Digital Commons Network^™

Kenyon Collegian - October 30, 2025

The Kenyon Collegian

No abstract provided.

Toward A Feminist Geo-Legal Reading: Us Country-Of-Origin Information In Asylum Adjudication, Malene H. Jacobsen, Austin Crane, Elise Dosch

Faculty Publications

In this article, we offer what we call ‘a feminist geo-legal reading’ of documents used in spaces and practices of law. Legal cases and decisions are often based on different legal and non-legal documents, including laws, explanatory memorandums, testimonies, medical reports, and so forth. In contemporary asylum adjudication, country-of-origin information reports (COIs) have become a crucial source of authoritative evidence as asylum officers and immigration judges use these reports in their determination of a person's need for and right to protection. However, there is no straight line from COIs' substance to the prevailing authority that they command within asylum adjudication. …

Sonic Acts Of Care: Friendship-Based Networks And Grassroots Activism In Beirut, Rim J. Irscheid

Regards

The article examines a Beirut-based network of self-funded, independent musicians that translate memories and their emotions into artistic and activist practices. Drawing on musical albums created since the 2020 Beirut port explosion, the article explores the social and emotional impact of artist-run spaces for music production. Focusing on a friendship-based network around the collectively-run recording studio Tunefork Studios, it examines how care, trust, and solidarity with Lebanon’s citizens and music producers are translated into both their creative practices and their production and distribution strategies. I argue that Beirut-based musicians increasingly thematise the emotional toll and personal investment in political, infrastructural …

Promouvoir Son Image Et « Se Faire Un Nom » Dans La Scène Rap Proche-Orientale : L’Exemple De Soundcloud, Thomas Michel

Regards

This article examines the role of the SoundCloud platform in building careers for independent rappers and producers in the Middle East, particularly in Jordan and Palestine. Based on an ethnographic survey conducted between Amman and Jerusalem, the author analyses how artists use this platform to make themselves known, distribute their music, and navigate a digitized musical ecosystem. The study draws on Popular Music Studies and studies of digital platforms to examine three main areas.
The first concerns visibility, through the recommendation tools and playlists offered by SoundCloud, which provide local and international exposure. The second looks at the forms of …

Texas School Social Workers: Job Barriers, Supports, Satisfaction And Preparation Programs, Astrid Gandaria, George Padilla, Velma D. Menchaca

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

A study examined the job barriers, supports, satisfaction, and preparation programs of Texas school social workers (TSSW). The study used a convergent parallel mixed method design to compare and discuss quantitative and qualitative data obtained through a survey emailed to 476 Texas school social workers. Data was gathered from 250 social workers. The findings highlight the need to better understand the role of TSSWs and improve university social work preparation programs. The implications of this study’s findings on TSSW work barriers and supports and preparation programs can create major improvements to the preparation, job definition, and work environment of TSSWs, …

Curriculum Beyond Constraint: Stakeholder Perspectives On Innovation And Autonomy In A Free School, Lucy A. Barker, David Littlefair, Christopher Million

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Free schools in the UK, like international ones, were established to promote autonomy, innovation, and diversity in education. This case study explores how one such school in the South of England, leveraged these freedoms to co-construct a distinctive and socially just curriculum. Data collected through semi-structured interviews and focus groups with school leaders, teachers, trustees, and parents was analysed thematically and revealed how leadership, curriculum design, and the hidden curriculum intersect to support holistic development, equity, and community cohesion. Particular attention is paid to how extended opportunities in the arts, sport, and enrichment activities contribute to cultural capital and wellbeing. …

College Freshmen’S Perceptions Of Their High School College And Career Readiness Counseling, Alexandra Novakovic, Eva N. Patrikakou

Journal of College Access

School counselors provide college and career readiness (CCR) counseling and socioemotional support to assist students in planning and pursuing postsecondary education. However, little is known about students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of meetings with school counselors during their preparation for postsecondary education and career planning. The present study surveyed first-year college students who have successfully navigated the college-planning process to explore their perceptions regarding the frequency and degree of helpfulness of meetings with their high school counselor. Results indicate that the frequency of meetings with the school counselor for CCR counseling predicted degree of perceived helpfulness overall, accounting for 60% …

