University Writing & Research Conference Program Spring 2025

University Writing & Research Conference
Thursday, February 27th &
Friday, February 28th
Online via Zoom, In-Person in Ames Hall

Spring 2025 Conference Schedule

The conference comprises 9 panels, with one session per time band. All panel sessions are ~50-60
minutes in length. Please arrive on time and plan to stay for the entire session, including the Q&A,
which is an important component of the panel discussion.

Three Sessions will be conducted via Zoom.

Thursday, February 27th:

• 6:00pm
• 7:15pm
• 8:30pm

All other sessions held in-person in Ames B101, Mount Vernon Campus.

Photography and Videography Privacy Notice
To facilitate participation to GW events and/or campus visits, we may collect identification, contact information, payment information, and possibly health information as relevant for the purpose of the event. Photos and/or videos of attendees to university sponsored events may be taken and shared on university social media accounts and/or university websites.

University Writing and Research Conference Sessions:

Session 1, Community Engaged Scholarship: Service through Academic Skills (Thursday, February 27th, 6 pm)

Hosted by the Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service.

Virtual Session, join via Zoom

Moderator: Wendy Wagner, Nashman Faculty Fellow for Academic Service-Learning

Reframing the Canopy: How Media Frames Impact Casey Trees’ Mission
Raghav Raj
Professor: Ryder

This project examines how media framing influences public perceptions of trees and explores strategies Casey Trees, a D.C.-based nonprofit, can employ to reframe these narratives to advance its mission of restoring the urban tree canopy (UTC). Using frame analysis, this study identifies two dominant frames: the Social Progress frame, which highlights trees as essential infrastructure promoting equity and mitigating climate change, and the Violent Crime frame, which perpetuates myths of trees fostering criminal activity. By analyzing local media sources, such as the DCist and WAMU, this paper evaluates how these frames shape public attitudes toward Casey Trees’ efforts and identifies opportunities for reframing. Academic research and media analyses reveal that the Social Progress frame aligns with scholarly consensus on UTC’s benefits, while the Violent Crime frame contradicts data linking increased tree canopy to reduced crime. This project proposes a communication plan leveraging research-backed reframing techniques, such as myth-busting campaigns and clear, relatable messaging, to address community concerns and emphasize trees’ role in fostering safe, equitable communities. By shifting public perception and reinforcing positive frames, Casey Trees can strengthen support for its initiatives and contribute to sustainable urban development in Washington, D.C.

Cryptocurrency: A Revolutionary Digital Promise
Sienna Vaughn
Professor: Hijazi

Community Organizations: Mosaic and Legal Aid DC
This research paper focuses on the ways refugees utilize cryptocurrency by exploring the benefits,
harms, and empirical examples of cryptocurrency usage. My community service at Mozaic DMV
gave me insight into the difficulty of creating a new life as an asylum seeker through interviewing
participants of a career mentoring workshop. This realization about such drastic change in every
aspect of life inspired my research into differing bank systems and how cryptocurrency can resolve
this issue. I also served with Legal Aid DC in administrative work to monitor landlord and tenant
court. This paper discusses how people get cryptocurrency to avoid volatile economies and soaring
inflation, something that could potentially also benefit tenants struggling to pay rent due to
economic problems in the United States.

Session 2, Media Narratives and Public Perception (Thursday, February 27th, 7:15pm)

Virtual Session, join via Zoom

Moderator: Alexa Alice Joubin, Professor of English, Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Theatre, International Affairs, and East Asian Languages and Cultures

Stooping Down or Rising Up?: Journalism Joins the Hunt for Likes and Follows
Mahika (MJ) Jhamvar
Professor: Richter

This presentation examines the relation between social media and journalism, talks about what journalism currently looks like in the context of social media and discusses what is to be done moving forward. Embedding ‘bite-sized’ chunks of news in a sea of social media entertainment may be our only way to create a generation of well-informed young minds. Traditional journalism is bland and outdated in front of up-and-coming social media trends and consequently, news reading is a dwindling habit. For a seat at the Instagram influencer table, news outlets must start cutting the content down, focus on graphic design and tune into photojournalism like never before — all without losing the bottomline.’; while the ‘Content Analysis Annotated Bibliography’ project operated on the research question ‘How can news channels like the Washington Post and New York Times tailor their information for publication on social media sites like Instagram?’ — in this conference, there will be an exploration of what happened, what’s happening, and what should happen with regard to journalism on social media, not just social media journalism. 

