Humanities
A New Beginning
Mitchell, Emily (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Arnold, Kristen (Engineering, Applied Science & Technology, Interior Design)
The design in this space will be used to keep the building fresh and calm with all of the changing that will be happening. This non-profit is here to help out women who are running from abusive relationships. Union Station is large enough so that they can house many different families or individuals. Giving them a space where they can get checkup when they are too afraid. There will be security in this locations so women will feel safe. (Aolain) There will be checkup rooms as well as therapy rooms where they can talk with someone private. There will be plenty of space to sleep for everyone that comes into this facility. To create a sense of home is to give them a space where they can have their own time and own space. (Falk, Wijk and Persson) There will be a small cafe and small store where they can buy small items for themselves or for their children. There will be classrooms for both the women and the children where everyone can learn to better themselves. Using the calming color of soft blue and soft green the space will be there for the women. (Instablogs.com) It will help with their fears of the unknown. The space will reflect the way that the women want with their time at the location. To be happy and healthy with themselves or their families. The space will have energy efficiency for this historical building. (Martinez-Molina, Tort-Ausina and Cho).
Faculty Advisor: Arnold, Kristen (Engineering, Applied Science & Technology, Interior Design)
The design in this space will be used to keep the building fresh and calm with all of the changing that will be happening. This non-profit is here to help out women who are running from abusive relationships. Union Station is large enough so that they can house many different families or individuals. Giving them a space where they can get checkup when they are too afraid. There will be security in this locations so women will feel safe. (Aolain) There will be checkup rooms as well as therapy rooms where they can talk with someone private. There will be plenty of space to sleep for everyone that comes into this facility. To create a sense of home is to give them a space where they can have their own time and own space. (Falk, Wijk and Persson) There will be a small cafe and small store where they can buy small items for themselves or for their children. There will be classrooms for both the women and the children where everyone can learn to better themselves. Using the calming color of soft blue and soft green the space will be there for the women. (Instablogs.com) It will help with their fears of the unknown. The space will reflect the way that the women want with their time at the location. To be happy and healthy with themselves or their families. The space will have energy efficiency for this historical building. (Martinez-Molina, Tort-Ausina and Cho).
Assessing the Validity of The Test of Early Written Language (3rd Edition)
Anderson, Bethany; Ward, Hannah; Froerer, Cecily (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Gillam, Sandra (Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services, Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Department); Gillam, Ron (Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services, Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Department)
Children with language disorders face difficulties in producing organized and complex narratives. Many different assessments have been designed to allow clinicians to evaluate a child's narrative ability. The Test of Early Written Language - 3 (TEWL) is a formal test to assess the early written narrative abilities of children. Valid and reliable tests of the written language skills of young elementary age children are needed for assessing the outcomes of narrative interventions for children who are at-risk for language and literacy impairments.
The purpose of this study is to determine if the TEWL is a valid measure of narrative language in written stories by children who are at-risk for language and literacy problems.
Narrative samples from 189 children ages 6-11 were gathered as part of a larger study. Narrative samples were transcribed and scored using the Monitoring Indicators of Scholarly Language (MISL) rubric that assesses language microstructure and macrostructure. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were computed to determine the extent to which the total raw scores on the TEWL were related to MISL microstructure, macrostructure, and total scores. Item analyses were conducted to determine whether a subset of items on the TEWL differentiate between writing mechanics and written language. Results are critical for using the TEWL as a valid outcome measure in studies of interventions for oral and written language comprehension and production.
Faculty Advisor: Gillam, Sandra (Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services, Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Department); Gillam, Ron (Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services, Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Department)
Children with language disorders face difficulties in producing organized and complex narratives. Many different assessments have been designed to allow clinicians to evaluate a child's narrative ability. The Test of Early Written Language - 3 (TEWL) is a formal test to assess the early written narrative abilities of children. Valid and reliable tests of the written language skills of young elementary age children are needed for assessing the outcomes of narrative interventions for children who are at-risk for language and literacy impairments.
The purpose of this study is to determine if the TEWL is a valid measure of narrative language in written stories by children who are at-risk for language and literacy problems.
Narrative samples from 189 children ages 6-11 were gathered as part of a larger study. Narrative samples were transcribed and scored using the Monitoring Indicators of Scholarly Language (MISL) rubric that assesses language microstructure and macrostructure. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were computed to determine the extent to which the total raw scores on the TEWL were related to MISL microstructure, macrostructure, and total scores. Item analyses were conducted to determine whether a subset of items on the TEWL differentiate between writing mechanics and written language. Results are critical for using the TEWL as a valid outcome measure in studies of interventions for oral and written language comprehension and production.
Being Mexican, Mormon, and Different
Gonzalez Herrara, Cindy; Garcia, Ignacio (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Garcia, Ignacio (History)
Guillermo Balderas became the first Hispanic, Spanish speaking bishop in the United States in the 1930s. By understanding his background in serving the church, we come to understand his views of the Mormon gospel, and through him, we get a glimpse of the Hispanic Latter-day Saints living in El Paso, Texas, and indirectly others across the United States. By looking at his life, we learn about the struggles of being Latter-day Saint and Mexican on the northern side of the southern border. Guillermo was also the son of Apolinar de Jesus Balderas, the second Spanish-speaking branch president in the United States.
Guillermo's family immigrated to El Paso, Texas in 1910.2 The community he lived in was segregated and he went to school in a segregated public school system. Guillermo's life spanned a time when Mexicans and Mexican Americans were starting to find their voice within their communities, and in the larger society. While he did not participate in politics or the activism of his time, Guillermo brought an ethnically-focused perspective to his religion. Part of that perspective came from his friendship with people of the Third Convention--a Latter-day Saint insurgency against the American church in Mexico--and also he lived experiences as a brown man in American society. For this presentation, I will discuss a letter he sent to church authorities when he was released and replaced by the first white bishop of his ward, and changes were made to minimize the wards "Hispanic ways". While he was unsuccessful in lobbying for his ward members, Guillermo, nonetheless, previewed some of the "outside imposed" concepts that have hampered Hispanic wards in developing their identity. At the same time, his letter reveals some of the concepts that Hispanic leaders in the church have carried out in their ministry. Through his dedication and faithfulness in the church, we see a reflection of what many Hispanic Latter-day Saints experience during this time. Despite the challenges, he continued to become a devoted leader within the church and helped many people within his congregation. He became an advocate for those of his color while still seeking to educate his white brothers/sisters.
Faculty Advisor: Garcia, Ignacio (History)
Guillermo Balderas became the first Hispanic, Spanish speaking bishop in the United States in the 1930s. By understanding his background in serving the church, we come to understand his views of the Mormon gospel, and through him, we get a glimpse of the Hispanic Latter-day Saints living in El Paso, Texas, and indirectly others across the United States. By looking at his life, we learn about the struggles of being Latter-day Saint and Mexican on the northern side of the southern border. Guillermo was also the son of Apolinar de Jesus Balderas, the second Spanish-speaking branch president in the United States.
Guillermo's family immigrated to El Paso, Texas in 1910.2 The community he lived in was segregated and he went to school in a segregated public school system. Guillermo's life spanned a time when Mexicans and Mexican Americans were starting to find their voice within their communities, and in the larger society. While he did not participate in politics or the activism of his time, Guillermo brought an ethnically-focused perspective to his religion. Part of that perspective came from his friendship with people of the Third Convention--a Latter-day Saint insurgency against the American church in Mexico--and also he lived experiences as a brown man in American society. For this presentation, I will discuss a letter he sent to church authorities when he was released and replaced by the first white bishop of his ward, and changes were made to minimize the wards "Hispanic ways". While he was unsuccessful in lobbying for his ward members, Guillermo, nonetheless, previewed some of the "outside imposed" concepts that have hampered Hispanic wards in developing their identity. At the same time, his letter reveals some of the concepts that Hispanic leaders in the church have carried out in their ministry. Through his dedication and faithfulness in the church, we see a reflection of what many Hispanic Latter-day Saints experience during this time. Despite the challenges, he continued to become a devoted leader within the church and helped many people within his congregation. He became an advocate for those of his color while still seeking to educate his white brothers/sisters.
Folklore: As it is Perceived by USU English Majors in Comparison to USU Non-English Majors
Christensen, Nikki (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Kinkead, Joyce (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)
Folklore is one of the hardest subjects to define for students and professors alike. To this day, folklorists still dispute its accurate definition. The most popular contemporary definition is, "artistic communication in small groups"(Dan Ben-Amos). This research is to discover if English majors are more educated about folklore than non-English majors at Utah State University. Often, students will be immersed in folklore in their daily lives and never know it. This research is to answer how relevant folklore still is in today's society.
