Honors College Capstones
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Item 0% More Water: A Geographic Comparison of the Conservation Strategies of San Antonio Water Systems and Colorado Springs Utilities(2011-05) Rowell, Melissa; Stroup, Laura J.Water is one of the most precious commodities in the world. While water as a resource is often taken for granted by those in developed countries, the availability of water as a basic necessity for human life is in doubt due to human misuse, overuse, and population growth. Conservation is by far the most effective means to reduce demand for new and threatened water resources. It offers hope to humanity in terms of the challenging problems surrounding water resources. The purpose of this study is to critically analyze what conservation practices were chosen by Colorado Springs Utilities and San Antonio Water Systems in order to improve water use efficiency in semi-arid municipalities in the United States. As two rapidly growing regions with limited new water sources and groundbreaking water conservation initiatives, these utilities provide a model for other regions to contend with rapid water demand increases without similar increases in water supply. Based upon this geographic comparison, a municipality looking to conservation measures should first use technology, like high efficiency toilets, to reduce demand. However, in the long run, this will not be enough. Changing the social acceptability of water waste and changing associated behaviors and constant conservation program reassessment, will have to be the long-term water conservation strategies in U.S. cities. The most effective way for utilities to change their customers water use habits is to educate them on making conscious and personal decisions to use less water and to use the water they do need more efficiently.Item 30 Years of Hazelwood: Revisiting the First Amendment Rights of Minors in the Education System During the Social Media Age(2018-12) Ienatsch, Zachary; Martinez, Gilbert D.; Otto, Anabell A.In 1969, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District that students were entitled to protections of the First Amendment and “do not shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate”. However, subsequent Supreme Court decisions have chipped away at this protection by granting greater power to school administrators to restrict student liberties. After the Tinker decision, the three most influential cases were Bethel School District v. Fraser, Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, and Morse v. Frederick, with Hazelwood being the most broad, sweeping restriction on freedom of expression for American students. The Morse decision—the most recent of such cases—was decided in 2007, which predates the expansion of social media and the digital pervasiveness students are familiar with today. Given these new circumstances, the Supreme Court must revisit student free speech rights and err on the side of the Tinker decision and not on the one in Hazelwood. Failure to establish a new precedent in this digital age is bad for both students and administrators. If the Supreme Court remains silent on student rights in the digital age—or worse, if the Court continue to rule in favor of administrators over student freedoms— it would be one of the biggest mistakes the Court could make in this day and age.Item 71 Years(2020-05) Park, Jeffrey Wayne; Morille, JordanThis TV show will focus on a group of time traveling car thieves. They work for an organization that they themselves know very little about. Their clientele is very niche, but also very rich. They are put into contact with clients who are looking to buy historically famous cars. The crew goes back in time, grabs the car from whatever celebrity is driving it at the time (example: Burt Reynolds) and bring it back to the present. The point of this is to implement different aspects of my studies. I am a General Studies major, with minors in English, History and Theater. I saw this pilot as an opportunity to combine skill sets gained in those three minors.Item 798: Protest Subculture and Creative Industry(2013-05) Domer, Brittany Nicole; Duganne, Erina; Tarver, GinaThe Beijing 798 Art District in China has evolved from oppressed subculture to commercial entity. The argument has now been raised over the nature of the 798 artist community in today’s art world. The 798 originated as a subculture of avant-garde artists and now functions as a creative industry. The 798 is depicted by scholars as either a persecuted protest culture or a commodified and marketed Chinese identity. I gathered my research from sources on 798 evolution such as Jeroen de Kloet's article Social Semiotics, and Chinese scholars that study the 798's development in terms of China's communist past, most influentially Rey Chow. As a result of my research I discovered the identity of the 798 is a fusion of both commercial and protest. The current role of the 798 is complex, but is unraveled through comparison of past and present 798 works. From the evaluation of these works and their role, one thing becomes evident; that