Reproduction Politics in Flux: How Do the Presidential Campaigns from 2012 to 2024 Advertise Abortion Over Time?
Frances Strassmann
Professor: Svoboda

Using rhetorical and visual analysis, along with the principles of Moral Foundations Theory, I analyze the tactics behind all 37 publicly accessible presidential campaign ads related to abortion between 2012 and 2024 and how they shaped their rhetoric surrounding women and reproductive health issues. By examining the strategies favored by each party and connecting them to the Moral Foundations Theory, my study relates these strategies to the moral foundations of the general electorate and their supporters to assess the effectiveness of their campaigning. I found that there was a general decline in the emphasis on abortion in advertisements until it surged again in the 2024 election cycle, likely due to the Dobbs decision in 2022. There was also an overall increase in the portrayal of only women and children and their individual stories, instead of relying solely on candidates or other celebrity/non-candidate politicians to convey their messages. Additionally, women candidates specifically using the liberty/oppression foundation to explicitly discuss abortion may have contributed to their losses, as pro-life women emphasized that foundation more than pro-choice women in that scenario. Overall, each party expressed their respective moral foundations in their advertisements, with a few exceptions. 

Session 3, Political Discourse on the Global Stage: Displacement, Identity, and Belonging (Thursday, February 27th, 8:30pm)

Virtual Session, join via Zoom

Moderator: Thomas Choate, Teaching Assistant Professor of Strategic Management & Public Policy

The Price of Freedom: The Relationship between the Prosperity of Iraqi Refugees and the West
Noor Jiwad
Professor: Hijazi

In 2003, the United States invaded Iraq in response to claims of Weapons of Mass Destruction, leading to widespread displacement and a humanitarian crisis. Research focus has primarily focused on the refugee crisis immediately following the war, thus only portraying the circumstances of an unsettled population. The long-term survival responses and unique challenges faced by the population have been largely unexplored, leaving Iraqi refugees in the West unsupported. This position paper uses a framework of prosperity, defined by three key pillars—(1) physical health, (2) mental health, and (3) economic health—to evaluate the long-term situation of the population. In doing so, the paper reveals that Iraqi refugees have struggled to integrate into Western societies, facing significant mental and physical challenges exacerbated by inadequate economic opportunities. The paper calls for financial reparations from the United States to support Iraqi refugees to rebuild their lives in the West. The global focus must shift from the immediate aftermath of displacement to providing support that bolsters prosperity for the Iraqi refugee population.

The Struggle Between Preservation and Adaptation: Afghan Migrants in the U.S.
Laiba Saeed
Professor: Abbas

The migration experience often involves balancing between preserving one's cultural heritage and adapting to the host country's norms. For Afghan migrants in the United States, this struggle is particularly pronounced as they navigate the complexities of identity, social integration, and generational divides. Afghan American communities, shaped by diverse ethnic backgrounds and histories of displacement, face unique challenges in maintaining cultural continuity while adapting to American life. While many seek to integrate into American society, the pressures of assimilation, the trauma of displacement, and the fragmentation of the diaspora often lead to a gradual erosion of cultural bonds, particularly among younger generations. This phenomenon, which can manifest in cultural "whitewashing" or the rejection of traditional practices, creates a complex relationship between Afghan migrants and their heritage as they navigate the challenges of blending their Afghan heritage with mainstream American culture, often coming at the cost of their cultural continuity.

