Digital Commons Network^™

From Living With The Land To Vacation Timeshares: The Impact Of Outdoor Recreation On The United States’S Recognition Of Shoshone, Timpanogos, And Havasupai Ancestral Homelands, Harry T. Robison

Honors Theses

The romantic view of the Western United States from the perspective of a US resident is fueled by the thought of adventure and expansion. The phenomena of the "Wild West," frontier ideology, and manifest destiny have kindled a love of being outside and pursuing new and "unexplored" territory. Long before those ideologies came into play, people already inhabited these landscapes. As colonists moved West, many of those inhabitants were forcefully moved onto reservations. Those people include the Shoshone people of Wyoming, the Timpanogos people of Utah, and the Havasupai people of Arizona. Alongside this history of displacement, the United States …

Yukon Dust From Source To Sink: Characterizing The St. Elias Mountains As A High-Latitude Dust Source, Audrey Y. Lemoine

Honors Theses

High-latitude dust is an important, yet poorly understood, component of Earth’s climate system. It impacts weather and albedo by acting as cloud condensation nuclei, directly affects Earth’s radiative balance, and can enhance productivity by supplying nutrients to ecosystems. In order to better understand high-latitude dust dynamics and impacts, we sampled glacial meltwater, surface sediment, and Holocene loess in the Łhù’ààn Mân (Kluane Lake) region of the Yukon Territory, Canada. We found that suspended sediment concentration is correlated with average slope and glaciation within a catchment, and is influenced by river morphology. We present new εNd and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr …

Introducing Catalizer: A Framework For Prototyping Models Of Biological Systems, Andy M. Day

Honors Theses

Modeling the light response system of Nannochloropsis oceanica brings

a set of challenges that make modeling difficult. Notably, potential models

may contain a large number of chemical species. A large number of

species creates a quadratic explosion in the number of potential pathways.

In addition, mathematically defining these pathways is error prone, yet

follows a surprising simple set of rules. We seek to create a domain specific

language which can precisely define these chemical reaction networks.

Once the networks have been defined, they can be exported as procedures

defined in popular programming languages for further analysis.

Global Rate Pass Through: Impact Of The Global Savings Market On Home Prices In The Uk, Laxmi Namboodiri

Honors Theses

This paper examines how changes in the global savings and investment market impact housing prices and supply in the United Kingdom. I first constructed a global interest rate using principal component analysis. Then, using structural VARs, I estimate impulse response functions to study the dynamics of housing prices and supply in the UK with an impulse in the global interest rate. The model predicts that housing prices and supply will increase immediately and then decrease after a lag. The decrease is primarily driven by the years after the stock market crash as opposed to before.

Asian American Navigation In Higher Education: Do We Belong At Colby College?, Amanda Rose Alpert

Honors Theses

This thesis explores how Asian American students navigate their belonging at Predominantly White Institutions (PWI), specifically a case study at the higher educational institution Colby College. In understanding how Asian American students navigate the spaces around them, this thesis dives into the history of Asian immigration to the U.S., the Asian American politicized label, and the different diasporas and cultural nuances Asian Americans experience that make up the complicated, diverse, and misunderstood label. Through exploring global racializations of Asian bodies and legacies of Western imperialism and colonialism, this gives a basis of how Asian Americans understand themselves as persons living …

Identifying The Spread Of Invasive Jumping Worms Across Maine’S Forests Using Soil Edna, Rebecca Wanger

Honors Theses

Jumping worms of the Megascolecidae family are invasive earthworms from East Asia that have been spreading across the United States since the late 1800s (Chang et al., 2021). Recently, the earthworms have gained more attention for their expansion into northeastern states, as they are believed to have negative impacts on the soil biogeochemistry, flora, and fauna of these forest ecosystems that have had no native earthworms given the recent nature of the Last Glacial Maximum (~11,000 yrs ago; Bohlen et al. 2004; McCay et al. 2020). The earthworms are distinguished by their thrashing behaviors, milky-white smooth clitellum, and evenly spaced …

Local Limit Theorems On Finitely Generated Abelian Groups, Yutong Yan

Honors Theses

In this thesis, we classify the pointwise behavior of finite-range random walks on finitely generated abelian groups in terms of local limit theorems. Random walks are central objects of research in probability theory, and the theory has found applications in statistics, physics, and even card shuffling. One significant topic in this line of study is random walks on finitely generated groups. Starting from the pioneering work of G. Pólya and H. Kesten, random walks on finitely generated groups have been studied extensively. However, many notable results on the subject (local limit theorems, for example) make assumptions about periodicity and irreducibility …

