Regional Sociology Commons^™

A Canyon Apart: Immigration Politics And Ethnic Identity In Arizona, Peter Morrissey Fcrh '11

The Fordham Undergraduate Research Journal

This article examines the political and social forces surrounding the April 23, 2010 passage of Arizona’s stringent immigration enforcement measure, Senate Bill (S.B.) 1070, which empowered local law enforcement to demand proof of legal residency from any person suspected of being undocumented. A person’s failure to produce documentation would result in arrest, detention, investigation, and potentially deportation to his or her nation of origin. Through the law’s lens, the article explores the development of the social tension that followed Arizona’s explosive population growth, and examines how Arizona’s large Hispanic population has been unable to assert itself at the ballot box …

Fashion Faux Pas And Cheetah Claws, Helena E. Yang

SURGE

It feels like winter, a time for thick socks, boots, warm coats, and… leggings?

Leggings are one of those articles of clothing we completely overdo... Or UNDER-do. From a practicality standpoint, they’re marvels of winter, but why rock the thin, sheer leggings in 0° weather when you could just wear shorts? [excerpt]

The Primacy Of Context: An Exploration Into The Causes Of Food Insecurity In Kitere, Kenya., William O. Aludo

Capstone Collection

The purpose of this study was to explore the specific reasons why households in Kitere village, Kenya experience persistent food insecurity every year while the region enjoys the advantage of two planting/harvest seasons in a year. Kitere village lies within the lakeside region of Nyanza Province in Kenya, generally considered to be one of the more agriculturally productive parts of the country. The Participatory Rural Appraisal method was employed to gather qualitative data on the causes of food insecurity in Kitere village. The data sources were focus groups and a self-administered, one-time survey of random and non-random samples of key …

Fall/Winter 2013, Full Issue

The Confluence (2009-2020)

No abstract provided.

From The Editor, Jeffrey Smith

The Confluence (2009-2020)

No abstract provided.

“Everything May Yet Turn Out All Right”: An Architect’S Adventures In 1939-40 Europe, Miranda Rectenwald

The Confluence (2009-2020)

When Washington University sent young architect Victor Gilbertson to Europe to study church architecture in 1939, officials knew a war was brewing. What they didn’t realize was that Gilbertson would end up in the middle of the start of a global conflict. His correspondence to and from St. Louis suggests the perils of a young architect.

“I Will Continue To Make The Best Defense I Can”: Edward Bates And The Battle Over The Missouri Constitution Of 1865, Mark Alan Neels

The Confluence (2009-2020)

Crafting a new constitution for Missouri was politically charged, with careers and reputations both made and broken in the battle. Central to it was Lincoln’s former Attorney General Edward Bates of Missouri.

Where We Stand: The Competitiveness Of The St. Louis Region, John Posey, Mary Ricchio

The Confluence (2009-2020)

The East-West Gateway Council of Governments publishes its “Where We Stand” work that analyzes the place of the St. Louis region in the context of other cities. In this article, John Posey and Mary Ricchio interpret and analyze those standings.

Identifying And Describing The Network Of Health, Education, And Social Service Non‐Profit Organizations In Southern Nevada, Shannon M. Monnat, Anna Smedley, Fatma Nasoz

Lincy Institute Reports and Briefs

This brief presents the results of a partnering survey designed to measure the partnering power of each health, education, and social service non‐profit in southern Nevada indicated by the connections between these organizations. The survey documents which organizations engaged in the most partnering, increasing the potential that they could better leverage investments and philanthropy through their social network. University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), United Way of Southern Nevada(UWSN), HELP of Southern Nevada, Catholic Charities, Three Square, the Clark County School District, Goodwill of Southern Nevada, and Opportunity Village consistently ranked highly in terms of overall participation and activity, influence, …

China’S Participation In The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, Brian Arendt

The Confluence (2009-2020)

The Louisiana Purchase Exposition was a “world’s” fair in more ways than one. While it featured exhibits from regions around the globe, it was also embroiled in international politics between the United States and China shaped by American policy and European imperialism, as Brian Arendt demonstrates here.

