Digital Commons Network^™

True Crime Adaptations And How The Public Surveils, Laura Nothstine

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

True crime adaptations have become increasingly popular in the past few decades, but their existence reaches back several centuries. They have taken many forms, including stage dramas, graphic novels, and true crime podcasts. Examples of these adaptations— particularly the play Arden of Faversham, the graphic novel From Hell, and modern true crime podcasts—illustrate the selective process used to create true crime adaptations. That process chooses to foreground certain aspects of crimes while others are left behind, which changes audience understandings of the crime. By understanding the nuances of these adaptations, the potential effects they create in audience perceptions become clear. …

Waging War On Peacebuilders: Digital Sexual Violence As A Barrier To Peace, Abigail T. Connors

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

Technology’s rapid advancement is quickly cultivating an online world that is becoming increasingly dangerous for women that participate in public life. This paper explores the ways in which sexual violence is used in online spaces to harass and abuse women peacebuilders and inhibit their peacebuilding work. It first dives into exactly how digital sexual violence is conceptualized in modern scholarship and academic works, then examines the different shapes that digital sexual violence takes, how digital sexual violence impacts women peacebuilders personally and professionally, and how digital sexual violence, when used against women peacebuilders, impacts global democratic efforts. It concludes with …

Some Inequalities Of A Matrix And Its Modulus In Powers Acting On Unit Vectors, Fuzhen Zhang

Mathematics Colloquium Series

Given a square matrix, one can associate it with a variety of numerical values and properties—such as the trace, determinant, eigenvalues, and singular values (at the undergraduate level), and the numerical range (and numerical radius), matrix norms, and majorization inequalities involving eigenvalues and singular values (at the graduate level). These studies all serve a common goal: to describe and understand the matrix as thoroughly as possible. In this talk, we present several inequalities involving a matrix A and its operator modulus ∣A∣, particularly in the context of their powers acting on the unit sphere (i.e., unit vectors)

Little Andre Henry Hudson

African American Funeral Programs

Little_Andre_Henry_Hudson.pdf - Death notice for Andre Hudson

A Note From The Managing Editor, Lia Richter

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

A message from the 2024-2025 Managing Editor of the Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal, Lia Richter.

Does The Incorporation Of Justice In Axiology Solve Consequentialism's Distributive Pitfalls?, Moss Magnusson

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

Fred Feldman’s Justicized Act Utilitarianism (JAU) seeks to address the distributive shortcomings of consequentialist theories by incorporating justice in his axiology. By considering the distribution of intrinsic goods rather than solely their quantity, JAU aims to preserve consequentialism’s core principles while addressing justice-based objections. This paper critically examines JAU, arguing that while Feldman’s theory marks a significant advancement, it ultimately fails to reconcile consequentialism with justice in a meaningful way. Following an exposition of JAU, two critiques are presented through thought experiments to test its boundaries and implications.

On The Moral Responsibility, Evil, And Punishment Of Adolf Eichmann, And Its Implications For Us, Samantha Rigante

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

This paper discusses Adolf Eichmann, an infamous figure for his role in the Nazi regime, and the ideas of evil, moral responsibility, and punishment. I argue for a new way of viewing Eichmann by focusing and classifying him as an evil person according to Claudia Card’s theory of evil in her work The Atrocity Paradigm and honing on Eichmann’s role as moral agent and responsible figure. By considering him as such, I contend with ideas and questions regarding his actions, intentions, choices, and motives during the Holocaust, positing him as someone who was a moral agent, can be held morally …

Out Of Many, (Some) People: Race, Identity, And Beauty In Jamaican Nationalism, Shamoy Dixon

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

When Jamaica gained independence in 1962, it grappled with the question of how to define Jamaican national identity. With the absence of Indigenous culture, Jamaican nationalism sought to develop an identity that would unify its diverse population that comprised the descendants of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and European peoples. Despite this approach towards racial inclusion, this multiracial vision of nationalism reflected colonial power arrangements and beauty aesthetic standards.The biggest proponents of Jamaican nationalism, the mixed-race government, were invested in valorizing a mixed ‘Brown’ identity over and above the Black identity shared by the majority of Jamaicans. Thus, 20th-century Jamaican nationalism …