The Future Of Code Style: Learning With Gamified Online Tools, Jacob C. Tjaden

Honors Theses

High-quality code is universally pursued by software developers, and one of the most effective indicators of code quality is code style. However, code style is difficult to teach, particularly to introductory students and programmers who benefit most. In this project, we aim to investigate how online tools can improve and teach Python code style, as well as identify the role of gamification in the process. We build an online platform called Fishy that combines code style appraisal tools and utilizes gamification concepts. Our platform incorporates educational metrics such as a code analysis score and targeted quizzes to assess user performance. …

The Imperial Origins Of Genocide: Colonial Discourses And The Genocides In Timor-Leste And Rwanda, Zoe S. Appio

Honors Theses

This project aims to compare the ideological and structural colonial legacies that created the tensions for genocide to occur in Timor-Leste and Rwanda. It also aims to understand how these colonial legacies inhibited the international community's response and exacerbated the genocides. The genocide in Timor-Leste occurred from 1975 to 2002 and was perpetrated by the Indonesian government against the native Timorese population. The genocide in Rwanda occurred from April to July of 1994 and was perpetrated by the Hutu majority against the Tutsi minority. Throughout this thesis, I argue that colonial legacies like nationalism, racial hierarchies, and the maintenance of …

An Apple A Day: Have The Growing Conditions Of Apples In Maine Changed Over The Past 20 Years, Anooshka Sethi

Honors Theses

Climate change is increasingly affecting the growing conditions that farmers face. This study focused on if and how the growing conditions of apples have changed over the past two decades. Apples are an economically, socially, and culturally important crop to Maine's agriculture landscape. By production acreage, Maine is the second largest state in New England, with 2700 acres of land used to grow apples (USDA NASS CoA, 2022). A unique characteristic of agricultural production in Maine is that most farms are small-scale, run by families or small groups, making adverse changes to the growing conditions of a major crop in …

The Relevance Of Information On Effective Charitable Giving, Pride J. Jia

Honors Theses

The most effective charities are often more than a hundred times as effective as the average charity. However, top charities are not prioritized, and donation money is not used most effectively. To address this issue, it is crucial to understand why effective charitable giving is not prioritized. One factor identified in previous research is the limited access to cost-effectiveness information among donors. Our research explores whether providing individuals with different forms of information about charities leads to more effective donation decisions. Through an online RCT, individuals are separated into groups exposed to different types of information about two charities and …

Effects Of Direct And Indirect Predator Cue Intensity On Foraging Decisions In A Deer Mouse, Peromyscus, Nicholas G. Levinson

Honors Theses

Ecologists developed optimal foraging theory as a framework to understand how an animal may spend minimal time to maximize resource intake. A giving-up density (GUD) is a metric of the density of remaining food in a food patch at which an animal decides foraging is no longer economical. This study aims to test how the intensity of direct and indirect predator cues alter foraging patterns of deer mice. To measure GUD, I used depletable food patches deployed in the “upper woods” on the periphery of Colby College. To simulate direct predator cues, 1 mL of fox urine was applied on …

Affine Groups: A Functorial Perspective, Vladimir Khabaev

Honors Theses

A familiar construction associated to any commutative ringRwith1is its group of units, traditionally denoted by R^x= {u in R | uv = 1 for some v in R}. This is but one out of many ways to get a group from a ring. To see at least one other way, we need a mild change in perspective: units may instead be characterized as elements for which the linear transformation f(r) = u ⋅ r is an isomorphism of R as a module over itself. That is to say, R^x = GL(1, R …

A Long Way Home: Postcolonial Migration Between Cameroon And France, Elizabeth Greenberg

Honors Theses

This project grew from an observation that despite exhibiting strong national pride, most young Cameroonians express a fervent desire to emigrate. Through a combination of interviews and a review of past literature, I discovered a unique narrative among upper middle class Cameroonian migrants whose stories are generally underrepresented in migration literature. This study investigates how history and sociocultural dynamics help explain the Cameroonian decision to choose France (specifically the Île de France region) as a migration destination. France is particularly relevant because it previously held control of many parts of Cameroon and is one of the most popular migration destinations …

Mucking Up Public Health: A Geospatial Analysis Of Agricultural Sludge Application And Cancer Prevalence In Maine, Sarah A. Bassett

