Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Lavenz, Valenz, Levenxë, Lavexha, Lavenzka: Woven Felted Blankets From The Korçë Region In Southeastern Albania, Alexis Zoto

Textile Society of America: Symposium Proceedings

This paper will look at and document colors and patterns and motifs of woven and felted blankets from the Korçë region of southeastern Albania. Very little is published on these textiles. This paper will document the disappearing and under appreciated textile, and why are they no longer understood or valued. In Albania and in Albanian diaspora communities this textile has had different names in prewar, prewar Korçare dialect and now.

I will be drawing from information gathered interviewing parishioners who volunteered to share their heirlooms and information gathered from examining the textile(s). These heirlooms belong to members of multiple generations …

Pricing, Decarbonization, And Green New Deals, David M. Driesen, Michael A. Mehling

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

This Article evaluates an emerging literature claiming that carbon pricing (emissions trading or carbon taxes) has not performed very well and therefore cannot be the basis for the sort of transformative change now required to address the climate crisis. This is an important claim, as carbon pricing has been viewed as being at the heart of global efforts to address one of our most important contemporary problems.

We provide theoretical and empirical support for these critics’ claim that carbon pricing by itself cannot catalyze the technological transformation now required, and that other approaches have done and will likely do better. …

ปัญหาและอุปสรรคในการตรวจสอบสินค้าเพื่อคืนภาษีมูลค่าเพิ่มสำหรับนักท่องเที่ยว: กรณีศึกษาฝ่ายบริการผู้โดยสารที่ 3 สำนักงานศุลกากรท่าอากาศยานดอนเมือง, ณัฐกร โชติช่วย

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

สารนิพนธ์ฉบับนี้จัดทำขึ้นเพื่อศึกษาปัญหาและอุปสรรคที่เกิดขึ้นในกระบวนการตรวจสอบสินค้าเพื่อคืนภาษีมูลค่าเพิ่ม (VAT Refund) สำหรับนักท่องเที่ยว กรณีศึกษาฝ่ายบริการผู้โดยสารที่ 3 สำนักงานศุลกากรท่าอากาศยานดอนเมือง โดยเน้นวิเคราะห์ปัจจัยที่ส่งผลให้กระบวนการดังกล่าวเกิดความล่าช้า อันนำมาซึ่งข้อร้องเรียนต่อเจ้าหน้าที่ศุลกากร รวมถึงปัญหาที่เกี่ยวข้องกับการดำเนินงาน และแนวทางในการแก้ไขปัญหาเพื่อเพิ่มประสิทธิภาพในกระบวนการคืนภาษีมูลค่าเพิ่ม เพื่อการศึกษาที่ครอบคลุมและชัดเจนผู้เขียนได้แบ่งการศึกษาออกเป็น 3 ด้าน ได้แก่ ด้านการสื่อสาร ด้านกฎระเบียบ และด้านเทคโนโลยี งานวิจัยชิ้นนี้เป็นงานวิจัยเชิงคุณภาพ (Qualitative Research) โดยเก็บข้อมูลผ่านการสัมภาษณ์แบบกึ่งโครงสร้าง (Semi-Structured Interview) กับผู้ให้ข้อมูลสำคัญ ซึ่งประกอบด้วยเจ้าหน้าที่ศุลกากรที่ปฏิบัติงาน ณ จุดบริการ VAT Refund หัวหน้าฝ่ายบริการผู้โดยสารที่ 3 และผู้อำนวยการฝ่ายบริการผู้โดยสาร สำนักงานศุลกากรท่าอากาศยานดอนเมือง รวมถึงนักท่องเที่ยวที่ใช้บริการ ผลการวิจัยพบว่าปัญหาและอุปสรรคที่สำคัญ ได้แก่ ความล่าช้าจากกระบวนการตรวจสอบเอกสารและสินค้าซึ่งเกิดจากการขาดการจัดเตรียมข้อมูลล่วงหน้าของผู้รับบริการ การประสานงานระหว่างหน่วยงานที่เกี่ยวข้องที่ยังไม่มีความสอดคล้องกัน ข้อกำหนดด้านกฎระเบียบที่ซับซ้อนและมีความเปลี่ยนแปลงบ่อยครั้ง รวมถึงการขาดการสื่อสารข้อมูลที่ถูกต้องและชัดเจนให้แก่นักท่องเที่ยว ส่งผลให้นักท่องเที่ยวมีความเข้าใจผิดเกี่ยวกับขั้นตอนและข้อกำหนดในการคืนภาษี