The Following Sea: Cultural Perceptions And Knowledge On Traditional Sailing In Sāmoa, Connor Olin Ventling

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Traditional Polynesian voyaging techniques, which rely solely on the surrounding natural environment, have been undergoing a revival in the past 50 years. This study examines the Aiga Folau o Sāmoa, or the Sāmoa Voyaging Society, a modern entity which accurately undertakes traditional sailings around the world, and the cultural perceptions and knowledge on traditional voyaging lore and techniques in Sāmoa. Research efforts included primary interviews, visits, participant observation, as well as secondary sources. The study investigated not only how traditional sailing techniques enabled a watercraft to be navigated accurately over the open sea but also current cultural knowledge and perceptions …

Ua41 University College Connection, Dennis K. George, Dean, Wendi Kelley, Editor, University College, Western Kentucky University

UC Publications

No abstract provided.

Himalayan Heritage: Local Organization And The Role Of Tradition In The Community Development Of The Thakali People, Erik Svedberg

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Within the communities of the Thakali people of Mustang, Nepal, decisionmaking power has traditionally been held by the local chieftain, the Mukhiya. However, this traditional authority appears to be threatened by two trends of Nepali development: the institutionalization of the Village Development Committee (VDC) as the official entity of local government, and the proliferation of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) as part of a development push to expand community participation in decisionmaking. Current scholarship has deeply explored the sociocultural dynamics of the Mukhiya as well as how the sociopolitical landscapes of Thakali societies are changing, but a scholarly link between the …

Challenges Affecting Street Children In Post-Conflict Northern Uganda: Case Of Gulu Municipality, Annie Weber

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Northern Uganda has been beleaguered with political unrest and rebellion for over two decades. The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has wreaked havoc on the entire northern population, causing lives to be lost and leaving a stain of physical and mental trauma that will last forever. Children, having been the most affected during the war, are still feeling the influence that the LRA has left behind. This study sets out to try to understand the phenomenon of street children in post-conflict northern Uganda, specifically in Gulu Municipality. The phenomenon of street children is considered to be one of the most prevalent …

Jordanian University Student’S Attitudes And Perceptions On Mental Health, Amira Khablein

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The present study examines the attitudes and perceptions of students at a private, Jordanian University to examine, through surveys, interviews and a focus group whether the stigma commonly associated with mental health in the Middle East and North African region persists for students and the reasons behind this stigma. It was also investigated what kind of disorders came to mind when asked to name specifics to see if students focused on the illness of psychological disorders when weighing mental health. It was found that the stigma does not necessarily exist for students, though it is perpetuated throughout the community and …

Fearless: Jessie Pierce, Jessie M. Pierce

SURGE

A vocal advocate for socio-environmental justice issues and a believer in the potential for social change in the developing world, Jessie Pierce ’14 fearlessly travels, volunteers, and researches to promote awareness and change. Studying abroad last year for both semesters, spending one semester in Denmark and one in India, gave Jessie the interest, skills, and drive to continue pursuing a deeper understanding of these issues while at Gettysburg. [excerpt]

A Gateway For Everyone To Believe: Identity, Disaster, And Football In New Orleans, Brandon D. Haynes

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to analyze the dynamic processes of collective identity by examining the relationship between New Orleans and its professional football team, the Saints, after Hurricane Katrina. Much of the discourse written on American professional sports focuses on economic transactions between player and franchise or franchise and city. This study explores sports from a cultural perspective to understand the perceived social values provided to the host community. This case study spans the years from 2006 to 2013 and discusses several major events, including the Hurricane Katrina disaster, the reopening of the Superdome, the Saints winning a …

Fearless: Christine Serwan And Sam Holmes, Christine M. Serwan, Samuel R. Holmes

SURGE

This week, we’re recognising the fearless work that Christine Serwan ’13 and Sam Holmes ’13 will be doing over the next two years during with the Peace Corps. [excerpt]

A Preliminary Study Of Perception And Coping Mechanism Of Breast Cancer Patients In An Iranian City, Ali A. Moqaddas, Fatemeh Adjdari, Akbar Aghajanian

Sociology Department Faculty Working Papers

The life expectancy of women in Iran has increased in the last quarter of the 20th century. On the other hand obesity has increased during the first decade of the 21th century for both adult males and females but particularly for females. These trends are contemporary with a growing incidence of breast cancer among women in urban areas. Casual observation has shown that organized and systematic coping support and mechanism for women with breast cancer disease has expanded much less than the treatment technology, leaving surviving women in ambiguity and fear of unknown. The analysis of qualitative data from a …