Unearthing Silence: Deaf Archaeology As A Pathway To Social Justice And Accessibility, Abigail H. Steiner

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

Deaf archaeology is an emerging field exploring the material culture, spaces, and histories of Deaf communities to understand their social lives and identities. This paper examines Deaf archaeology as a framework for uncovering the historical presence of Deaf individuals and promoting social justice. It begins by defining deafness, contrasting medical and cultural perspectives, then traces the field’s roots in sign language evolution, marginalization, and Deaf education. Through a timeline of findings, the study reveals how Deaf individuals have been recognized or overlooked historically. Engaging with the Southern Tier Deaf community, I explore accessible archaeology and the role of Deaf archaeology …

Female Acceptance Of Mates Is Consistent Across Different Sex Ratios And Male Proximities In Wood Frog (Rana Sylvatica) Breeding Aggregations, Alia Kabbaj, Laura Bousaid, Gabriella Lowney, Lindsey Swierk

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

Sexual selection plays a crucial role in shaping reproductive strategies. We investigated the influence of sex ratio and male proximity on female acceptance of mates in wood frogs (Rana sylvatica). We hypothesized that females at a more even sex ratio would exhibit higher acceptance of males due to reduced male competition when compared to females at a more male-skewed sex ratio. Using digital video analysis of mating trials (n = 39), we quantified male proximity to females and female acceptance of males at two sex ratios – 1:4 (F:M) and 1:7. Males at a 1:4 sex ratio maintained …

Daydreamer, Minh-Hung Nguyen

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

Daydreamer is a collection of five poems that blend into a colorful collage. “A peaceful ancient town” depicts a typical day in Hoi An while “Summer noon melody,” written in traditional Vietnamese verse form lục bát (six-eight), describes a peaceful Vietnamese countryside village during harvest days. The tone immerses into the darkness of isolation in “Midnight piece” and then becomes calmer, allowing nature to shine in “The squirrel and the pond” which consists of haiku poems about the cycle of seasons and life, a classic theme in Japanese poetry. Finally, the collection concludes with “In the middle of the clear …

“They Wear This Hideous Makeup All Over Their Face”: Dirty Girls And The Grrrl-Hag, Autumn Jacobs

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

Filmed at the height of riot grrrl, the documentary Dirty Girls presents a microcosm of the scene at a Santa Monica high school as it follows a group of girls ostracized by the student body due to their opposition to and negation of standard models of early 1990s beauty. This paper aims to situate riot grrrl and the “dirty girls” into larger contexts of the historical oppression of women, that, when viewed beyond the specificities of their given period, illustrate recurring patterns that involve the negative depiction of older women, denoted as “old hags” in the Middle Ages and Early …

A Legal Analysis On The Link Between Pornography Consumption And The Perpetuation Of Abuse, Madelyn Garrett

Advanced Issues in Criminal Law: Sex Offenses

This essay examines the connection between the overconsumption of pornography and the growing demand for violent and extreme types of pornography. This essay also looks at the abuse this demand perpetrates.

I Have Some Reservations: Examining Whether Federal Rules Of Evidence 413 And 414 Serve Legitimate Purposes Of Punishment For Native American Defendants, Cameryn Gonnella

Advanced Issues in Criminal Law: Sex Offenses

This essay will analyze the legitimacy of Federal Rules 413 and 414 as applied to Native American defendants through the lens of the purposes of punishment: rehabilitation, deterrence, retribution, incapacitation, and restitution.

A New Look At Sex Offender Rehabilitation: Embracing Elective Chemical Castration, Alli Florence

Advanced Issues in Criminal Law: Sex Offenses

This essay analyzes the historical and modern use of castration efforts on sex offenders and advocates for federally supported, elective chemical castration as an effective means of rehabilitative treatment and relapse prevention post-incarceration.

Dykebreaking: The Homophobic Rape Of Lesbian Woman And The Next Frontier Of Hate Crime Laws, Mallory L. Harrington

Advanced Issues in Criminal Law: Sex Offenses

This article will explain the motivations behind homophobic rape by examining it as both a sex offense and a hate crime, before arguing that its unique status at the intersection of both categories of offenses places its victims in a particularly vulnerable position and situates those who offend in this way in a more serious category of offender than other sex offenders.

