Library Award for Undergraduate Research

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The 60 States An Analysis of the What-Ifs of Statehood
(2016-02-15) Moeder, Jason; Westhelle, Felipe; Westhelle, Felipe; Behavioral and Social Sciences - Geographic Sciences
Research project as submission for the Library Award for Undergraduate Research
A Self-Portrait of Success: The Images of Jewish Masculinity in 1940s America
(2023) Yang, Mason; Cooperman, Bernard
“A Self-Portrait of Success: The Images of Jewish Masculinity in 1940s America” is a research paper that seeks to define what masculinity and success looked like to Jewish men in the mid-twentieth century. To do so, This paper examines New York Times obituaries throughout the 1940s and analyzes the content that prominent Jewish men had published about themselves. These obituaries represent the fulfillment of the Jewish male aspirations and what they wanted to be known for. Along with this, this paper also explores Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, a 1949 play that narrates the life and death of an “everyman.” While he strives to find success and fame for himself and his family, he fails to achieve the same aspirations as the men in the obituaries. Ultimately, this paper works to add complexity and new dialogue to the understanding of Jewish masculinity and also seeks to generate interest in comparatively working with both nonfiction and fiction primary printed sources.
The Abolition of the Death Penalty in America: International Pressure or a Changing Global Norm?
(2011) Bayer, Marci; Haufler, Virginia; Government & Politics
Achieving Gender Equality
(2012-02-22) Beatson, Meghan; Shaun, Gannon; Department of English
This essay asserts that both men and women must work together to break the ubiquitous glass ceiling in the sciences.
Active Dissenters: Rescuers of the Persecuted
(2012-03-01) Switzer, David; Alarcon, Javiera; College Park Scholar International Studies
The question of what motivated rescuers in situations of genocide is one that is vital to answer. These courageous people, who I deem “active dissenters,” exemplified moral fortitude and spirit in times when it seemed like there was none to be found. In this essay, I explore what motivated these active dissenters, and what made it possible for them to take action against genocide and for human dignity. I argue that what allowed certain people to rescue the persecuted members of society in these situations is two-fold. First, all of the active dissenters seemed to share a type of moral identity, which made the saving of other humans a moral imperative, rather than a choice. The development of a moral identity, however, is not enough. A person may develop an identity that allows them to recognize the need to rescue another human being, but they may not have the means to do anything about it. The rescuers also had the resources necessary to help.
Acute Effects of Exercise on Brain Function
(2015-02-15) Leitner, Brooks; Goodwin, James; English
This review provides a brief introduction to the effects of one bout of exercise on various aspects of brain function. I discuss exercise's impacts on neurodegenerative diseases, motor function, cognition, and potential mechanisms of these effects.
Addressing Leadership and Funding Needs for Great Lakes Restoration: Nearshore Health Concerns
(2012-02-25) Beck, Whitney; Goger, Joanna; Environmental Science and Policy
This research paper analyzes the scientific, political, and ethical components of current Great Lakes restoration strategies, particularly focusing on public health risks at beaches.
Adidas, Where Originality Meets Actuality
(2012-03-01) Barth, Zohara; Lefkoff, Roxanne; Marketing
In this paper I assumed the role of marketing consultant for Adidas and made suggestions for ways it can expand in the Chinese market and target the youth of China.
Al-Ghazali’s Interpretation of Muslim Men and Menstruation in the 11th Century
(2023-03-30) Holland, Schmitz; Yavuzer, Gamze; History
The paper focuses on medieval menstruation in the Islamic religion. The primary source is Marriage and Sexuality in Islam: a Translation of al-Ghazali’s Book on the Etiquette of Marriage from the Ihya by Madelain Farah, who translated and edited al-Ghazali’s work to English. The paper explores other scholarly work on menstruation in the medieval time period or in various religions. Ultimately, the paper discovered that al-Ghazali’s writing on menstruation was a male oriented view, based in the 11th century, and was therefore very strict. al-Ghazali's views did not follow all of Muhammad’s original views on women, prayer, and menstruation.