The Demand For Thai Language Skills In Thai-Chinese Economic And Trade Relations: A Case Study Of Yunnan Province, Yunheng Yuan

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study aims to analyze the demand for Thai language skills in economic and trade cooperation between Thailand and Yunnan Province, examine the current status of Thai language training programs in universities and colleges in Yunnan Province, and evaluate whether these programs adequately meet the demand for Thai language skills in the development of economic and trade cooperation. Through research methods like field observation, questionnaires, interviews, and document research, it was found that the economic and trade relations between Thailand and Yunnan Province continue to improve. Meanwhile, the demand for Thai language skills in Yunnan Province significantly increases. However, there …

แนวทางการพัฒนากรุงเทพมหานครสู่เมืองปลอดภัยจากอาชญากรรมสำหรับผู้หญิง, ศิริธร สมสุวรรณ

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

การวิจัยเรื่อง “แนวทางการพัฒนากรุงเทพมหานครสู่เมืองปลอดภัยจากอาชญากรรมสำหรับผู้หญิง”มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาปัญหาความปลอดภัยจากอาชญากรรมสำหรับผู้หญิงในกรุงเทพมหานคร สาเหตุของปัญหาในการพัฒนากรุงเทพมหานครให้เป็นเมืองปลอดภัยจากอาชญากรรมสำหรับผู้หญิง และแนวทางการพัฒนากรุงเทพมหานครสู่เมืองปลอดภัยจากอาชญากรรมสำหรับผู้หญิง เป็นการวิจัยเชิงผสมผสานระหว่างการวิจัยเชิงปริมาณซึ่งใช้แบบสอบถามเป็นเครื่องมือวิจัย กลุ่มตัวอย่างคือผู้หญิงวัยทำงานที่อาศัยอยู่ในกรุงเทพมหานคร (อายุ 20 – 59 ปี) จำนวน 400 คน ร่วมกับการวิจัยเชิงคุณภาพด้วยการสัมภาษณ์แบบเจาะลึกผู้ให้ข้อมูลสำคัญ 4 กลุ่ม ได้แก่ หน่วยงานที่เกี่ยวข้องกับการปฏิบัติงานด้านการพัฒนากรุงเทพมหานครสู่เมืองปลอดภัยจากอาชญากรรมสำหรับผู้หญิง นักวิชาการและผู้เชี่ยวชาญด้านเมืองปลอดภัยจากอาชญากรรม องค์กรสาธารณะประโยชน์ด้านความปลอดภัยของผู้หญิง และผู้หญิงที่อาศัยอยู่ในกรุงเทพมหานคร รวม 13 คนผลการศึกษา พบว่า ผู้หญิงที่อาศัยอยู่ในกรุงเทพมหานครมีผู้เคยตกเป็นเหยื่ออาชญากรรมโดยตรง 3 ประเภท ได้แก่ อาชญากรรมทางเพศ อาชญากรรมต่อทรัพย์สิน และอาชญากรรมต่อชีวิตและร่างกาย ส่วนใหญ่มีการแจ้งความที่สถานีตำรวจ โดยสถานที่ที่พบอาชญากรรมมากที่สุด คือ ตรอก ซอย ถนน รองลงมาคือที่อยู่อาศัย และรถโดยสารสาธารณะ ส่วนใหญ่ได้รับแจ้งข่าวเหตุอาชญากรรมทาง Social media ซึ่งผู้หญิงต้องการให้แก้ไขปัญหาด้วยการติดตั้งกล้องวงจรปิดและไฟฟ้าส่องสว่างให้ครอบคลุมทุกพื้นที่ เพิ่มกำลังตำรวจในการตรวจตรา และแก้ไขกฎหมายให้มีบทลงโทษที่รุนแรง โดยสาเหตุของปัญหาในการพัฒนากรุงเทพมหานครให้เป็นเมืองปลอดภัยจากอาชญากรรมสำหรับผู้หญิงเกิดจากอำนาจหน้าที่ของกรุงเทพมหานครมีจำกัด ศักยภาพและผู้ปฏิบัติไม่เพียงพอ การเติบโตของเมืองที่ส่งผลต่อการบริหารจัดการ การบูรณาการระหว่างหน่วยงานไม่เข้มแข็ง ประชาชนขาดความเชื่อมั่นในกระบวนการยุติธรรม สังคมขาดการสร้างความตระหนักรู้ถึงความปลอดภัยจากอาชญากรรม นโยบายรัฐด้านการดูแลความปลอดภัยจากอาชญากรรมสำหรับผู้หญิงไม่ชัดเจน และทัศนคติทางสังคมมองว่าผู้หญิงถูกล่วงละเมิดเป็นเรื่องน่าอาย โดยมีแนวทางการพัฒนากรุงเทพมหานครสู่เมืองปลอดภัยจากอาชญากรรมสำหรับผู้หญิง 6 แนวทาง เรียกว่า “IT-4E” ประกอบด้วย การบูรณาการการทำงานร่วมกัน (Integration) การนำเทคโนโลยีมาสนับสนุนการพัฒนาเมืองให้ปลอดภัย (Technology) การบังคับใช้กฎหมายอย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ (Enforcement) การสร้างสภาพแวดล้อมที่ดีและปลอดภัย (Environment) การให้การศึกษาและความตระหนักรู้ด้านภัยอาชญากรรม (Education) และการมีส่วนร่วมของประชาชนและชุมชน (Engagement) ซึ่งจะช่วยให้การพัฒนากรุงเทพมหานครให้เป็นเมืองปลอดภัยจากอาชญากรรมสำหรับผู้หญิงประสบความสำเร็จ