Faculty Advisor: Kinkead, Joyce (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)
Folklore is one of the hardest subjects to define for students and professors alike. To this day, folklorists still dispute its accurate definition. The most popular contemporary definition is, "artistic communication in small groups"(Dan Ben-Amos). This research is to discover if English majors are more educated about folklore than non-English majors at Utah State University. Often, students will be immersed in folklore in their daily lives and never know it. This research is to answer how relevant folklore still is in today's society.
Keeping Homophobia in the Closet: Racist Technologies in the Gay Community
Gheen, Jared; Callander, Denton; Winner, Langdon (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Edenfield, Avery (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)
Technology has made great strides in advancing the dating opportunities for gay men through various dating apps and websites. Men, whether in or out of the closet, can utilize these tools to find potential friends, dates, hookups, or relationships. These advancements have enabled increased networking for gay men, but these technologies have been used to enforce racial biases.
This presentation will analyze how dating apps and websites designed for gay men have been used to further marginalize groups of individuals within the gay community. My research will examine what I have denoted as the "3 Ps" that should drive design/interface decisions: Purpose, Perception, and Practice. Each feature and design within these applications should have a purpose that takes into account prejudicial biases that may be present. In addition to the intended purpose of the feature, the perception of how users will interpret the feature should also be heavily considered. Finally, the actual practice of the feature should be tested to ensure that the practice, perception, and purpose of the feature align and are not misused to marginalize members of the community.
Research will include work done by others in the field, specifically Denton Callander, due to his extensive research on racism and sexual racism on dating web services. Specific features within apps will also be examined and analyzed through the method of the "3 Ps" to explain their (un)intended consequences.
The results from my research will enable future technical communicators, software developers, and technology consumers to be aware of and address technologies that may reinforce or enable marginalization of minority groups.
Faculty Advisor: Edenfield, Avery (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)
Technology has made great strides in advancing the dating opportunities for gay men through various dating apps and websites. Men, whether in or out of the closet, can utilize these tools to find potential friends, dates, hookups, or relationships. These advancements have enabled increased networking for gay men, but these technologies have been used to enforce racial biases.
This presentation will analyze how dating apps and websites designed for gay men have been used to further marginalize groups of individuals within the gay community. My research will examine what I have denoted as the "3 Ps" that should drive design/interface decisions: Purpose, Perception, and Practice. Each feature and design within these applications should have a purpose that takes into account prejudicial biases that may be present. In addition to the intended purpose of the feature, the perception of how users will interpret the feature should also be heavily considered. Finally, the actual practice of the feature should be tested to ensure that the practice, perception, and purpose of the feature align and are not misused to marginalize members of the community.
Research will include work done by others in the field, specifically Denton Callander, due to his extensive research on racism and sexual racism on dating web services. Specific features within apps will also be examined and analyzed through the method of the "3 Ps" to explain their (un)intended consequences.
The results from my research will enable future technical communicators, software developers, and technology consumers to be aware of and address technologies that may reinforce or enable marginalization of minority groups.
Mitigating human and non-human conflict in the context of American culture
Johnson, Marian (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Abunuwara, Kim (Utah Valley University, Integrated Studies); Dunn, Paul (Utah Valley University, Biology); Oliveira, Andre (Utah Valley University, Economics)
Current American perceptions of ecological systems are toxic to a relationship with the natural world. Human-led extinction rates are unsustainable and obliterating untold amounts of diversity which could potentially help humans. A lack of appreciation for the intrinsic value held by non-human species contributes largely to cultivating an ignorant relationship between humans and their surroundings. The value of non-human species is currently difficult to calculate. Many species are not noticed until they are threatened or extinct due to their invisibility in the context of America's heavy emphasis on monetary value. Expecting an emphasis to be placed on ecological diversity without proper education on the significant long-term ramifications will hold no weight for individuals, corporations, and policy-makers. A cultural shift must be initiated before concrete policies can be implemented. Several aspects of this cultural shift are exposing value in species who are annoying, ugly, or seemingly give nothing to humans. Invisible species are some of the quickest to be swept away in ecological ignorance, contributing heavily to loss of diversity. The focus of this thesis is to suggest potential cultural tools in making this shift. Indigenous cultures which possess a sustainable and mutualistic relationship with the natural world ought to be explored as a model for which the United States can take steps to adopt. Fragments of American culture such as social media, monetary gains, tax incentives, and new additions to the public school curriculum are potential tools in strengthening and informing a realistic ecological opinion.
Faculty Advisor: Abunuwara, Kim (Utah Valley University, Integrated Studies); Dunn, Paul (Utah Valley University, Biology); Oliveira, Andre (Utah Valley University, Economics)
Current American perceptions of ecological systems are toxic to a relationship with the natural world. Human-led extinction rates are unsustainable and obliterating untold amounts of diversity which could potentially help humans. A lack of appreciation for the intrinsic value held by non-human species contributes largely to cultivating an ignorant relationship between humans and their surroundings. The value of non-human species is currently difficult to calculate. Many species are not noticed until they are threatened or extinct due to their invisibility in the context of America's heavy emphasis on monetary value. Expecting an emphasis to be placed on ecological diversity without proper education on the significant long-term ramifications will hold no weight for individuals, corporations, and policy-makers. A cultural shift must be initiated before concrete policies can be implemented. Several aspects of this cultural shift are exposing value in species who are annoying, ugly, or seemingly give nothing to humans. Invisible species are some of the quickest to be swept away in ecological ignorance, contributing heavily to loss of diversity. The focus of this thesis is to suggest potential cultural tools in making this shift. Indigenous cultures which possess a sustainable and mutualistic relationship with the natural world ought to be explored as a model for which the United States can take steps to adopt. Fragments of American culture such as social media, monetary gains, tax incentives, and new additions to the public school curriculum are potential tools in strengthening and informing a realistic ecological opinion.
Political exiles in Siberia
Kennen, George; Schrader, Abby M; Felinska, Eva; (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Romaniello, Matthew (Weber State university, History)
This presentation will be centered around the experiences from multiple people that lived through and experienced the system in the 19th century. I will be focusing on the juxtaposing of their experiences and describing how different their experiences were based on the crimes that they were accused and sentenced for. For this presentation I will be drawing from memoirs, letters, and autobiographies from people of the time.
Faculty Advisor: Romaniello, Matthew (Weber State university, History)
This presentation will be centered around the experiences from multiple people that lived through and experienced the system in the 19th century. I will be focusing on the juxtaposing of their experiences and describing how different their experiences were based on the crimes that they were accused and sentenced for. For this presentation I will be drawing from memoirs, letters, and autobiographies from people of the time.
North Star: Center for Women
Jones, Kelsie (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Arnold, Kristen (Engineering, Applied Science, and Technology; Interior Design)
While little research has been done on designing shelters for abused women, current data can still be used to create an evidence-based design. War veterans and abused women have been through traumatic situations, so both groups of people are at risk of suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. An article written by Lisa S. Platt, Sheila J. Bosch, and Daejin Kim (2017) analyzes how to create a person-centered mental health facilities for veterans. Through their case studies, they were able to identify design principles that aid in the healing process of those suffering from PTSD. Principles that will be incorporated into the North Star shelter include using residential-style furniture upholstered with soft, tactile fabric to create a comfortable environment. Real materials such as real wood need to be used for doors because faux-wood metal doors can be irritating to some patients. Interior color is also a crucial factor of creating person-centered facilities. Blue and violet are preferred by women and have a calming affect on occupants (Costa, 2018). In the North Star, color will be used in select applications such as pillows, cushions, blankets, and artwork so that it does not overwhelm clients. Security is another vital component when designing for patients with PTSD (Platt, Bosch, and Kim, 2017) because they have been in situations where their safety is not gaurunteed. Security can be increased by using safety glass and security cameras. Another factor that helps clients feel secure is creating private areas so that they can speak with social workers and therapists without feeling violated (Eagle, 2017). Designing person-centered facilities also requires public and private spaces. This allows patients to choose whether or not they want to engage with other people (Platt, Bosch, and Kim, 2017). Multi-use public spaces allow occupants to have flexibility in what activities they engage in, allowing them to relax however they choose. Private areas should be provided in multi-use areas so that occupants can also choose to read, watch television, or engage in other individual activities. Proxemics are another important consideration as people who suffer from PTSD may have a larger range of personal space and need to sit and stand a little further from other people (Platt, Bosch, and Kim, 2017).