Rez Realities: Exploring The Perceptions Of Crime And Justice Among Tribal Police Officers In Indian Country, Favian Alejandro Martin

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Although American Indians and Alaskan Natives (AI/NA) compose just over 1% of the general population in the U.S., they experience higher rates of crime and violence than the total population and are dramatically over-represented in the criminal justice system. In light of these realities, the paucity of research on AI/NA crime, violence, and justice problems is appalling. What research does exist suggests that AI/NA crime and victimization is correlated with social problems such as poverty and illegal drug use which are linked to the social ills of colonialism. Drawing on the work of Loader (1997), this dissertation examines the perceptions …

Humanitarian Diplomacy And The Need For Protecting Humanitarian Personnel In Contemporary Conflicts., Theodora Okiro

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

When considering the increasing frequency with which humanitarian aid workers are being threatened, abducted or killed, one has to question the fundamental reason for this sharp rise in statistics. Are human and aid workers merely collateral damage in a conflict? Are they getting to close to the ‘eye’ of the conflict? Or is there another explanation? Due to the increased frequency by which they come to harm’s way, the answer is much more disturbing. They are intentional targets, because of the changing scopes of modern warfare. Armed groups such as the Taliban, who are analyzed in this paper, increasingly target …

Fearless: Melanie Meisenheimer, Melanie M. Meisenheimer

SURGE

After returning from a year in France and Cameroon, Melanie Meisenheimer ‘14 is fearlessly taking on the responsibility of running The Gleaning Project for the South Central Community Action Programs (SCCAP) in Gettysburg this summer. She’ll coordinate the collection of gleaned fruits and vegetables from local farms and the distribution to emergency food services - making fresh, local healthy food a reality for low-income families! [excerpt]

Immigration And The Contours Of Nevada’S Latino Population, John P. Tuman, David F. Damore, Maria J.F. Agreda

Brookings Mountain West Publications

Since the early 1980s, Nevada has experienced significant demographic change. In particular, the ethnic composition of the state has become considerably more diverse. Although growth in the Asian population is one of the sources of Nevada’s growing diversity, Nevada’s Latino population has also accounted for much recent demographic and social change. Except for brief periods following the emergence of the Great Recession of 2008, the Latino population of Nevada has experienced sustained annual growth over the past two decades. Perhaps more important, much of the growth in the Latino population has been associated with immigration, principally from Mexico and other …

From The Editor, Jeffrey Smith

The Confluence (2009-2020)

No abstract provided.

“More Than A Fossil-Hunter: The Life And Pursuits Of Charles W. Beehler”, R. Bruce Mcmillan

The Confluence (2009-2020)

Besides being a noted paleontologist in the Gilded Age, Charles Beehler was also a noted inventor, manufacturer, and businessman— and he made Kimmswick famous for mastodon bones.

Spring/Summer 2013, Full Issue

The Confluence (2009-2020)

No abstract provided.

“St. Louis Through The Camera”, Miranda Rectenwald

The Confluence (2009-2020)

In 1892, St. Louis Autumnal Festivities Association published a booklet to promote the assets and amenities of St. Louis. Its photographs showed the city not as a grimy industrial metropolis, but in the most flattering light. They may say “the camera never lies,” but does it?

“Greedy Merchants And Idle Women: Economic Crisis And Community In The Lower Missouri Valley, 1819-1825”, Rebekah M.K. Mergenthal

The Confluence (2009-2020)

As a merchant economy emerged in Missouri River towns in the 1820s, so too did a rhetoric about the roles of women in this changing economy. Rebekah Mergenthal examines the debate about changing gender roles in an evolving market economy.

“The Forest For The Trees: The Benefits Of The Trees Of Forest Park”, John L. Wagner

The Confluence (2009-2020)

St. Louis was mostly exactly that—forest. After felling thousands of trees for the world’s fair and creating a new park, parts of Forest Park are still forested. John Wagner looks at tree plantings and species to determine if Forest Park is an environmentally sustainable park for the 21st century

St. Louis Central Library At 100, Jean Gosebrink

The Confluence (2009-2020)

The St. Louis Public Library opened its renovated Central Library in downtown St. Louis in fall 2012 for the centennial of the building that was one of some 1,700 libraries funded by steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. Here’s what makes this Cass Gilbert design such a community asset.