A Symbolic Interactionism’S Perspective Of The Attack On The U.S. Capitol., Odeli Hernandez

Undergraduate Scholarship

This paper aims to draw the line between Symbolic Interactionism and how it ties into the political world. Symbolic Interactionism states that humans interpret and assign meanings to symbols through social interaction, thus influencing their behaviors and shaping their realities. It is said that symbolic interactionism could only be applied to micro levels of social interactions, and not to something as big and intricate as politics. This paper will focus on a stand-alone event, the insurrection of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Numerous symbols were displayed before, during, and after the attack on the U.S. Capitol, each of …

The Midwest Feminist Papers: A Facsimile Edition 1980–1997. Part Iii (1991–1997), Mary Jo Deegan, Michael R. Hill

Zea E-Books Collection

Mary Jo Deegan and Michael R. Hill, compilers. The Midwest Feminist Papers: A Facsimile Edition 1980–1997, with prefaces and author indices by Mary Jo Deegan and Michael R. Hill. 3 volumes: Part III (1991–1997)

The Midwest Feminist Papers was a creative, group-generated initiative that gave voice to the scholarly questions, research interests, and social concerns of a growing cohort of Midwestern feminist sociology graduate students and their feminist faculty mentors during the last quarter of the Twentieth Century. They were active members of Midwest Sociologists for Women in Society, a regional expression of the larger national Sociologists for Women …

Senior Mental Health Clinicians’ Understanding Of Their Self-Efficacy While Providing Services At Community-Based Agencies, Rukiya Symister