Faculty Advisor: Arnold, Kristen (Engineering, Applied Science, and Technology; Interior Design)
While little research has been done on designing shelters for abused women, current data can still be used to create an evidence-based design. War veterans and abused women have been through traumatic situations, so both groups of people are at risk of suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. An article written by Lisa S. Platt, Sheila J. Bosch, and Daejin Kim (2017) analyzes how to create a person-centered mental health facilities for veterans. Through their case studies, they were able to identify design principles that aid in the healing process of those suffering from PTSD. Principles that will be incorporated into the North Star shelter include using residential-style furniture upholstered with soft, tactile fabric to create a comfortable environment. Real materials such as real wood need to be used for doors because faux-wood metal doors can be irritating to some patients. Interior color is also a crucial factor of creating person-centered facilities. Blue and violet are preferred by women and have a calming affect on occupants (Costa, 2018). In the North Star, color will be used in select applications such as pillows, cushions, blankets, and artwork so that it does not overwhelm clients. Security is another vital component when designing for patients with PTSD (Platt, Bosch, and Kim, 2017) because they have been in situations where their safety is not gaurunteed. Security can be increased by using safety glass and security cameras. Another factor that helps clients feel secure is creating private areas so that they can speak with social workers and therapists without feeling violated (Eagle, 2017). Designing person-centered facilities also requires public and private spaces. This allows patients to choose whether or not they want to engage with other people (Platt, Bosch, and Kim, 2017). Multi-use public spaces allow occupants to have flexibility in what activities they engage in, allowing them to relax however they choose. Private areas should be provided in multi-use areas so that occupants can also choose to read, watch television, or engage in other individual activities. Proxemics are another important consideration as people who suffer from PTSD may have a larger range of personal space and need to sit and stand a little further from other people (Platt, Bosch, and Kim, 2017).
Sexual Assault: Reshaping the Rhetorical Situation For Men
Reid, Rachael (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Edenfield, Avery (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)
Recent outcries in the media and political conversation like the story of Brock Turner and the #metoo movement, have demonstrated how the rhetoric surrounding sexual assault is a problem. Current rhetoric surrounding these issues have demonstrated the continued staggering number of sexual assaults that happen every year, but has yet to solve the actual problem. In the name of feminism, people everywhere fight for the rights of those marginalized within a community, of all different group types. However, one group rarely mentioned is men who are victims of sexual assault (perpetrated by men or women). Frost's Apparent Feminism "recognize(s) and make(s) apparent the urgent and sometimes hidden exigencies for feminist critique of contemporary technical rhetorics." This work demonstrates the need for participation in Feminist work for all people and says that even those that don't identify as "feminist but do work that complements feminist goals, and makes apparent the ways in which efficient work actually depends on the existence and input of diverse audiences" has an essential role in the discourse around sexual assault perpetrated against men. Men are taught by society to hide their feelings, to "man up", and not express when something is difficult. In order for complex social impact in this area, we see the importance of technical communication. This research shows how the perception of sexual assault against men can be changed through our technical communication and help us reshape the world in which we live. Normalizing the effects/ reality of sexual assault against men is a step in this work. I am only considering those who have reported their sexual assault, which does give some bias. I will unpack what discourse is currently taking place and steps to change that discourse through communication strategies.
Faculty Advisor: Edenfield, Avery (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)
Recent outcries in the media and political conversation like the story of Brock Turner and the #metoo movement, have demonstrated how the rhetoric surrounding sexual assault is a problem. Current rhetoric surrounding these issues have demonstrated the continued staggering number of sexual assaults that happen every year, but has yet to solve the actual problem. In the name of feminism, people everywhere fight for the rights of those marginalized within a community, of all different group types. However, one group rarely mentioned is men who are victims of sexual assault (perpetrated by men or women). Frost's Apparent Feminism "recognize(s) and make(s) apparent the urgent and sometimes hidden exigencies for feminist critique of contemporary technical rhetorics." This work demonstrates the need for participation in Feminist work for all people and says that even those that don't identify as "feminist but do work that complements feminist goals, and makes apparent the ways in which efficient work actually depends on the existence and input of diverse audiences" has an essential role in the discourse around sexual assault perpetrated against men. Men are taught by society to hide their feelings, to "man up", and not express when something is difficult. In order for complex social impact in this area, we see the importance of technical communication. This research shows how the perception of sexual assault against men can be changed through our technical communication and help us reshape the world in which we live. Normalizing the effects/ reality of sexual assault against men is a step in this work. I am only considering those who have reported their sexual assault, which does give some bias. I will unpack what discourse is currently taking place and steps to change that discourse through communication strategies.
Slave Narratives modern and past
Roberts, Alexis (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Holt, Kerin (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)
How is an enslaved woman's agency depicted in non-fiction pre-civil War narratives versus fictional neo-slave narratives? My presentation will primarily focus on the issue of the individual bodily autonomy that slaves have access to and the withholding of bodily access to the slave's master, while also discussing the individual beliefs of slaves, beliefs that do not conform to slavery from both the pre-civil war era and the post-civil war era. The comparison will be between the novel Incidents in the life of a slave girl (1861) and the novel Kindred (1979), which were written more than one hundred years apart. The comparison will primarily focus on the characters of Harriet and Dana, focusing on the differences in their perspectives as Harriet is a slave woman and Dana is a modern woman from 1976 forced into the 1800s and plantation slavery.
Faculty Advisor: Holt, Kerin (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)
How is an enslaved woman's agency depicted in non-fiction pre-civil War narratives versus fictional neo-slave narratives? My presentation will primarily focus on the issue of the individual bodily autonomy that slaves have access to and the withholding of bodily access to the slave's master, while also discussing the individual beliefs of slaves, beliefs that do not conform to slavery from both the pre-civil war era and the post-civil war era. The comparison will be between the novel Incidents in the life of a slave girl (1861) and the novel Kindred (1979), which were written more than one hundred years apart. The comparison will primarily focus on the characters of Harriet and Dana, focusing on the differences in their perspectives as Harriet is a slave woman and Dana is a modern woman from 1976 forced into the 1800s and plantation slavery.
A Comparative Study of Detection Methods: Early Optical Telescopes and Gravitational Wave Detectors
Maria Stokes (University of Utah)
Faculty Advisor: Burnett, Brandon (Weber State University, Chemistry)
This paper considers the relationship between new technologies and the history of astronomy. Using a comparative framework, I show some of the ways in which new technological introductions alter scientific practice. I argue that this dynamic is a historical pattern. To make this case, I juxtapose two astrophysical developments: the invention and early uses of optical telescopes in the early seventeenth century, most famously by Galileo, and the introduction of gravitational wave detectors beginning with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). The former has been heavily examined by historians of science; the latter is almost exclusively of interest to astronomers and physicists. In constructing this comparison, I examine primary sources such as Galileo's Discourses and Mathematical Demonstrations Related to Two New Sciences and consult other commentaries on seventeenth-century astronomy, particularly remarking on the optics used in the Galilean telescope. I then provide a survey of gravitational wave astronomy. This comparative study evidences the importance of both empirical data and networks in the development of science. Such a conclusion is significant as it carries implications for the relationship between scientific and non-scientific communities.
Faculty Advisor: Burnett, Brandon (Weber State University, Chemistry)
This paper considers the relationship between new technologies and the history of astronomy. Using a comparative framework, I show some of the ways in which new technological introductions alter scientific practice. I argue that this dynamic is a historical pattern. To make this case, I juxtapose two astrophysical developments: the invention and early uses of optical telescopes in the early seventeenth century, most famously by Galileo, and the introduction of gravitational wave detectors beginning with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). The former has been heavily examined by historians of science; the latter is almost exclusively of interest to astronomers and physicists. In constructing this comparison, I examine primary sources such as Galileo's Discourses and Mathematical Demonstrations Related to Two New Sciences and consult other commentaries on seventeenth-century astronomy, particularly remarking on the optics used in the Galilean telescope. I then provide a survey of gravitational wave astronomy. This comparative study evidences the importance of both empirical data and networks in the development of science. Such a conclusion is significant as it carries implications for the relationship between scientific and non-scientific communities.
Barbara Kingsolver's Flight Behavior: An Examination of Climate Change Discourse
Truman, Jorden (Dixie State University)
Faculty Advisor: Pilkington, Olga (Dixie State University, English)
This paper uses literary analysis and theoretical framework of Regionalism to examine Barbara Kingsolver's novel Flight Behavior. Flight Behavior features Dellarobia, an inhabitant of a poverty-stricken Appalachian town, who discovered that a hill in her backyard became home to millions of wintering Monarch Butterflies. This abnormal flight behavior of the Monarch Butterflies for many in Dellarobia's community is seen as a gift from God, but for the outsiders, it is an ominous sign of climate change. The results of my analysis show that Kingsolver, although praised for her other novels set in the Appalachias, fails to address what Regionalist novels are criticized for: preventing the reader from taking sides with the educated master narrator against the abnormal or aberrant natives. Kingsolver's pursuit of the moral imperative comes at the cost of disparaging and humiliating the communities that makeup Appalachia. The ramifications of Flight Behavior are troubling because this "if you are not with us, you are against us" style of narration is prominent in climate change activist's discourse: creating enemies instead of allies.