An Island in Crisis: How Self Sabotage Has Led to Stagnation
Adriana Claudio
Professor: Wolfe

Through investigating how the two-party system in Puerto Rico helps explain why progress on the island has been ineffective, this paper reveals that progress in Puerto Rico has been ineffective because there is a problematic mix between status change and localized issues within the island’s political parties that has led Puerto Rico’s political system into a crisis. The stagnation in Puerto Rico’s progress despite the people's rising calls for change is rooted in a mix of the two distinct issues that obstruct the implementation of effective policy and hinder the way the Puerto Rican electorate can vote for change. This therefore creates an ineffective political system that discourages the people from voting, leaving Puerto Rico in a dysfunction that blocks feasible change. This paper backs this understanding by underlining the most apparent problematic associations: the creation of local economic policy reliant on the United States and the corruption in Puerto Rico’s voting system. Each section reveals how mixing status and local issues has created an incompetent government that has fostered a crisis and ultimately is causing stagnation. This paper also discusses the recent La Alianza coalition and how it demonstrates the benefits of separating the two issues.

Session 4, Bodily Autonomy and Political Control: The Intersection of Abortion, Health, and Rights in America (Friday, February 28th, 10am)

B101, Ames Hall

Moderator: Betsy Shimberg, Assistant Dean, Mount Vernon Campus

Heroic Villains: The Cyborgs of Type 1 Diabetes
Melina Collier
Professor: Myers

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when I was 11 years old. I seldom wrote about my experience living with the disease until my senior year of high school; I was a finalist for a personal literary essay competition where I described my relationship with my diabetic technology. I realized that despite my previous reservations about speaking on the topic, my story engages and educates others. Thus in my research project, the question I addressed is, “how does the medicalization of Type 1 Diabetes positively or negatively shape the experience of living with the condition?” My citations vary throughout each poem, aiming to breakdown the complexities used in medical scholarship. I use definitions in letter poetry, contrasting blog post opinions, artistic interpretations, documented visits with my endocrinologist, title references to mythology and an acceptance speech, and the characterization of scholarly sources to demonstrate that this topic relies on a multitude of perspectives, both emotional and scientific. Through poetry, my research found that the experience of living with Type 1 Diabetes cannot be limited to medical terms and technology user guides; it must also be explored on an emotional level through the voices of people who lived with the condition.

Sensationalism Over Sensitivity: An Analysis of Western Media’s Portrayal of Yazidi Women’s Experiences Under ISIS
Tanya Syed
Professor: Hijazi

This paper critically examines the portrayal of Yazidi women in Western media during and after the 2014 Yazidi genocide, focusing on the impact of sensationalist narratives. The Yazidi genocide, perpetrated by ISIS, subjected Yazidi women to unspeakable atrocities, including sexual violence and enslavement. Western media's coverage, however, has often fixated on graphic and dehumanizing depictions, reducing these survivors to passive victims while disregarding their resilience, agency, and ongoing efforts at recovery. Using a transnational feminist framework and Augusta Del Zotto’s media constructs, this analysis explores how media tropes, such as the "Passive Refugee" and "Rape Survivor," perpetuate harmful stereotypes and reinforce cycles of victimization. A case study of articles from British and American media highlights the questionable reporting ethics of these outlets. The paper argues that such reporting not only distorts public understanding but also undermines survivor dignity, complicates reintegration, and reinforces societal stigma. This paper advocates for ethical, survivor-centered journalism as a means to amplify narratives of resilience, ensuring balanced media representation that honors the dignity and strength of survivors while fostering societal understanding and empathy.

Session 5, Examining Institutional Failures Across Crises: Invisibility, Marginalization, and Vulnerability (Friday, February 28th, 11:30am)

B101, Ames Hall

Moderator: Kelly Grogg, Director of Research Services, The George Washington University Libraries

Refugee Camps and Disability: A Critical Analysis of Invisibility, Marginalization, and Vulnerability
Zoe Zimmerman & Heather Macdonald
Professor: Hijazi