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many mental health clinicians strive to provide their clients with rehabilitative and psychotherapy services resulting in a client gaining stable income and housing. However, the role of a senior mental health clinician (SMHC) is not without its challenges of trying to balance their well-being while dealing with increased coworker turnover, demanding caseloads, and limited access to community resources to provide clients with getting their lives back on track, thereby impacting clinicians’ understanding of their self-efficacy. Much of the research on self-efficacy has focused on mental health clients, mental health graduate students, and mental health trainees, often leaving out the lived …

Sw 317 Class Handout, Ashley Rosener

Handouts

This handout highlights resources to find statistical information for class assignments.

An Examination Of Homo Naledi Early Juveniles Recovered From The Rising Star Cave System, South Africa, Juliet K. Brophy, Debra R. Bolter, Marina Elliott, John Hawks, Lee R. Berger

Faculty Publications

Background: Six Homo naledi early juveniles were recovered from U.W. 101 (Dinaledi Chamber), U.W. 102 (Lesedi Chamber), and U.W. 110 in the Rising Star cave system. Aim: This paper develops the information for the H. naledi early juvenile life stage, as defined by a combination of deciduous and permanent dentition, and the eruption of the first permanent molar. Subjects and methods: The growing number of young individuals recovered from the Rising Star cave system allows us to gain a better understanding of their variation, or lack thereof, and provides a basis to estimate broad ranges for age at death of …

Human–Environment Interactions At Ta’Ab Nuk Na, A Submerged Maya Salt Works Site In Belize, Cheryl M. Foster, Heather Mckillop, E. Cory Sills

Faculty Publications

Sea-level rise and settlement are investigated at Ta’ab Nuk Na, an ancient Maya salt works in Belize, by examining samples from wooden posts and marine sediment. The samples included Post 145 of Building B and the Nunavut beam, along with marine sediment columns cut from beside both wooden posts. The sediment columns were sampled at 2 cm intervals. Loss-on ignition confirmed the presence of organic material. Identifying the organic content involved removing nonorganic material from the sediment and sorting the organic material under magnification. This procedure established that most of the organic material was red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle). Red mangroves …

Flooded Mangrove Landscapes Hide Ancient Maya Coastal Sites In Belize, Heather I. Mckillop

Faculty Publications

Evidence of ancient Maya exploitation of salt, other marine resources, settlement, and sea trade is hidden in flooded mangrove landscapes on the cays, mainland, and in shallow offshore locations on the south coast of Belize. This article includes a discussion of the coastal economy from the Middle Preclassic through the Postclassic periods (600 B.C.–A.D. 1500). Data from sites discovered and excavated since 1982 in the coastal area of the Port Honduras and Paynes Creek National Park support a model of coastal reliance on marine resources and tree crops. The need for a regular supply of coastal salt to inland cities …

Dpal-Bert: A Faster And Lighter Question Answering Model, Lirong Yin, Lei Wang, Zhuohang Cai, Siyu Lu, Ruiyang Wang, Ahmed Alsanad, Salman A. Alqahtani, Xiaobing Chen, Zhengtong Yin, Xiaolu Li, Wenfeng Zheng

Faculty Publications

Recent advancements in natural language processing have given rise to numerous pre-training language models in question-answering systems. However, with the constant evolution of algorithms, data, and computing power, the increasing size and complexity of these models have led to increased training costs and reduced efficiency. This study aims to minimize the inference time of such models while maintaining computational performance. It also proposes a novel Distillation model for PAL-BERT (DPAL-BERT), specifically, employs knowledge distillation, using the PAL-BERT model as the teacher model to train two student models: DPAL-BERT-Bi and DPAL-BERT-C. This research enhances the dataset through techniques such as masking, …

