Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Cuadros De Casta: A Pseudo-Scientific Means Of Control And Racial Taxonomy In Colonial Mexico, Lucita Ocaña Dessen

Young Historians Conference

Casta paintings of 18th century Mexico are a prime example of an art form mixed with political propaganda, as the 4x4 style paintings depicted over a dozen racial mixings in one painting. Created by Mexican artists for the viewing of Spanish elites, Casta paintings helped to establish the racial hierarchy that continues to be embedded into Latin American society. This paper seeks to determine to what degree Casta paintings served as hierarchical means of Christian, Enlightenment-era colonial control.

Part of the panel: Picturesque and Problematic
Moderator: Professor Jennifer Tappan

Shanghai's Stateless Immigrants: Anti-Bolshevik Russians In Shanghai From 1917-1949, Anna E. Roberts

Young Historians Conference

Following the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, thousands of anti-Bolshevik (commonly referred to as White Russians) fled to the city of Shanghai. Shanghai’s status as a free port with very few strict immigration laws facilitated their arrival and allowed them to reside within the city's foreign settlements. The city's complexities and the Russians' status within the city also exposed them to vulnerabilities, including poverty, discrimination, and the eventual geopolitical shifts that led to their ultimate displacement. Despite the issues that many faced, White Russians contributed to Shanghai’s cultural and economic life, opening up schools, religious institutions, businesses, and newspapers that maintained …

Form Follows Function: An Analysis Of De Architectura And Its Influence, Weston Klein

Young Historians Conference

Over 2000 years ago, the Roman architect and engineer, Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, scribed De Architectura, a multi-volume work unearthed in the 15th century, in St. Gallen, Switzerland. As the only surviving architectural source from antiquity, the book has been indispensable in the study of Greco-Roman architecture, positioning Vitruvian and Greco-Roman architectural concepts in many ways as one in the same. Additionally, Vitruvian ideas, as expressed in De Architectura, regarding architectural form, materials, location, and process have been foundational to the evolution of Western architecture. This paper explores De Architectura’s impact on Western architectural theory and practice spanning the Early Middle …

The Not-So-Great Result Of America’S Greatest Idea: How Indigenous Americans Were Affected By The Creation Of Yellowstone, Glacier, And Yosemite National Parks, Tess Larson

Young Historians Conference

Since the mid-19th century, America’s government has been working to locate the nation’s places of stunning natural beauty and preserve them for the public. This has led to the preservation of 63 National Parks across the country—said to be “America’s Best Idea.” However, these lands for centuries were inhabited by Indigenous Americans. This paper studies the early stages of three National Parks—Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Glacier—and examines the original values they were founded on. It then identifies the tactics the US government used to negotiate or steal this land from indigenous tribes. Finally, it analyzes the further exploitation of Indigenous Americans …

35th Annual Young Historians Conference Program, Portland State University History Department, Portland State University Challenge Program

Young Historians Conference

This is the 2025 Young Historians Conference schedule and abstracts.

The Symbolism Of The Andean Condor: Its Meaning In The Indigenous Cosmology, Culture, And National Identity Of Ecuador And The Andean Region, Sylvia S. Carter-Smith

Research Symposium

Este proyecto se enfoca en el tema del simbolismo, significado y conservación del cóndor andino en la región andina, con un énfasis en Ecuador. Las encuestas, observaciones, entrevistas, y fuentes secundarias fueron utilizados para registrar información sobre la relevancia y contexto del cóndor como un símbolo andino. La investigación reveló que el símbolo del cóndor andino juega un rol significativo en la identidad nacional, la cosmovisión andina, y la representación de liberación del colonialismo. Discutió las actitudes populares hacia la disminución de la población de cóndores andinos. La monografía disputó la minería, la caza ilegal, y la comodificación de la …

Mālama I Ka LoʻI Kalo: Kānaka HawaiʻI Health And Wellbeing Within The Continental U.S. Hawaiian Diaspora, Isabel Kanoelani Handa

Research Symposium

Among diasporic Kānaka Hawaiʻi born and raised in the continental United States, many experience isolation and imposter syndrome about Hawaiian heritage, due to a lack of accessibility to traditional practices, cultural education and ways of knowing; and isolation from the Hawaiian community. While not unique to Diasporic Kānaka Hawaiʻi, many of these issues occur more prominently as a result of migration away from familial, cultural, spiritual, and educational support networks, and increased proximity to U.S. settler culture. In the Hawaiian health and wellbeing model titled, The Ahupuaʻa Model (Daniels et al. 2022), these support networks are supposed to serve as …

Blerds Of A Feather, Nerd Out Together: Exploring Sociological Intersections Of Black Identity And Nerd Culture, Nikki Keating

Research Symposium

Black nerds, or “Blerds,” exist at the intersection of nerd identity and Black racial identity. In recent years, however, Blerds have built communities and events that celebrate both aspects of their identity. However, mainstream (predominantly white) nerd culture and societal stereotypes of Blackness often position these identities as conflicting, leaving Blerds to navigate a unique middle ground. This study explores how Blerds embrace both identities despite these tensions. Based on semi-structured interviews with 18 self-identified Blerds, the research examines how they negotiate their racial and nerd identities, how other identities intersect, and how they challenge norms around race and nerd …

"Music & Movement" Early Childhood Education For Latine Students In San Francisco, Lila Sanchez

Research Symposium

To synthesize the benefits of "music & movement" education in a specific Latine-American context, I investigate three ways in which Orff-Schulwerk pedagogy, if implemented in the classroom, would benefit Latine children in San Francisco. I propose that the use of this pedagogy in the classroom will increase emotional regulation, confidence, and social competence for Latine students.

