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The Hollow Parent: A Philosophical Capabilities-Based Care Ethics Critique Of The U.S. Foster Care System, Lindsey E. Scanlan

Honors Program Theses

This thesis argues that the U.S. foster care system systematically undermines transition-age youth by failing to secure the capabilities required for genuine independence and a life of basic human dignity, particularly through aging-out policies that terminate support before these capabilities are fully developed. Using Martha Nussbaum’s capabilities approach as a normative foundation, it integrates classical American pragmatism (Jane Addams, John Dewey) and Maurice Hamington's contemporary care ethics to construct a context-sensitive framework for evaluating and reforming foster care. Pragmatism grounds normative assessment in lived experience and institutional context, while care ethics provides a relational account of moral practice structured around …

Res Publica Recondita: Augustan Authors’ Use Of Archaic Heroes As Exempla For The Golden Age, Katherine Anna Hamner

Honors Program Theses

Following decades of civil war and moral collapse in the Late Republic, Augustus sought to legitimate his principate through a sweeping cultural program proclaiming the arrival of a new Golden Age. This thesis examines how the authors Livy and Virgil contributed a literary dimension to that program by retelling Rome's archaic past. Livy curates the Roman kings as exempla of entrepreneurial virtue and civic self-determination, while Virgil's Aeneid grounds proto-Roman identity in pietas and coalition-building across ethnic boundaries. Both works, independent of direct state commission, answered the moral demands of the Augustan moment and affirmed that civilizational renewal requires a …

Trade-Offs In Sustainable Building Design: A Visual Study Of Daylighting, Quality Viewpoints And Energy Efficiency, Paula Cabanas

Honors Program Theses

This thesis explores the trade-offs between daylighting, quality viewpoints, and energy efficiency in sustainable architectural design. The initial goal of the project was to determine if there was a single building design that would optimize the trade-offs between these three design elements. Three buildings on the Rollins College campus were selected as case study sites for detailed analysis (Bush Science Center, Kathleen W. Rollins Hall, and the Rice Family Pavilion). Rollins College was chosen as the primary location for this study because of its accessible public buildings and consistent Mediterranean revival architectural style. Analysis of each building’s design and composition …

Front Matter

City University of New York Law Review

No abstract provided.

Our Clients’ Rights On Mute: Virtual Court, Due Process, And Judicial Discretion, Beena I. Ahmad, Julia Elhai

City University of New York Law Review

The use of videoconferencing as a substitute for in-person appearances began in immigration proceedings in the mid-1990s. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, its use expanded significantly in the criminal and civil contexts, when both state and federal courts invested heavily in the technology needed to conduct proceedings remotely. As we have exited the pandemic, courts have eagerly embraced virtual proceedings to reduce their overburdened dockets. Drawing from our experiences in federal and state court, we argue that judges should not be granted discretion to proceed by videoconferencing.

We posit that there is too great a danger that the …

The Architecture Of U.S. Fascism: Part Ii, Nina Farnia

City University of New York Law Review

In Part I of this series, I argued that the United States has always already been proto-fascist, but that today it is undergoing a transition into formal, de jure fascism. This transition is the result of a change in the class nature of the state itself.

In Part II, I focus on the legal architecture of fascism. I expose rule-of-law liberalism as having paved U.S. fascism’s path. I note the pernicious role of the law in class wars, race wars, gender wars, and global wars, with particular attention on the making of a total state. I then challenge the notion …

Front Cover And Inner Cover

City University of New York Law Review

Front Cover and Inner Cover.

Popliteus Interposition In Metaphyseal Tibial Fractures: The Radiographic Clues That Cannot Be Missed, Lucca Gontijo Giarola, Paulo De Tarso Cardoso Gomes, Robinson Esteves Dos Santos Pires, Guilherme Moreira Abreu E Silva, Marco Antônio Percope De Andrade, Túlio Vinícius De Oliveira Campos

Western Journal of Orthopaedics

High-energy proximal tibia fractures present significant challenges for orthopaedic surgeons, with well-recognized risks including malreduction and nonunion. Although double plating through two mini-open parallel incisions is an established technique for selected patients, nonuion can still occur. One potential contributing factor is entrapment of the popliteus muscle within the distal spike of the posteromedial plateau fragment. This report uses illustrative cases to demonstrate how to identify, address, and prevent this complication. Strategies for managing delayed cases that progress to nonunion are also discussed

The Guardian The Month Of January 2026, Wright State Student Body

The Guardian Student Newspaper

News articles from The Guardian for the Month of January 2026. The Guardian is the official student-run newspaper for Wright State University. It has been published regularly since March of 1965.

