Communication Commons^™

An Analysis On Mental Health In College Sports At A Small Faith-Based Midwest University, Terrence Jordan, Mckinley Egland-Young, Kendrick Maynor Jr.

Concordia Journal of Communication Research

Throughout universities around the world, every day, the mental health of college students is tested. Specifically, collegiate athletes may feel uncomfortable, or uncertain seeking out resources to assess their overall mental health. There are numerous reasons athletes may be either comfortable, or uncomfortable seeking out these resources. Some reasons can include being seen as a sign of weakness, there are no resources for athletes, or they are uncertain about what resources are available to them. The researchers chose to investigate the mental health of two different sports teams at a university. Specifically, the researchers explored these athletes and their mental …

Inspirational And Worthy Of Charity: (Mis)Representations Of Disability In Sport Media, Katherine Holland, Steven K. Holland, Justin A. Haegele

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

This study explored how one United States-based sports media company (SMC) represents disability through their Twitter account. A directed content analysis approach was utilized to analyze the tweets of the SMC for calendar year 2019. Of 6080 tweets reviewed, 126 (2.1%) were determined to represent disabled athletes or individuals. 43 (34.1%) tweets represented disabled athletes or individuals in participant roles while 83 (65.9%) represented disabled individuals in spectator or nonathlete roles. The tweets were coded into one of four categories of disability portrayal (Garland-Thomson, 2002): wonderous (n = 73), sentimental (n = 43), realistic (n = 7), …

Women Play Football Too: Feminist Theory And Uk Football, Mikayla Kummer

Capstone Showcase

Women's Football in the UK has constantly overshadowed by Men's Football and with the popularity of social media it may have complicated the issue. The way women have been treated in the media has always been different to how men were treated. Gender can be considered a performance and how women are treated by the press demands a performance from them. Through Offside, a play by Hollie Poetry and Sabrina Mahfouz, this essay explores the relationship between feminist theory, women's football and social media. Women athletes have consistently been asked about their personal lives, bodies, relationships and anything besides the …

U.S Fans’ Identification With La Liga Teams, Pilar Barrio Sánchez

Masters Theses

This study explores LaLiga fandom in the U.S. by examining fan identification, loyalty, and commitment to their favorite LaLiga team. Moreover, the study explored the reasons why fans first choose their favorite team to support as well as their motives to watch or attend soccer games. To do so, a mixed method approach was used in which participants from LaLiga teams around the U.S. were asked to complete a survey questionnaire and participate in an in-depth interview. Based on the findings, the discussion identifies key strategic considerations and needs of future research for LaLiga to better adjust its communication strategies …

Ua19/16/1 Bowl Bound, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Media guide for the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, WKU vs. University of South Alabama.

Black Female Athletes’ Use Of Social Media For Activism: An Intersectional And Cyberfeminist Analysis Of U.S. Hammer-Thrower, Gwen Berry's 2019 And 2021 Podium Protests, Ariel Newell

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Much attention has been paid to Black male athlete activism both historically and in the contemporary movement for black lives. Black female athletes have also made historic contributions as activists, and they continue to do so. However, Black female athlete activism has not always been acknowledged or heard. This is a problem, as Black women in American sports and society face overlapping racial and gender inequities and injustices that distinctly marginalize and oppress them. However, some Black female athlete activists (BFAAs) have begun using social media to challenge media narratives about themselves, to redefine what it means to be a …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald: A Place To Call Home, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine issue of the College Heights Herald for the period October 24 - November 27, 2022.

• Downtown Bowling Green – Restaurants
• Homecoming 2022
• Stone, Damon. WK Liquors Rebuilds After Tornado
• Reed, Bailey. The Making of an SGA President – Cole Bornefeld
• Fountain Row Creates a New Atmosphere Downtown
• Renovated Apartments Offer Home-like Feel – Campus Flats
• Richardson, La’Quan. Kappa Alpha Psi Sponsor Comes Home After 53 Years – Craig Taylor
• Turner, B. Life Continues for Ukrainian Student in the Bluegrass – Mariia Novoselia
• Collins, Michael. Family 5,730 Miles in the Making – Frank Aryee, Immigration, Naturalization

Predictors Of College Student Support Toward Colin Kaepernick’S National Anthem Protests, Brooke Coursen, Nicole Peiffer, Sakira Coleman, Philip Lucius

VA Engage Journal

Racial discrimination and inequality have perpetuated within the U.S. since its inception. In 2016, Colin Kaepernick initiated the national anthem protests to oppose the oppression of people of color in America. This study was developed in 2018 to identify social determinants of health underlying discriminatory beliefs and behaviors. The objective was to investigate the impacts of college students’ race, gender, political ideology, socio-economic status [SES], NFL interest, patriotism, and general protest support on support for the national anthem protests. We administered paper-and-pencil surveys across locations on the James Madison University campus using a convenience sample. There were 408 participants included, …

The Intrepid One: Fascism & The Death Of Antonio Ascari, Paul Baxa

Journal of Motorsport Culture & History

No abstract provided.