Faculty Advisor: Pilkington, Olga (Dixie State University, English)
This paper uses literary analysis and theoretical framework of Regionalism to examine Barbara Kingsolver's novel Flight Behavior. Flight Behavior features Dellarobia, an inhabitant of a poverty-stricken Appalachian town, who discovered that a hill in her backyard became home to millions of wintering Monarch Butterflies. This abnormal flight behavior of the Monarch Butterflies for many in Dellarobia's community is seen as a gift from God, but for the outsiders, it is an ominous sign of climate change. The results of my analysis show that Kingsolver, although praised for her other novels set in the Appalachias, fails to address what Regionalist novels are criticized for: preventing the reader from taking sides with the educated master narrator against the abnormal or aberrant natives. Kingsolver's pursuit of the moral imperative comes at the cost of disparaging and humiliating the communities that makeup Appalachia. The ramifications of Flight Behavior are troubling because this "if you are not with us, you are against us" style of narration is prominent in climate change activist's discourse: creating enemies instead of allies.
Did She have to Die? An Examination of Hero and Ophelia in the Context of Shared Plot Points
Witham, Arianna (Dixie State University)
Faculty Advisor: Pilkington, Olga (Dixie State University, Applied Sociology)
Two of Shakespeare's plays Much Ado About Nothing and Hamlet have plots that are largely dependent on the death of a female character. Looking at the deaths of Hero and Ophelia though the lens of feminist literary analysis shows that these deaths are transformative points. On the surface, these deaths are very different: Ophelia stays dead while Hero's death is only a ruse. However, the deaths of Hero and Ophelia transition both of them from persons to objects. In the case of Ophelia, after death all that is left is a corpse, and Hamlet and Laertes' altercation in Ophelia's grave on top of her body contradicts their sorrowful proclamations just before. After Hero re-enters society, admittedly as someone else, the only thing about her new identity that seems to matter is her physical similarity to the Hero most believe to still be dead. Considering genre prompts another comparison between these deaths. In Much Ado About Nothing, Hero's death prompts Beatrice and Benedict's confessions of love, and her return to society allows the weddings and celebration that finish the play and mark it as a comedy to happen. Tragedies are marked by the death and destruction of the characters, and Hamlet is no exception. Ophelia's death is a catalyst for events that lead to the deaths of the other characters. If she had been revived, then there would be no funeral, and the emotional stakes at the end of the play would not be as high. The deaths of both Ophelia and Hero serve to drive the plots of these plays, but at the cost of the personhood of each.
Faculty Advisor: Pilkington, Olga (Dixie State University, Applied Sociology)
Two of Shakespeare's plays Much Ado About Nothing and Hamlet have plots that are largely dependent on the death of a female character. Looking at the deaths of Hero and Ophelia though the lens of feminist literary analysis shows that these deaths are transformative points. On the surface, these deaths are very different: Ophelia stays dead while Hero's death is only a ruse. However, the deaths of Hero and Ophelia transition both of them from persons to objects. In the case of Ophelia, after death all that is left is a corpse, and Hamlet and Laertes' altercation in Ophelia's grave on top of her body contradicts their sorrowful proclamations just before. After Hero re-enters society, admittedly as someone else, the only thing about her new identity that seems to matter is her physical similarity to the Hero most believe to still be dead. Considering genre prompts another comparison between these deaths. In Much Ado About Nothing, Hero's death prompts Beatrice and Benedict's confessions of love, and her return to society allows the weddings and celebration that finish the play and mark it as a comedy to happen. Tragedies are marked by the death and destruction of the characters, and Hamlet is no exception. Ophelia's death is a catalyst for events that lead to the deaths of the other characters. If she had been revived, then there would be no funeral, and the emotional stakes at the end of the play would not be as high. The deaths of both Ophelia and Hero serve to drive the plots of these plays, but at the cost of the personhood of each.
Latter-day Saint Women and Wage Labor in the Twentieth Century
McDannell, Colleen; Kessler-Harris, Alice; Derr, Jill Mulvay; Schneider, Dorothy; Thistle, Susan (University of Utah)
Faculty Advisor: McDannell, Colleen (University of Utah, Humanities)
My research aims to understand and analyze the ways in which Latter-day Saint women in the 1950s justified and reconciled their participation in wage labor with their religion.
My research is based on primary source material in the Aileen H. Clyde Twentieth Century Women's Legacy Archive. This archive includes a collection of letters that were written to Ramona Cannon to be published in the "Confidentially Yours" column in the Deseret News from 1948 to 1965 and include writings of women addressing their challenges and concerns. I use this resource to analyze the experiences of individual women and specifically their understanding and justification of their involvement in wage labor. I also use secondary source material to establish women's relationship to labor in the United States.
My goal is to draw conclusions about how LDS women who were involved in wage labor justified their participation when they lived in a society heavily influenced by the LDS Church and it's on emphasis women's domestic roles. The Archive letters show a pattern of women who felt they had to justify their labor practices through extenuating circumstances that necessitated temporary participation in wage labor, including wives with sick husbands, single mothers, and a society dealing with the effects of WWII, as well as women who actively sought to participate in the workforce by selectively choosing jobs and opportunities to supplement what could be seen as extensions of the domestic roles they were expected to fill in the home.
This balancing act for women is relevant not only to the twentieth century but reflects an ongoing struggle worldwide for women. This case study of Latter-day Saint women illustrates how women in a close-knit religious community reacted to changes in labor expectations and provide an important outlook on understanding the relationship between women and wage labor.
Faculty Advisor: McDannell, Colleen (University of Utah, Humanities)
My research aims to understand and analyze the ways in which Latter-day Saint women in the 1950s justified and reconciled their participation in wage labor with their religion.
My research is based on primary source material in the Aileen H. Clyde Twentieth Century Women's Legacy Archive. This archive includes a collection of letters that were written to Ramona Cannon to be published in the "Confidentially Yours" column in the Deseret News from 1948 to 1965 and include writings of women addressing their challenges and concerns. I use this resource to analyze the experiences of individual women and specifically their understanding and justification of their involvement in wage labor. I also use secondary source material to establish women's relationship to labor in the United States.
My goal is to draw conclusions about how LDS women who were involved in wage labor justified their participation when they lived in a society heavily influenced by the LDS Church and it's on emphasis women's domestic roles. The Archive letters show a pattern of women who felt they had to justify their labor practices through extenuating circumstances that necessitated temporary participation in wage labor, including wives with sick husbands, single mothers, and a society dealing with the effects of WWII, as well as women who actively sought to participate in the workforce by selectively choosing jobs and opportunities to supplement what could be seen as extensions of the domestic roles they were expected to fill in the home.
This balancing act for women is relevant not only to the twentieth century but reflects an ongoing struggle worldwide for women. This case study of Latter-day Saint women illustrates how women in a close-knit religious community reacted to changes in labor expectations and provide an important outlook on understanding the relationship between women and wage labor.
Many Legs in the Morning: Bipedality, Humanity, and Inhumanity in Kafka's Metamorphosis
Heftel, Christian (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Abbott, Scott (Humanities and Social Sciences, Integrated Studies)
The story of Oedipus and the Sphinx establishes man as an upright, standing creature who is defined, at least in the prime of his life, by his ability to stand and walk on two legs, having ceased using his arms for locomotion. The corollary to this is that things that cannot stand, or that have a different number of limbs, are definitionally inhuman. In "The Metamorphosis," Franz Kafka introduces a character who wakes up having gained a myriad of small, insectoid legs and having lost the ability to stand upright. Throughout the story, the author repeatedly draws attention to Gregor's new, strange limbs, emphasizing their inhumanity and their inability to support him bipedally. At the same time, the story repeatedly describes its human characters in terms of the actions of their arms and legs, the limbs which make bidepality possible.
This paper explores the contrast between Kafka's human and inhuman characters through the lens of the standing metaphor established in the Oedipus myth. It examines the points of similarity between Gregor's metamorphosis and Athanaeus's and Apollodorus's accounts of the Sphinx's riddle. In the end, it suggests that Kafka uses the notion of bipedality to emphasize not only the physical inhumanity of Gregor Samsa, but also the inhumaneness of his family.
Faculty Advisor: Abbott, Scott (Humanities and Social Sciences, Integrated Studies)
The story of Oedipus and the Sphinx establishes man as an upright, standing creature who is defined, at least in the prime of his life, by his ability to stand and walk on two legs, having ceased using his arms for locomotion. The corollary to this is that things that cannot stand, or that have a different number of limbs, are definitionally inhuman. In "The Metamorphosis," Franz Kafka introduces a character who wakes up having gained a myriad of small, insectoid legs and having lost the ability to stand upright. Throughout the story, the author repeatedly draws attention to Gregor's new, strange limbs, emphasizing their inhumanity and their inability to support him bipedally. At the same time, the story repeatedly describes its human characters in terms of the actions of their arms and legs, the limbs which make bidepality possible.