Socioeconomic Influences On Doula Access And Perceived Care Quality Among Black Women Experiencing Severe Maternal Morbidity, Deborah Esene

2026 Spring Honors Capstones Projects

Black women experience disproportionately high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality, making it essential to examine access to and the perceived impact of doula support. This study examines whether socioeconomic status influences access to and the perceived benefits of doula support among Black women who experienced severe maternal morbidity (SMM). Researchers surveyed Black women ages 18-49 who had a live birth within the past two years and experienced SMM. Participants were recruited and completed an online survey in late 2020. Key variables included income, education, doula use, and perceived quality of prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care. Among 188 participants, 12.2% …

The Machine And The Masses: A Sociolinguistic Study Of Ai Political Rhetoric, Yaseen Tasnif

2026 Spring Honors Capstones Projects

With increased use of and access to generative Artificial Intelligence, or AI, political communications have begun to see its influence, leading to the question of how this AI generated political rhetoric is received. In previous research, AI output has been extensively researched and indexed, highlighting specific qualities such as overly polished speech as indicators of use. Research has also been done on perception and detectability of AI, showing that people can accurately identify AI-generated text, but tend to be overconfident. However, such research has not been done in the context of political rhetoric, which is consumed in different ways than …

The Prohibition Of Force Is The First Principle Of International Humanitarian Law, Mary Ellen O'Connell

Journal Articles

This article tracks the decline of respect for the prohibition of force, IHL, and human rights law. At the same time, it will clarify the inter-relationship of the three bodies of international law relevant to armed conflict. The article also considers why presidents first began to “abandon peace.” The evidence indicates that a major reason involves the influence of realist political theory. Realism asserts that national security is attained by amassing and demonstrating superior military capability. A president who follows the theory will defy the law against the use of force. Following realism is also at odds with the empirical …

The Object Of Interpretation, Francisco J. Urbina

Journal Articles

This Article provides an account of the object of legal interpretation. It examines various potential objects: text, lawmaking choice, practice, and order. The Article argues for a pluralist conception of the object of interpretation, according to which all of these alternatives are possible objects. In making this argument, the Article puts forth an account of the nature of the object of interpretation. The object of legal interpretation is, in essence, what is treated as a source of law, a fact that is recognized as generating law. As such, which alternative is exactly the object of interpretation in a given context …

A Trusteeship Theory Of Pro Bono: Versions And Perversions, David Luban

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

This chapter develops a trusteeship justification of pro bono, arguing that lawyers, as trustees of a public legal system created through democratic self-authorship, have a moral obligation to help address the persistent justice gap affecting persons of limited means. It evaluates multiple forms of pro bono — including voluntary, mandatory, low bono, and state-compelled service — evaluating how well each aligns with the trusteeship model. The chapter contrasts the trusteeship theory with, and criticizes, two alternative justifications for pro bono: presumed lawyer consent rooted in professional tradition and a quid pro quo based on state-authorized privileges. It concludes by distinguishing …

Large Language Models Improve Readability Of Patient Education Materials On Vascular Conditions, Melissa Chen Xu, Nicola Habash, Justin Do, Jiaying Bi, Dawn Salvatore, Paul J Dimuzio, Michael Nooromid, Babak Abai

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Objective: Patient education materials frequently exceed the recommended sixth-grade reading level. Although large language models (LLMs) have shown inconsistent accuracy in medical query responses, they have demonstrated promise in simplifying complex text. This capability has not yet been studied in vascular patient education materials. This study evaluates whether ChatGPT-4o and Gemini 1.5 Pro can improve the readability of Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) patient education flyers. Methods: SVS health flyers were selected based on five common vascular conditions: abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotid artery disease, deep vein thrombosis, peripheral artery disease, and varicose veins. Each flyer was submitted to ChatGPT-4o and …