First, I discuss the importance of "music & movement" education for early childhood development in general. I argue that this type of education presents a foundation for teachers and educational institutions to create a holistic academic experience that addresses both individual and societal problems …

Africanizing Manifestos: The Political Economics Of Sincerity In The Democratic Republic Of Congo And Tanzania, Amélie Fournier

Research Symposium

In May 1967, Joseph Mobutu, the dictator of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and his political party the Movement Populaire de la Révolution (MPR), published the Manifesto of N’sele, the backbone of his Authentécité ideology. That same year, Tanzania’s president, Julius Nyerere released his Arusha Declaration, officially establishing African Socialism in the country through Ujamaa. Both texts outline a plan to Africanize their respective countries as the primary strategy to develop beyond the legacies of colonialism. Despite the similarities– both emphasize the creation of a unified national identity, and the goal of economic stability through increased government involvement– the …

Threaded Locations: Sustainable Custom Hoodie Brand, Kaylee E. Olson

Research & Creative Achievement Day

For my Senior Capstone project for the Art and Design Department, I created a clothing brand called Threaded Locations. The Brand's mission was to merge sustainability with personal memories, offering people a unique way to cherish meaningful places. The concept behind Threaded Locations is to connect the stories behind places in people's lives with custom embroidered designs.

People often have emotional attachments to certain places, whether that is the neighborhood in which they grew up or a beloved vacation spot. With Threaded locations, the goal was to give people an opportunity to carry a piece of those memories with them …

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, …

Comfort Women Surviving Sexual Slavery, Willa Carman Carman

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This research examines the cruelties of sexual slavery committed by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. Around 150,000 to 200,000 women were taken and used as sex slaves between 1928 and 1945, primarily in Korea and the Philippines. These women have come to be known as "comfort women," a former demeaning term suggesting that these women were comforting Japanese soldiers. However, "comfort women" were not voluntary prostitutes but young women and girls coerced, forced, and deceived into the comfort system. These women were kept in military brothels for multiple days up to numerous years, repeatedly raped by sometimes …

Alien Out, Stephanie M. Dasbach

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Alien Out is a space-themed pop-up board game where players complete mini challenges on different planets to help lost aliens return home, offering multiple ways to play: solo, competitive, or team-based. The goal is to create a versatile gameplay experience that accommodates different player dynamics, ensuring that individuals, small groups, or larger teams can engage with the game without limitations. The concept is inspired by a love for astronomy and a desire to incorporate interactive pop-up elements into board game design. By combining these elements, Alien Out aims to provide an immersive, strategic, and visually dynamic experience.

The development of …

Operation Dumbass, Kyurim Oh, Luke W. Krzyszkowski

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Operation Dumbass is a stylized multiplayer social deception game developed by Kyurim Oh and Luke Krzyszkowski as part of their Advanced Design Project at Winona State University. Inspired by the absurdity and charm of viral games like Fall Guys and the immersive environments of Super Mario Odyssey, the game was born from our shared frustration with limited party sizes in current multiplayer games—and a desire to make something we would genuinely love to play. The game is set in a lively city full of AI-controlled citizens, where up to 16 players take on the role of spies disguised as ordinary …

From Seurat To Skynet - Pros And Cons Of Ai In The Studio Arts, Drake W. Onyx, Grace M. Larsen, Grace A. Robins, Grace A. Seidel, Elizabeth A. Tischler, Alivia A. Tima

Research & Creative Achievement Day

AI generated imagery is now everywhere and accessible to almost everyone… for better or for worse. There are many artists worldwide who have been using artificial intelligence / machine learning for years to create fascinating, research or experimentally driven art. There are also many artists who are using AI simply as a tool, and there is a long history of artists using tools to help them work more efficiently (camera lucida, photography, Photoshop, etc).  Conversely, many artists are concerned about the use of their original artwork being scraped without their permission to train these bots, and artists whose jobs have …

Nervex, Madison Ketterling

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The NerveX fidget toy is a modern and stylish alternative to traditional fidget toys, designed especially for adults. Many fidget toys are made for children, which can make them feel out of place in professional or social settings. NerveX solves this problem by offering a discreet and effective way to manage stress, anxiety, and conditions like ADHD and OCD.