Disabled refugees encounter significant barriers in accessing essential services and are frequently overlooked in policy, advocacy, and research. Despite making up a large proportion of migrants, they are often left out of the immigration conversation and are particularly vulnerable to discrimination, violence, exploitation, and exclusion post-displacement. The unique needs they have are often neglected, perpetuating systems of oppression that prevent disabled individuals from readily accessing the same spheres of society that their abled peers do. Our combined paper offers a nuanced examination of the barriers to inclusivity and equity disabled refugees face in refugee camp settings. Section one discusses intellectual and developmental disabilities as they manifest in refugee camps and during the registration and identification process—examining the impact on gender-based violence, health, education, and support services. Section two studies barriers to accessibility and lack of access to comprehensive healthcare. We jointly analyze the concepts of invisibility, vulnerability, justice, and intersectionality as they inform the experiences of disabled refugees. We bring to our research our perspectives as disabled authors in advocating for similarly disabled voices within refugee populations. The importance of centering disabled voices in disability research and reporting cannot be overstated, just as the importance of centering refugee voices in refugee research and reporting is equally paramount.

Reputation Over Responsibility: How Stellenbosch University’s Inaction Perpetuates Gender-Based Violence
Aiden de Lange
Professor: Smith

This project investigates gender-based violence at Stellenbosch University, focusing on institutional failures and cultural norms that perpetuate violence. A recent sexual assault incident at Metanoia Residence Hall, where trespassers allegedly committed acts of misconduct, catalyzed student protests and the creation of a Gender-Based Violence Memorandum. Despite its claims of "zero-tolerance" policies, Stellenbosch's inadequate disciplinary actions and outdated codes of conduct reveal systemic gaps in addressing survivors’ needs and holding perpetrators accountable. The memorandum highlights inconsistencies in university responses, insufficient survivor support, and vague policies that fail to prioritize student safety. These failures reflect broader societal challenges in South Africa, where cultural norms like lobola (bride price) and Ukubekezela (endurance in marriage) reinforce male dominance and normalize gender-based violence. Additionally, societal victim-blaming further perpetuate a patriarchal culture that excuses offenders. By understanding Stellenbosch’s failures within South Africa’s broader struggles, this research highlights the need to challenge both institutional and cultural complicity surrounding gender-based violence.

The Politicization of Institutional Failures: The Investigation into Benghazi
William Loosbrock
Professor: Sauer

Following the September 11th, 2012, attacks on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, a highly politicized investigation failed to address the institutional and systemic failures that contributed to the tragedy. The events exposed three distinct phases of risk communication failures. First, prior to the attack, the State Department understated the urgency of security concerns raised by personnel on the ground. Second, the internal Accountability Review Board investigation identified systemic vulnerabilities but failed to effectively publicize its findings. Finally, congressional investigations became overshadowed by partisan rhetoric, prioritizing political blame over systemic reform. The underlying issue in these failures was the differing risk perceptions among key stakeholders: State Department personnel, politicians, and the media. To the State Department, the attack underscored a physical risk to personnel in high-threat environments. Politicians saw the event as an opportunity to undermine their rivals, prioritizing political gain over reform. Meanwhile, media outlets sensationalized the tragedy, creating political controversy rather than examining its institutional implications. This analysis explores these phases and the competing narratives of stakeholders, revealing how overpoliticization exacerbated institutional failures. It provides recommendations to strengthen risk communication, improve institutional resilience, and realign stakeholder priorities to prevent future disasters. 

Session 6, Art, Identity, and Power (Friday, February 28th, 1pm)

B101, Ames Hall

Moderator: Taylor Baugher, Research Services Librarian for Undergraduate Research, The George Washington University Libraries

Flowers, Fruits, and Feminism: Women's Voices in Dutch Still-Life Painting
Alexa Brown
Professor: Pollack

This paper examines how still-life painting, while often considered insignificant, reveals deep cultural meanings and serves as a platform for creativity and resistance, particularly for women artists, thus broadening the understanding of art, gender, and societal norms. To do so, the historical origins of the art form are briefly explained outside of the context of women artists. The hierarchy of genres is also explored which looks into the prevailing negative attitude towards the form in art history and connects it to women's roles as artists, buyers, and subjects in Dutch Art and beyond. In doing so, the paper looks at women's attraction to still-life, focusing on floral symbolism, vanitas themes, and gendered religious iconography. Finally, it connects the genre to modern feminist movements, emphasizing its enduring significance.