Graduate School Accessibility For Undocumented And Dacamented Scholars Across The United States, Casandra P. Sandoval Hurtado, Ronnie Rios, Kasandra Negrete, Stephany Mendez Ortega, Richard Nunn

Journal of College Access

Literature on higher education accessibility for undocumented and DACAmented (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students has mostly focused on undergraduate students. This paper discusses a comprehensive study of the undocumented graduate student policies of 50 universities across the United States. Using systematic web searches and follow-up interviews with institutional liaisons, we evaluated admissions, tuition classification, funding, and social support practices through an institutional theory lens. This theory posits that institutions prioritize alignment with other institutions, which can lead to a lack of action in providing systemic services. Our findings fit within institutional theory, as many webpages were often confusing or …

Cv: Laurette Liesen (Political Science), Laurette Liesen

Political Science Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

The Colby Echo (2025-10-30), Colby College

The Colby Echo

Published by the students of Colby College since 1877, The Colby Echo is the weekly, editorially independent student-run newspaper of Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Published monthly, 1877-1886; semi-monthly, 1886-1897; and weekly during the academic year, 1898-present.

Evaluating The Use Of Statewide Summative Assessments In College Admissions: Insights From A Case Study, Yen Vo, Stephen Dunbar, Catherine Welch, Jeongmin Ji, Xiaoting Zhong

Journal of College Access

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing discussions around social inequality have significantly reshaped traditional college admission practices. This study explores the potential of using statewide assessments that are accessible to all students and aligned with curriculum standards as an alternative to college admission tests. Hierarchical linear modeling further revealed that statewide assessment scores contributed an additional 9% of the variance in admission scores above and beyond high school GPA and core coursework. Logistic regression and random forest analyses indicated that high school GPA and statewide assessment scores were the most contributing factors to admissions decisions, followed by core coursework. …

Texas School Social Workers: Job Barriers, Supports, Satisfaction And Preparation Programs, Astrid Gandaria, George Padilla, Velma D. Menchaca

Organization and School Leadership Faculty Publications

A study examined the job barriers, supports, satisfaction, and preparation programs of Texas school social workers (TSSW). The study used a convergent parallel mixed method design to compare and discuss quantitative and qualitative data obtained through a survey emailed to 476 Texas school social workers. Data was gathered from 250 social workers. The findings highlight the need to better understand the role of TSSWs and improve university social work preparation programs. The implications of this study’s findings on TSSW work barriers and supports and preparation programs can create major improvements to the preparation, job definition, and work environment of TSSWs, …

October 30, 2025, The Daily Mississippian

Daily Mississippian (all digitized issues)

No abstract provided.

Synergetics In Complex Adaptive Systems, Joseph C. Mckinley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Synergetics is an emerging paradigm which quantitatively describes and predicts the dynamics of complex living and nonliving systems. It has illuminated how complex systems can spontaneously self-organize by coordinating the activity of their constituent components toward some coherent, collective behavior. This coordinated activity can produce complex macroscopic spatiotemporal patterns without the need for central planning. In this dissertation, we develop and explore generalizations of the Haken-Kelso-Bunz (HKB) model of coordination dynamics. These generalizations include modeling higher-dimensional systems of coupled multistable oscillators with arbitrary diversity and coupling parameters, where the system components have the capacity to “learn” or adapt their intrinsic …

From Face-To-Face To Interface: A Critical Review Of Human Relationships In The Digital Era, Zainb I. Mohammed, Lina M. Shaker

AUIQ Humanities and Social Sciences

The rise of digital technologies has significantly transformed the nature, structure, and experience of human relationships across multiple domains. This review critically examines how digital platforms such as social media, messaging applications, online dating sites, and AI-driven interfaces have reshaped interpersonal connections, including friendships, romantic relationships, and family dynamics. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature from psychology, communication studies, sociology, and media theory, the review explores themes such as digital intimacy, parasocial interactions, performative relationships, remote caregiving, and the ethics of AI-mediated emotional engagement. Special attention is given to underrepresented populations (e.g., older adults, neurodiverse individuals), as well as longitudinal and developmental …