the 798 no longer functions as a subculture. The larger implications of this project lead to a questioning of the nature of a subculture, the definition of an artist community, and the role of the artist in oppressive cultures.Item A Cinematic Challenge to Modernity Critical Theory in Postwar Japanese Cinema: An Introduction to Fukasaku Kinji(2009-05) Phillips, Michael F.; Siegenthaler, Peter D.The social critique of Post World War II society was reflected in part by an international avant-garde film movement of the 1960s. In Japan, a new generation of directors challenged past and present issues, such as militarism and capitalism, by looking unflinchingly at the contradictions inherent in a diametric change of social perspective ushered in by the phenomena of postwar democratization. At the opening of the 20th Century the emergence of the motion picture came to redefine visual representation and the narrative elements of dramatic expression. As a modern pastime, the adoption of cinema among the working class allowed for a "deepened and critical consciousness" of society. This study aims to visit a period in Japan's post-World War II history and contextualize the discourse of Fukasaku Kinji's film in the critique of Japanese society.Item A Coming of Age: Exploring Themes of Adolescent Identity Through Autoethnography(2019-05) Schulte, Emily; Romero, RachelThis paper emerges from a growing field of self-reflective and arts based qualitative research methods that are inadequately represented in the exploration of adolescent identity and the themes that function as moving parts in the continued creation of that identity from childhood. Research in this experimental form has the ability to provide a critical understanding of macro-sociological and psychological concepts by looking at small-scale and personal accounts, those of which are often overlooked and left out of social science reports entirely. Our own experiences and reflections -drawn from the same adolescence we seek understanding of- are not to be overlooked in their aptness in providing concrete, and oftentimes more accessible, data. In this paper, the exploration of my own adolescence provides the groundwork for an auto-ethnographic enquiry realized through a series of poems, short stories, and mixed media work. The paper first explores the visual/sensory ethnographic process of collecting and connecting memories to objects, which gives life and understanding to the narratives that are shown in the art itself. It then argues the usefulness and uniqueness of arts based and self-reflective research in growing academic fieldwork. Lastly, the paper uses scholarly literature to provide information on each overarching theme of adolescence being discussed in each chapter before introducing the particular art medium for that theme.Item A Comparative Analysis of the Failure of Bathroom Legislation Aimed at the Transgender Community in Three States: Indiana, North Carolina, and Texas(2018-05) Pohlmeyer, Corey J.; Harrington, James C.; Ward, KennethIn recent political history, the ever-polarizing ideological nature of the United States is marked by the continued public involvement in certain key issues, which perpetuate across the country. One of these issues are regulatory measures or laws pertaining to the public access of restrooms in educational, governmental, or publicly-owned facilities, informally known as “bathroom bills.” These bills, between the dates of 2013-2018, have appeared in state legislatures across the United States; and their stories are notably marked by one thing: their abject failure. Using sources from a variety of media outlets, this paper attempts to construct narratives for three states which have encountered such legislation: Indiana, North Carolina, and Texas. Using these narratives, this paper hopes to provide some insight into this controversial wave of legislation without taking any sides in the arguments which surround it. Doing this, while also looking at the state governmental operations and procedure provide insight as to how these bills both succeeded and failed in their attempts to create policy. Ultimately, these narratives show that the downfall of these bills rests in their lack of support by the public at large, with notable influence by individuals and organizations with economic and public relation capabilities, but cannot show which reason was the death blow to these bills. While this paper was not able to ascertain which factor was the determinant cause, it does provide insight, framework, and context to this phenomenon, and how this wave may progress or not in the near future.Item A Comparison of Unschoolers and Evangelical Homeschoolers in Central Texas Through the Lens of Resource Mobilization Theory(2018-05) Campbell, Alexandria; Price, BobThis thesis is a comparison of unschoolers and evangelical homeschoolers in central Texas, in terms of resource mobilization theory. Unschoolers began the modern homeschool movement in the 1960s. They homeschooled in secret, since withdrawing children from school was illegal at the time. evangelicals began homeschooling in the 