Polka and Identity in Paraguay
Nicole Vega Ayala
Professor: Myers

By the 1860s, Europeans exported polka, a Czechoslovakian music genre born in the 1830s, across the Atlantic to Paraguay where the indigenous Guarani language and ballroom dance were incorporated to form a uniquely Paraguayan tradition. Having binary and tertiary rhythms and modifications made to the European guitar and harp between the 16th and 20th centuries sets it apart from the Czechoslovakian polka. Love, nature, and nationalism are common themes that spark ancestral pride. Francisco Solano Lopez led Paraguay into the War of Triple Alliance (1864-1870) against Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, which decimated the country, killing up to 90% of the men. At this time, polkas were crafted to keep morale up. In this research-based poetry project, I explore the connection between song, identity, and politics. I tackle the question: How does the Paraguayan polka relate to identity within Paraguay’s historical context and current diasporic communities in the United States?

The New Face of Empire: Dissecting Orientalism Over Time
Nour Mokbel
Professor: Abbas

This research paper observes how Orientalism has shaped Western perspectives of the MENA (Middle East & North Africa), both in terms of individual perceptions shaped by pop culture, as well as international policy. It primarily focuses on Neo-Orientalism, which progressed in the late 20th to early 21st century after diverging from the Old Orientalism of the 19th century. The paper compares an imperialist Old Orientalism which exoticized the Middle East as a place of mystery and sensuality, with a modern Neo-Orientalism that frames the MENA as a hostile threat to democracy. The project compiles evidence from Western pop culture such as 1980s video games to Hollywood Blockbusters, while also referencing aggressive foreign policy measures. Ultimately, the paper argues that Neo-Orientalism is more dangerous than its former counterpart as it subtly transforms the MENA from a colonial fantasy that ought to be civilized, but not destroyed, to a rabid enemy that must be defeated, often with immense force.  

Session 7, Shaping Meaning: Visual Messaging and the Impact on Justice in the Public Sphere (Friday, February 28th, 2:30pm)

B101, Ames Hall

Moderator: Jeffrey Brand, Associate Provost, Undergraduate Affairs and Special Programs, Associate Professor of Philosophy

Framing the Storm: Analysis of Political Cartoons on Hurricanes Helene and Milton
Priya Giyanani
Professor: Svoboda

Climate Change remains one of the most critical and urgent issues in society today, shaping political rhetoric and actions across both parties. This research analyzes the approaches of left- and right-wing perspectives through examining political cartoons depicting Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. This study focuses on thirty-four collected cartoons from both ideological groups based on their relevance to the hurricanes, excluding moderate representations. Haidt’s Moral Foundations Theory was the methodological framework for this research to determine how each group frames climate change. The exhibits were further analyzed utilizing social semiotics to investigate how each party interprets climate change through visual messaging.  The analysis hypothesizes that liberal cartoons place an emphasis on the care/harm moral foundation, while right-wing cartoons focus on authority/subversion and sanctity/degradation. The findings of this study reject this hypothesis and reveal surprising trends, offering insight into potential psychological and ideological differences in how climate change is framed in each group. 

The Trial by the Media: Spectacle of Justice and Gender Biases in Gone Girl
Karla Cordero-Ortega
Professor: Tomlinson

In an era of constant engagement with the media, public perception has become increasingly susceptible to manipulation through mass media saturation. David Fincher’s 2014 film Gone Girl, adapted from Gillian Flynn’s novel, explores the effects of such saturation on public perception, particularly in legal cases. The film follows Amy Dunne, who stages her disappearance to seek revenge on her abusive husband, Nick Dunne. Her disappearance gains national media attention, with news outlets portraying Nick as the primary suspect in what the public assumes to be Amy’s murder. Gone Girl underscores how legal cases can be swayed by the court of public opinion, where sensationalist narratives often overshadow evidence. The film intersects with the broader context of the #MeToo movement, which raises awareness about abuse, rape culture, and the tendency to cast women as victims and men as aggressors. Both Gone Girl and the #MeToo movement highlight how media narratives shape public perception of abuse and gender roles. Additionally, analyzing Gone Girl alongside the Depp v. Heard trial reveals how gender narratives and media sensationalism influence public opinion, the critique central to Gone Girl. Though media is often considered unbiased, Gone Girl suggests it distorts legal perception by perpetuating gender narratives.