This paper explores the contrast between Kafka's human and inhuman characters through the lens of the standing metaphor established in the Oedipus myth. It examines the points of similarity between Gregor's metamorphosis and Athanaeus's and Apollodorus's accounts of the Sphinx's riddle. In the end, it suggests that Kafka uses the notion of bipedality to emphasize not only the physical inhumanity of Gregor Samsa, but also the inhumaneness of his family.
Rainbow of Hope
Speelman, Mackenzie (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Arnold, Kristen (Engineering, Applied Science, and Technology; Interior Design)
The numbers in homeless LGBTQ+ youth are rising by the year. These numbers are devastating and mean that eventually these youth can potentially have nothing to live for because they are rejected from their homes. (Dashow, 2017) In Utah these numbers are heartbreaking, as there is not a place for them to be able to go. (Valkenburg, 2013) In partnering with Equality Utah, we would be able to create a space for these youth that would not only provide them with a space to call their own, but also provide resources for success in the real world.
It would also provide them with the opportunity to learn life lessons that they would not normally get if they were to continue to be homeless. It would be a safe place for them to be able to learn, and potentially get a higher education and a chance to be something other than a statistic. This space will be a welcome sight to any who may need it, and a place where they are free to be themselves. It will create a home for those who no longer have one, and would provide a better quality of life for those individuals.
When considering other elements of design in relation to this project, it is also important to consider what can be considered a safe place for these individuals. Dazakir and Read did a study about how people react to different kinds of design in relation to what is considered a safe place for them. It took into account how different types of shapes and forms would elicit a response whether it be in the pleasure receptors and looked at whether or not people felt more comfortable in a space based on those shapes. What they found was "the respondents associated more pleasure within curvilinear forms and would approach and affiliate more with others in those settings compared with the settings with rectilinear forms." (Read, 2019). This will be taken into consideration with group spaces to ensure that there is a promotion of socialization within the space and to help the space feel more welcome for socialization and to make the space seem more like home.
It has been shown that Utah is one of the worst places to be LGBTQ+ and homeless, and in a survey from the Human Rights Campaign 65% of those surveyed in Utah reported being verbally harassed at school, compared to 51% nationally. It also shows 75% of teens in Utah feel they would need to move away in order to "fit in" compared to 63% of LGBT teens nationwide. (UPR, n.d.) As a result of this, we need to ensure that there is a safe place for these youth.
Faculty Advisor: Arnold, Kristen (Engineering, Applied Science, and Technology; Interior Design)
The numbers in homeless LGBTQ+ youth are rising by the year. These numbers are devastating and mean that eventually these youth can potentially have nothing to live for because they are rejected from their homes. (Dashow, 2017) In Utah these numbers are heartbreaking, as there is not a place for them to be able to go. (Valkenburg, 2013) In partnering with Equality Utah, we would be able to create a space for these youth that would not only provide them with a space to call their own, but also provide resources for success in the real world.
It would also provide them with the opportunity to learn life lessons that they would not normally get if they were to continue to be homeless. It would be a safe place for them to be able to learn, and potentially get a higher education and a chance to be something other than a statistic. This space will be a welcome sight to any who may need it, and a place where they are free to be themselves. It will create a home for those who no longer have one, and would provide a better quality of life for those individuals.
When considering other elements of design in relation to this project, it is also important to consider what can be considered a safe place for these individuals. Dazakir and Read did a study about how people react to different kinds of design in relation to what is considered a safe place for them. It took into account how different types of shapes and forms would elicit a response whether it be in the pleasure receptors and looked at whether or not people felt more comfortable in a space based on those shapes. What they found was "the respondents associated more pleasure within curvilinear forms and would approach and affiliate more with others in those settings compared with the settings with rectilinear forms." (Read, 2019). This will be taken into consideration with group spaces to ensure that there is a promotion of socialization within the space and to help the space feel more welcome for socialization and to make the space seem more like home.
It has been shown that Utah is one of the worst places to be LGBTQ+ and homeless, and in a survey from the Human Rights Campaign 65% of those surveyed in Utah reported being verbally harassed at school, compared to 51% nationally. It also shows 75% of teens in Utah feel they would need to move away in order to "fit in" compared to 63% of LGBT teens nationwide. (UPR, n.d.) As a result of this, we need to ensure that there is a safe place for these youth.
Society, Sound, & Cinematography
Tolkien, J.R.R; Burke, Kenneth; Hundley, Heather; Borchers, Timothy; Shore, Howard (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Colton, Jared (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)
While most rhetorical analysis of films look at the language and visual aspects, the object of this presentation is to analyze the rhetorical power of musical sound and score. Underappreciated by some and regarded as the lifeblood of the film by others, the musical score of a film is arguably one of the most vital aspects of cinema.
For the purposes of this presentation we will be examining the film score of the time-honored series of The Lord of the Rings as directed by Peter Jackson and composed by Howard Shore. While many have examined the genius of the composition or the complexity and cohesiveness of this score, it is our intention to examine how this composition moved the audience to feelings, thoughts, and actions.
Aside from Professor Tolkien, we will also examine the works of the rhetor Kenneth Burke and his theories of Dramatism; his theory on language and symbol systems and how they create the world around us. Our examination will focus on select scenes where the score works with the cinematography showing how the score is conveying the character's feelings or state of mind, which results in persuading the audience on how they should feel.
Through this analysis it is our intention to instill a greater understanding and awareness of how film score is used to influence audiences. Developing an understanding of how filmmakers use sound and score to influence their audience can make audiences more aware of those decisions and thus make them more engaged with the consumption of film.
Faculty Advisor: Colton, Jared (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)
While most rhetorical analysis of films look at the language and visual aspects, the object of this presentation is to analyze the rhetorical power of musical sound and score. Underappreciated by some and regarded as the lifeblood of the film by others, the musical score of a film is arguably one of the most vital aspects of cinema.
For the purposes of this presentation we will be examining the film score of the time-honored series of The Lord of the Rings as directed by Peter Jackson and composed by Howard Shore. While many have examined the genius of the composition or the complexity and cohesiveness of this score, it is our intention to examine how this composition moved the audience to feelings, thoughts, and actions.
Aside from Professor Tolkien, we will also examine the works of the rhetor Kenneth Burke and his theories of Dramatism; his theory on language and symbol systems and how they create the world around us. Our examination will focus on select scenes where the score works with the cinematography showing how the score is conveying the character's feelings or state of mind, which results in persuading the audience on how they should feel.
Through this analysis it is our intention to instill a greater understanding and awareness of how film score is used to influence audiences. Developing an understanding of how filmmakers use sound and score to influence their audience can make audiences more aware of those decisions and thus make them more engaged with the consumption of film.
The Bloom Village
Alanizy, Malak (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Arnold, Kristen (Weber State University, Interior Design Technology)
Youth impact is a unique organization serving kids who is dealing with poverty, drugs, incarceration of a parent, gang influences and the general needs of that child for the day. By giving them the education and skills necessary to succeed and prosper. The design of the building needs to function while supporting various programs including family support, learning clubs, arts for spirituality, and training. Improving the func-tionality of the interior spaces of the organization will be the focus of the project.
Color will assist in defining the psychological functioning of end users because "color in interior design can be more easily personalized, strongly interacts with the color of other decorating objects, and its pleasantness could affect home attachment." (Marco, Sergio, Mattia, & Iacopo, 2018).
Designating areas where students can engage in a variety of short, instructional activities and other areas where student can work without interruption. "If there is too much structure set in place it can stifle creativity, and if there is not enough structure it can lead to distractions and little focus." (Ryan Hannah 2013).
By addressing the physical needs of the students in the classroom will be designed to conceptualize and monitor the academic, emotional, and behavioral needs of students experiencing child traumatic stress. "The cognitive and psychological effects of trauma exposure are paired with difficulties in academic and social functioning." (Kassandra Reker 2016).
Overall, Project Bloom Village at Youth Impact implementing fundamental elements and principles of design with sound research will provide a well-designed space to simplify the mission of the organization.
Faculty Advisor: Arnold, Kristen (Weber State University, Interior Design Technology)
Youth impact is a unique organization serving kids who is dealing with poverty, drugs, incarceration of a parent, gang influences and the general needs of that child for the day. By giving them the education and skills necessary to succeed and prosper. The design of the building needs to function while supporting various programs including family support, learning clubs, arts for spirituality, and training. Improving the func-tionality of the interior spaces of the organization will be the focus of the project.
Color will assist in defining the psychological functioning of end users because "color in interior design can be more easily personalized, strongly interacts with the color of other decorating objects, and its pleasantness could affect home attachment." (Marco, Sergio, Mattia, & Iacopo, 2018).
Designating areas where students can engage in a variety of short, instructional activities and other areas where student can work without interruption. "If there is too much structure set in place it can stifle creativity, and if there is not enough structure it can lead to distractions and little focus." (Ryan Hannah 2013).