Convolution-Transformer For Image Feature Extraction, Lirong Yin, Lei Wang, Siyu Lu, Ruiyang Wang, Youshuai Yang, Bo Yang, Shan Liu, Ahmed Alsanad, Salman A. Alqahtani, Zhengtong Yin, Xiaolu Li, Xiaobing Chen, Wenfeng Zheng

Faculty Publications

This study addresses the limitations of Transformer models in image feature extraction, particularly their lack of inductive bias for visual structures. Compared to Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), the Transformers are more sensitive to different hyperparameters of optimizers, which leads to a lack of stability and slow convergence. To tackle these challenges, we propose the Convolution-based Efficient Transformer Image Feature Extraction Network (CEFormer) as an enhancement of the Transformer architecture. Our model incorporates E-Attention, depthwise separable convolution, and dilated convolution to introduce crucial inductive biases, such as translation invariance, locality, and scale invariance, into the Transformer framework. Additionally, we implement a …

Afbnet: A Lightweight Adaptive Feature Fusion Module For Super-Resolution Algorithms, Lirong Yin, Lei Wang, Siyu Lu, Ruiyang Wang, Haitao Ren, Ahmed Alsanad, Salman A. Alqahtani, Zhengtong Yin, Xiaolu Li, Wenfeng Zheng

Faculty Publications

At present, super-resolution algorithms are employed to tackle the challenge of low image resolution, but it is difficult to extract differentiated feature details based on various inputs, resulting in poor generalization ability. Given this situation, this study first analyzes the features of some feature extraction modules of the current super-resolution algorithm and then proposes an adaptive feature fusion block (AFB) for feature extraction. This module mainly comprises dynamic convolution, attention mechanism, and pixel-based gating mechanism. Combined with dynamic convolution with scale information, the network can extract more differentiated feature information. The introduction of a channel spatial attention mechanism combined with …

Examining Systemic And Dispositional Factors Impacting Historically Disenfranchised Schools Across North Carolina, Raketa Ouedraogo-Thomas

Dissertations

This mixed method sequential explanatory study provided analysis of North Carolina (NC) school leaders’ dispositions in eliminating opportunity gaps, outlined in NC’s strategic plan. The study’s quantitative phase used descriptive and correlation analysis of eight Likert subscales around four tenets of transformative leadership (Shields, 2011) and aspects of critical race theory (Bell, 1992; Ladson-Billings, 1998; Ladson-Billings & Tate, 2006) to understand systemic inequities and leadership attitudes.

The qualitative phase comprised three analyses of education leadership dispositions and systemic factors in NC schools. The first analysis of State Board of Education meeting minutes from 2018–2023 quantified and analyzed utterances of racism …

How Families And Employment Professionals Can Form Partnerships To Support Youths And Young Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities (Idd), Jennifer Bose, Esther Kamau, Jean Winsor

All Institute for Community Inclusion Publications

This brief highlights the perspectives and experiences of family members of four young adults with IDD who shared their employment and community engagement stories. The brief outlines the roles families played to support the youth adults to find and maintain competitive, integrated employment and to engage meaningfully with their communities. It draws from in-depth, semi structured interviews with young adults with IDD, their family members, and job coaches.

Summary Of Statedata: The National Report On Employment Services And Outcomes Through 2021, Jean Winsor, John Butterworth, Alberto Migliore, Daria Domin, Agnes Zalewska, John Shepard, Esther Kamau, Ryan Wedeking

All Institute for Community Inclusion Publications

This Data Note summarizes the findings from the National Report on Employment Services and Outcomes Through 2021. Overall, the findings suggest that across data sources, people with IDD experience greater levels of unemployment, underemployment, low wages, and poverty compared to those without disabilities and those with non-IDD disabilities.

Developing Countries And External Debt: What Is Wrong?, Jesus Felipe, Jose Antonio Perez Montiel

Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies (AKI)

LAST DECEMBER, the World Bank published its annual report on international debt (https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/debt-statistics/idr/products). The report indicates that, in 2022, the developing countries spent $443 billion on debt-service repayment (principal plus interest) of their external public and publicly guaranteed debt, 5% more than in 2021. These payments are expected to rise in 2023 and 2024 due to the increase in interest rates. The report indicates that debt levels and high interest rates have set many countries on a path to crisis.

