Digital Commons Network^™

Honors Research Day [Program] April 26, 2025, University Of Northern Iowa

Honors Research Day Programs

No abstract provided.

Everything But Wrestling: How Women Wrestlers Perform Dominance, Lauren Gherman

Anthropology Honors Papers

Women’s wrestling continues to grow at the high school level, with more young girls joining the sport each year. Yet, as more women join wrestling, a heavily masculine sport, questions about gender preintimation on women’s teams arise. This study asks three questions about the role of gender on women’s teams: 1) Does an individual’s gender identity, in a heavily gendered sport like wrestling, factor into the development of team culture? 2) What, if any, forms of gendered socialization emerge as women enter wrestling? 3) In what way are women socialized because of their gender? Data was gathered via interviews, in …

Renewed Archaeological Research In Singida Region, Central Tanzania, Makarius Itambu, Eslem Ben Arous, Ricardo Fernandes, Marina Gallinaro, Jana Ilgner, Mary Lucas, Patrick Roberts, Erin Scott, Axel Steinhof, Robert Patalano

Biological and Biomedical Sciences Department Faculty Journal Articles

Archaeological research in central Tanzania, chiefly in the Singida Region, has only been sporadically conducted, with the focus of such investigations being mostly on rock art and Later Stone Age (LSA) material. Here, we report preliminary results from renewed research expeditions conducted in the Singida Region. In 2021 and 2022, we located 31 archaeological sites in Ikungi District, excavated an open-air site (Nkungi) and a rock shelter (Itramuka), and uncovered well-stratified cultural sequences containing lithics, ceramics, and metallurgical remains, as well as human remains and animal bones. The recent archaeological discoveries in the region revealed a rich and composite archaeological …

Beyond Survival: Anthropocentrism And Environmental Justice In Daniel Defoe’S Robinson Crusoe, Malak N/A Alghufaili Dr., Mada Alghufaili Dr.

Journal of Arabic Sciences and Humanities

This study analyzes Robinson Crusoe (1719) through an ecocritical lens, focusing on its depiction of Crusoe’s anthropocentric mindset that thrives due to his disregard for environmental justice. Drawing on Lawrence Buell’s “environmental imagination” and John Locke’s theory of property, the study examines how Crusoe’s survival tactics exploit the environment, prioritizing his own needs while neglecting the ecological principles of environmental sustainability and biodiversity. By reinterpreting the novel in light of these contemporary ecological principles, this study offers a fresh perspective on Crusoe’s actions, encouraging readers to critically reassess the long-term consequences of his behavior on the natural world. It also …

Blerds Of A Feather, Nerd Out Together: Exploring Sociological Intersections Of Black Identity And Nerd Culture, Nikki Keating

Research Symposium

Black nerds, or “Blerds,” exist at the intersection of nerd identity and Black racial identity. In recent years, however, Blerds have built communities and events that celebrate both aspects of their identity. However, mainstream (predominantly white) nerd culture and societal stereotypes of Blackness often position these identities as conflicting, leaving Blerds to navigate a unique middle ground. This study explores how Blerds embrace both identities despite these tensions. Based on semi-structured interviews with 18 self-identified Blerds, the research examines how they negotiate their racial and nerd identities, how other identities intersect, and how they challenge norms around race and nerd …

Queer In & Out Of Montana: Oral Histories Of The Lgbtq+ Exodus From Montana, Erin Heaton

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This presentation will summarize findings from six oral histories of LGBTQ+ people who lived in Montana, but have left or are leaving in the near future. This presentation will explore the questions: Why are queer and transgender people leaving Montana? What are common experiences for LGBTQ+ people living in Montana? The answer to these questions will be derived from the stories of the Narrators who provided their oral histories. The questions utilized in the oral histories covered topics of identity, “coming out,” living history, cultural observations, community experiences and perceptions, well-being, healthcare, laws, and reasons for leaving. Thematic Analysis was …

Consuming The Tropics In The 'Age Of The Insect': Imperial Imaginaries Of Frontier Ecologies In Spectacular Expositions, Adria Capozzoli