Las Pintas Inverview Project 2026, Beth Gulley, Luzma Alvarez, Lacey Andrews, Damien Duncan, Mariah Garman, Brenda Lofton, Alyssa Roland, Hero Sanner, Asja Thompson, Athena Gonzalez, Lee Martin, Samantha Miller, Lucy Sas

The Las Pintas Collection

Acknowledgements

Dear Reader,

This collection is the result of JCCC students’ efforts to reflect on the college’s decades long relationship with Centro Integral Comunitario (CIC) in Las Pintas, Mexico. Before they left on the trip, each student interviewed someone from JCCC who had traveled with the college to Las Pintas in the past. The first section of this book includes what students learned from their pre-departure interviews.

In the second part of this book, students wrote about what they learned from interviewing people who they met in Las Pintas. While these interviews were conducted in Spanish, the students wrote their …

Gun Violence Exposure And Gambling In Young Adults, Jadyn Torres

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Objectives: Problem gambling is a growing public health concern associated with emotional, financial, relational, and health harms. At the same time, exposure to violence among young people is increasing. Limited research has examined the relationship between witnessing gun violence and problem gambling, particularly among young adults. This study examines this association among young adults in Rhode Island. Methods: Data came from the 2024 Rhode Island Young Adult Survey (N=1,008) of individuals aged 18‚Äì25 years. Witnessing gun violence and problem gambling were assessed, with problem gambling measured using the Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (BBGS). Multivariable logistic regression assessed main effects after …

Masculinity And Health In Lgbtq Young Adults, Hannah Pereira, Ruth Mckinnon

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

INTRO:‚ Restrictive masculinity norms, characterized by emotional suppression, dominance, and risk-taking, have been linked to adverse health among cisgender heterosexual men. Little is known about how RMNs operate among sexual and gender minority populations, particularly transgender young adults. METHODS: Data were from the 2024 Rhode Island Young Adult Survey, a cross-sectional, web-based survey of adults aged 18-25 years. Analyses were restricted to SGM participants, with sub-analyses among transgender young adults. RMNs were measured using a 12-item questionnaire. Outcomes include alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, heroin use, intimate partner violence, problematic pornography use, and problem gambling. Modified Poisson regressions with …

Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) In Immigrants, Maria Fana Mejia Bsc

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are severe or chronic stressors before age 18, including domestic violence, neglect, abuse, financial hardship, and parental separation (Loria & Caughy, 2018).

Research on ACEs in immigrants is limited, despite Latinx immigrant children being the fastest-growing child population in the U.S.

From Skeleton To Name: Profiling Cold Cases, Eddily Caridad Polanco

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This research examines how forensic investigators use skeletal remains to develop a biological profile that aids in identifying unknown individuals and advancing cold case investigations. A biological profile includes estimated sex, age-at-death, stature, and ancestry, which provide critical information that helps narrow potential matches among missing persons. This project will explore the forensic anthropology methos used to analyze skeletal indicators, estimate post-mortem intervals (PMI), and identify distinguishing skeletal traits. It will also examine the role of DNA recovery from bones and teeth, including how modern genetic comparison methods can confirm identity when traditional identification is not possible. In addition, the …

Effectiveness Of Social Media In Law Enforcement, Abigail O'Brien

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Over nearly three decades, social media has evolved from simple networking sites to a powerful communication and information-sharing tool with billions of users worldwide. The widespread use of social media has significantly transformed how law enforcement agencies interact with the public, particularly regarding crime prevention and criminal investigations. As social media gains relevance, law enforcement agencies have turned to these platforms as a means of connecting with their community. Additionally, agencies have begun to use these platforms as a tool for crime prevention and investigation support. This project examined the effectiveness of social media as a tool for law enforcement …

Linking Physical Evidence To Bryan Kohberger, Taylor Crowley

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This project examines evidence from the criminal case of Bryan Kohberger, a 28-year-old male who murdered four University of Idaho students in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022. The qualitative project utilizes online investigation documents, as well as court records, video footage from court hearings, and recent interviews with Kohberger's sister, along with past interviews with surviving roommates, to evaluate how the collected evidence was analyzed and presented in the case.