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald: Kickin' It, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of College Heights Herald, includes Adulting section.

• Moore, Jake. Here’s to a Mag-nificent Semester
• Turner, B & Debra Murray. Students, Alumni React to Loss of Folk Studies Graduate Program
• Crimmins, Michael. Faculty Leaders Concerned with Timothy Caboni’s Lack of Faculty Senate Attendance
• Trickett-Wile, Arthur. Cop a Pair - Melissa Bailey, Michael Jordan
• The Suspension of Humanities Programs Shouldn’t Come as a Shock
• Dock, Emma. Student Guide: Writing a Professional Email
• Johnson, Nicole. Bang for Your Buck: Party Edition
• Dock, Emma & Alyssa Butler. A Guide to Flying Alone
• Moore, Haden. How to Use Dark Humor
• Preparing for Grad …

Sport Is Not Neutral: A Comparison Of Gender Inequalities In Colombian And American Women’S Basketball Leagues, Angela Lasso Jiménez

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

The negative consequences of patriarchy include gender inequality in sports. In both the United States and Colombia, the highest level of women’s basketball illustrates this problem. This research highlights two social and political dimensions of the problem. First, it exposes discrimination and the way in which the media trivialize the work performed by female basketball players; second, it questions the way in which women players are called “professionals” but are not always treated as such. Through a comparative analysis method, I explain some of the similar gender challenges faced by women’s basketball players in both the Women’s National Basketball Association …

Protests And Calls For Boycotting The Qatar World Cup 2022 Spark Online Discussion And Action Away From The Soccer Pitch, Yi Luo, Jin-A Choi, Stephen P. Andon, Bond Benton, Keith Green, Keith Strudler

College of Communication and Media Scholarship and Creative Works

Global sporting events regularly spark conversations on issues beyond the playing field, including those at the nexus of sport and geopolitics. This year’s World Cup is no exception, a conversation that began soon after the event was awarded by FIFA to Qatar, a Middle Eastern nation with a population of just over 3 million residents – exponentially smaller than typical hosts of such events – and with a record of exploitative labor systems and a highly questionable human rights record. While this conversation has led to protests and investigative reports on a range of news networks, it has also become …

An Analysis Of Players, Teams And Trends As The World Cup Approaches, Jin-A Choi, Yi Luo, Stephen P. Andon, Bond Benton, Keith Green, Keith Strudler

College of Communication and Media Scholarship and Creative Works

While the World Cup is historically a source of national pride for competing nations, the globalization of the sport of soccer and the expansion of coverage of top soccer leagues from around the world also creates the opportunity for sports fans to build a strong sense of fandom for athletes from around the globe. Therefore, while we would expect fans to cheer for their “home” nation and athletes in the upcoming World Cup, we also recognize that fans may have cheering alliances that reside outside national borders. Using the United States as example, its fans have increasingly chosen favorite teams …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period September 6 - October 24, 2022.

• Murray, Debra & Jake Moore. Letter from the Editors
• Murray, Debra & Jake Moore. The Man in the Seat – Timothy Caboni
• By the Numbers – Caboni Presidency Statistics
• Timeline 2017-2022
• Covey, Tucker. Arabic Major Students Grapple with Suspension of Program
• Sparkman, Wyatt. Jack Harbaugh Reflects 20 Years After Title – Football

Full Issue, Winthrop Mcnair Research Bulletin

The Winthrop McNair Research Bulletin

Winthrop McNair Research Bulletin Volume 5, Full Issue

Familial And Community Influences On The Sports Socialization Of Black Boys: A Case Study, Timothy Smith

The Winthrop McNair Research Bulletin

From an early age, many children are engaged in or connected to various sporting activities. In a recent study, the Aspen Institute (2018) reported that 61.1% of males between the ages of six and 12 had played a team sport at least one day in 2016. Statistical data on racial differences and child involvement in sport activities is sparse. However, while the research on Black sports socialization is limited, Stodolska, Shinew, Floyd, and Walker (2014) were able to link Black sport involvement to cultural and gendered forms of socialization, which is often perpetuated through interpersonal relationships and interactions. Despite the …

Ua3/10 President's Messages - Fall Semester, Wku President's Office - Caboni

WKU Administration Documents

President's Message emails sent by Timothy Caboni to faculty & staff during fall semester, 2022.

• Budget Executive Committee
• College Heights Foundation
• Commencement
• Commencement Traffic
• Compensation Analysis
• Convocation
• Homecoming
• MASTER Plan
• Parent & Family Weekend
• Regional Campuses
• Semester Kickoff
• Summer at WKU

Ua19/16/2 Women's Basketball Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases, photos and game statistics for WKU women's basketball team from August to December 2022.

Ua19/16/2 Basketball Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases, photos and game statistics for WKU men's basketball team from August to December 2022.

