Social Justice Commons^™

Addressing The Internet's Influence On Fast Fashion, Kelly Cruz '23, Uchenna Nnawuchi '23, Saamiyah Khan '23

Student Leadership Exchange (SLX)

Fast fashion, the rapid production of cheap clothing made for trends that will only last at most a month, is increasingly becoming more popular. Fast fashion damages both the environment and the workers that are put to work long hours but are underpaid. These issues are overlooked by online shoppers due to the fact that they are unaware of its unsustainability and harsh working conditions. Although, this problem of unintentional ignorance could be avoided if fast fashion companies were transparent with the work they are doing alongside as working towards fixing these issues regarding sustainability and the workers’ conditions. The …

Confronting And Dismantling Whiteness In Higher Education: A Grassroots Approach, Winnie Needham

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to investigate how an Educational Studies department in a small, Midwestern liberal arts college might confront and dismantle whiteness in curricular, pedagogical, and policy choices. Utilizing a critical participatory action research design, five higher education faculty engaged in a critical conversation inquiry group (Schieble et al., 2020) to develop their critical literacy (Rogers and Mosley, 2014). This study was designed to answer the following questions: How do faculty within an Educational Studies department think about their racial identities and the relevance of racial identity to the program, the institution, and higher education? …

Structured For Success: Activist Networks As Key To Organizing Victories At Macalester, Hannah D. Catlin

Political Science Honors Projects

Macalester’s identity as a college is deeply rooted in its commitments to social justice,

activism, and multiculturalism. As such, it has a rich history of student social movements defined by unique, decentralized networking structures forming out of the constraints of working in a college environment. In terms of structure, what do successful Macalester social movement organizations look like? I argue that Macalester social movement organizations form concentrically nested structures and that these networks in concert with organizational tactics lead to success or failure in terms of goal acquisition. I draw on the history of Macalester student social movement organizations, highlighting …

Extension-Led Demonstration: Grameen Microfinance Methods And Capital Access For Low-Income Female Entrepreneurs, Mark A. Edelman

Journal of Extension

A nonprofit community development financial institution and Extension collaborated to conduct a demonstration project to evaluate efficacy of Grameen peer-group microfinance methodology in addressing barriers faced by low-income women entrepreneurs in a small metro area. Program performance metrics achieved by 284 culturally diverse, low-income entrepreneurs (almost all women) over 5 years included a program loan repayment rate of 99%, increased average client income, bank savings accumulation, and increased opportunities for improved credit scores. Client survey responses indicated program methods developed confidence and skills in finances, leadership, and teamwork. Extension professionals may play various roles in such endeavors.

A Case Study Of French Feminism After The Metoo Movement From The Perspective Of A Feminist Organization, Laura Levensailor

Honors Theses

Feminism is the advocacy for gender equality typically through the propagation of women’s rights. Feminism goes back as far as the human race, and it is constantly evolving. The waves of feminism have been well documented and studied, but as time goes on, there is always more research to be done on modern feminism. The MeToo movement became popularized in 2017 and is still settling into history. It is still not fully researched or documented, and its effects on society are still developing. This thesis seeks to contribute to the understanding of the MeToo movement and its global effects.

Specifically, …

Book Review: Hate In The Homeland: The New Global Far Right, Ann M. Morgan

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

Miller-Idriss’s Hate in the Homeland provides a timely explanation for the organization and mainstreaming of groups and beliefs that, until recently, were seen in the U.S. as fringe. This book review provides an overview of the spaces and places outlined by Miller-Idriss: virtual, physical, real, and imagined where far-right extremism is showing up and building financial, physical, intellectual, and human capital. The book prompts raising awareness and asking questions for teachers, parents, journalists, law enforcement, and many others.

201— Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Within The Department Of Geological Sciences At Suny Geneseo, Maria Leonard

GREAT Day Posters

The field of Geosciences historically has lacked diversity. This lack of diversity is observed at all levels of higher education—for example, 90% of doctoral degrees are awarded to white people (Wilson, 2016) and only 3.8% of tenured or tenure track positions at the top 100 geoscience departments are held by faculty of color (Bernard & Cooperdock 2018). There are multiple reasons at the heart of this issue including the lack of representation which can fuel stereotype threats and imposter syndromes.

