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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.

The Van Tac Vu Program: Psychological Warfare In The Vietnam War, Lucas Schaffer

Proceedings of GREAT Day

During the Vietnam War, the United States ran an extensive program of psychological warfare in order to win the ‘hearts and minds’ of the Vietnamese people. The Van Tac Vu program was one of the many psychological operations conducted by the United States in South Vietnam. Utilizing traveling Vietnamese cultural-drama troupes and drawing from Vietnamese culture, this program sought to win the sympathies of rural Vietnamese whom the Viet Cong were also seeking to influence. The Van Tac Vu cultural-drama troupes had many roles as they worked on the frontlines of the psychological war for Vietnam. They performed propaganda-infused skits, …

Characterization Of Motor Performance In A Mouse Model Of Autism Fed A Ketogenic Diet In Early Adolescence, Sophia Azurin

Proceedings of GREAT Day

The ketogenic diet (KD) has long been used to control epilepsy, but more recently has also been shown to improve symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD is a highly prevalent disorder, characterized partially by repetitive behavior. Genetics, environmental conditions, and resultant injury to the brain, have been linked to an increased risk for ASD. KD is thought to work as an anti-inflammatory and has been shown to decrease repetitive behavior in a mouse model of ASD; but, how KD works within ASD is not well understood. This project works with a mouse model of ASD to determine if early …

Fugitive Slaves And Freedom: A Reexamination Of The Connection Between Fugitive Slaves And Abolition, Michael Bogart

Proceedings of GREAT Day

This paper focuses on the connection between fugitive slaves and the abolition of chattel slavery in the United States. It analyzes the various ways in which fugitive slaves not only changed the tides of the American Civil War, but also how their actions and undying determination to become free contributed to the fight for abolition. The main sources of this piece are the firsthand accounts of fugitive slaves themselves, as well as other primary sources which demonstrate the impact these people had on both the war and abolition. It draws the conclusion that there is a direct link between fugitive …

Dance As Identity And Communication: Expression Of Bharatanatyam, Shannon Ervay

Proceedings of GREAT Day

This paper describes the importance of understanding the intention imbued in genres of dance through cultural knowledge, specifically through Bharatanatyam. By investigating the origins of movement from around the world, dance can be understood as a form of language in addition to a source of release and celebrations. By honing empathy towards kinesthetic traditions, we can have a greater understanding of dance as a source of affirming identity and communication.

Guns, Bombs, And Flying Machines: Assessing Claims Of Modern Technology In Ancient India, Dorian Geraci

Proceedings of GREAT Day

Composed of four books known as the Rigveda, the Yajurveda, the Samaveda, and the Atharvaveda, the Vedas are considered the oldest Hindu religious writings in existence. This position grants them significant status in many sects of Hinduism, which count the Vedas a prime source of religious authority and interpret their stories and teachings literally even today. Their authority and integration into contemporary life became a significant part of the Hindu nationalist movement from the 19th century onwards, which interpreted certain passages of the Vedas and other ancient Hindu writings as describing the existence of modern technology thousands of years ago …

Alcohol Use, Neuroinflammation, And A Ketogenic Diet In A Mouse Model Of Alcohol Use, Dhavan Brahmbhatt

Proceedings of GREAT Day

A Ketogenic diet (KD) is a diet with high fat, moderate amounts of protein, and low carbohydrate. KD has been known for many therapeutic purposes. This project focuses on the study of how KD affects cognitive performance in mice administered alcohol. Three groups of mice were used in this study, two groups were injected with 20% alcohol (EtOH) and one group was no-alcohol controls. Before the alcohol administration period began, the KD mice were fed KD for 1 week. Then, mice assigned to EtOH groups were injected intraperitoneally for 10 days in a row, while no-alcohol controls were not injected …

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 …

Exploring The Global And Personal Workings Of Dance: Distinguishing Traits Between Ethnic And Folk Dance, Morgan Comstock

