University Writing & Research Conference Program Fall 2024

University Writing & Research Conference
Thursday, September 26th &
Friday, September 27th
Online via Zoom, In-Person in Ames Hall

Fall 2024 Conference Schedule

The conference comprises 8 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.

Two Zoom Sessions will be conducted via Zoom.

Thursday, September 26th:

• 7:00 pm
• 8:30 pm

In person sessions will be held in B109 -and- B101, Ames Hall, Mount Vernon Campus on Friday, September 27th.

Special Events:

KEYNOTE: The Julian Clement Chase Award

Thursday, September 26th, 4pm-6:30pm
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 401a, Conference Center

The Julian Clement Chase Prizes honor undergraduate writing in and about the District of
Columbia. They are presented by the University Writing Program in collaboration with the Creative
Writing program and the Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service. Each
prize winner will share some of their beautiful work followed by a reception. 

The Julian Clement Chase Award is named in honor of Sgt. Julian Clement Chase, a native of
Washington, DC, who graduated in 2008 from DC's Wilson High School. While serving with the
United States Marine Corps, he was killed in action in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. He
was set to matriculate as a freshman at GW in Spring 2013. He knew and relished his city. His family
has established this prize in his honor to recognize others who explore DC with the intelligence and
exuberance that he did.

For more details please visit the 2024 JCC Awards Ceremony page!

University Writing and Research Conference Sessions:

Session 1, Vibrant Legacies: Art, Culture, and History (Thursday, September 26th, 7pm)

Virtual Session, join via Zoom

Moderator: Sarah-Kay Hurst, Teaching Associate Professor of French

Picturing Prosperity: A Quantitative Content Analysis of Dutch Still Lifes
Lucia Falzone
Professor: Pollack

How did the Dutch use still life paintings to represent their wealth and worldliness during the golden age? Were exotic, luxurious foods portrayed more often, and how can we be sure? In this research project, I used statistical analysis of 60 Still Lifes to compare the frequencies of different food groups in Dutch "bankjete," or banquet pieces, revealing concrete insights to the choices made by Dutch masters during the 17th century.

Unraveling the Patriarchy: The Evolution of Russian Women's Identity in Textile Art
Anna Oestreich
Professor: Pollack

What do changes in textile design reveal about the evolving status of women before and after the Russian Revolution? This research paper explores this central question by analyzing fabric works as a reflection of the lived experiences of women in the context of the socio-political environments in which they were created. By comparing traditional Russian folk embroidery with Constructivist textiles of the early Soviet period, this paper investigates how the implementation of Communism both expanded opportunities for women and maintained the patriarchal hierarchies that had historically oppressed them.

A Story of Intersectional Medicinal History in Latin America
Amanda Valenzuela
Professor: Kristensen

How did vastly different regional practices from distinct continents interact? In what spaces? What are examples of the fruits of cultural blending in modern expressions of regional culture? This essay examines the spiritual, ritualistic, and medicinal blending of African Indigenous and Latin American Indigenous peoples in Latin America. Using primary sources and scholarly peer-reviewed articles published about the region, the research process culminates in finding traces of cultural mixture stretching from Cartagena de Indias to deep in the Andean mountain range. Modern-day Hispanic medicinal practices are intrinsically linked to African practices that were spread by both groups simultaneously occupying a third space just out of sight of the colonizers. What we may call divination and witchcraft, is actually an art that has been honed throughout many generations and has been used as a means of survival. The purpose of this essay is to raise questions about both the role of a single surviving dominant narrative as well as the importance of African influence on the cultural formation of Latin America as we know it today.

Session 2, Social Stratification and Implications for Social Justice (Thursday, September 26th, 8:30pm)

Virtual Session, join via Zoom

Moderator: Ben Bronner, Teaching Assistant Professor, Department of Strategic Management and Public Policy

Beyond Language: Navigating Culturally Cognizant Volunteerism
Faye Tyschper
Professor: Ryder

Language is regarded as a unifying force in promoting discourse among those of a shared culture, and encouraging interaction with those external to it. However, connecting with individuals who possess a different cultural background goes beyond speaking the same language. Connection requires a cognizance of how another individual’s culture is socially perceived compared to one’s own, alongside the institutional forces that perpetuate such perceptions. This paper reflects on my time spent as a “Te Guio” mentor at the Latino Student Fund (LSF) offering a postsecondary planning workshop to predominantly Latinx students in Ward 4. I could speak the same language, but wondered how I could expect students to be interested in what I was saying. How could I expect them to listen to a White woman from a privileged background while they face disproportionate educational inequity? This paper seeks to answer: how should volunteers approach mentorship in communities with different cultural backgrounds? Also, what guidance should community organizations provide culturally-external volunteers on how to encompass cultural difference but not portray it as something that hinders connecting with a community?