Ic 008 Guide To University Of Texas Medical School Records, 1969-2006, University Of Texas Medical School At Houston

Institutional Finding Aids

University of Texas Medical School records primarily consists of newsletters like Scoop, IATRO year books, annual reports, directories for consultation referrals, and other types of ephemera. The collection roughly dates from 1979 to 2011. See more at IC 008.

Knowledge Is Power…To Misinform: Examining How Knowledge Gaps Affect Engagement With Covid-19 Misinformation, Ben Wasike

Communication Faculty Publications

This study examined how the knowledge gap hypothesis (KGH), the belief gap hypothesis (BGH), partisan media use, and interpersonal discussion affected COVID-19 knowledge and social media engagement (SME) with related misinformation. The KGH partially affected knowledge and reduced SME with misinformation regarding income. The BGH increased knowledge and reduced SME with misinformation among Liberals. Right-leaning media use and interpersonal discussion increased SME with misinformation respectively. Overall, knowledge was inversely associated with SME with misinformation.

Librarians Discuss Textbook Affordability As An Equity Issue, Robert L. Butterfield, Christa Perez Bailey, Kendra Lake, Adriana Poo, Mitchell Scott, Allia Service, Rachel E. Scott

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

Librarians working in academic settings have taken different stances on providing access to materials assigned in courses. Although libraries have long offered course reserves, adding course-assigned materials to permanent library collections has been discouraged for a variety of reasons. A number of events and considerations—including COVID-19 campus shutdowns, growing online degree programs, increased support for student success, availability of open educational resources (OER), and new e-books licensing models that support multiple users—have made library provisioning of assigned materials, commonly referred to as textbooks, more mainstream. Despite differences in their scope, approach, and workflows, many library-led textbook affordability programs share the …

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, And Access At Lrts, Rachel E. Scott, Michael Fernandez

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

[In the absence of an abstract, a portion of the opening of the editorial is presented.]

Over the past several years, librarians have increasingly grappled with issues of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA). IDEA, also variably referred to as DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging), or other permutations, is a means of addressing social justice in libraries that permeates all aspects of library work and reaffirms core vocational principles of librarianship surrounding equity of access. This manifests in many ways within library work, both seen and unseen. As is often the case, the impacts …

Geophysical Survey And Archaeological Investigations At The Jeremiah Lee Mansion And Brick Kitchen, 2022 Marblehead, Massachusetts, Christa M. Beranek, John M. Steinberg, Carolyn Mikowski

Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research Publications

In spring and summer of 2022, students and staff from the Fiske Center for Archaeological Research at UMass Boston completed a geophysical survey and test excavations at the Jeremiah Lee property at 157 and 161 Washington Street in Marblehead, Massachusetts. These were the first known archaeological investigations of the property. Work in 2022 focused on the area between the house and the Brick Kitchen and the eastern part of the yard behind the house. The Lee property, now owned by the Marblehead Museum, is a large, complex urban lot. Our work in 2022 showed that the archaeological preservation of deposits …

Preliminary Report Of The Hasp 2023 Field Season: Coring And Excavations At Efri-Ás, Laufskálaholt, Brekkukot, Grafarkot, Kálfsstaðir, Kjarvalsstaðir, Nautabú, Ingveldarstaðir, Skúfsstaðir, Garðakot, Hringver, Hólakot, And Viðvík In Hjaltadalur With Additional Geophysics At Skúfsstaðir, Guðný Zoëga, John M. Steinberg, Chiara M. Torrini, Trace J. Podder

Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research Publications

This report outlines the 2023 work, including Geophysical survey, Coring, and Excavations at Efri-Ás, Laufskálaholt (on the Efri-Ás land of the Ásholt summer house), Brekkukot, Kálfsstaðir, Kjarvalsstaðir, Nautabú, Ingveldarstaðir, Skúfsstaðir, Garðakot (part of Víðines) Grafarkot (part of Víðines), Hringver, Hólakot (part of Viðvík), and Viðvík) in Hjaltadal as part of the Hjaltadalur Archaeological Survey Project (HASP). This is the third year of a scheduled three-year project. The purpose of the project is to outline the settlement sequence and regional development in Hólar and around Hjaltadal and compare them with similar studies that have been carried out in Skagafjörður. The 12 …

Racial Disparities In Snap Receipt For Eligible Asian Americans In Massachusetts, Sokha Eng, Weichun Yan, Brian Beauregard, Susan R. Crandall

Center for Social Policy Publications

Despite qualifying as income eligible, many Massachusetts families do not access SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. Due to the sharp increase in the cost of living, especially the cost of housing and food expenses, more families are facing food insecurity. Thus, it is critical to ensure that families in need receive SNAP benefits. While previous studies have examined racial disparities, there is a limited focus on Asian American families. Even fewer studies disaggregate data to explore disparities among Asian American ethnic subgroups. Further, few studies have addressed disparities in SNAP receipt specifically for income eligible families.

The purpose of …

Pathways Toward Healing: The Presence Of Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome In Black Mother-Daughter Relationships, Rachael Appold

Dance (MFA) Theses

The United States was founded during and built through the use of American chattel slavery, a form of slavery which involved hypodescent, was usually lifelong, and was based on the concept of Black inferiority. Because of the circumstances of this country’s creation, the United States cannot exist separately from the long-term effects and legacy of enslavement, thus resulting in the condition of Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome (PTSS). PTSS is a theory founded by psychologist Dr. Joy DeGruy which posits that the long-term suffering of Africans and African-Americans under slavery, as well as ongoing anti-Black oppression has resulted in intergenerational trauma …

Rhythms That {Bind}: Emerging Through Dissonance, Tessa Hailu

Dance (MFA) Theses

This thesis aims to interrogate systematic approaches to organization(s) and our innate desire for control to achieve a balanced “rhythmic” flow of life to ultimately preserve a sense of security. This investigation challenges the comforts of habits, routine, and order to push up against the binding effects of these predictable cycles that remain structured for reassurance. This research also considers what happens when one doesn’t have the choice to bind themselves TO safety but are otherwise bound BY rhythms of which they have no control. Taking into account our anatomical existence, the ecological systems in which we operate, and life’s …

Champagne Wishes And A Domestic Beer Budget: Assessing And Supporting Serials Access At A Carnegie R2, Chad E. Buckley, Julie Murphy, Rachel E. Scott, Cassie Thayer-Styes, Anne Shelley

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

As library budgets are cut or remain flat, librarians asked to do more with less are considering diverse data to investigate how best to invest limited funds. The data available to librarians are extensive but they may also be contradictory. In this presentation, we contextualize findings from interviews conducted with Illinois State University faculty with institutional and collections data. Using the words of faculty members across disciplines, we highlight some of the tensions around discovery and access to scholarly literature, perceptions of urgency, and engagement with open access. The interview results--triangulated with institutional usage and cost data—suggest a variety of …

Performing A Comeback: Assessing The Biography Of Alma Mahler Via Youtube Performances, Rachel E. Scott

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

The life and work of many nineteenth-century women composers cannot be satisfactorily studied or understood due to a lack of documentary evidence. In the case of Alma Mahler, however, it is not a lack of manuscript materials or biographical accounts that preclude the appraisal of her legacy, but rather the sheer volume and often contradictory nature of accounts. Although her early life writing emphasized the importance of music, she later downplayed her identity as a composer and emphasized her role of patron of the arts and muse to “great men.” I would argue, however, that if biography is a tool …