Proceedings of GREAT Day

Dance is an intricate component of society. Creative movement is often scrutinized, although it is the embodiment of both cultural knowledge and kinesthetic principles. Folk dance is known for its association with social customs and recreational events, whereas ethnic dance has a strong regional and cultural heritage interwoven into its foundation. Despite differences in historical upbringing, views by society, and choreographic qualities, it is important to appreciate both forms of dance as essential part of global contribution. Folk dance has provided the public with an informal style of dance that fosters relationship-building and enjoyment. In contrast, ethnic dance has provided …

An Interview With Emma Hayes, Creator Of Improve Reading, Hailey Bernet, Emma Hayes

Proceedings of GREAT Day

“Improve Reading” is a proposed app and company that would use artificial intelligence to help identify problem areas in reading comprehension for students in early/childhood education classrooms. The app would be able to make a personalized skills assessment to improve the identified problem areas and help students in early/childhood education achieve academic success.

Adopting Black Culture Without The Black Experience, Bakhita Solenyanu

Proceedings of GREAT Day

This essay, written in Black Hummanies, will explore the challenges of cultural appropriation and the Black experience while drawing upon the works of The 1619 Project by Nicole Hannah-Jones. It is widely known that American culture significantly draws from Black culture. While many embrace and celebrate many aspects of Black culture, there is often a tendency to overlook the persistent challenges of racism, injustices, and discrimination that many Black Americans face. This selective acknowledgment of Black culture, but not the understanding of the Black experience fails to address the complex realities that many face.

An Interview With Disability Activist Samuel Healy, Nia Jones, Samuel Healy

Proceedings of GREAT Day

This original 3 minute silent narrative film was created for a visual communication class and tells the story of college student with a disability and their long walk through campus to get to their final destination, filled with mundane trials and tribulations of topography that able bodied students might not notice. The film offers a thoughtful take on the practicality and reality of Geneseo's branding as it follows a student with cerebral palsy on his walk to the Office of Accessibility.

Recruiting Care Workers After The Covid-19 Lockdown, Gabby Bigger, Natalie Mandrycky, Tyler Steinberg

Proceedings of GREAT Day

Recruitment practices have undergone significant changes post-COVID-19, with lingering effects still impacting the workforce. The pandemic led to increased turnover, a focus on work-life balance, and decreased productivity, particularly in the healthcare industry where long hours and stress were prevalent. Women, who make up the majority of workers in this industry, were disproportionately affected and many left the workforce. HR managers now face the challenge of adapting strategies to the new virtual recruitment landscape to try and bring back these care workers. We will present our research findings on new strategies for which are vital for HR professionals to effectively …

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 …

Gen(D)Re-Bending In Mtv's Carmen: A Hip Hopera, Alannah Egan

Proceedings of GREAT Day

Georges Bizet’s Carmen has been restaged countless times since its premiere in 1875, in settings ranging from its original staging to Broadway musicals to a “hip hopera.” The opera’s revolutionary and boundary-breaking nature has made it a popular vehicle through which musicians have critiqued myriad social issues in historically divergent contexts. Thanks to innumerable reinterpretations, Carmen has been studied and examined through many lenses, most influentially in Susan McClary’s feminist reading of the work (McClary 2002). However, scholars rarely consider the complexity of gender in modern reinterpretations of the opera such as MTV’s 2001 reimagining, Carmen: A Hip Hopera starring …

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 …

Roots Of Resilience : Building A Sustainable Community Orchard For Food Equity And Environmental Stewardship In Missoula, Elle A. Vandzura

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This project aims to research the benefits of a sustainable community orchard in Missoula, with a focus on promoting nutritional equity, enhancing local food security, fostering environmental stewardship, and strengthening community engagement. Building on the proven success of Garden City Harvest’s community garden program, I will demonstrate how community orchards can further strengthen the local food system. Through a focused research approach, I will identify and implement best practices for the development and management of community orchards, with a particular emphasis on strategies that promote nutritional equity and environmental sustainability.