Honors Theses

This study investigates the impact of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on cancer prevalence throughout Maine. The main contribution of this project is the database constructed to examine cancer rates at a novel aggregation area: watersheds. By using a watershed as the aggregation area, this study gains insight into the threat that spreading sludge as fertilizer on agricultural fields poses to human health through groundwater pathways. Using geospatial analysis and an ordinary least squares regression model, this study estimates the effect of the presence of PFAS in a watershed from 2017 to 2021, in addition to estimating the impact of …

From Colony To Classroom: British Rule And Contemporary Educational Outcomes In India, Yashvita Shukla

Honors Theses

This study analyzes the modern day legacy of British colonial ruling structures on Indian educational outcomes. In directly ruled areas, the British retained total control, while Indian princes in indirectly ruled areas had administrative agency. I find that directly ruled districts have higher literate population shares across both genders over three census years, but no significant difference by 2011 in primary, secondary, and tertiary education, controlling for colonial geographic conditions. Gender-disaggregated results generally find stronger colonial effects for women than men. This thesis challenges earlier findings and implies that the British effort to create an educated administrative class and their …

Fair Play? Gender Equity, Title Ix And Resource Allocation In College Athletics, Caleb Horsch

Honors Theses

Amid a period of rapid transformation in college athletics, gender equity and Title IX remain underemphasized in the discourse. This study investigates disparities in athletic expenditure by gender, finding that in 2022, Division I institutions spent approximately $1.30 on men’s teams for every $1.00 spent on women’s teams. While Title IX does not mandate equal spending, it does require that schools provide equitable experiences for male and female student-athletes. The persistence and magnitude of an expenditure gap call into question if schools are continuing to meet Title IX. This study identifies the characteristics of schools associated with less equal expenditure …

Are Cities Still Liberal? An Analysis Of Post-Pandemic Political Change In American Cities, Olivia Mundy

Honors Theses

This thesis investigates whether American cities are experiencing a political shift to the right in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, as suggested by recent media narratives. Drawing on an original national survey of 2,385 respondents conducted in early 2025, the study examines attitudinal and demographic changes among urban residents, with a particular focus on ideology, trust in local government, economic perceptions, and views on race and immigration. Despite anecdotal evidence of conservative gains in urban elections, the findings show no significant trend toward conservatism among urban residents overall. In fact, urban respondents were slightly more likely than their non-urban …

How Does Cocaine Exposure Affect Early Gene Expression Changes In The Prefrontal Cortex (Pfc) And Striatum?, Saathvika Diviti

Honors Theses

Cocaine use disorder (CUD) remains a significant public health concern, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying individual susceptibility are poorly understood. This study investigates early transcriptional responses to acute cocaine exposure in two key brain regions implicated in addiction, the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and striatum, using genetically diverse Diversity Outbred (DO) mice. Paired tissue samples were collected following a standardized sensitization protocol and analyzed via bulk RNA sequencing. Differential expression analysis revealed 37 significantly differentially expressed genes in the striatum. These genes overlapped with gene sets associated with substance use, neurodevelopmental disorders, and immune signaling, implicating shared pathways in central nervous …

Prophets Instead Of Priests: Diagonal Orientations & Coming-Of-Age Queerness In Jane Eyre And Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit, Emily G. Flanders

Honors Theses

This project asserts that the moment in which a girl leaves the trajectory of the expected in favor of the unknown in order to pursue her discovery of self is when her coming-of-age narrative becomes queer. This is demonstrated through Jane in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and Jeanette in Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson. Jane and Jeannette’s respective coming-of-age narratives–that is, them creating their fully embodied selves, the girl they believe and know themselves to be–happen off the expected life path in the liminal, in-between, undefined space of the queer oblique. There are moments …

In Between The House Light And The Sun Rise, Xinyi Zhang

Honors Theses

In Between the House Light and the Sun Rise is a research project that includes a 20-minute performance and a written thesis. The research uses the framework of relationality to explore the relationship between humans and houseplants. Although houseplants live in a human-constructed environment, they have their own influences on people and the space around them. Learning from the ways plants move through time and space and the connections plants make with each other and with other living and non-living things, this project aims to use movement to reimagine the way we think about time, space, and community. This project …

“Women Who Don’T Know How To Stay Married”: The Poetic Afterlives Of The 1927 Bristol Sessions, Aubrey R. Adkins

Honors Theses

This project begins from the understanding that song lyrics can have lasting impacts on the poetic work that proceeds from them, and can and should, therefore, be read as literature. In the cultural context of Southern Appalachia, a historically underserved and academically underrepresented region, this understanding is intertwined with Audre Lorde’s idea that “For women...[poetry] is a vital necessity of our existence.” The women of Southern Appalachia, denied access to particular modes of expression as a result of external circumstances such as poverty and sexism, need poetry, according to Lorde, to take “tangible action” in their lives. What came before …

2nd Iowa Supply Co, Handwritten Receipt, United States. Army.

