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Issue 464: April 17-May 1, 2025, The Local Voice

The Local Voice

Special Issue: 2025 Double Decker Arts Festival

Wmu Board Of Trustees Formal Session Thursday April 17, 2025, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

Acceptance of the Agenda

Approval of the Minutes (February 6, 2025)

Recognition of President Ed Montgomery

Remarks by the Chair of the Board

Remarks by the President

Updates by the Faculty Senate President

Updates by the Western Student Association President

Updates by the Graduate Student Association President

International Congress on Medieval Studies and Experiential Learning

Public Comments Regarding Action Items

Action Items

• Naming the New Valley Residence Hall “Golden Oaks” at “The Valleys”

Consent Item

• Personnel Report
• Curriculum Proposals
• Sale of BTR Parcel (Unit 30)
• Liquor Licenses – Multiple Events (July 10, 2025, August 7, 2025, November 7, 2025)
• Annuity …

Statistical Study Of Solar Wind Conditions Prior To Substorm Onsets, Luke H. Francis

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Due to complex, multi-region, coupled plasma systems, auroral substorm onsets have been historically difficult to predict. The northward turning of the interplanetary magnetic field was considered the primary candidate as an external triggering mechanism for substorm onsets. However, that was later shown to be coincidental in nature. This study is motivated by recent multi-spacecraft observations that show how several magnetosheath jets at the bow shock were heavily correlated to substorm onsets, indicated by a strongly radial IMF interval. In the past, studies have looked at small samples of substorms in order to make large-scale predictions. However in this study, a …

Improving Erosion Resistance And Revegetation Of Wildfire-Altered Soils Using Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitation, Ahsan Ali

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Climate change is causing wildfires to occur more frequently and with higher intensity. Leading to wide range of impacts on agriculture, infrastructure, and the environment. Wildfires affect soils by burning their organic matter, resulting in an immediate deplete of nutrients and a significant reduction in nitrogen level. Wildfires also alter soils’ physical properties and make them less resistant to erosion which results in debris flows when wildfire are followed by a rainfall event. The reduced activity of microorganisms that aid in nutrient absorption makes the soil less effective in supporting plant life. Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) was found to …

Jazz Combos: April 17, 2025, School Of Music

School of Music Programs

Kemp Recital Hall

April 17, 2025

Thursday Evening

7:30 p.m.

Essay, Father John Crossing The Gandy: A Micro-History With Music, Julie Buckner Armstrong

Creekshed: Ekphrastic Writing with the Archives

“Father John Crossing the Gandy: A Micro-History with Music” synthesizes Father John Culmer’s 1927 passage across the Gandy Bridge with the lyrics of James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” to plot out Culmer’s role in the proliferation of church access and spirituality throughout and beyond the Black communities of South Florida. The work blends historical legacy with speculative interiority to produce an insightful and empathetic statement regarding, what has been, what can be, and how to build a bridge between the two.

Poem, Cornerstones Of A City, Pedro El Poeta Jarquin

Creekshed: Ekphrastic Writing with the Archives

Cornerstones of a City is a three-part poem that explores Ybor City’s role as an important cultural touchstone of Tampa. The poem references the great Ybor City fire of 1908 and frames this tragic event as a point around which residents would rally to rebuild their neighborhood and preserve Ybor City’s status as the hub of immigrant community in the Tampa area.

Poem, Creek Freak, Tyler Gillespie

Creekshed: Ekphrastic Writing with the Archives

“Creek Freak” is a first-person prose-poetic hybrid that portrays a short-lived romance between the narrator and a creature composed of various swamp elements that reveals how many of the narrator’s attempts at compassion or sincerity for the swamp creature are hollow platitudes that reflect the moral grandstanding gestures of those who wish to appear ecologically sensitive. The repetitive, back-and-forth exchange that concludes “Creek Freak” emphasizes the gap that continues to exist between ecological emergencies and collective social action.

Essay, Madira Bickel Mounds, Diane Roberts

Creekshed: Ekphrastic Writing with the Archives

“Madira Bickel Mound” critiques the common contemporary view of Florida history as beginning with European intervention and excavates the centuries of cultural development that occurred prior to the arrival of European entities. The mounds that remain standing across the state act as mementos of a displaced people and cultural system whose ancient presence is not as detached from the current moment as one might believe.

Poem, Research Note, Or, All The Colors Vary According To The Point Of Vision, Tyler Gillespie

Creekshed: Ekphrastic Writing with the Archives

research note, Or, all the colors vary according to the point of vision is a poem that examines a sketch of two birds that appears in Ellis Hughes’s diary. Instead of conjecturing about Hughes’s intention, the narrator connects the sketch to the formation of their own intimate relationship and how the formation of that relationship metaphorically mimics the subjective romance of the sketched birds.