Shadows on the Capitol: Unveiling the Silent Crisis on Homelessness in Washington D.C.
Amelia Eager
Professor: Ohno-Machado

Growing up in New York City, I was shielded from the harsh realities of homelessness by my parents, who encouraged me to avert my gaze from those less fortunate. This avoidance continued when we moved to the affluent suburbs of Massachusetts, where homelessness seemed like a distant issue. However, my perspective shifted dramatically upon arriving in Washington D.C. for college. Confronted daily by the stark contrast between the city’s wealth and the visible homelessness near the Capitol, I could no longer ignore the systemic injustices perpetuating this crisis. My project aimed to explore the deep-rooted issues behind homelessness and its historical evolution in America. Through photography and personal reflection, I documented the painful realities faced by the unhoused population in D.C. The recent surge in homelessness, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighted the fragility of housing stability and the systemic failures that contribute to this crisis. Ultimately, my work underscores that homelessness is not merely an economic issue but a reflection of broader societal inequalities. It challenges the ideal of the American Dream, revealing how systemic issues impede access to stability and opportunity. Addressing homelessness requires confronting these root causes and advocating for comprehensive solutions that align with the principles of justice and equity.

Rises in Urban Privatization and the Degradation of the “Third Space”
Kamara Butler
Professor: Erfani

Cities globally have seen rises in the privatization of public spaces, and due to this privatization, citizens have experienced growing social stratification and the creation of class enclaves. These enclaves directly contribute to decreasing access to safe and accessible communal spaces and subsequent declines in city-based physical and social activities. This can be attributed to urban planning allowing the private sector an increasing amount of physical domain within the community and enabling city planning that is contrary to the advice of sociologists and sociology-oriented architects. These naturalizations are unfavorable to the encouragement of social behaviors and, therefore, contribute to the degradation of social practices. Within this paper, the global issue of the private sector's encroachment on the public will be examined. Thus, this paper argues that this created norm in urban/city planning has resulted in a naturalization of un-informed architectural norms that have been furthered by rises in global capitalist dogma, which is represented in a prioritization of financial gain over individual health.

Session 3, Communicating Feminism in the Media (Friday, September 27th, 10am)

B109, Level B1, Ames Hall

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

Scrolling on the Lululemon Website: A Look Into the Harmful Effects of “Fitspiration” Photos
Tess Iosepovici
Professor: Smith

My project is about the harmful effects of the Lululemon website on women. Two ideas/concepts I bring up are "fitspiration" and the fit ideal. "Fitspiration" combines the words fitness and inspiration, and is usually used to depict fit women posting photos in gym attire. The fit ideal is based on both lean AND toned bodies. I argue that the Lululemon website exposes women to "fitspiration," which in turn, exposes them to the fit ideal as they view lean and toned body types. When women scroll through the Lululemon website, they are potentially at risk for internalizing the fit ideal, experiencing negative body image and mood because of what they see.

“Woman, Life, Freedom:” Lessons in Western Media’s Empowerment and Victimization of Feminist Protests Abroad
Julia Minassian
Professor: Smith

Feminism is inherently global, yet some activists and movements lack adequate cultural understanding in Western media. Specifically, when mass protests erupted in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, who was detained and harassed for incorrectly wearing her hijab, news outlets in the U.S. covered the movement in varying ways. Some were allies who amplified the calls to action, some thought they were being empowering by wanting to “save” the Iranian women, and some victimized the protesters while holding post-Roe America as a beacon of feminist triumph. My research uncovers the lens of the victim narrative and the Westernization of feminism to compare conservative and feminist-lensed news articles about the Mahsa Amini protest movements. I include discussions of Islamophobia, Western hegemony in the ideals of freedom, and the global fight for bodily autonomy to highlight the vitality of diverse perspectives within the feminist movement.

