environments that invite viewers to encounter traditional imagery through modern visual language. Postcards—chosen for their nostalgic and emotional resonance—serve as both a physical anchor and an interactive trigger: when scanned, each card reveals an AR visuals that reveal the scene in motion. This hybrid design bridges past and present, showing how technology can enhance, rather than replace, cultural heritage by offering new entry points for …

Renewal Of The Mind: Forgiveness Through The Lens Of Christian Faith And Neuroscience, Khelen Walsh

University Honors Theses

Within Christian theology, forgiveness is a foundational concept that is often understood as a divine command, a spiritual practice, and a path toward reconciliation and personal growth. Recent neuroscientific research further supports this viewpoint, providing data that shows forgiveness engages neural systems responsible for emotional regulation, empathy, moral reasoning, and perspective-taking. Through neuroplasticity, repeated acts of forgiveness reshape the brain, strengthen connections between prefrontal and limbic regions, reduce amygdala reactivity, and enhance emotional stability and cognitive flexibility. Although forgiveness offers many benefits, modern culture frequently distorts its meaning, framing it as a sign of weakness, gullibility, or a form of …

Red Flags Are My Favorite Color: The Psychology Of Falling For The 'Bad Boys', Erlinda Sali

Osmosis Magazine

The “bad boy” has been a recurring figure in popular culture for years. He’s the leather-jacketed brooding rebel, the dangerous lover, the tortured antihero that we have learned to romanticize. This archetype blends “juvenile masculinities (aggression, rebellion, hypersexuality)” with appealing qualities like “charisma, ruggedness, and sensitivity,” creating a moral ambiguity that captivates audiences (Gopaldas and Molander, 2019). This contradictory mix keeps him popular across movies, songs, and advertisements. But with this archetype being ‘a walking red flag,’ why are we still so bewitched by the bad boy, and should we be?

Stem Cells: Potent Potential For Disease Treatment, Natalie Small

Osmosis Magazine

Different cells in the body serve a variety of functions. Cardiac muscle cells contract to pump blood through the heart. Nerve cells transmit electrical and chemical signals throughout the body. Lymphocytes play a role in the immune system to fight infections (Mostafa, 2022). But how do these different cell types arise? The answer is a special type of cell: stem cells.

The Math That Keeps Your Money Safe: Why A Few Extra Characters Could Save You, Joanna Petridi

Osmosis Magazine

Imagine a cracker (yes—that is what malicious hackers are named) sitting behind a screen. Their computer is trying millions of password combinations every minute. Your bank account password, just eight characters long, is the only thing standing between them and your savings. The difference between a password that takes a week to crack and one that would take longer than the universe has existed isn’t magic or luck. It’s simply math.

Osmosis.

Osmosis Magazine

Science Magazine

Plan To Fail By Failing To Plan: Deterring Prc Nuclear Force Expansion, Mark Tang, Grace Buettner

Space and Defense

This article argues that the United States must adapt its nuclear deterrence strategy to counter the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) accelerating nuclear force expansion. As Beijing seeks to achieve nuclear parity with Washington—projecting up to 1,500 warheads by 2035—the authors contend that U.S. strategy must evolve from Cold War-era models to meet the Indo-Pacific’s unique strategic challenges. They propose the establishment of a Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) A-10 Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration Division, modeled after its European counterpart, to enhance regional nuclear planning, integration, and allied assurance. The paper emphasizes the concept of escalation domination, arguing …

Raising Public Awareness On Space Themes: Analysis Of Brazilian Space Policy Using Data From Google Trends, Andrea Felippe Cabello, Michele Melo

Space and Defense

This study examines whether Brazil’s national space policy goal of increasing public awareness of space activities has been met, using Google Trends data as a proxy for public interest. While public perception surveys are scarce outside the United States, web-based data provide a cost-effective and timely alternative for gauging public engagement. The authors analyzed two decades (2004–2024) of Brazilian search activity related to space topics, institutions, technologies, companies, and missions. Results show no clear upward trend in public interest, suggesting that Brazil’s stated policy objectives of raising awareness have not yet translated into measurable outcomes. Although searches related to government …

Costly Signals In Space: Increasing Credibility Via Strategic Disclosure, Wendy N. Whitman Cobb

Space and Defense

As space becomes an increasingly vital domain for national security, debates persist about how much secrecy should surround U.S. military space programs. This article argues that the strategic declassification and disclosure of selected space capabilities can strengthen U.S. deterrence by enhancing the credibility of deterrent threats. Drawing from theories of costly signaling and audience costs, the paper introduces strategic disclosure as a novel form of costly signal. Such disclosure imposes bureaucratic and operational costs while exposing capabilities to potential adversary countermeasures—thereby demonstrating resolve and seriousness of intent. In tandem, greater public transparency about space programs cultivates informed domestic audiences capable …

Hidrotuango: Understanding The Reach Of Cascading Risk, Juan Guevara, Rob Shields

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Racial Capitalism And Whitelash: Trumpism And The Politics Of Oppression Redux–A New Normal Or Just New Perfume In An Old Bottle?, Bhoomi K. Thakore, J. Scott Carter, Cameron Lippard, David G. Embrick