The Effects of Passive Online Media Exposure on Early Childhood Language Acquisition
Ann Cautela
Professor: Michiels

This paper examines the effects of passive online media exposure on early childhood language acquisition. Children’s screen exposure has been increasing over time, with screens being introduced at younger ages. This raises concerns for how increasing screen time could be impacting early childhood development, specifically regarding language. This paper evaluates some of the research done on passive online media exposure and early childhood primary language development thus far, and explores possible factors for why studies could be having varying results. Vocabulary acquisition and social skill development specifically were assessed. It was found that more research focusing on variables such as educational media and parental co-viewing could provide important insights into screen time’s impact, as these two variables seem to potentially impact study outcomes. Specifically, they could potentially play a role in mitigating the negative effects of high screen time. This could have important implications for parents and educators who determine how much time their children spend passively engaging with online media.

Session 8, Life in the Margins: Race, Health, and Sexuality (Friday, February 28th, 4pm)

B101, Ames Hall

Moderator: Colette Coleman, Vice Provost and Dean of Students, Division for Student Affairs

On Race and Religion: Haitian Vodou Through the Western Eye
Paul Dignan
Professor: Kristensen

My project delves into the sociocultural impact that Vodou has had on Haitian culture. My interest in tackling this topic was due to both my fascination with understanding the development and significance this religion has had on shaping Haiti’s history. Additionally, I wanted to explore in detail how American views on Haiti and Haitian people are often enforced by outdated and mischaracterized stereotypes through the lens of how African diasporic religions such as Vodou have been portrayed by western media. Central to my essay’s message is how most people's ideas about Vodou have only been codified by the depictions of Vodou as a demonic and outwardly hostile religion in popular culture through American literature, film, and media. Much of the fear surrounding Vodou comes out of ignorance of the religion due to the years of persecution and negative depictions it has had to endure. Vodou has been used as a scapegoat for much of Haiti’s problems which has led to people demonizing the religion even further for the tragedies Haiti has faced and as justification for the treatment of Haitians by the United States and more recently the fear mongering surrounding Haitian migrants coming to America. As such I wanted to convey to the audience an accurate look into Haitian Vodou as a religion and a source of connecting members of the African diaspora together through a shared identity and culture. The disciplines that I used in researching my topic were specifically sociocultural anthropology and theology as one of the primary concepts I explore is how religion’s form and develops over time, taking into account the cultural and social processes that lead to it forming as a result. The other primary concept is the way in which racism and fears surrounding African people lead to the scapegoating of African traditions and beliefs for the issues they may face. The topics that I specifically address through my essay include: The significance West African religions have had on the development of African diasporic religions such as Haitian Vodou through syncretism. The cultural perspectives on Haitian Vodou and how it is viewed through the lens of the general public in relation to its portrayal in western media through shows and literature. How the persecution and mischaracterization of Vodou is linked to historical racism against members of the African diaspora. And lastly, how Vodou has evolved over the years in contemporary society to survive and endure.

Queering Shakespeare: Frameworks for Homosexuality in Renaissance England
Ryan Hustedt
Professor: Pollack

In recent years, multiple high profile reinterpretations of Shakespeare’s plays have featured queer characters and storylines, despite the fact that the source material largely lacks a basis for this trend. However, these productions play an important role in a broader tradition of same-sex attraction that was also present in Shakespeare’s time. By examining the artifacts of the era, I identify how Elizabethan England understood homosexuality and several mythological or contemporary examples of same-sex attraction, including King James I and Christopher Marlowe. I also examine the scholarship that has identified Shakespeare himself and some of his writings as queer, tying them into the broader historical trend, and the limitation on this work imposed by the lack of a discrete queer identity in Renaissance England. However, the persistence of these beliefs and the advent of progressive interpretations of Shakespeare’s work proves the value of their presence in queer history.