Session 4, Governance Failures & Policy Reform (Friday, September 27th, 11:30am)

B109, Level B1, Ames Hall

Moderator: Michael McCourt, Visiting Assistant Professor, University Honors Program

Humanitarian Violations toward LGBTQ+ Migrants in U.S Detention Centers: Policy Reforms Needed
Claire Avalos
Professor: Abbas

This paper delves into the experiences of LGBTQ+ Latin American migrants coming to the United States, specifically highlighting how belonging to the LGBTQ+ community, on top of the intersecting facets of their identity, plays a key role in the abuse they face whilst in the detention facilities run by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement—also known as ICE. While ethnicity and immigration status largely contribute to the abuse this group faces, this paper highlights the specialized form of harassment, abuse, and ostracization queer Latino migrants face because of their gender or sexual identity. In this paper, I argue that ICE detention facilities across the southern U.S-Mexico border, along with the officers they employ, need to undergo reform to better protect this vulnerable group. Through unpacking the discrimination LGBTQ+ Latino individuals in these detention centers face, and providing various policy proposals to rectify the current situation, the severity and urgency for reform in these facilities is substantiated.

Governance Failures Driving Migration Flows in West Africa
Bryson Handy
Professor: Hijazi

West Africa has historically been a region of highly mobile people, but irregular migration is having destabilizing effects. Every year around 8.4 million people migrate inside the area and hundreds of thousands dangerously attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe. Irregular migration takes place without the approval of relevant government authorities with devastating effects: draining regions of educated talent, disrupting normal economic activity, and rendering civilians vulnerable to exploitation by smugglers and armed groups. Widespread regional poverty and the prevalence of armed insurgents like ISIS and al-Qaeda in the region are often cited as the main causes of irregular migration. However, further analysis of historical trends and opinion survey data demonstrates that governance failures–the inability of the government to provide public services–are driving migratory flows. Policy change is the premier avenue to address the issue. European Union countries and the United States can direct their foreign aid towards West African civil society organizations that are demonstrated to be more effective at creating migrant-friendly, governance-bolstering policies. West African states can focus on improving governance through fair elections, providing public goods like water and sanitation, and increasing the effectiveness and accountability of their security forces.

Session 5, Disenfranchisement at Home & Abroad (Friday, September 27th, 1pm)

B101, Level B1, Ames Hall

Moderator: Betsy Shimberg, Assistant Dean, Mount Vernon Campus

How the Birthplace of Democracy is Killing Empathy: The Criminalization of Civil Society Solidarity In Greece
Ava Jakominich
Professor: Hijazi

In the last 10 years, the Greek government has steadily criminalized the solidarity of civil society actors (CSAs) with the refugee and asylum-seeking population in Greece. Acts of empathy, such as saving migrants from drowning in Greek waters or simply improving living conditions in refugee camps, have been framed by the Greek government as crimes, setting dangerous precedents that isolate thousands of refugees stranded in Greece. This paper examines the unethical practices of the Greek government as they criminalize solidarity through implicit methods such as harassment, intimidation, and the imposition of bureaucratic barriers; as well as explicit methods such as legal investigations and prosecutions. The paper also considers three possible intentions behind such policies: criminalization as a deterrence, criminalization as a counter to a perceived pluralist and multicultural threat, and criminalization as a means to protect the state’s definition of hospitality. I go on to emphasize the negative effects these policies have on civil society and the refugee community in Greece. I further call on the international community to condemn Greece’s actions and end the criminalization of civil society solidarity.

Consent of All of the Governed: The Outdated and Undemocratic Practice of Felon Disenfranchisement
Rachel Stanton
Professor: Richter

This project explores the history of felon disenfranchisement in America. It includes summaries of the thought fields behind felon disenfranchisement and provides policy recommendation to address the issue.

Session 6, Exploring Well-Being & Resiliency (Friday, September 27th, 2:30pm)

B101, Level B1, Ames Hall

Moderator: Phyllis Ryder, Executive Director, University Writing Program

There's Always Room for Improvement: An Exploration of the Relationships Between Self Efficacy, Mindset, and Perception of Feedback
Emma Buttimer
Professor: Hayes

While receiving feedback can be an anxiety inducing experience for students and teachers alike, it is an unavoidable aspect of any writing process. However students who have high self efficacy, meaning they are confident in their abilities, will often have a more positive response to feedback. Through in depth interviews and surveys, I set out to provide a more thorough understanding of the relationship between self efficacy and student’s reception of feedback, and explore how mindset theory might affect this relationship. With a small study of four undergraduate students I analyzed how highly confident writers receive feedback and argued that although self efficacy normally correlates with positive feelings towards feedback, students with at least a partial fixed mindset will have different thoughts around feedback.