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

By surveying representations of 'exotic' landscapes and 'monstrous' other-than-human creatures of the tropics featured in exhibits of the fin de siecle and early interwar period, including visual displays and descriptive language at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago (1893) and the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) in San Francisco (1915), this project examines tropical frontiers as conceived in the geographical imaginaries of the United States to explore how metropolitan audiences related to those environments encountered at the imperial periphery. Between 1890 and 1920, were the infamously exaggerated characterizations of nineteenth-century spectacle tempered by the advent of twentieth-century cultural and scientific discourses, …

Does Geography Affect People’S Choice To Change Their Surname After Marriage?, Raniyah Perris, Aleksandra Zubrowski, Mayoori Giritharan

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Our research concerned the relationship between geography, and whether people choose to change their last names after marriage. We were interested in this topic because we pondered on the idea of whether there were other factors outside of family and beliefs that acted as a socializing agent that impacted an individual’s choice to change their last name after marriage. This topic is sociologically relevant because it helps people better understand how society is slowly beginning to change by geographic region, and also how traditions that sociologically impact individuals and communities are now beginning to change. Our literature review supports our …

Montana Assault Resource Index, Storytelling & Education (Mt A.R.I.S.E.): Breaking Barriers To Disclosure Of Sexual Violence In The Lgbtq+ Community, Olivia G. Donohue, Kate Bick, Cana Odegaard, Emma Hixson

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This project aims to address the unique needs of LEGBTQ+ survivors of sexual violence, through the enhancement of social support and resource accessibility for this marginalized group, particularly reaching those in rural settings like Montana. Existing literature highlights significant failures to understand the intersectional vulnerabilities and resilience factors impacting recovery and outcomes among LGBTQ+ individuals. Often, studies neglect specific subgroups, including transgender individuals, bisexual persons, and nonbinary survivors, and do not implement comprehensive, intersectional frameworks that capture the diverse experiences within the LGBTQ+ community. In rural areas, LGBTQ+ individuals face systemic issues, such as restricted access to supportive healthcare, social …

Black, Asian, And First-Generation Students Report Fewer Opportunities To Belong In College, Gabriela Gomez, Aleksandra Kozak, Jenna Costa

Academic Festival

A sense of belonging in college is essential for students’ academic success, yet opportunities to belong may be inequitable along racial-ethnic and social class lines. We asked two questions: (1) How do belonging opportunities vary within and across (a) higher education institutions and (b) racial-ethnic and social-class groups? (2) What predicts opportunities for belonging? We gathered data from a multi-site randomized controlled trial of a social-belonging intervention at 22 U.S. colleges and analyzed 15,143 control-group students’ belonging opportunities. Students were classified into one of 374 local-identity groups (LIGs) based on their race-ethnicity, first-generation status, cohort, and college. We measured their …

The Shorthorn: May 6, 1958

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1950s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: April 22, 1958

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1950s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: November 12, 1957

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1950s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: November 4, 1957

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1950s

No abstract provided.

Bulls And Barrels: Gendered Identities In Contemporary American Rodeo, Ruby Feuerstein

Research Symposium

Rodeo sports are often thought of as a relic of American culture that has endured the passage of time. Despite rodeo’s reputation as one of the most authentic forms of American sport, little is known about contemporary rodeo culture from a sociological perspective. And although gender in sport has received extensive scholarly attention in recent years, even less is known about the gendered experiences of modern rodeo athletes. This paper investigates the meaning of gendered identities in rodeo culture, focusing specifically on the sport’s most popular men’s and women’s events: bull riding and barrel racing, respectively. In-depth interviews with nine …

From Soil To Society: Enhancing Local Food Systems Through Global And Cultural Insights, Lisa Venckus, Wyatt Balius, Madelyn Bouchard, Bryce Hayes, Annie Mclaverty, Rhiannon Morgan, Destiny Santiago, Marley Miller