Bottled Water, Daniel Jaffee

Sociology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Bottled water has transformed from a niche product into the most-consumed packaged beverage worldwide. This commodity is linked to broader struggles over human rights and social justice, the question of who owns nature, and the future of public goods. Bottled water's negative environmental externalities include high energy and carbon footprints and major plastic waste pollution caused by disposal of hundreds of billions of single-serving plastic bottles. These dynamics have generated oppositional movements that are both contesting bottled water consumption and resisting the industry's extraction of groundwater. Recent scholarship emphasizes bottled water's impacts on public tap water and its relationship to …

Honoring Native American Heritage Month, Stephanie Shreffler

University Libraries Blog Archive

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with books and other resources available through the University Libraries.

Sexual Activity And Functioning After Breast Cancer Treatment: Perspectives On The Importance Of Pleasure From A Radiotherapy Cohort, Melanie Besculides, Lauren Carney, Ksenia Gorbenko, Sheryl Green, Melissa Brito, Jezelle Lynch, Carly Feldman, Cindy Munoz, Madhu Mazumdar, Deborah C. Marshall

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer affects millions of women and while treatment can be lifesaving, it also has numerous side effects, including those related to sexual function, which often impact the ability to experience pleasure from sex. This study aimed to understand how breast cancer survivors define sexual activity, identify important aspects, and ascertain perceived impacts of treatment on sexual activity and function, particularly related to pleasure.

METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with women who were breast cancer survivors at least one-year post-radiation. Priority populations were oversampled (racial/ethnic/sexual/gender minorities, those aged over 65 or under 45). The sample included 23 participants: 11 …

The Ruling Relations Of Care: An Institutional Ethnography Of High-Risk Prenatal Care Experiences, Nicole L. Harris

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Disrespect during pregnancy, labor, and delivery is common in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that approximately one in five women overall, and over 30% of Black women, report being ignored, dismissed, or verbally mistreated during their care. Public health efforts have primarily focused on individual-level interventions to improve patient-provider communication or reduce provider bias; however, these strategies have been critiqued for their limited scope and effectiveness in shifting outcomes. Instead, researchers and advocates have called for an examination of the structures that shape clinical encounters, including policies, protocols, workflows, and organizational culture. This …

A Scoping Review Of Aviation Loss Of Control Inflight Research, Brian J. Roggow

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

Loss of control – inflight (LOC-I) contributes to aircraft accidents at unacceptably high rates. Significant industry efforts and research have aimed to improve LOC-I prevention, detection, and recovery. This scoping review of literature systematically analyzed LOC-I literature between 2014 and 2024. The scoping review synthesized research findings and recommendations from 116 relevant articles. The research findings and recommendations were also categorized using the SHELL model to identify prevalent and understudied themes. Significant research has examined angle of attack indicators, integrated flight directors, automated LOC-I avoidance, detection, and recovery systems, as well as associated nonlinear aerodynamic modeling. Additionally, human performance shaping …

Formalism In Jewish Law, Chaim Saiman

Faculty Publications

Scholars differ as to the degree to which Jewish law is formalistic. This chapter aims to make sense of the debate surrounding formalism in Jewish law by distinguishing between three types of legal formalism: classic formalism, modern formalism, and detail-following formalism. Viewed through the lens of modern formalism, Jewish law is likely less formalistic than commonly assumed as it is not primarily concerned with constraining decision makers. Nor is Jewish legal discourse typified by its unified conceptual schemas that proceed from abstract concepts to bottom-line decisions in the way that classical formalism proceeds. This chapter introduces an alternative framing termed …

Fall 2025 Full Issue, Undergraduate Research

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

No abstract provided.