Essay, Waterskiing Lake Maggiore, Jack E. Davis

Creekshed: Ekphrastic Writing with the Archives

“Waterskiing Lake Maggiore” is a first-person narrative that recalls Davis' experience waterskiing Lake Maggiore, a body of water that has been polluted by manmade endeavors. The narrative draws parallels between human action, natural consequences, and the desire for a more equitable relationship with nature.

Poem, Maximo Park Picnic, Amanda Hagood

Creekshed: Ekphrastic Writing with the Archives

Maximo Park Picnic is a sestina (poem) that observes various messages carved into the trees that populate the waterfront park, messages that alternate between youthful and reverential. As a modified natural setting, the park serves as a reflection point for the narrator to remark on what has been, what is, and what is yet to come along the ever-shifting shoreline.

Essay, Oysters, Gary Mormino

Creekshed: Ekphrastic Writing with the Archives

“Oysters” explores Tampa Bay’s history of oyster harvesting and how this once-revered and plentiful delicacy has suffered from infrastructural expansion and unchecked pollution. The eponymous mollusk oscillates between a readily available bounty and an environmental omen that signals the ecological doom of the region, demonstrating the significance of the oyster regarding the identity of Tampa Bay.

Poem, 1923: A Crowd Of People Swimming In The Water And Walking Through The Sand On Sunset Beach In Treasure Island, Florida, Thomas Hallock

Creekshed: Ekphrastic Writing with the Archives

1923: A crowd of people… in Treasure Island, Florida is a modified pantoum (poem) that frames the Floridian beach as a space often thought of as frozen in time and insulated from grim consequences. The reality of what can happen at the beach, however, imbues the poem’s tone with the weight of the knowledge that even this conceptual slice of veritable paradise must adhere to the rules of the world beyond the shoreline.

Essay, Lake Legacies, Black And Beautiful, Sheree Greer

Creekshed: Ekphrastic Writing with the Archives

“Lake Legacies, Black and Beautiful” is a short, observational meditation on the natural surroundings of Lake Rogers Park and other nearby bodies of water as witnesses and repositories of history that reverberate with the identities and deeds of Black families and figures. The observations culminate in a vision of subtropical comfort that simultaneously echoes past lives and assures the respite of the present.

Poem, Water Hyacinths, Gloria Muñoz

Creekshed: Ekphrastic Writing with the Archives

Water Hyacinths is a poem that explores the sights, sounds, and composition of Florida through a synthesis of mythological imagery and theatrical descriptions. The poem presents the state as a natural entity that conceals and reveals itself in both whimsical and dire situations and phrases.

Lehr Named 2026 Kemp Award Winner, Julia Perez

Press Releases 2020-2029

No abstract provided.

Faculty Senate Minutes, Academic Year 2024-2025, April 17, 2025, Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Minutes

Minutes for the Faculty Senate Meeting held April 17, 2025

"Guided By A Global Perspective": The Global Teaching Practices Of Social Work Faculty, Janine M. Speiser

Social Work Doctoral Dissertations

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) states that the social work profession is guided by a global perspective and the enhancement of life for all people, both locally and globally. Per the CSWE Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (2022 EPAS), the social work curriculum of an integrated program includes global content that is specifically related to racism, oppression, and policy. However, literature suggests that the incorporation of global content into social work education has been slow, sparse, and siloed. The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which social work faculty have integrated global content from …

Improving No-Show Rates At A Federally Qualified Health Center (Fqhc), Christelle M. Hernandez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to improve no-show and missed appointments among adult patients at a federally qualified health center (FQHC) located in greater Houston, TX in the adult medicine department. This intervention aimed to decrease no-show and missed appointment rates to 20% or below to improve productivity, yield less staff burnout, and improve patient healthcare outcomes. A 4-week initiative was completed to identity top reasons and to reduce no-shows. A no-show outreach initiative was developed and used in the electronic health record (EHR) and targeted to patients identified as most likely to not show cancel an …

Observing The Enablers For Achieving Sustainability In Saudi Oil Industry Cities According To Vision 2030 Aspirations: A Case Study Of Jubail Industrial City, Abdulrahman Salem Alruwaili, Mohammad Alghamdi Prof.

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

The research emphasizes the ongoing need to enhance sustainability in Saudi industry cities, which are vital to the Saudi economy and contribute significantly to non-oil revenue streams. This study explores the key factors enabling sustainability in such cities by focusing on Jubail Industrial City, which has developed over 50 years. Using a descriptive-analytical methodology, the research highlights that Jubail Industrial City has a well-developed infrastructure, establishing it as a crucial logistics hub that connects Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with global cities. The city has made significant contributes to the national GDP and attracts national and international talent by adopting sustainable …

Acoustic Filter For Biopharmacy, Nicholas Rivet

Three Minute Thesis (3MT)

The design and development of a novel flow induced acoustically tuned “filterless” filter is proposed. The proposed research is on developing two or more prototypes that function as a cell retention device for perfusion cell cultures used in continuous manufacturing of monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins. This research will provide a non-invasive, cost-effective, flexible, and robust cell retention device for sustainable manufacturing of biologics.