By addressing the physical needs of the students in the classroom will be designed to conceptualize and monitor the academic, emotional, and behavioral needs of students experiencing child traumatic stress. "The cognitive and psychological effects of trauma exposure are paired with difficulties in academic and social functioning." (Kassandra Reker 2016).
Overall, Project Bloom Village at Youth Impact implementing fundamental elements and principles of design with sound research will provide a well-designed space to simplify the mission of the organization.
The Spiral of Silence and the 2016 Election
Carter Olson, Candi; LaPoe, Victoria (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Carter Olson, Candi (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Journalism and Communication Department)
The Spiral of Silence theory is the idea that people in society are excluded based on their opinions. Because of this, members of society may keep their opinions quiet to avoid exclusion. While the theory was first introduced in 1974, its effects are important to research today, particularly with the political atmosphere and advanced communication technology we now have. Because social media allows users to broadcast their opinions to a large audience, researchers wanted to know how users self-censor on the internet. The study also aimed to determine if the tone, rhetoric, and events of the 2016 U.S. election influenced self-censorship. In this study, researchers found that many people, especially those in marginalized groups, tended to keep their opinions offline during the time surrounding the election.
Faculty Advisor: Carter Olson, Candi (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Journalism and Communication Department)
The Spiral of Silence theory is the idea that people in society are excluded based on their opinions. Because of this, members of society may keep their opinions quiet to avoid exclusion. While the theory was first introduced in 1974, its effects are important to research today, particularly with the political atmosphere and advanced communication technology we now have. Because social media allows users to broadcast their opinions to a large audience, researchers wanted to know how users self-censor on the internet. The study also aimed to determine if the tone, rhetoric, and events of the 2016 U.S. election influenced self-censorship. In this study, researchers found that many people, especially those in marginalized groups, tended to keep their opinions offline during the time surrounding the election.
Who Owns the Bard?: Barnum, Dickens, and the Shakespeare Birthplace Showdown of 1847
Clayton, Abigail (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Horrocks, Jamie (Humanities, English)
Prior to its public auction in 1847, Shakespeare's Birthplace—the home where he was born on Henley Street in Stratford-upon-Avon—was passed down through various private owners and their tenants who turned the property into an inn and a butcher shop. A mere sign indicated that "Shakespeare was born here." By this point in time, Shakespeare's literary influence permeated both Europe and America, but his status as a cultural icon was not strongly associated with the physical space of his home. However, this was about to change. In 1842, P.T. Barnum, the American showman of circus fame, was touring England with "The Greatest Show on Earth" when he went to visit Shakespeare's home. Five years later, as he was always on the lookout for more "oddities" to add to his menagerie, the public auction of the Birthplace caught his interest, and he could not resist making an offer. This attempt by a foreign invader to "steal Shakespeare" inflamed the British public and sparked debates regarding the cultural ownership of the great playwright. Among leaders of these debates was Charles Dickens, who initiated a series of events across England in an attempt to raise enough money to reclaim Shakespeare for the British people. Although Barnum and Dickens never met in person, the way in which nineteenth-century media manipulated their celebrity personas and followings reveals the way in which transatlantic celebrity was crucial to the formation of Shakespeare as a British heritage icon. The cultural warfare between the two, as represented by sensationalist journalism of the time, started debates over the appropriation of Shakespeare as a symbol of national heritage and identity that have lasted into the twenty-first century.
Faculty Advisor: Horrocks, Jamie (Humanities, English)
Prior to its public auction in 1847, Shakespeare's Birthplace—the home where he was born on Henley Street in Stratford-upon-Avon—was passed down through various private owners and their tenants who turned the property into an inn and a butcher shop. A mere sign indicated that "Shakespeare was born here." By this point in time, Shakespeare's literary influence permeated both Europe and America, but his status as a cultural icon was not strongly associated with the physical space of his home. However, this was about to change. In 1842, P.T. Barnum, the American showman of circus fame, was touring England with "The Greatest Show on Earth" when he went to visit Shakespeare's home. Five years later, as he was always on the lookout for more "oddities" to add to his menagerie, the public auction of the Birthplace caught his interest, and he could not resist making an offer. This attempt by a foreign invader to "steal Shakespeare" inflamed the British public and sparked debates regarding the cultural ownership of the great playwright. Among leaders of these debates was Charles Dickens, who initiated a series of events across England in an attempt to raise enough money to reclaim Shakespeare for the British people. Although Barnum and Dickens never met in person, the way in which nineteenth-century media manipulated their celebrity personas and followings reveals the way in which transatlantic celebrity was crucial to the formation of Shakespeare as a British heritage icon. The cultural warfare between the two, as represented by sensationalist journalism of the time, started debates over the appropriation of Shakespeare as a symbol of national heritage and identity that have lasted into the twenty-first century.
Youth Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Center
Adams, Sidney (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Arnold, Kristen (Weber State University, Interior Design)
The SMART Recovery Youth Rehabilitation Center will be designed to help youth gain the skills they need to recover from their addictions, and hopefully further eradicate such problems as homelessness in the Salt Lake area. By providing a rehabilitation facility that is welcoming and comfortable for struggling youth, I hope to create a supportive atmosphere where change can take place. This facility will be functional and safe for both staff and patients.
Facility design has a tremendous impact on patient safety. It impacts how people move through the building, how much of a given area staff can see at one time and how people feel when they are in specific spaces. (Sammer, 2018) Patient safety will be a top priority in the design of this facility, and anti-ligature products will be specified. This Youth Rehabilitation Facility will combine functionality with a calming aesthetic to make patients feel secure and at home, and to ensure a successful road to recovery. Everything from seating arrangements to recreational areas will be thoughtfully considered to encourage a supportive atmosphere. Studies show that therapeutic architecture immensely benefits drug patients, especially when environmental factors such as acoustics, smell, color schemes, views, and natural light are considered. (Abdelhay and Dewidar, 2016) In addition, sustainable products and practices will be sourced and implemented in effort to achieve LEED certification.
Faculty Advisor: Arnold, Kristen (Weber State University, Interior Design)
The SMART Recovery Youth Rehabilitation Center will be designed to help youth gain the skills they need to recover from their addictions, and hopefully further eradicate such problems as homelessness in the Salt Lake area. By providing a rehabilitation facility that is welcoming and comfortable for struggling youth, I hope to create a supportive atmosphere where change can take place. This facility will be functional and safe for both staff and patients.
Facility design has a tremendous impact on patient safety. It impacts how people move through the building, how much of a given area staff can see at one time and how people feel when they are in specific spaces. (Sammer, 2018) Patient safety will be a top priority in the design of this facility, and anti-ligature products will be specified. This Youth Rehabilitation Facility will combine functionality with a calming aesthetic to make patients feel secure and at home, and to ensure a successful road to recovery. Everything from seating arrangements to recreational areas will be thoughtfully considered to encourage a supportive atmosphere. Studies show that therapeutic architecture immensely benefits drug patients, especially when environmental factors such as acoustics, smell, color schemes, views, and natural light are considered. (Abdelhay and Dewidar, 2016) In addition, sustainable products and practices will be sourced and implemented in effort to achieve LEED certification.
Methods of Anti-Nuclear Protest: Grassroots Efforts and the MX Missile
Todd, Mariah (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Nigro, Jenna (Utah Valley University, History); Winans, Adrienne (Utah Valley University, History); McPherson, Kate (Utah Valley University, Honors/English)
This project is focused on anti-nuclear protests that took place in Utah surrounding the MX Missile System in the late 1970s and early 1980s. This anti-nuclear activism was especially interesting due to the diverse groups of people who were involved. Environmentalists, Native Americans, socialists, and various religious organizations, among others, all became involved in resisting the MX Missile in Utah. The purpose of this project is to analyze the ways in which these activists managed to be successful and come together behind a common cause. This will largely look at the methods or tactics employed by these activists, how religious organizations played a role, and how the political landscape of Utah allowed for or encouraged such activism to take root and become successful. These issues will be studied through analysis of primary source records from numerous activists who were directly involved in the protests. This research will showcase how activists used different methods to unify disparate groups against the MX Missile, which may include tactics such as localizing politics, garnering national attention, remaining nonpartisan, and seeking support from religious groups. This project was significant for both shedding light on an event that has been largely neglected in the field of anti-nuclear history and for contributing to the effort to localize nuclear history so as to better understand the intricacies of these events and ideas.