This project aimed to take actions that would help grow the diversity, equity, and accessibility within Geneseo’s GSCI department. This …

280— Bureaucracy And Inefficiency: Failures Of Cercla In Protecting Indigenous Communities, Mikaela Burke

GREAT Day Posters

In 1983, The Environmental Protection Agency created the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The main goal of which is to protect human health and the environment by holding liable parties accountable for hazardous waste contamination. While CERCLA has been able to clean up many of the sites on their National Priorities List, it has failed to address many as well. Persistent problems with slow-moving bureaucratic structures and expensive oversight costs have forced people out of their homes, subjected them to long-term and short-term health problems, and have created an unlivable environment, particularly for those who rely on …

Understanding Black Experiences And Access Barriers In The Expressive Arts Activities And Therapies, Jadea Harris, Ana K. Marcelo

Psychology

Black individuals in America experience racism, discrimination, and microaggressions that can affect their mental and physical health. (Alvarez, Liang, & Neville, 2016). Unfortunately, Black individuals typically do not seek out mental health treatment because of mistrust, stigma, misdiagnosis, and lack of culturally sensitive approaches to treatment (NAMI, 2002). One way to encourage Black individuals to seek mental health support and to provide more support could be through expressive arts. Expressive outlets may act as a protective barrier against adverse experiences and serve as an opportunity to bring healing amongst uncomfortable feelings of racial trauma and more. Historical and empirical evidence …

260— Necessary Reform In The Child Welfare System, Amy Lynch

GREAT Day Posters

This paper will examine and explore solutions to fix the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). In Los Angeles County, California, there has been numerous situations where the children are not being checked on regularly and that results in them living in unsafe environments. These children are not removed from an unsafe home immediately. Some of the DCFS social workers do not complete neglect checks in a timely manner or even visit the home once. According the Los Angeles Daily News, an audit of practices in 2017 and 2018 revealed that 72% of social workers completed the necessary safety …

Victimes Ou Criminelles: A Historical And Comparative Analysis Of Sex Work Policy In France, Carver Wolfe

International Relations Honors Papers

This research examines the evolution of sex work policy in France from a regulatory regime during the nineteenth century to an abolitionist stance after World War II to the 2016 adoption of the Nordic model penalizing the purchase of sex. I investigate the ongoing debate between preservationists and abolitionists and examine the arguments raised by each side, making the case that abolitionism has adverse consequences for sex workers. I look at the nineteenth century’s regulatory regime of controlling prostitution through a chapter written in French. I then shift into an analysis of the state’s transition to abolitionism over the course …

Healthcare For All Colors: Anti-Racism In Medical Professions, Elise Wang

BU Well

Racism in the United States' healthcare system has a longstanding history and exists at both the macro and microlevel. Medical professionals have a responsibility to be anti-racist in their practices. Healthcare providers and organizations can create a more equitable and beneficial medical experience for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) patients through anti racism praxis, increasing the health literacy of patients, and shifting power to patients to equalize the provider-patient dynamic. While these initiatives cannot bring the systemic change needed to fully eradicate racism from medicine, it will join providers and patients together in the fight against interpersonal, and …

Doctoral Capstone Experience In Program And Policy Development- Selah Freedom, Ashley N. Jones

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

Child trafficking has been reported in all 50 states and affects more than 2 million children each year (Guardian Group, 2021). Involvement in human trafficking at a young age induces trauma that has a lasting effect on the victim’s personality and coping skills. A review of literature confirmed a need for more support of the use of occupational therapy with sex trafficking survivors. Despite support for the implementation of occupational therapy in similar trauma populations like domestic violence, homelessness, post-traumatic stress disorder, and disaster survivors, there is limited literature supporting the use of OT with human trafficking survivors (Gorman & …

Just Mercy: Mass Incarceration And The Death Penalty, Sophie Auerbach

Politics and International Relations Presentations

My poster will examine criticisms by Bryan Stevenson in his book Just Mercy. Stevenson points to problems in the U.S. Prison and Justice systems, including mass incarceration, racial bias and sentencing, unfair convictions, and why the use of the death penalty is an unjust and impractical form of punishment that should be abolished. My poster will summarize many of these problems, as well as examine supporting evidence and evaluate different proposals for criminal justice reform.