Capturing Tradition: The Business, Branding, And Personal Identity Of Senior Portraits In The Modern South, Xenia R. Minton

Honors Theses

The rise of college students starting photography businesses, particularly in graduation portraits, has transformed the creative and entrepreneurial landscape in the South. This thesis explores the senior portrait culture at the University of Mississippi, analyzing its rapid growth through the perspectives of photographers and academic experts in Southern Studies. Grounded in eight years of experience as a photographer, this study examines the evolution of the industry, business strategies, and cultural significance. Through interviews with seasoned senior portrait photographers and Southern Studies professors, this research investigates how regional traditions, social media, and consumer expectations have shaped the profession. By analyzing these …

2025.04.17 - Board Of Trustees Meeting Minutes, Northeastern Illinois University Board Of Trustees

Board of Trustees - 2025

Meeting materials for the NEIU Board Trustees

Latino Parent-Daughter Relationships: Educational Motivation And Persistence In High School To Community College Transition, Marlen Vasquez

Student Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a qualitative exploration of the experiences of Latina daughters of immigrant parents during the critical transition from high school to community college. Focusing on the role that Latino parents have in affecting their daughters' educational motivation and persistence, the research employed semi-structured, in-depth interviews with Generation 1.5 (immigrated to the U.S. as children or youth) or second-generation (born in the U.S. to immigrant parents) Latina daughters. The interviews allowed for a comprehensive examination of the complex factors affecting these young women's educational journeys. These experiences did not occur in isolation. In addition to struggling with emergent ethnic, …

The Effects Of Winter Street Treatment On Chester Creek Water Quality During Snow Melt Events, Birgit Hagedorn

ISER Reports

Water quality parameters for temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity and ion activity for calcium, chloride, and magnesium were measured during a period of five winters at eight locations along Chester Creek that flows from the Chugach Mountains east of the Municipality of Anchorage through the Municipality to the west into Knik Arm. The goal of the project was to identify the impact of meltwater on water quality due to common winter street treatments. Each year had its unique conditions. Melt events occurred when air temperature reached above freezing which were sometimes accompanied by rain events that enhanced …

Research On The Resilience Of Integrated Urban Passenger Transport Network In Urban Agglomerations Considering The Intra-Urban Service Network, Shida Nie, Chengbing Li, Bowei He, Xintao Li

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In order to solve the problem of insufficient comprehensiveness and refinement of the urban agglomeration passenger transport network model, Space L modelling method in complex network theory is adopted to construct a comprehensive urban passenger transport network model considering the urban internal service network. A comprehensive urban passenger transport network composed of intercity networks and intra-city service networks is built, and time-dependent edge weights in the network is considered. A time-weighted network efficiency model is proposed to evaluate the network resilience. The results show that under a random attack strategy, the relative time efficiency of the network fluctuates less, …

A Multi-Robot Collaborative Path Planning Algorithm With Chain Working Mode, Zhigang He, Dayan Li, Niya Wang, Jianlin Mao, Ning Wang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In order to solve the problem that the traditional MAPF algorithms can lead to a large number of repeated paths and thus non-essential energy loss in application scenarios where multiple robots have a common goal point, a multi-robot chain work mode with a tractor is proposed, which divides the robots with common target points into subgroups for multi robot collaborative path planning, and a collaborative dynamic priority SIPP with tractor (Co-DPtSIPP) algorithm is given. The polygonal Fermat point principle and other methods are used to obtain the serial connection areas of each collaborative group robot; considering the sequence of …

Traffic Signal Detection Based On Improved Yolov7, Lanyue Zheng, Yujie Zhang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: An improved YOLOv7 is proposed to address the problem of low recognition accuracy in general object detection algorithms for traffic signal detection. The algorithm removes the 20×20 detection scale and adds a 160×160 detection scale to increase shallow features while making the model lightweight. It combines the bi-level routing attention (BRA) proposed in BiFormer with axial attention, and innovatively proposes axially-guided BRA (ABRA). This module is specifically designed for the characteristics of traffic signal positions. To address the issue of object size sensitivity to the IoU metric, the normalized wasserstein distance (NWD) measurement is introduced to improve object location …

Research On Dual-Layer Path Planning Method For Lunar Rover Based On Slip Prediction, Zhang Xingyu, Baolei Wu, Jun Wang, Miaoying Hong, Jiahui Wang, Yongqiang Qi

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In response to the challenges faced by lunar rovers in the process of path planning, such as safe obstacle avoidance and target deviation caused by complex terrain, a dual-layer path planning based on slip prediction is proposed. In this approach, flat terrain is adaptively selected to reduce the wheel slip of the lunar rover. The overall complexity of the terrain is calculated using digital elevation information, and a Q-learning algorithm with a three-level reward mechanism is designed to navigate around highslip areas, achieving global path planning. A depth camera is used to perceive obstacles, a dynamic window method based …