Fast Capitalism

There is no question that Donald Trump’s actions in his second presidential term have many people bewildered, shocked, and frightened. What was deemed “not normal” in his first term in office has quickly become the “new normal.” In this paper, we argue that part of the explanation for the rise, and repeated rise, of Trumpism lies in Donald Trump’s ability to fuel and maintain a whitelash against the social progress of the 20th and early 21st century. Not only has Trumpism picked up on the “reverse racism” sentiments that have sprouted as a result of racial, gender, and social progress, …

“This Is Not Normal”: The Global Academy’S Resistance To Authoritarianism And Academic Capitalism, Catherine A. Labrenz, Christian Adeleke, Maria Lúcia T. Garcia, Aline Pandolfi, Mara Mattioni, Fabíola Xavier Leal, Marcela Nava

Fast Capitalism

Summary: In the wake of rising authoritarianism and neoliberal retrenchment, academic institutions across the globe are increasingly pressured to suppress dissent, sanitize curricula, and deprioritize justice-based scholarship. Drawing from responses to political repression in Brazil and Argentina, this paper connects present-day U.S. conditions to transnational histories of academic resistance.

Findings: We locate today’s institutional silencing within the broader logics of academic capitalism and authoritarian governance, emphasizing how compliance, rather than critical engagement, is becoming the new normal.

Applications: Drawing on radical traditions of academic and professional resistance from the Americas, we present lessons learned and action steps …

Front Matter, Fast Capitalism Editorial Team

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Fast Capitalism Editorial Team

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Masses, Platforms, And The New Data Domination: Repressive Desublimation Revisited, Raymond L.M. Lee

Fast Capitalism

The world now resembles a mosaic of platforms orchestrating subjective responses to myriad digital stimuli in everyday communication and conduct. People appear to find fulfillment mainly through intense engagement with platforms that thrive on data produced by online entanglements. This is a world society of data domination where power is derived from high-tech interconnectivity, focused on an interplay between technological innovations and mass distraction. Platforms are seen as digital monopolies banking on mass online participation for data extraction and control. In that sense, they foster new forms of desublimation that Herbert Marcuse would have regarded as a re-flowering of repressive …

Psychology, Philosophy, And The Practice Of Politics, Shimon Edelman

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

“This Is The New Normal?” Restoring Or Restricting Democracy Today In America, Timothy W. Luke

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Populism In The Technospheric, Jamie Ranger

Fast Capitalism

I argue that the technospheric condition - a socio-technical reality shaped by social acceleration, the industrialization of memory, and mediatization - serves as a structural catalyst for the repoliticisation of the status quo, necessitating a rethinking of Ernesto Laclau’s discursive approach to populism. Drawing on insights from Bernard Stiegler, Hartmut Rosa, and others, I characterize contemporary social life as deeply entangled with technospheric forces, which exacerbate social problems and provoke counterhegemonic responses. These responses, politically solidified in both emancipatory and reactionary populisms, are not only shaped by populist strategy but also increasingly influenced by algorithmic steering on social media. Thus, …

The Politics Of Parasites And Superfluous Majorities, Samuel Beckenhauer

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Trump Redux: Immigration, Indigeneity, And America, Nancy S. Love

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

The Politics Of Disappearance: Mahmoud Khalil And America’S Descent Into Fascism, Henry A. Giroux

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

The 100 Days Partnership Between Musk And Trump And The Crises Of American Democracy, Douglas Kellner

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Still Making It Up As He Goes: Revisiting The Hyper-Rhetorical Presidency In Trump’S Second Term, Richard Holtzman

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Introduction, Timothy W. Luke

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Digital Competence In Early Childhood Formal And Informal Education: Findings From A Systematized Review, Davide Cino, Claudio D’Antonio, Federica Ranzani, Silvia Demozzi, Cosimo Di Bari

Journal of Media Literacy Education Pre-Prints

This article reports on findings from a systematized literature review on digital competence in early childhood (age range, 0-6). Through a quantitative and qualitative analysis of 31 empirical studies, the article provides: 1) a mapping of key information contained in the dataset based on relevant variables inductively and deductively identified (i.e., children’s age, type of educational context, type of digital skill, caregiving actors, description of relevant activities, screen time discourse, risks and opportunities discourse, reference to wellbeing); and 2) a narrative in depth account of digital competence in early childhood in relation to the type of educational context investigated, i.e., …

The Student Movement Volume 110 Issue 9: Admiring Art And Catching The Bus, Melanie Webb, Michael Orellana, Megan Constantine, Gersh William, Ysa Dennis, Samantha Woolford-Hunt, Madison Vath, Sophia Koh, Ysabella Neves, Kara Shepard

The Student Movement V. 110 (2025-2026)

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Creating AU's Artful Atmosphere: the AU Art Club, Melanie Webb

Rachel Barton Pine To Perform at HPAC, Michael Orellana

Gestures of Creation: Greg Constantine's Abstract Genesis, Megan Constantine

HUMANS

Committed to Communication: Prof. Walker-Fraser on Educating, Gersh William

NEWS

SILA To Host Annual Winter Wonderland, Ysa Dennis

IDEAS

Where Has All the Color Gone?, Samantha Woolford-Hunt

Grad School Apps Are Not Easy, Michael Orellana

PULSE

Dorm Decor: Winter Edition, Madison Vath

Hot Chocolate: The Perfect Holiday Tradition, Sophia Koh

Survey: Architecture Students Speak Out on Heavy Workload and 'Huge Troll' on Well-Being, Ysabella Neves

LAST WORD

The …

Cv: Shibu Philip (Project Management), Shibu Philip

Organizational Leadership and Management Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.