My research will include thorough reviews of case studies, academic …

Pharmacogenomics (Pgx) Implementation In Rural And Underserved Montana, Conlan James Edward Rendell

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

My project focuses on optimizing pharmacogenetic (PGx - A medical tool used to tailor a person's treatment based on their genes) testing, in rural pediatric psychiatry in Montana. A problem faced with PGx as an emerging health tool is limited access and difficulties implementing PGx services in rural, underserved, and tribal populations, which further healthcare disparities. Improving access and understanding of PGx would help alleviate these disparities and improve health outcomes. This project sought to answer what the perspectives on current implementations of PGx are. The project addresses healthcare disparities by evaluating provider and patient perspectives on PGx services in …

Victoria Secret: The Downfall Financially, Alexandra H. Russo, Mia Graffagnino Miss, Alessia Giura

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

How Does The Cpa Exam Format Influence Candidate Performance?, Emma Preissing

Academic Festival

Abstract

For prospective accountants, passing the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) exam is a crucial step in the certification process, but the format of the test can have a big effect on how well candidates perform. This paper dives into the changes and evolution of the CPA Exam and the ripple effects it has on how candidates exhibit their knowledge and abilities. It dissects all three core exams that are required. Additionally, the newly introduced specific discipline exams are examined and discussed in depth. The formats of the different exams are explored in relation to candidate performance and difficulty. In the …

Prevention Of Sexual Assault In Women, Carly Codignotto

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

To Follow The Rule Or Not To Follow The Rue, That Is The Question, Beatrice Lovato

Academic Festival

This paper explores the ethical dilemma of whether it is more ethical to obey the law or to resist laws that are morally questionable. To examine this issue, I draw a parallel between two historical and contemporary examples: Nazi officers during World War II who implemented genocidal policies, and modern-day ICE officers involved in the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants. By analyzing the motivations, mindsets, and personal responsibility of individuals who enforce state policies, this essay questions the moral agency of those who "just follow orders." It considers the psychological and ethical consequences of such actions, and challenges readers …

The Challenges Surrounding Cryptocurrency And Accounting Principals, James Murray

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Acute Water Consumption On Body Composition And Hydration Status, Sara Bojorque

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Seed Sisters, Rylie Luhring

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Many who visit UM’s PEAS Farm know about the greenhouses, pumpkin patch, and flower fields that grow around the property, but there is another garden that has been growing for the last three seasons: The Four Sisters Garden. Although many students visit the farm each year, the Four Sisters Garden is a spot that tends to be skipped over on tours. This traditional Garden grows squash, beans, corn, and sunflowers, and is grown in the arrangement of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara (MHA) peoples from North Dakota. Through conversations with the caretakers of the Four Sisters Garden, I found out …

Advocating For Anti-War Education In The University Of Montana's Social Work Program, David Payseno

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) code of ethics, social workers have a professional responsibility to challenge social injustice and pursue social change on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed peoples. As such, I believe the absence of education and political action regarding war in the social work undergraduate program would be a lapse in the responsibilities of the social work profession as detailed by the NASW. While every human being on earth is subject to harm by military conflict, it is those of us who are the most vulnerable and oppressed that inevitably suffer the greatest consequences. …

Judicial Independence In U.S. States: The Influence Of Political Competition On Legislative Threats To State Supreme Courts, Jack Eve

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The purpose of this study is to examine how political competition in state governments influences the independence of state supreme courts. This study adapts existing theories from comparative judicial research of democratic countries to the U.S. subnational context. Through a comparative study of 50 U.S. states, I test whether political dynamics in subnational entities align with existing transnational theories of political competition and judicial independence. Political competition in states is measured by the partisan composition of state legislatures, competitiveness of state elections, and partisan control of state branches of government. Judicial independence is measured using court-curbing legislation as a proxy, …

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 …

When Confidence Is Not Accurate: Effects Of Emotionality On Actual Versus Predicted Memory Performance, Julia J. Branen, Makaylah E. Beltran

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

From recalling crimes to passing exams, memory is a critical cognitive function for effectively navigating everyday life. Often, we expect that we will remember what is emotionally significant to us, especially when those feelings are negative. However, past research has indicated that may not be the case. The goal of this study, which I helped conduct alongside my professor and fellow research assistants, was to investigate the relationship between memory accuracy and confidence in one’s own memory for emotionally negative words (such as "grief") as compared to neutral words (such as "graph"). We recruited 65 UM psychology students through SONA, …