Fort Brown Mexican Border War Records

No abstract provided.

Ai-Infused Discussion Boards: Enhancing Engagement, Reflection, And Academic Integrity In Anatomy And Physiology Education, Wade Dauberman

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

This paper presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of an AI-infused discussion board assignment that promotes ethical AI engagement, enhances student learning in anatomy and physiology, and addresses academic integrity concerns in higher education.

Ai-Infusion Through A Three-Step Model Of Assignment Analysis, Steve Covello

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

A three-step process model was employed by the instructor to determine if there was an opportunity for using an AI tool as part of completing a summative assignment. Three areas were identified for AI-infusion based on them being secondary to the primary focus of assessment. Resources and guidelines were developed to support students in using ChatGPT to independently generate content to use in editing a project plan.

Sharpening Marketing Strategy Through Smart Chatgpt Prompts, Wenkai Zhou

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

Students will use ChatGPT to simulate real-world marketing scenarios by crafting precise and targeted prompts. They will focus on generating creative content, uncovering customer insights, and optimizing pricing strategies. Through iterative prompt refinement, students will learn how to guide ChatGPT to deliver more relevant and strategic outputs. Ethical guidelines will be incorporated into the prompting process, ensuring students understand the boundaries and responsible uses of AI-generated content. This exercise enhances their critical thinking, communication skills, and ethical decision-making capabilities.

Zero Fluf(F): Guided Activity For Effective Ai Prompting And Output Review With The Fluf(F) Test, Jennifer L. Parker

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

To support AI literacy, educators integrate the FLUF(F) Test Guided Practice Activity as a structured approach to teaching effective GenAI interactions. This strategy emphasizes the dual nature of AI engagement—prompt generation as input and critical evaluation as output. Learners use the FLUF(F) Test templates to craft purposeful prompts and assess AI-generated responses across formats like text, images, or multimedia. Over time, this guided practice helps students internalize the process, enabling confident and natural interactions with AI tools.

Yoodli: Ai-Enabled Feedback To Enhance Communication Confidence In Undergraduate Nursing Students, Maureen J. Baker, Theresa Raphael Grimm

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

An AI-enabled speech feedback tool, Yoodli, was integrated into an undergraduate Relationship-Centered Care nursing course to facilitate the development of interpersonal therapueitc communication skills. Using Yoodli, students recorded short peer interviews, received real-time analytics on clarity, filler words, and pacing, and reflected on their growth while also providing peer feedback. Results from 55 participants showed significant improvements in communication confidence and peer connectedness, highlighting Yoodli’s potential as a scalable, innovative teaching strategy in nursing education.

Mind The Gap, Klaire Perry

OTD 721: Cultural Responsiveness & Occupation

I went in to OT to make the world more accessible. I love how OT views people as their hopes, dreams, values, strengths, and facilitators...NOT as an injury or disease. At this point, every room I enter becomes a personal case study of accessibility. I can't help but wonder how many spaces have hung huge signs that say "YOU ARE NOT WELCOME" that are only visible to some. I'm thankful for my love ones who agreed to help me with this project. While I can never fully understand their experience, I can listen.

Klaire Perry, Class of 2027

Summer School: The Experience Of An Occupational Therapy Student Exploring Culture In Spokane!, Lulu Brady

OTD 721: Cultural Responsiveness & Occupation

This zine illustrates my experience in this OTD 721 Cultural Responsiveness class, led by Dr. Kirkpatrick. The class took place in the summer of 2025. It was absolutely inspiring, and I wanted to be able to share my takeaways and learnings from my experiences in this class. Culture is so relevant to the field of occupational therapy (OT) because occupations are often shaped by culture, OT cannot be truly client-centered without respective culture. Not only did this class help me grow as a future occupational therapist practitioner, but it also helped me grow as a person. It showed me the …