One of the key features of NerveX is its smooth, endless spinning motion. This repetitive movement helps people with ADHD stay focused and engaged in tasks. It can also provide comfort for individuals with OCD by giving them a calming action …

Swell: A Sustainable Surf Brand, Simon J. Pell

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Most boards in the surfing community that are made for performance are made with non-sustainable materials. Many boards use resin that is harmful to the environment through its curing and sanding process as it releases harmful chemicals into the air. They also use foams that release harmful chemicals into the air when they are produced, and they also do not break down when the board is disposed of. Overall, surfboards when produced using resin and foam are harmful for the environment from start to finish.

In the project, I will first do my research to find alternatives to the harmful …

Scrappie Jackie, Meghan E. Cooper

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Scrappie Jackie is my senior capstone project where I take thrifted fabrics and transform them into unique, one-of-a-kind garments. I started this journey with no prior sewing experience, but through trial, error, and plenty of learning, I've developed a process that allows me to give new life to old clothing.

The core idea behind Scrappie Jackie is simple: I use donated clothing to create something new. This process promotes sustainability by upcycling fabrics that would otherwise go to waste, instead of contributing to the fast fashion cycle. The beauty of this project is in the transformation—each piece of clothing holds …

Mazahua Literacy Project, Kassandra A. Zapata, Ahnna R. Burkhart

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Mazahua is an indigenous language of Mexico that currently has about 100,000 speakers. What this language and many other indigenous languages need are literacy curricula and materials to help speakers of this language learn to read and write in their first language. Research has demonstrated that students who learn to read and write in their home language will be more successful when it comes to learning to read and write in the language that is dominant in society (in this case, Spanish in Mexico). This project details a coordinated effort to create initial literacy materials for first-grade students who are …

"What Are The Chances?" Choreographic Process, Kloey Monthei, Janet Strzelec, Tricia Zweier

2025 Student Academic Showcase

My Senior Capstone Project for the Lindenwood Dance Program's Spring Concert explores the balance between randomness and planned structure in dance creation. Inspired by choreographer Merce Cunningham, who pioneered using chance methods (like flipping coins or rolling dice) to determine aspects of dance, I'm creating an original performance that blends intentional design with unexpected elements. This research-based project adapts Cunningham's innovative approach by developing my own system of randomization to generate movement combinations that I might not discover through traditional choreographic methods. Rather than following a linear narrative, the dance emerges through this experimental process where some elements are deliberately …

Sensory Inclusion In The Dance Classroom, Hannah Shafer

2025 Student Academic Showcase

Dance has historically been inaccessible to individuals with unique sensory perceptions of the world. Throughout this research project, viable ways of accommodating for these perceptions will be explored. This will be done through research and the testimonies of individuals who currently live with a unique sensory perception. Unique sensory perceptions are not limited to just neurodivergent individuals (those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, obsessive compulsive disorder, and more), but also for those who do not have the ability to use one or more of their senses. While the information is curated with the intent for dance classrooms, it can …

Proper Stance, Kassie Lane

Playwriting Contest

Setting: An unoccupied park at midday. Honking, people, and other city sounds can be heard in the background. Bianca and Timothy are walking towards the spot under the railroad bridge that goes over the park, where the rest of their small dance troupe is waiting.

Actors: Jamiya Haynes; Nicholas Washington; Matthew Sagols

Stage Directions: Hannah Grimm

Scorpion, Breane Barrios

Playwriting Contest

A young couple struggles with an unwanted intruder.

Director: Corinna Rodriguez

Actors: Chrissy Graham; Jimmy Kalal

Stage Director: Ryan Cosillo

Resilient Wild Violets, Bee Bishop

Playwriting Contest

Characters:

LESLIE is butch woman around late fifties/early sixties and is the owner of a local floral arrangement shop “The Green Carnation” that has been running since 1969.

DOROTHY is a frantic woman in her late teens/early twenties looking for some gardening help

Director: Morgan Erickson

Actors: Maddie Poorman; Lexi Schiro; Ethan Diaz

Stage Directions: Ethan Diaz

Her Hair, Avery Smith

Playwriting Contest

SETTING: Inside Keira’s bedroom. A door on the left side, a twin-sized bed in the back corner, and a desk with a full-body mirror on the right side of the room.

Director: Bre Auriemme

Actors: Sophia Marino; Ross Dumont Snider

Stage Directions: Neela Lugo

Dance Partner, Basil Jaber

Playwriting Contest

Setting: A modest, cozy living room with a TV.

Director: Ashley Chavez

Actors: Elyse Byron, Taylor Baird

Fitness Instructor/Stage Directions: Katrina Spencer Fenner

Representations Of Queer Cowboys In History, Literature, And Film, Olivia Black

Annual Celebration for Student Scholarship and Creativity

Olivia Black ’25, History major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Johnson, History and Classics

My research focuses on how certain traits such as queerness in historical cowboys were erased from American popular culture yet found in journals of real cowboys and influential Western literature. This erasure contributed to an inaccurate view of American cowboys in order for the media about cowboys to be successful.

2025 Acssc Program, Acssc Planning Committee

Annual Celebration for Student Scholarship and Creativity

No abstract provided.

2025 Academic Conference Program

Holy Cross Undergraduate Academic Conference

No abstract provided.