Building A Brand's Online Presence: Due Signori, Harper Ellis, Carmella Reed, Laura Romero

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Building their brand through one personal Facebook account and pure word of mouth, Due Signori had the goal of creating a professional online presence. Mike Morocco and Dan Bouchard share a passion for singing and performing, standing out from local competition by straying from traditional, formal performance tendencies and leaning into their charismatic and interactive ways. However, without access to popular online communities, growing a customer and fan base would have been increasingly difficult. The singing group had the choice between two different class-wide creative teams in charge of creating a social media and marketing plan for the brand to …

Feeding Futures: Jwu Vs. Student Food Insecurity, Ava Zajczenko

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

For my project, I am exploring the question: How does Johnson & Wales University combat food insecurity for its students on campus? I will be writing an action-based thesis paper that includes interviews with people on campus, such as dining staff, professors, and chefs. Along with this, I will use research from one of my classes and my experience volunteering with a nonprofit focused on food insecurity. Together, these sections will help me better understand what JWU is currently doing to address food insecurity as a whole, and what more can be done to close the gap on this issue …

Effects Of Academic Workload On Work-Life Balance, Haylee Canadas, Kara Zumbahlen, Sadie Lindgren, Elizabeth Kwak

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Origins and Importance: There is a significant gap in research regarding the toll of the workload assigned to students within specialized fields within the United States. These students have been found to have increased depression, anxiety, and burnout as well as decreased life satisfaction. This extends not only to physician assistants or medical students, but to students within many allied health fields. Positive occupational balance has been found to be associated with positive wellbeing. Dedicating research efforts to explore the work-life balance of health professional students will help students maintain their health and wellbeing as they become equipped to practice …

Supporting Successful Fieldwork Experiences, Gianna Pernicone Ots

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Fieldwork education is an essential component of professional preparation in OT. Educators play a critical role in supervising students, facilitating learning, and assessing competence. This scoping review synthesizes findings from multiple studies examining the preparation, experiences, challenges, and support needs of fieldwork educators when educating students of differing abilities across occupational therapy.

Job Readiness For Young Adults With Idd, Olivia Rousseau

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Young adults with disabilities want to gain employment but are much less likely to be employed than the general population, despite research showing that being employed increases the quality of life for this population. Occupational therapists are well-equipped to tackle this issue due to the unique skillset of helping individuals with disabilities do the things they want and need to do every day, which includes employment, assessing the work environment, and helping them gain the skills needed to become employed. This scoping review aims to answer this question: How does post-secondary skills training impact job-readiness for young adults with intellectual …

Implementation Of A Greenhouse Growing Method, Kheara Zito

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

The Metcalf-Franklin Historic Community Garden is a volunteer driven farm in Cumberland, RI that grows fresh produce throughout the late spring and summer months. 100% of the food grown at the community garden is donated to the Rhode Island Food Bank and various different soup kitchens throughout the County. The intervention is to implement a greenhouse growing system to help lengthen the growing season throughout the winter months. This intervention can help aid in providing food insecure individuals with more fresh produce and nutrients throughout the entire year.

Health Assessment Of New York, Mukens Renfort

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Chronic disease continues to be a major contributor to illness and death in New York, with heart disease and cancer remaining the top causes of death statewide. New York‚Äôs diverse population faces ongoing disparities linked to poverty, racial inequities and rising substance, all of which contribute to the unequal health outcomes observed in New York. Surveillance data show an increase in chronic disease cases, higher rates of preventable conditions such as hypertension and cancer and continued concerns around opioid related incidences. Data from state surveillance systems and public health databases, including the New York Department of Health Leading Cause of …

Anorexia Nervosa In Epigenetics, Cassandra Pinkowski

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by severe restriction of food intake leading to dangerous underweight, intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image. AN symptoms and their related genes, as well as their transcription, can be explained by Epigenetics. AN is associated with nutrient deficiency, which causes hypermethylation of certain genes that cause common symptoms. Melanin-Concentrating hormone (MCH) binds to receptors in the brain that trigger expression of several genes, including both serotonin and oxytocin. When MCH is low, the genes responsible for appetite lowering, causing an individual to feel less hungry. High serotonin …