Papernest Media: A Collaborative Multimedia Research Project, Susie V. Mabry

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

Papernest Media is a collaborative multimedia research project that contextualizes the history and contemporary status of insect commodities as traditional food, tourist fare, and natural dye in Oaxaca, Mexico. Our interdisciplinary team of Anne E. Pfister, PhD in Applied Medical Anthropology, Alex Kledzik, BA in Sociology and Susie Mabry, UNF International Studies, came together in 2024 to produce a short film accompanying the exploratory phase of a larger ethnographic investigation. In July 2024, we traveled to Oaxaca during a peak season and the annual Guelaguetza festival to investigate the touted sustainability of edible insects in a region known for its …

Rewilding The Built Environment: Navigating Economic, Political, And Social Barriers To Urban Ecological Restoration, Carly E. Smith

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

Urban rewilding offers a nature-based approach to restoring ecological processes in cities while advancing climate resilience, biodiversity, and public well-being. Unlike conventional green infrastructure, rewilding allows ecosystems to develop with minimal intervention, emphasizing succession, complexity, and long-term adaptability. This paper examines the political, economic, and social factors that frame how rewilding is understood and implemented in urban planning. Governmental frameworks often prioritize order, predictability, and short-term results, making it difficult to accommodate the uncertainty and ecological complexity that rewilding requires. Economic models struggle to capture its long-term value, frequently overlooking ecosystem services or reconciling competing land uses. Social perceptions of …

A Descriptive Study Of Black College Students’ Perceptions Of Law Enforcement After Police Brutality, Alisia L. Collins

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

Police brutality is a social issue that has tormented the mental health of the Black community for decades. Seeing brethren battered and bruised countless times has taken an emotional toll on the relationship of the Black community with the American justice system and the officers meant to uphold it. Previous research has shown that the Black community primarily has a negative perception of law enforcement because of factors like police brutality, unjustified shootings, and legal policies within the justice system. Compounding experiences can occur for people with disabilities within the Black community. Specifically, autistic people have a higher risk of …

Exploring Education Gini On A Smaller Scale: How Education Inequality Differs Among Districts, Nenny Hendajany, Deden Rizal Riyadi, Nor Aznin Abu Bakar

Jurnal Ekonomi dan Studi Pembangunan

Decentralization creates a need to discuss education inequality on a smaller scale to formulate a better development policy. This study aims to give insights on how education inequality can vary across districts depending on the characteristics attributed to the said region. By calculating education Gini indices, we found that regencies and agricultural districts tend to experience worse education inequality than municipalities and non-agricultural districts. Adding to that, using panel data regressions, we also found that the data shows the opposite of education Kuznets curves, contradicting some of the previous studies. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the importance …

Growth, Ideals And Scarcity: The Complexity Of Financing The Twin Oaks Community, Rahima Schwenkbeck

Communal Societies

No abstract provided.

“A Place, A Spirit, A Ministry”: The Persistence Of Koinonia Farm In The Post-Jordan Years, Ryan Geockner

Communal Societies

No abstract provided.

Why Are Children Still Working?, Heri Sandra, Taufiq Carnegie Dawood, M. Shabri Abd. Majid

Jurnal Ekonomi dan Studi Pembangunan

This study aims to determine the effect of household characteristics and children's living environment on child labor to reduce the likelihood of child labor occurrence. The data source of this research is Sakernas (Indonesian National Labor Force Survey) of August 2018, including school accreditation, household head gender, age, working sector, employment status, household size, dependency ratio, location, and school quality, towards the probability of child labor occurrence in Indonesia. Results suggest that the government must prioritize welfare programs for women household heads, asses the minimum age for marriage, improve education facilities, and increase parental awareness to eliminate child labor. The …

Rita Felski's Critique Of Contextualism: Taking Rem Koolhaas And Bruno Latour As A Clue, Lijun Su

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

With a special nested structure, Rita Felski follows and finalizes Rem Koolhaas and Bruno Latour's manifesto of “Context Stinks!” The three theorists of different disciplines such as architecture, sociology and literature take context as a conservative proposition. In response to the contextualist paradigm that is threatened by self-limitation, self-exclusion and generalization, Koolhaas creates space for innovation through the strategy of “bigness”, while Latour questions the theory of social entities, introducing non-human actors into a new coordinate system. Based on them, Felski tries to remold the future of literature within the framework of actor-network theory, in order to forestall text from …