Alienation and Alliances: Transgender Coalition-Building from the 1970s through the 1990s
(2023) Grafstein, Julia; Keane, Katarina
Coalition-building in the transgender movement has received scant attention from scholars in history or gender studies. In an effort to understand transactivists' motivations and how they worked with others, this thesis analyzes the partnerships formed within the transgender community and with potential allies of the lesbian, gay, and feminist communities. Using archival records, magazines and newspapers, published reports, and oral histories, this thesis argues that trans activism in the period between 1970 and the end of the 1990s was multifarious, fractious and inconsistent. It also demonstrates that trans activists worked to build coalitions with potential allies in the women's movement and the gay and lesbian rights movement whenever possible. Such coalitions held the promise of greater influence and of shared values. Because I have submitted three of my other chapters for publication at several journals, I am submitting the introduction and my second chapter for your consideration. This chapter focuses on transgender coalition-building within the transgender community and gives insight into the internal struggles of a nascent movement. The introduction will detail the focus of my thesis altogether and lay out key background information. The separated bibliography has all of the sources from my thesis, while the bibliography at the end of my research paper has the sources from only the chapters I am submitting.
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
(2018-02-15) Livingstone, Danielle; Clevenger, Samuel; Kinesiology
This work investigates the women of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and their depiction throughout newspapers in the 1940s. It also works to demonstrate the requirements for being a female athlete at the time. In this time in history, females and males had different expectations. Men held the major workforce area while women were centered more around the house. However, when World War II started, there was a shift in society that called for women to step in for men. Although assuming their position well, gendered expectations followed these women.
American Advertisement and the Revival of the Housewife, 1950-1969
(2016-02-15) Park, Joshua; Leininger, Derek; History
This research paper explores advertisements in the 1950s and 1960s that were targeted towards women in the United States. To be more specific, this paper analyzes specific tropes in advertisements for "feminine" products and looks at how they target women who came back from working in the factories from World War II.
Americans on the Defense Team in the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal, 1946 – 1948: Understanding the Mentality Behind Defending the “Enemy”
(2017-02-14) Glazer, Michelle; Mayo, Marlene; History
An exploration of the role of the U.S.’s desire to democratize a post World War II Japan on motivating and influencing Americans to work as defense lawyers for Japanese class A war criminals during the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. The work focuses on primary source materials from some of the defense lawyers, which helps map and showcase their transition from Americans to lawyers to defenders of “the enemy.” It investigates how these American lawyers remedied their allegiance to their country and loyalty to their clients, with whom many developed genuine friendships.
An Analysis of Risk Communication Failures in the Domestic U.S. Ebola Response
(2015-02-15) Lawless, Lyla; Steudeman, Michael; Communication
Applies communication model-based risk communication theory to the governmental, media, and health industry response to the October 2014 U.S. Ebola cases.
Analysis of the Green Parks Plan
(2015-02-15) Carroll, Rachel; Baran, Matthew; Sprinkle, Robert; McGarvey, Todd; Public Policy
This paper analyzes the efficacy of the National Parks Service's Green Parks Plan, with a specific focus on its transportation initiatives.