The Influence Of Social Agents On Learning, Developing, And Growing Through Athletic Participation: A Theory Of Athlete Development, Rikishi T. Rey

Communication (PhD) Dissertations

Sports can significantly influence the lives of those who play them. Psychosocial outcomes such as values, skills, self-esteem, and goal setting are some of the referenced benefits associated with playing sports and are the result of athletes being exposed to situations in an environment that is favorable to learning. Due to the abundant nature of sports in the United States, there is a growing need to understand how to effectively create environments that are conducive to positive outcomes. However, such results and experiences are often anecdotally supported rather than scientifically driven. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was two-fold. First, …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 97, No. 8, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period April 25 - May 5, 2022.

• Murray, Debra. Anything But Common - Helm Library
• Anderson, Alexandria. If We Want Something Now, We Can Get Something Now - Hookup Culture
• Donnelly, Rose. The Expectation to Find Your Person in College
• Murray, Debra & Jake Moore. College Heights Herald to Change Print Format
• Our Year in Review
• Eenisse, Lynda. From Houchens-Smith Stadium to the NFL: The Story of Devon Key & Kristen Dadisman

Ua19/16/2 Men's Basketball Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases, photos and game statistics for WKU men's basketball team from January to July 2022.

Ua19/16/2 Women's Basketball Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases, photos and game statistics for WKU women's basketball team from January to July 2022.

Women In The 2020 Olympic And Paralympic Games: An Analysis Of Participation, Leadership, And Media Coverage, Emily J. Houghton, Lindsay Pieper, Maureen Smith

Human Performance Department Publications

The published report provides the most accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date examination of the participation trends among female Olympic and Paralympic athletes and the hiring trends of Olympic and Paralympic governing bodies with respect to the number of women who hold leadership positions in these organizations. It is intended to provide governing bodies, athletes, and policymakers at the national and international level with new and accurate information with an eye toward making the Olympic and Paralympic movement equitable for all.

Here we provide an evidence-based look at what is known about women’s leadership and participation in the Toyko 2020 Olympic and …

Ua3/10 President's Messages - Spring Semester, Wku President's Office - Caboni

WKU Administration Documents

President's Message emails sent by Timothy Caboni to faculty & staff during spring semester, 2022.

• Budget
• Commencement
• Commons at Helm Library
• Compensation Analysis
• COVID-19
• COVID-19 – Masks
• End of Semester
• Enrollment / Recruitment
• Scholarship Celebration
• Semester Kickoff
• Student Retention

Ua12/2/2 Talisman: Illuminate, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Spring 2022 Talisman:

• Brant, Jess. Illumninate
• Johnson, Grant
• Shackelford, Ali & Raegan Steffey. The Land Before Western - Native Americans
• Quinn, Jack. Through the Light - Theatre & Dance
• Wilson, Gabby. Team Edward or Team Jacob? Is My Kind of Hymn
• Johnston, Rhiannon. Dusk to Dawn
• Plescia, Audrey. Molten Masterpiece - Art
• Richer, Cailyn. When They Shine - Light of Chance, Inc.
• Polston, Weather. The Mantis
• Spears, Kayla. Healing Within - Eating Disorders
• Dobelstein, Maya. Waste Not, Want Not - Environmentalists
• Crask, bethany. Egg Roll In a Bowl - Recipe
• Gore, Abbey. By Hand
• Story, Miriam. The People's Princess - …

Adapting, Overcoming, And Connecting: How College Sports Social Media Responded To Covid-19, Jackson Sepko

Honors Theses

This project, inspired by the researcher’s own experience as a digital media marketing assistant for Ole Miss Athletics, investigates how certain NCAA team accounts grew their social media engagement in the 2020-21 seasons despite the challenges and interruptions of COVID-19. First, metrics from data analytics firm SkullSparks were analyzed to determine which accounts increased their engagement metrics the most or performed strongly compared to their peers. Then, those accounts’ posts were analyzed using CrowdTangle, a Facebook-owned data analytics tool, and using Twitter’s advanced search features to see which posts overperformed compared to each account’s average posts.

From there, with an …

How Ultra Firms In Former Soviet And Yugoslav States Became Political Actors, Alex Pelletier

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

When you go to a football match one of the first things that you will undoubtedly notice are the ultras. Their loud coordinated chants and movement fill the stadium with energy that would not be there otherwise, and their tifo and flairs add an artist’s touch to the stands. There are ultras for just about every club, and every city in the world, with each group having their own unique identity. The local standing of football clubs, paired with the devoted and organized structure of ultras has seen them become political and military actors across the world. Ultras based in …

Ua19/16/2 Tennis Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases, photos and game statistics for WKU tennis team in 2022.

Ua35/3 Memoranda, Wku Provost

WKU Administration Documents

2022 memoranda issued by the WKU Provost to faculty & staff via email.

• Call for Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Proposals
• Provost's Message
• Congratulations to Our College-level Faculty Award Winners
• University Distinguished Professor & University Faculty Award Winners
• Mental Health First Aid Training