My Bonner Journey, Hannah Merges

Bonner Presentations

The mission of the Bonner Program is to transform the lives of students and members, their campuses, their local communities, and the world through service and leadership. The Bonner Program is designed to heighten the overall education students and members receive by asking them to engage in ongoing service work and helping them develop the experience, skills, knowledge, and values necessary to make that work meaningful and lasting. In this presentation, Hannah Merges describes the people and experiences which were most meaningful to her throughout her years in the Bonner Program at Ursinus College.

Bonner: Becoming A Leader Through The Years, Jane Krol

Bonner Presentations

The mission of the Bonner Program is to transform the lives of students and members, their campuses, their local communities, and the world through service and leadership. The Bonner Program is designed to heighten the overall education students and members receive by asking them to engage in ongoing service work and helping them develop the experience, skills, knowledge, and values necessary to make that work meaningful and lasting. In this presentation, Jane Krol describes the people and experiences which were most meaningful to her throughout her years in the Bonner Program at Ursinus College.

Breaking The Cycle: Addressing Housing And Employment Needs For Survivors And Justice-Involved Women, Ziwei Qi, Kaiti Dinges, Cristinia Jimenez, Jessica Warren, Jennifer Hecker, Viviana Lizarraga, Maricela Villa, Linda O'Neal, Dung Kimble, Morgan Hart

BRIDGE Resource Hub

The project Breaking the Cycle of Violence—Addressing Economic Independence for Survivors of Gender-based Violence in Rural Communities aims to advance sustainable, survivor-centered solutions in rural settings. Funded through a competitive award, this initiative supports a one-day virtual teach-in held in April 2021, led by four social enterprises based in Colorado and Kansas. These organizations specialize in providing safe housing, job training, and employment opportunities for women survivors of gender-based violence. The workshop showcases innovative models that integrate residential stability with economic empowerment, with particular attention to the heightened vulnerabilities experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants engage in collaborative dialogue to …

Research And Social Activism In Gender-Based Violence, Ziwei Qi, April Terry, Sonia Salari, Annie Fukushima

BRIDGE Resource Hub

This virtual roundtable, Research and Social Activism on Gender-Based Violence, brings together scholars committed to bridging academic research and grassroots advocacy in addressing gender-based violence. Held on March 16, 2021, and sponsored by the Center for Empowering Victims of Gender-Based Violence at Fort Hays State University, the event features interdisciplinary perspectives from Dr. Annie Isabel Fukushima, Dr. Sonia Salari, Dr. April N. Terry, and Dr. Ziwei Qi. Panelists discuss their respective research on human trafficking, elder abuse, rural criminology, and community-based interventions—exploring how structural inequalities, policy gaps, and geographic isolation impact the lived experiences of survivors. Highlighting innovations in …

Best Practices For Voter Engagement Within Higher Education, Alyssa Tomins

Honors Projects

It is imperative that higher education institutions learn more about how to recruit members of younger generations to participate in future elections. Young people have historically voted at low rates, but that trend has started to change in recent years as more resources are being devoted to voter engagement among young people. This leads to the interest of understanding what best practices and strategies have academic institutions utilized to advance voter engagement on their campuses. This qualitative study analyzes these best practices and strategies at 84 colleges and universities, all of whom are members of The Andrew Goodman Foundation Vote …

The Future Is Female: An Examination Of Officer-Offender Relationships Using A Sample Of Justice-Involved Women, Darian Hailes

Master of Science in Criminal Justice Theses & (Pre-2016) Policy Research Projects

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact that officer-offender relationships have on the rehabilitation of justice-involved women. Though there has been an overall decline of individuals involved with the justice system over the last decade, researchers have found that the rate of justice-involved women has increased (Alper et al., 2018; Kaeble & Alper, 2020). Likewise, the use of community corrections as punishment has increased as an alternative to traditional incarceration. As recently as 2020, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported an increase in women entering the national jail system. This increase of justice-involved women, coupled with concerns …