An Analysis of the Success of the Civil Rights Movement
(2017-02-02) Weinblatt, Tyler; Lee, Frances; Government and Politics
Between 1964 and 1968, at least four major civil rights acts were passed: the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and the 1968 Housing Act. Each piece of legislation sought to address racial problems during the time. Taken together, these acts advanced the major goals of civil rights leaders of the time: improvement of black economic opportunity, voting rights for African Americans, and desegregation. Civil rights activities and demonstrations between 1954 and 1968 undoubtedly led to the passage of these acts. But the ultimate effectiveness of the legislation is one of a matter of degree. To what extent was the civil rights movement successful in achieving its goals? Did the 1964 Civil Rights Act improve economic conditions for African Americans? I will address that question by examining trends in unemployment, poverty, and wages and income of African Americans. Did the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act provide African Americans with an undeterred vote? I will answer that question using participation and registration rates and data on black congressional representation. Finally, did the 1964 Civil Rights Act, 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and 1968 Housing Act establish desegregation? I will evaluate this question by examining the extent of segregation in schools, public places, and housing. While African American civil rights leaders defined these three goals through their speeches and interviews, they sought to improve black Americans’ conditions, not just in absolute terms but also relative to whites. Therefore, I will compare data on African Americans in these three areas to the data on whites. Ultimately, I draw varying conclusions about the extent to which the major civil rights acts, inspired by the efforts of the civil rights movement, were successful in gaining equality between whites and blacks and improving for blacks in terms of economic opportunity, voting, 4 and desegregation. I will first establish that these three goals were central for the civil rights movement, drawing upon primary sources from major civil rights leaders. I will then analyze the progress made in each goal as the result of civil rights legislation using time series data and bivariate analyses in the short term, long term, and in comparison to whites. Finally, I will offer an interpretation as to the degree and level of advancements and success the movement has had. African Americans have seen drastic improvements in public place desegregation and voting registration and participation. But they still lag far behind their white counterpart in terms of economic conditions. While African Americans have seen some areas of improvement within all three of these goals, with some far greater than others, African Americans overall are still in an inferior position to whites and still need to see significant improvements in many notable areas. The four civil rights acts passed provided opportunities for African Americans. They opened the door to potential improvements. The lack of complete success in these areas cannot be fully attributed to the failures of the legislation itself. Rather it is the result of the persistent effects of segregation and discrimination, as well as a variety of outside factors. The future for African Americans after the civil rights acts was inevitably shaped by the long history of discrimination and disadvantage that preceded the legislation’s enactment.
Anosmia: What we know and don’t know about it
(2016-02-15) Hong, Lily; Goodwin, James; English
There are many cases of smelling disorders, which can impact an individual’s ability to smell. In addition, it’s important to understand there is a whole population among us who cannot smell (anosmia), who may have grown up never smelling (congenital anosmia), or who have reduced smell (hyposmia). Because the sense of smell is not as severe, life-threatening, or well-known, it is not widely studied. With the lack of research in this field, people with smell disorders have few treatment options. While there is some research on anosmia, the understanding of anosmia has plateaued, with many articles re-visiting known causes and common evaluation methods. More in-depth knowledge, however, is known only to a handful of researchers or specialized doctors. This literature review will discuss the research on anosmia, covering causes and effects of anosmia, with some discussion of physiology. This paper will also analyze relevant research that may point to potential treatments, touching on olfactory dysfunctions that may help us to understand anosmia.
ANT!: Auguste Forel, William M. Wheeler, and the Perception of the Social Insect
(2011) Donovan, Arley; Milam, Erika Lorraine; History
The Antikythera Mechanism: Timepiece of the Ancient World
(2016-02-15) Locke, John; Sullivan, Dennis; Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership (TLPL)
Discovered in 1900 in an ancient Greek shipwreck, the Antikythera mechanism was supposedly capable of tracking the solar, lunar, eclipse, constellation, and planetary orbital calendars, in addition to the major athletic games in Greece (such as the Olympics). The device contained more than thirty gears that controlled all of these functions, and is considered to be the world's first functioning computer. One of the most complex and fascinating artifacts recovered to date from the ancient world, the Antikythera is simultaneously one of the most continuously studied and the most enigmatic devices ever to be constructed. The device was truly ahead of its time, and proves that the Greeks were capable of a technological prowess not witnessed again until the end of the Medieval Ages, nearly one and a half millennia after its invention.
Anxiety disorders in children and adults: A cognitive, neurophysiological and genetic characterization
(2020-02-15) Laura, Visu-Petra; Andrei, Miu
An information-processing perspective has been explicitly adopted by several researchers in order to organize the extensive (and often controversial) evidence supporting anxious children‟s cognitive biases in processing emotional information (Daleiden & Vasey, 1997; Pine, 2007). Such integrative approaches are essential in order to investigate vulnerability markers that contribute to the development and maintenance of child and adolescent psychopathology.