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This research aims to investigate the extent to which cultural perceptions, ideas, and attitudes influence how individuals interact with their community’s food system and how this relates to sustainable agricultural practices. The overall project stems from the necessity of finding more sustainable solutions to food production in an era defined by large industrial monocultures. The research consists of a series of interviews with experts and stakeholders on sustainable food systems, as well as case studies from Samoa, North America, and Ecuador. Significant themes and patterns will be derived from an analysis of the case studies and interviews. Our research will …

The Impact Of Thc On People In Recovery, April Jackson-Andal

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

In Montana, on January 1, 2022, cannabis became legal for recreational use. This policy has been adopted in several other states as well. The impact of THC on recovery has not been widely researched and, therefore, not fully understood. Addiction clinics are responsible for supporting individuals through their recovery journey, and probation offices are meant to uphold those on probation to their regulations. Therefore, professionals working in these agencies may have insight into how THC impacts recovery. In 2024, I quantitatively surveyed professionals (n=13) working in addiction clinics or probation and parole offices in Helena, MT, on their perspectives of …

The Economic Motivations Behind Climate Change Denial, Eliza Daigle, Brooks Duprey

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Climate change denial is often driven by economic interests, particularly among corporations that profit from industries reliant on fossil fuels. This can lead to companies spreading disinformation, casting doubt on what is considered a consensus by scientists worldwide. Disinformation is generated with the goal of preventing government regulations that could threaten their profits. By funding disinformation campaigns and lobbying against climate policies these corporations are steering the public discourse away from environmental issues and concerns. Understanding the economic motivations behind climate change denial is crucial in addressing misinformation and ensuring that policy decisions are guided by science rather than profit.

The Proceedings Of Great Day Volume 16, Hailey Elizabeth Bernet, Nia Jones

Proceedings of GREAT Day

From transitioning into the new library to the introduction of Baby Spruce, this was a year of new beginnings for the Geneseo campus. This issue of The Proceedings of GREAT Day radiates the interdisciplinary spirit of the liberal arts. This year’s volume features work ranging from scientific studies of Keto mice to often unacknowledged histories, and from gender roles in opera to financial literacy at Geneseo. Exclusive interviews highlight accessibility on campus and new innovations in reading comprehension. Inspire your own GREATness and enjoy the variety of what The Proceedings has to offer.

A Comparative Study Of Gender And Sexuality In Berlin: 1918-1945, Lauren Kimes

Proceedings of GREAT Day

This paper focuses on queer life in Berlin from the beginning of the Weimar period (1918-1933) to the end of the Nazi Period (1933-1945) and is divided into chronological sections: queer culture in Weimar Berlin: Late 1920s-1932, Hitler’s Seizing of Power: 1933-1936, The Rise of the Third Reich: 1936-1939, and War Period: 1939-1945. I analyze the media and cabaret, Magnus Hirschfeld, the threat of Mannerbund, Nazi policy against homosexuality, closure of night clubs and arrests. My main sources are primary sources including photographs, newspaper articles, film, memoirs, police records and registries, German law and translated speeches. I argue that queer …

Determinants Of Financial Literacy At Suny Geneseo, Alexis Kruzicki, Isabella Nicastro

Proceedings of GREAT Day

Through surveying the SUNY Geneseo student body, we plan to explore what determines the level of financial literacy among students at SUNY Geneseo. The survey contains questions that address students’ demographics, academic background, family support through college, personal finance experience, and a financial literacy quiz. The sample size is 403 respondents, which is 10% of the population at SUNY Geneseo. We have noticed many students struggling on campus with the basics of personal finance and want to address the growing concern of how this could affect their success through college and in the future. We are interested in how the …

Silent Conversations: The Role Of Internal Dialogue In Emotional Energy, Madeline Kohn

Proceedings of GREAT Day

Sociologist Randall Collins proposes that emotional energy is gained through “interaction rituals” in which two or more people have a shared focus. Drawing on Collins' theory of interaction rituals, this research uses sociological introspection to investigate how reading in solitude and journaling the experience influences emotional energy. The research findings supplement Collins’ theory by demonstrating that emotional energy can be gained in solitude through one’s internal dialogue. Exploring how solitary activities may lead to emotional energy is important because it demonstrates new ways individuals may gain emotional energy by themselves. This research shows that internal dialogues may be an adequate …