Does Friend Groups’ Co-Rumination Explain Depression Homophily Among Undergraduate Women’S Friendship Groups?, Alyssa Chapman Klas

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

No abstract provided.

Decolonial Critical Qualitative Research Design, Mayra Garcia-Diaz

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

No abstract provided.

A Jewel In The Crown Is Better Than Money In The Pocket": Historical Data On The Role Of Midwives In Caring For Families In Southern Appalachia, Kristen Montgomery

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Background: Midwives have provided care to women since the beginning of time. Early midwives had little training but learned their craft from experienced women. Later, formal training became available. Midwives have a rich history in Appalachia.

Purpose: to explore the rich history of all types of midwives in Appalachia.

Methods: Materials from the Archives of Appalachia were reviewed. Both written and oral materials were evaluated. This included a review of the document, identification of themes, and then comparing those themes with previously identified themes. Documents were reviewed in a random order by two researchers who met to discuss results.

Results: …

Kentucky House Bill 159: Health Care Policy Analysis, Lindsey Frasure

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Lindsey Frasure MSN-Ed., RN

Lincoln Memorial University, Caylor School of Nursing

DNP Student

An Educational Presentation: Kentucky House Bill 159: Health Care Policy Analysis

Abstract:

Purpose/Background: Kentucky House Bill 159 is a bill that passed through the state congress in 2024. It is known as the decriminalization bill. The aim of this presentation is to analyze and discuss the bill in its entirety, why the bill continues to be important in healthcare, implications for nursing, the future of nursing, and advocation for change. The significance of the presentation is to educate fellow healthcare professionals on the importance of policy …

Factors Influence Homeless People’S Psychological Well-Being And Suicidal Ideation, Pi-Ming Yeh

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Introduction/Significance: About 582,462 individuals are experiencing homelessness in America. Homelessness is devastating, regardless of age. But for children, it can have serious physical, emotional, and psychological implications.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the influences of spiritual well-being, coping strategies, family interaction, and personality on psychological well-being, and suicidal ideation among people with homelessness.

Methods: Sixty people with homelessness were recruited in the Eastern Tennessee Downtown Day Center, USA. IRB was approved. This was a cross-sectional descriptive research design. Questionnaires were used to do data collection. SPSS 28.0 was used to do the data analysis. Descriptive …

Using Keystroke Dynamics Behavioral Biometrics To Identify Users, Bradley F. Budach

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This study explores the use of keystroke dynamics as a behavioral biometric for user identification. Unlike physiological biometrics, such as fingerprints or facial recognition, keystroke dynamics leverages the unique typing patterns of individuals to create a distinctive signature. This research was to develop a machine learning-based system that utilizes keystroke dynamics for continuous and unobtrusive user authentication. By collecting and analyzing keystroke data from multiple users, relevant features were extracted and used to train a machine learning model to identify user keystroke signatures with an equal error rate of 0.11. This model allows for reliable and scalable authentication that can …

Revisiting Least Restrictive Environment In Adapted Physical Education: A Framework For Evidence-Based Practice, Samantha K. Charron

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This article addresses the implementation of Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) principles in adapted physical education. Despite the legal mandates established by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the field faces significant challenges, including a shortage of qualified professionals, overemphasis on universal inclusion, and the exclusion of student voices from placement decisions. Through analysis of historical context, implementation challenges, and a proposed Student-Centered APE Placement Model (SCAPM), this article provides a framework for making evidence-based placement decisions that prioritize student success. By integrating perspectives from preservice teacher education and current practice, the framework offers practitioners a structured approach to navigating the …

Parlez-Vous Français? You Betcha: Revitalizing A French Cultural Center By Connecting To Its Minnesota Roots, Ashley R. Flygare

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The Alliance Française Minneapolis-St. Paul (AFMSP) is an independent chapter of an international organization aimed at promoting the French language and various francophone cultures. It provides language instruction, cultural programming, social events, and access to a range of resources. However, participation in its events and courses has declined in recent years, putting the organization’s financial stability at risk. This project employs research and analysis to identify strategic and creative solutions to help AFMSP thrive.  A review of applied research was conducted, which included industry reports, performance data, and local cultural trends. Key insights revealed the need for enhanced community engagement, …