Faculty Advisor: Nigro, Jenna (Utah Valley University, History); Winans, Adrienne (Utah Valley University, History); McPherson, Kate (Utah Valley University, Honors/English)
This project is focused on anti-nuclear protests that took place in Utah surrounding the MX Missile System in the late 1970s and early 1980s. This anti-nuclear activism was especially interesting due to the diverse groups of people who were involved. Environmentalists, Native Americans, socialists, and various religious organizations, among others, all became involved in resisting the MX Missile in Utah. The purpose of this project is to analyze the ways in which these activists managed to be successful and come together behind a common cause. This will largely look at the methods or tactics employed by these activists, how religious organizations played a role, and how the political landscape of Utah allowed for or encouraged such activism to take root and become successful. These issues will be studied through analysis of primary source records from numerous activists who were directly involved in the protests. This research will showcase how activists used different methods to unify disparate groups against the MX Missile, which may include tactics such as localizing politics, garnering national attention, remaining nonpartisan, and seeking support from religious groups. This project was significant for both shedding light on an event that has been largely neglected in the field of anti-nuclear history and for contributing to the effort to localize nuclear history so as to better understand the intricacies of these events and ideas.
One Man's Trash: The Search for Fort Utah
McCaela Michas (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Allison, James (Family, home, and Social Sciences; Anthropology)
In 1849, settlers from the Salt Lake Valley ventured south to erect Fort Utah, Provo's first settlement. However, records from this time are scarce, and thus its exact position along the Provo River has since been lost through time. Efforts in the late 1930s and 1970s to establish the location of the fort were inconclusive. In the late 1990s, archaeologists from Brigham Young University and members of the Utah State Archaeological Society dug a series of test trenches near I-15 along the Provo River in hopes of finding tangible evidence of the fort and its location. Artifacts from this excavation include fragments of fauna bone, glass, ceramics, and metal, as well as pieces of brick, chalk, concrete, charcoal and a marble. While these artifacts appear to be historical and possibly connected to the fort, they had not yet been thoroughly analyzed until now. This paper will discuss the recent analysis of these artifacts to determine if the location of Fort Utah has finally been found.
Faculty Advisor: Allison, James (Family, home, and Social Sciences; Anthropology)
In 1849, settlers from the Salt Lake Valley ventured south to erect Fort Utah, Provo's first settlement. However, records from this time are scarce, and thus its exact position along the Provo River has since been lost through time. Efforts in the late 1930s and 1970s to establish the location of the fort were inconclusive. In the late 1990s, archaeologists from Brigham Young University and members of the Utah State Archaeological Society dug a series of test trenches near I-15 along the Provo River in hopes of finding tangible evidence of the fort and its location. Artifacts from this excavation include fragments of fauna bone, glass, ceramics, and metal, as well as pieces of brick, chalk, concrete, charcoal and a marble. While these artifacts appear to be historical and possibly connected to the fort, they had not yet been thoroughly analyzed until now. This paper will discuss the recent analysis of these artifacts to determine if the location of Fort Utah has finally been found.
"Rebel Girls" Reevaluated: Patriarchy and Gender in the Lives of Three Wobbly Women
Andersen, Jacob (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: DeSchweinitz, Rebecca (Brigham Young University, History)
During the 1912 Lawrence, Massachusetts Textile Strike, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, a speaker and organizer for the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), planned to address local workers at a Greek Catholic Church. Before she stepped to the pulpit, a local priest forbid her from speaking because she was a woman. She only spoke to the audience that night after she convinced the priest that she "spoke as an organizer, not as a woman." This incident hints at the complex and often contradictory role of gender in the IWW. Indeed, many scholars have argued that while the IWW preached universal human equality, in practice they maintained a limited, domestic vision for women. Francis Shor, in particular, has argues that the IWW's approach to gender constituted a kind of "virile syndicalism," in which their aggressive tactics were a form of "masculine posturing" in defiance of industrial capitalism. While an important insight about the role of gender in the IWW, few scholars have used his theory to understand women's experiences in the IWW. This paper will examine the role of gender in the IWW through the lives and experiences of three women: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Matilda Robbins, and Jane Street. All three women came from different backgrounds and made unique contributions to the IWW, yet the IWW's virile syndicalism circumscribed their activities within the bounds of the IWW's narrow gender ideology. The lives of these women suggest that virile syndicalism in the IWW limited the role of Wobbly women and curbed the IWW's ability to effectively organize workers in the long term. Indeed, the IWW notoriously struggled to maintain an organized base of workers; their distinctly gendered tactics may help explain why.
Faculty Advisor: DeSchweinitz, Rebecca (Brigham Young University, History)
During the 1912 Lawrence, Massachusetts Textile Strike, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, a speaker and organizer for the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), planned to address local workers at a Greek Catholic Church. Before she stepped to the pulpit, a local priest forbid her from speaking because she was a woman. She only spoke to the audience that night after she convinced the priest that she "spoke as an organizer, not as a woman." This incident hints at the complex and often contradictory role of gender in the IWW. Indeed, many scholars have argued that while the IWW preached universal human equality, in practice they maintained a limited, domestic vision for women. Francis Shor, in particular, has argues that the IWW's approach to gender constituted a kind of "virile syndicalism," in which their aggressive tactics were a form of "masculine posturing" in defiance of industrial capitalism. While an important insight about the role of gender in the IWW, few scholars have used his theory to understand women's experiences in the IWW. This paper will examine the role of gender in the IWW through the lives and experiences of three women: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Matilda Robbins, and Jane Street. All three women came from different backgrounds and made unique contributions to the IWW, yet the IWW's virile syndicalism circumscribed their activities within the bounds of the IWW's narrow gender ideology. The lives of these women suggest that virile syndicalism in the IWW limited the role of Wobbly women and curbed the IWW's ability to effectively organize workers in the long term. Indeed, the IWW notoriously struggled to maintain an organized base of workers; their distinctly gendered tactics may help explain why.
American Pragmatists through the lens of Jean-Paul Sartre's "Writing for One's Age"
Doman, Abby (Dixie State University)
Faculty Advisor: Wolfe, John (Dixie State University, Humanities)
Jean-Paul Sartre argues in his essay, “Writing for One’s Age,” that all pieces of literature are influenced by the time period they are written in. This essay takes Sartre’s argument and analyzes the select works from four American pragmatists – Charles Sanders Peirce, John Dewey, William James, and Richard Rorty – through this lens. I also review Sartre’s literature in the light of his own philosophy. By taking into consideration the impact of prominent ideas of each pragmatist’s time period, a conclusion can be drawn for which ideas are relevant for the age they were written for and which ideas are consistent for the human condition. Therefore, the philosophies of American pragmatists can be reexamined to eliminate the contamination of the historical context.
Faculty Advisor: Wolfe, John (Dixie State University, Humanities)
Jean-Paul Sartre argues in his essay, “Writing for One’s Age,” that all pieces of literature are influenced by the time period they are written in. This essay takes Sartre’s argument and analyzes the select works from four American pragmatists – Charles Sanders Peirce, John Dewey, William James, and Richard Rorty – through this lens. I also review Sartre’s literature in the light of his own philosophy. By taking into consideration the impact of prominent ideas of each pragmatist’s time period, a conclusion can be drawn for which ideas are relevant for the age they were written for and which ideas are consistent for the human condition. Therefore, the philosophies of American pragmatists can be reexamined to eliminate the contamination of the historical context.
Are You Smarter Than an English Major? How Grammar Checkers are Perceived by Upper Division English Majors
Roberts, Katie (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Kinkead, Joyce (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)
The internet has provided students with countless opportunities for success and learning, online grammar checkers and blogs playing a significant role for many in their pursuit of education. Grammar blogs offer tips, tricks, and examples to help people learn grammar, while grammar checker websites, such as Grammarly, use AI technology to automatically review pieces of writing, sometimes offering plagiarism checks and citation suggestions with a paid subscription. While these websites proclaim to make all the difference in students' writing, are English majors finding these helpful? This research seeks to understand what upper-division English majors think of online grammar checkers.
Faculty Advisor: Kinkead, Joyce (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)
The internet has provided students with countless opportunities for success and learning, online grammar checkers and blogs playing a significant role for many in their pursuit of education. Grammar blogs offer tips, tricks, and examples to help people learn grammar, while grammar checker websites, such as Grammarly, use AI technology to automatically review pieces of writing, sometimes offering plagiarism checks and citation suggestions with a paid subscription. While these websites proclaim to make all the difference in students' writing, are English majors finding these helpful? This research seeks to understand what upper-division English majors think of online grammar checkers.