1980s, and used the courts to get homeschooling legalized nationwide by the early 1990s. In this paper unschool and evangelical homeschool groups in central Texas are interviewed and compared using resource mobilization theory. Specifically, their uses of cultural, human, material, and social-organizational resources are compared. This comparison leads to the conclusion that the resource mobilization of unschoolers and evangelical homeschoolers in central Texas are remarkably similar, and they are both part of a larger homeschool movement.Item A Correlation Study on the Neurodevelopmental Theories of Human Sexuality(2016-05) Wickham, Keimche P.; Ceballos, Natalie; Easton, JudithHuman sexuality has long been a contentious issue in both academic and clinical environments, as well as in the general population. In fact, it was only 42 years ago, that homosexuality was removed as a psychological disorder from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Version III. Previous scientific investigations have focused largely on the nature versus nurture debate, with more recent theories taking a neurodevelopmental approach. The current study explores existing neurodevelopmental theories and factors related to sexual preference in young adults.Item A Cultural Critique of Contemporary Science Fiction Film(2014-05) Henry, Christopher Guy; Mandziuk, RoseannThis thesis provides an in-depth analysis of how gender, class and violence are portrayed in current American science fiction films. The examination was based on viewing, reporting, and analyzing a set of recent popular movies: Elysium, Iron Man III, The Hunger Games, Gamer, and In Time. Within the science fiction genre, the directors, writers, and actors are not constrained by any factual cultural rules or precedents, so in essence, these people have the creative power to create any society they want. As this analysis reveals, however, these films actually contain extremely misogynistic, classist, and violent messages. Through the application of sociological categories and semiology, this analysis demonstrates how powerful these messages are in shaping audience perceptions. The research concludes that these films are very profitable, influential, and reflective of what the current culture desires, and perhaps, demands, of entertainment. This research is significant and vital because it reveals that even in science fiction, where there is the power to change conceptions of gender, class, and violence, as a culture we ultimately choose to promote and consume regressive and detrimental messages.Item A Daughter's Story: Utilizing Movement to Cope with Grief(2023-05) Mann, Ashley; Baer, AnaDance is a vehicle for expressing emotions. Dancers use movement to convey a story, communicate their feelings, and connect with others. Healing a soul through movement is a concept that people have implemented for centuries. This creative capstone seeks to recognize the relief dance provides for an individual. By implementing dance to cope from a loss, the brain releases neurotransmitters and endorphins which is proven by scientists to alleviate stress. There is a general understanding that our minds cannot affect the health of our body. However, stress from a loss will negatively affect the body as well. This capstone demonstrates the power movement has on the healing process. The story portrayed in this video is from the perspective of a daughter grieving a loss. The timeline of the video mimics my experience of grieving the loss of my father. I filmed a single dancer throughout her grieving stages. The dancer communicates her thoughts and emotions with movement. The emotions felt by the audience, accompanied by her apparent psychological development, communicates how movement aids healing to the audience. This experiment is comprised of cinematography collaborated with site-specific installations following a single subject. In the video, the dancer begins on a bridge, riddled with denial. She transcends through the stages of grief and finds herself in a space where the audience sees her progression through various emotions. The ending reveals the dancer embracing her future at the bottom of the bridge, the very place she was too afraid to go. Grieving appears different from subject to subject. One of the main messages is that grief does not routinely follow a linear progression. Additionally, the creative process behind this capstone’s construction promoted the development of the healing journey. In conclusion, expressing emotion through movement is a positive outlet for those experiencing grief to process their emotions, communicate their story, and discover a connection with others.Item A Day in the Life: An Ethnography(2019-05) Mumbach, Ali; Romero, RachelThe aim of this research is to shed light on the experience of those living in public housing, specifically elderly and people with disabilities. Public housing offers a stable and viable option for low-income individuals and families to live. The effects of this living situation deserve exploration and study because of the vulnerability of this population. I used an ethnographic