Experimental Impacts Into Sloped Targets, J.L.B. Anderson, Tyler S.L. Kadrie, A.L. Miller, C.J. Cline Ii

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Asymmetric craters have been ob-served on sloped surfaces on the Moon [1] and extensively across Vesta [2] and Ceres [3]. For example, Lowell Crater (Fig. 1A) is a large crater on the surface of the Moon that has a small-er crater, Lowell H, which formed when an asteroid impacted the sloped surface of Lowell’s crater rim [1]. The topography map of Lowell H (Fig. 1B) shows the original sloped crater wall, the highly asymmetric and slumped Lowell H crater, and the debris flows that formed during its collapse.

Typically, impact cratering experiments are performed into smooth, flat-lying targets as a …

The Impacts Of Virtual Tourism On Tourist Destinations, Samantha R. Dischinger, Grace M. Baden, Natalia C. Miller

Research & Creative Achievement Day

New technologies, including virtual reality (VR), offer exciting new opportunities for tourism, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. While these technologies provide tourism experiences for those who are not comfortable with or able to physically travel, they may have adverse effects on tourist destinations by reducing the number of physical visitors. To assess this, the study will include questions to analyze whether VR experiences increase or decrease the incentive to physically travel to a given destination. This question will be answered through a laboratory experiment involving exposure to a virtual tour, either with a VR headset or a …

A Comparison Of The Bacterial Communities Of The Yamuna River (India) And Mississippi River (Usa), Jacob Gareis, Osvaldo Martinez, Silas Bergen

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This study compared the bacteria in the Yamuna River in India and the Mississippi River in the USA. Water samples were taken from 11 sites (2 in the Mississippi River and 9 in the Yamuna River). The bacteria were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Some phyla such as Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were seen in abundance regardless of country. However, principal-component analysis showed three distinct groupings: Mississippi/Ganga/Tons and other Yamuna River locations (7 sites), Yamuna River at Delhi (2 sites), Yamuna River below Glacier (2 sites) Additionally, the Yamuna River below Glacier had the highest bacterial diversity, with a Shannon …

Stay Fit, Stay Safe: Sports Safety For Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Kierra A. Pickard, Lauren G. Cahalan, Allie Sonnleitner, Hanna G. Crabtree, Emily J. Myszewski, Claire R. Privatt, Maya L. Vosters

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Purpose: With the growing older adult population, defined as 65 years and older, the importance of safety in activities, such as sports, is becoming more important. It is vital to address the needs of this population through increasing education to prevent or address injuries related to physical activity. The overall purpose of this project was to determine the impact of providing sports safety education at the Holmen Area Community Center (HACC). Moreover, we sought to explore and educate the clients at HACC on ways to prevent such injuries and what to do if an injury does occur.

Many older …

Durafold Premium: Composite Folding Table, Regan G. Harvey, Hendrik J. Welti, Parker D. Buth, Stadler J. Lucas, Grace Eischens

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Current folding table designs are made to be lightweight, but the table surface made of high density polyethylene (HDPE) can break and is not repairable. Our team designed the DuraFold Premium as an alternative to the traditional folding tables. The table surface and legs use a sandwich construction consisting of top and bottom face sheets made with carbon and glass reinforcing fibers in an epoxy resin system. In between the two face sheets is a honeycomb core material. This approach results in the DuraFold Premium being extremely durable while remaining lightweight. Over the past academic year, our team has been …

Carbon Club Carrier: A Lightweight Motorized Golf Pushcart, Tanner J. Conniff, Eric M. Courneya, Alex Hilo, Max R. Kauphusman, Luis M. Rodriguez

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The Carbon Club Carrier is a lightweight, motorized golf pushcart designed to enhance convenience and ease of use for golfers. Traditional golf push carts can be cumbersome and require significant effort to maneuver across varying terrain. Our design integrates a carbon fiber frame for durability and weight reduction, coupled with an electric push-assist motor to reduce strain on the user. The use of carbon fiber composite materials ensures a strong yet lightweight structure, optimizing portability and performance. The push-assist motor system is designed to provide variable-speed assistance, allowing golfers to move their clubs effortlessly across the course. The carrier is …