Castles, Lands, And Locks: Exploring The Social Capital Of Heritage Sites, Loren Carter

Research Symposium

This Honors thesis aims to analyze the social roles of heritage sites as modes of cultural communication and connection. Through combined ethnographic and archaeological research methods, I argue that while the museumification and industrialization of heritage does provide useful information for populations with little knowledge of cultural processes, the communities most closely related to the heritage sites lose both tangible and intangible cultural connections when their backyards turn to tourist destinations. Studies of heritage have long argued that heritage processes take place not just through tangible heritage artifacts but also through everyday intangible heritage activities (Smith 2006). Throughout this work …

Interpersonal Relationships, Trust In Media, And Right-Wing Beliefs, Reba Watson

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Following the resurgence of right-wing beliefs starting in 2008, individual radicalization is reshaping the foundations of democracies. The QAnon movement, January 6th, and recent elections have shown that the way that individuals connect with each other, the media, and experts to make meaning has changed. The internet and free exchange of information (and misinformation) have altered the channels of individual radicalization and are becoming a new frontier for the development of extremist thought. This new wave of extremism warrants concern, especially as it continues to change the course of the United States. Despite this, little research has examined how social …

As-994-25 Resolution To Call On Cal Poly's President To Sign The American Association Of Colleges And Universities Public Statement 'A Call For Constructive Engagement', Executive Committee

Academic Senate Resolutions

The Academic Senate of Cal Poly endorses the Public Statement by AAC&U 'A Call for Constructive Engagement'; and further resolves that the Academic Senate calls on the Cal Poly President to join other higher education leaders in California and across the United States and sign the Public Statement from the AAC&U 'A Call for Constructive Engagement.'

The Student Movement Volume 109 Issue 22: Cardinals Bid Farewell To A Nest In Bloom, Ayanda Dewa, Gersh William, Alyssa Caruthers, Melanie Webb, Callie Carlsen, Kaara Harris, Abby Shim, Anna Rybachek, Natalie Mendonça, Amelia Stefanescu, Lexie Dunham, Addison Randall

The Student Movement V. 109 (2024-2025)

HUMANS

Next Stop, The World: A Final Goodbye from Our Senoirs, Ayanda Dewa

Humans of the Year, Gersh William

AUSA 2025-26 Senator Projects, Alyssa Caruthers

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

"Til It Happens To You": SAAM and a Song, Melanie Webb

NEWS

Andrews Observes SAAM with Campus Activities, Callie Carlsen

Sabbath School Quarterly Disclaimer Addresses Domestic Violence Concerns, Kaara Harris

IDEAS

Dear Daniel, Abby Shim

PULSE

The Benefits of Crying, Anna Rybachek

Therapeutic Pathways to Healing for Assault Victims, Natalie Mendonça

Lamson Maintenance Concerns, Anna Rybacheck and Amelia Stefanescu

Support Your Local Libraries: Part 2!, Lexie Dunham

Matcha Makes a Scene on …

Adolescent Sexuality, Casey T. Tobin

Essays in Developmental Psychology

No abstract provided.

Infancy And Childhood Sexuality, Casey T. Tobin

Essays in Developmental Psychology

No abstract provided.

Senior Adult Sexuality, Casey T. Tobin

Essays in Developmental Psychology

No abstract provided.

Memory Stewardship: Preventing Confabulation In Child Victim Statements, Dixie Blair Ivey

Master of Arts in Human Services

Confabulation consists of a false memory report. Some scholars consider confabulation a clinical symptom of a neurological disorder. Others view the subject more broadly. Regardless of the boundaries of the definition, confabulation is an example of false memory. False memory reports can occur under many circumstances. The details of these circumstances, as well as the general cognitive processes that dictate memory, are important to understand, particularly to those who rely on memory for the purposes of forensic investigations. In order to use memory statements to reliable effect, the investigator or interviewer must understand how their own actions, the actions of …