approach to study this group in order to generate a substantial and detailed record of the day-to-day experiences within this community and my reflections of those experiences. In addition to ethnography, I used an arts-based research approach to illustrate my findings via a fictional short story. The fictional narrative conveys the three themes discovered through my research: the importance of relationships to the residents, experiencing isolation, and despite feeling loneliness, finding pockets of community. Short stories provide an opportunity for human connection between the reader and the population being studied in a way that traditional methods do not. It is of the utmost importance that public housing authorities and other social services of the like prioritize community-building events and activities to enhance the quality of life achievable for the residents/clients.Item A Defense of the Argument from Ignorance(2006-12) Howard, Benjamin R.; Hutcheson, PeterMy thesis seeks to defend the Argument from Ignorance against Dr. Keith DeRose's contextualist critique. I will attempt to defend AI by demonstrating that the warranted assertability maneuver of invariantism provides a sufficient reason to question contextualism. Further, I will attempt to undermine DeRose's Rule of Sensitivity. I will provide background information on the development of DeRose's contextualist solution as well as briefly consider some alternate solutions to the Argument from Ignorance.Item A Directorial Approach to the Production of Robert Patrick's Kennedy's Children(1982-05) Wilson, Jeffrey MichaelNo abstract prepared.Item A Dynamic Space-Time Panel Data Model of State-Level Beer Consumption(2010-12) Heinai, Mutsuko; LeSage, James P.A dynamic space-time panel data model containing random effects is used to examine state-level beer consumption over the period of 1970 to 2007 for the 48 contiguous US states and the District of Columbia. A valuable aspect of dynamic space-time panel data models is that the parameter estimates from these models can be used to quantify dynamic responses over time and space as well as space-time diffusion impacts. We examine the impact of state-level taxes on beer on home (own) state and outside (other) state consumption of beer. The model allows for this situation since buyers of beer near state borders can purchase in neighboring states if there is a tax advantage for doing so.Item A Fortunate Little Fellow: Divine Providence in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit"(2018-12) Beronio, Bianca Lucia; Tally, Robert T.The purpose of this research is to examine the many elements that inspired Tolkien in order to identify a central theme in his Middle-earth tales: Divine Providence. Providence is defined as the protective influence of some higher power in order to bring about an eventuality. Roman Catholicism has long held Divine Providence as central to its theology; while this force is only expressly named three times in scriptures, the doctrine of Divine Providence features heavily in both the Old and New Testaments. First published in 1937, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is a high-fantasy adventure in the medievalist tradition, complete with the hallmarks of the orthodox Christian interpretation of an intangible evil and a hero protected by forces unseen. Despite Tolkien’s insistence that Middle-earth isn’t a Christian world, his Catholic influences abound, presenting an orthodox Catholic view of the battle between good and evil; yet it also contains examples of Divine Providence reminiscent of the thought of Thomas Aquinas, whose Summa Theologica would have been well known to the medievalist Tolkien. Though God is never explicitly mentioned in The Hobbit, the unseen hand of Providence is at work throughout the novel; Bilbo Baggins’s unusual lineage, the timing of the discovery of the enchanted map, Bilbo’s finding of the ring, and the discovery of the Lonely Mountain keyhole, to name a few “fortunate” events, Divine Providence is revealed to be a key element in Bilbo’s transformation from humble Hobbit to fated hero.Item A Geographic Analysis of Immigrant Detention In the U.S.A.: The Distribution and Environmental Contexts of Detention Centers(2011-05) Fuller, Angelika; Tiefenbacher, John; Velasquez, GloriaImmigrant detention centers can be found throughout the United States. Foreigners, or other legal or undocumented immigrants, may be held at these places for periods ranging from several days to several months or even years. Physical and mental abuse, lack of medical treatment, and death of detainees are common in some of these facilities. The goal of this project is to understand the implications of the locations of immigrant detention centers and whether this spatial distribution of centers and the environmental contexts in which they are found affect the patterns of violence, neglect, and injustice that occurs towards detainees in these centers. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in 24 states and listed on the ICE website (ICE 2011g) are included in this work. This set includes 63 detention centers in the following states—Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin (see complete list in Appendix). The characteristics of each facility have been compiled and several sets of descriptive data were collected, including the average number of people incarcerated each year, the average and extreme periods of incarceration, facility size, the degree of isolation or distance from nearest major urban centers, and climate data for each location. Facilities with fatalities among detainees and with higher numbers of complaints made on behalf of those held were identified. Basic statistical analyses of these variables are presented.Item A Geospatial Analysis of the Urban Heat Island Effect in Austin, TX(2015-05) Richardson, Shae Mackenzie; Jensen, Jennifer; Lewis, MatthewOver the past 30 years, Central Texas has become a highly desirable location to live, resulting in Austin being one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. Given the rapid population growth and associated development of Austin and surrounding suburbs, the region provides a good case study to analyze the Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) using thermal remote sensing data. The increase in population is logically correlated to an increase of urban development, which is a contributing factor of UHIs. Since UHIs negatively impact people’s health and the environment, monitoring UHIs is of critical importance. The focus of this study will be to determine if land surface temperatures (LST) have increased in Austin, Texas between 1993 and 2011 and whether land cover type influences surface temperature. Although the existing literature has demonstrated the connections between land cover type and surface temperature for selected cities, an analysis of the Austin, Texas metropolitan area has not been conducted. Therefore, methods drawn from previously performed analysis were utilized to develop a framework for geospatial analysis of surface temperatures in Austin. Results indicate the presence of the UHI effect. Results show that the average surface temperature for Austin increased by 4.7 degrees C between 1993 to 2011. The largest temperature increases occurred for developed, barren, and cultivated land class.Item A Glimpse Into My World: A Collection of Ten Minute Plays(2018-05) Phillips, Caytlyn; Morille, JordanThe following plays are a glimpse into the world of mental health. They are based on experiences that I have witnessed firsthand. The purpose of each play is to capture moments among a myriad of different people that have undergone some form of stress. I’ve found that there are many generalizations about mental health. In my experience, every person is different. My hope is shed light on that idea. Through these plays, I want to show the good, bad, and ugly of each character’s struggle. My goal is that the audience will obtain a new perspective on the world and how they view others. The topics that I’ve selected for this project cover self-harm, suicide, depression, anxiety, grief, and addiction. I felt as though the best way to capture these topics are through ten minute plays. As mentioned previously, each play is based off real-life experiences. I’ve found that it was extremely important to not create characters completely on an idea. It was essential that each character was fully fleshed out. Meaning, each character had to be completely authentic and true-to-life as possible. Once I achieved this, I believe it helped the way the story was told. It’s important to keep in mind that these works will continue to be edited. I find that people are constantly changing, and my writing must reflect that. From here, I wish to continue to grow and spread a message to those around me.Item A Guide to Social Work Advocacy for Transgender Adolescents and Young Adults(2017-05) Foss, Samantha; Hawkins, CatherineThis thesis uses a social work perspective to examine the preventable risks for transgender adolescents and young adults as well as presenting proposed solutions for social workers and helping professionals to implement, in an effort to improve the quality of life for this population. From a systems theory approach, it explores the major environmental challenges transgender youth and young adults face, such as barriers or failures in education, family support, community support, social norms, public policy, homelessness, and mental and physical health care. The goal is to educate helping professionals about these challenges in order to increase awareness of the gaps in resources and shortcomings of the current system. There is minimal research about the challenges faced by transgender youth and young adults, and even less on how to best address their needs. By targeting preventable risks, this paper provides guidance for social workers and helping professionals to more effectively advocate for this population. It is also incumbent upon social workers to identify solutions for each challenge area, in order to effectively advocate and take action on behalf of this under-served population so that transgender youth and young adults can achieve a better quality of life.