How Can Organizations Effectively Integrate Gen Z into the Workplace While Addressing their Unique Mental Health Needs?
Shawn Soh
Professor: Erfani

The research project explores the mental health challenges faced by Generation Z (Gen Z) in the workplace, emphasizing the need for organizations to adapt their approaches to effectively integrate and support this demographic. The study highlights Gen Z's unique characteristics, including their heightened vulnerability to mental health issues, openness to discussing these challenges, and the critical impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their mental well-being. It examines the inadequacies of traditional workplace mental health interventions, advocating for more dynamic, responsive, and individualized approaches that cater to the specific needs of Gen Z employees. The project aims to equip organizational leaders and HR managers with strategies to enhance Gen Z engagement, retention, and productivity, ultimately fostering a healthier and more inclusive work environment.

Centering Survivors with Culturally Relevant Care
Jacob Christian
Professor: Hijazi

Refugees, due to the breakdowns of social networks caused by displacement, represent a uniquely vulnerable population who are disproportionately affected by Gender Based Violence (GBV). Factors like their immigration status, potential lack of documentation, xenophobia, and societal gender roles, add difficulty to providing care for survivors of GBV. My paper focused on the systemic causes behind GBV and suggested alternative care methods for addressing the deeper causes of violence against women. In order to provide proper responses to the global phenomena of GBV, I recommended decolonizing and indigenizing care, the process of addressing power discrepancies between the richest countries which control the human rights and development narratives, by integrating humanitarian aid and care with local solutions.

Session 7, Memorializing Culture (Friday, September 27th, 4pm)

B101, Level B1, Ames Hall

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

The Legacy of the Grain: The Impact of Rice Cultivation on African-American Foodways and Culture
 Niomi Glover
Professor: Quave

Rice, something that seems insignificant at first glance, holds so much significance to African-American cuisine, as a lot of the staple dishes within the culture contain rice. This paper explores how the cultivation and production of rice has shaped the food culture and identity of African-Americans. In order to trace rice and its historical roots, I began my search in Africa, the home of a specific rice grain called "Oryza glaberrima". This rice is unique and an important aspect of culture in some African communities. As my paper progresses I move to the United States, specifically the Lowcountry which is the region around South Carolina's coast where rice cultivation was built off of the backs of slave labor. The hard-work of enslaved people made this region rich and aided to the creation of multiple rice dishes within African-American cuisine such as Jambalaya, Red Beans and Rice, and a personal dish to my family called Chicken Bog. My paper intends to show that rice is much more than just a grain, but instead a great representation of freedom, creativity, and resilience amongst the African American community.

Session 8, Delegitimizing Democracy (Friday, September 27th, 5:10pm)

B101, Level B1, Ames Hall

Moderator: Deborah Bezanson, Senior Librarian for the Sciences, Engineering & Assessment, The George Washington University Libraries

Delegitimizing Democracy: Editorial Cartoons on Former President Donald Trump’s Second Impeachment
Victoria Senderzon
Professor: Svoboda

Using visual social semiotics, the rhetorical topoi framework, and Moral Foundations Theory, this study considers editorial cartoons created by right- and left-leaning artists on the subject of former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment. Relevant previous research includes the manifestation of the “outrage industry” and questions about the constitutionality of impeaching a former President. These topics illuminate the intense and widespread ideological divisions that were exacerbated by the January 6 insurrection and the ensuing impeachment. They also aid in framing the surprising findings of this study: both right- and left-leaning cartoonists used authority/subversion most often in their illustrations, demonstrating how the impeachment made a mockery of American political processes and institutions. In fact, both right- and left-leaning cartoonists relied on all six moral foundations in their depictions of the event, despite Moral Foundation Theory’s assertion that liberals only rely on the three ‘individualizing’ values. This shift is correlated with the substantial increase in political polarization since the theory creation 20 years ago. However, the change may also be caused by the unprecedented circumstances presented by the insurrection and impeachment. More research is necessary to determine if Moral Foundations Theory needs revision to remain viable amidst rising political divisions.

Ranked-Choice Voting: A Voting System for 21st Century America
Tyler Iglesias
Professor: Richter

America is divided. Political polarization is at some of the highest levels seen in U.S. history; voters are upset about how it feels as if their vote doesn't count, and it simply takes a few swing states or targeting key demographics to win an election. The ranked-choice voting method helps to solve all of these problems. This project examines how implementing ranked-choice voting in local, state, and federal elections can make our democracy better for the present day by helping tame political polarization, eliminate the "spoiler effect," and close the gap in voting age disparity. It also analyzes several examples of places that have already implemented ranked-choice voting and how jurisdictions can educate voters about the system and implement it efficiently.