Far from Grub Street: Satire in George Knapton's Portraits of the Society of Dilettanti
Noorda, Meredith (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Belnap, Heather (Humanities, Comparative Arts and Letters); Swensen, James (Humanities, Comparative Arts and Letters)
In 1740 the Society of Dilettanti, an 18th century group of English gentlemen aiming to encourage an appreciation for the antiquities they had seen on their Grand Tours, decided to commission from George Knapton portraits of all their members. In the typical artistic vein of the early Dilettanti, the portraits, featuring many of the members in costume, exhibit a milieu where the erudite meets the comical to the outright lewd, a reflection of one of the Dilettanti's mottos of seria ludo, or "serious things done in a playful spirit." Within the wider context of London public life, these are also clear examples of the influence of the masquerade, and for a group closely aligned with the Italian Grand Tour, and thought to have been initially conceived in Venice, the appeal of those references is clear and the Dilettanti's use of them has been commented on in scholarship. However, the use of costume in George Knapton's portraits can reveal more than a simple love of Continental entertainments. Aligning oneself with the Continent and the East, as the sitters do in Knapton's works, was a subversive choice in relation to the normative British culture of the mid-18th century, in which the encroachment of Continental entertainments and fashion, among other things, was frequently feared. These portraits must be read with an acknowledgement of the ways in which the masquerade and the Italianate was seen in 18th century England, where it was not an accepted form of entertainment as on the Continent, but a controversial pastime. In turn the portraits can reveal where the Dilettanti situated themselves, and how they wanted to be represented�as internationally inclined participators in these foreign entertainments, boldly partaking in its vices, championing its creative possibilities in the self-fashioning of an individual.
Faculty Advisor: Belnap, Heather (Humanities, Comparative Arts and Letters); Swensen, James (Humanities, Comparative Arts and Letters)
In 1740 the Society of Dilettanti, an 18th century group of English gentlemen aiming to encourage an appreciation for the antiquities they had seen on their Grand Tours, decided to commission from George Knapton portraits of all their members. In the typical artistic vein of the early Dilettanti, the portraits, featuring many of the members in costume, exhibit a milieu where the erudite meets the comical to the outright lewd, a reflection of one of the Dilettanti's mottos of seria ludo, or "serious things done in a playful spirit." Within the wider context of London public life, these are also clear examples of the influence of the masquerade, and for a group closely aligned with the Italian Grand Tour, and thought to have been initially conceived in Venice, the appeal of those references is clear and the Dilettanti's use of them has been commented on in scholarship. However, the use of costume in George Knapton's portraits can reveal more than a simple love of Continental entertainments. Aligning oneself with the Continent and the East, as the sitters do in Knapton's works, was a subversive choice in relation to the normative British culture of the mid-18th century, in which the encroachment of Continental entertainments and fashion, among other things, was frequently feared. These portraits must be read with an acknowledgement of the ways in which the masquerade and the Italianate was seen in 18th century England, where it was not an accepted form of entertainment as on the Continent, but a controversial pastime. In turn the portraits can reveal where the Dilettanti situated themselves, and how they wanted to be represented�as internationally inclined participators in these foreign entertainments, boldly partaking in its vices, championing its creative possibilities in the self-fashioning of an individual.
Going Cold Turkey? How Coal Bed Village Affects The Subsistence Strategies of Montezuma Canyon
Bedard, Tenaya G. (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Allison, James (Brigham Young University, Anthropology); Chase, Zach (Brigham Young University, Anthropology)
This research discusses the analysis of the faunal bones excavated from Coal Bed Village and how it compares to the other Montezuma Canyon sites in southwestern Utah. During the Pueblo I-III time periods, previous analysis for Montezuma Canyon sites has found a trend of subsistence strategies that rely heavily on cottontail rabbit for Pueblo I, deer for Pueblo II, and turkey for Pueblo III. This research determines that Coal Bed Village follows these trends, but we see an unexpected increase of cottontail rabbit in the Pueblo III period. This research discusses the possible reasons for this increase and how it could change our understanding of subsistence strategies among Montezuma Canyon in the Southwest during the Puebloan eras.
Faculty Advisor: Allison, James (Brigham Young University, Anthropology); Chase, Zach (Brigham Young University, Anthropology)
This research discusses the analysis of the faunal bones excavated from Coal Bed Village and how it compares to the other Montezuma Canyon sites in southwestern Utah. During the Pueblo I-III time periods, previous analysis for Montezuma Canyon sites has found a trend of subsistence strategies that rely heavily on cottontail rabbit for Pueblo I, deer for Pueblo II, and turkey for Pueblo III. This research determines that Coal Bed Village follows these trends, but we see an unexpected increase of cottontail rabbit in the Pueblo III period. This research discusses the possible reasons for this increase and how it could change our understanding of subsistence strategies among Montezuma Canyon in the Southwest during the Puebloan eras.
How to Raise Our Daughters to be Leaders: A study on the similarities between women serving in politics or public office
Chapman, Abigail (Southern Utah University)
Faculty Advisor: Law, Donna (Southern Utah University, Government Relations)
Currently, women make up fifty-one percent of the total population in the United States, and only twenty-four percent in the U. S. Congress. (Rutgers Institute for Politics) This paper seeks to examine some possible factors for this disproportionate gender representation in politics. Using both primary data [interviews] and secondary data [biographies, autobiographies, or documentaries] of women serving in politics or public service, I will explore the similarities in upbringing found amongst women who serve on the federal, state, and local levels. Then, I analyze the narratives of the women to highlight the similarities in upbringing between them, which include: exposure to politics or public service at a young age, similar personality traits, strong work ethic, and the influence of strong mothers. I also analyze the possible influence that learning a musical instrument and the amount of time spent with extended family has in the lives of some of these women. Research supports that the similarities found among these women potentially leads to career output and could be a factor as to why these women choose careers in politics or public service. In conclusion, I discuss the reasons why we need more women to serve in politics, particularly why young girls need to be encouraged to choose careers in politics.
Faculty Advisor: Law, Donna (Southern Utah University, Government Relations)
Currently, women make up fifty-one percent of the total population in the United States, and only twenty-four percent in the U. S. Congress. (Rutgers Institute for Politics) This paper seeks to examine some possible factors for this disproportionate gender representation in politics. Using both primary data [interviews] and secondary data [biographies, autobiographies, or documentaries] of women serving in politics or public service, I will explore the similarities in upbringing found amongst women who serve on the federal, state, and local levels. Then, I analyze the narratives of the women to highlight the similarities in upbringing between them, which include: exposure to politics or public service at a young age, similar personality traits, strong work ethic, and the influence of strong mothers. I also analyze the possible influence that learning a musical instrument and the amount of time spent with extended family has in the lives of some of these women. Research supports that the similarities found among these women potentially leads to career output and could be a factor as to why these women choose careers in politics or public service. In conclusion, I discuss the reasons why we need more women to serve in politics, particularly why young girls need to be encouraged to choose careers in politics.
Muslim Women Combating Discrimination in Modern Law through Twitter
Sorensen, Brianne (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Edenfield, Avery (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)
I investigate how #burkaban is used by Twitter users to point out the compounded marginalization of Muslim women in modern Western law, particularly Denmark, through discriminatory practices in government.
Historically, Denmark has a fewer number of Muslim communities compared to other modern Western societies. I chose to research Denmark because Muslim communities are already severely marginalized socially, economically, and physically. Denmark also uses discriminatory speech in their lawmaking to intentionally discriminate against Muslim communities.
I unpack and use the framework of Crenshaw's ideas on intersectionality from "Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex," but instead of demarginalization of the intersection of sex and race, I examine how hashtag use points out the marginalization of the intersection of sex and religion. I also use Koerber's "Toward a Feminist Rhetoric of Technology" to bridge the gap between how technology research intersects with discriminatory political practices. I utilize Frost's Apparent Feminism methodology framework to analyze how hashtags are used to address political trends that are intentionally discriminatory, particularly towards Muslim women. I further utilize this methodology to look specifically at how this hashtag is used to pose an intervention of discriminatory politics.
My conclusions determine who is using the #burkaban on Twitter, whether it is Muslim women or allies of Muslim women. I argue different hashtag users deploy #burkaban towards different goals for political intervention in Denmark. I also conclude and argue that Twitter has an ethical responsibility to take action towards political intervention in Denmark.
Faculty Advisor: Edenfield, Avery (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)
I investigate how #burkaban is used by Twitter users to point out the compounded marginalization of Muslim women in modern Western law, particularly Denmark, through discriminatory practices in government.
Historically, Denmark has a fewer number of Muslim communities compared to other modern Western societies. I chose to research Denmark because Muslim communities are already severely marginalized socially, economically, and physically. Denmark also uses discriminatory speech in their lawmaking to intentionally discriminate against Muslim communities.
I unpack and use the framework of Crenshaw's ideas on intersectionality from "Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex," but instead of demarginalization of the intersection of sex and race, I examine how hashtag use points out the marginalization of the intersection of sex and religion. I also use Koerber's "Toward a Feminist Rhetoric of Technology" to bridge the gap between how technology research intersects with discriminatory political practices. I utilize Frost's Apparent Feminism methodology framework to analyze how hashtags are used to address political trends that are intentionally discriminatory, particularly towards Muslim women. I further utilize this methodology to look specifically at how this hashtag is used to pose an intervention of discriminatory politics.
My conclusions determine who is using the #burkaban on Twitter, whether it is Muslim women or allies of Muslim women. I argue different hashtag users deploy #burkaban towards different goals for political intervention in Denmark. I also conclude and argue that Twitter has an ethical responsibility to take action towards political intervention in Denmark.