Session 9, Navigating Change: Sanctuary Laws, Environmental Education, and Health in the Evolving Landscape of Higher Education (Friday, February 28th, 5:10pm)

B101, Ames Hall

Moderator: Peter Cohn, Director of Research Services, The George Washington University Libraries

Collaboration and Co-Learning in the Writing Center
Ruju Shah
Professor: Friedman

This article examines the impact of differing levels of knowledge on the power dynamic between consultant and client through an ethnographic study of George Washington University’s Writing Center. Over the course of five weeks of observations at the Writing Center, I recognized a pattern of success in terms of engagement and mutual learning during sessions in which both consultant and client lacked knowledge in the genre or field of writing that was being worked on. In this article, I analyze my observations through the lens of writing center scholarship in an effort to understand why these sessions were successful. This article concludes that lack of knowledge on the part of the consultant, client, or both, rather than being detrimental to learning, functions as an authority and power equalizing mechanism that allows the space for collaboration and co-learning in writing center sessions.

Chronically Collegiate: Transitioning to College Life with a Chronic Illness
Sarah Gerg
Professor: Schell

Chronic illnesses affect people of all ages all over the world, and the types of illnesses range across the body. Existing research in this field focuses more on the effects they can have on adults or on younger children, but how college students with chronic illnesses have to adapt to manage their symptoms and health to take care of themselves is a topic with much less published research. The work that other experts have done in this field neglects the transitionary period from high school to postsecondary education. Six interviews were conducted of first year college students with chronic illnesses, each of whom were asked questions about their diagnosis and illness(es). What resulted from this research was that students are struggling to get the rest they need in college, that they struggle with getting academic accommodations, and getting diagnosed is difficult. This gives these students more barriers to overcome in addition to their education. The findings from this study suggest that future researchers direct their attention towards investigating whether medication has anything to do with the results that were found, or the experiences they had with the medical field and how those experiences impacted their lives and illnesses.

Integrating Environmental Science In High School Curricula: A Path to Addressing Climate Change and AI's Impact
Sigal Goldstein
Professor: Richter

My Recommendation Report is about the connection between (AI) and environmental degradation becoming more widely documented. Therefore, I suggest that high school students should be required to take an Environmental Studies class to understand the correlation and how to address it effectively before this becomes irreversible. Future generations, not just the generation casting ballots, are most at risk and must be aware of the dying world they will inherit. Millions of people whose health and environment are at risk due to AIs' contribution to climate change deserve to know what is causing the sky to turn orange and impacting the fish we eat. Don’t you agree? Therefore, the Environmental Science course must educate on how the increased usage of AI contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, and pollution across all four terms. Students will explore AI's correlation to the environment through labs, lecture examples, assessments, and homework assignments.

Sanctuary Laws as Political Protest: Assessing the Potential for Immigration Reform
Valery Elizabeth Montenegro-Hernandez
Professor: Wolfe

Sanctuary laws, state and local policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, serve as a critical form of protest within the U.S. federalist system. Originating from the Sanctuary Movement of the 1980s, these laws protect non-citizens from removal procedures by resisting punitive federal measures and creating spaces for justice that federal policies often neglect. By preventing local authorities from aiding federal enforcement efforts, sanctuary laws seek to restore fairness and humanity to immigration enforcement, particularly in the face of dehumanizing narratives that portray immigrants of color as threats. This paper argues that sanctuary laws represent an effective form of democratic non-cooperation, distinct from civil disobedience, that offers both symbolic and practical protections for non-citizens. It examines the dual roles of sanctuary laws: shaping public opinion and safeguarding vulnerable populations. Additionally, the paper explores contemporary challenges, including federal opposition, lawsuits, and funding reductions, which threaten the sustainability of these policies. To address these challenges, the paper proposes structural solutions, such as state constitutional safeguards, cooperative agreements, and broad coalitions. By analyzing sanctuary laws through the lens of democratic non-cooperation, this study contributes to the discourse on immigration policy, federalism, and local governance, emphasizing their potential to drive systemic change and advance justice.