Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of this event, now a highly anticipated Campbell tradition, a decade in the making! More information at: library.campbell.edu/symposium
Sign up or log in to bookmark your favorites and sync them to your phone or calendar.
Few have heard of the small town of Reading, Kansas, but this case study seeks to tell its history and describe its current nature as a rural and underserved community. For this analysis, I reviewed publicly available statistics on the town and completed individual interviews with community members to determine the impact of a dwindling population on Reading. With a population of only 128 people, Reading faces a lack of healthcare, law enforcement, and amenities. Despite these disadvantages, however, the town benefits from an abundant community spirit that I discuss through the community capitals framework.
This paper analyzes three Pixar movies to determine if a genre exists among them and if so, what are characteristics of the genre. I uncover rhetoric in Pixar’s animated movies that we may have watched as kids. Pixar is the rhetor in the study that uses symbols, which can be anything from themes, characters, settings, words, and imagery to communicate to the audience. Findings help audiences understand possible messages movie creators at Pixar send without us realizing. Analysis of the three artifacts help us understand Pixar’s creative strategy, the nature of contemporary Hollywood animation, and underlying elements of Pixar movies.
Gauley Bridge is a rural town in Fayette County, West Virginia. In this case study, I use publicly available data and community interviews to explore this geographically isolated and sparsely populated community. Once known as a town reliant on coal mining, the town has since experienced an economic decline that has become all too common in rural areas. As a result, Gauley Bridge has also struggled with health disparities, food insecurity, and school closures. Despite these difficulties, the town maintains its culture of resilience, which is evident through an analysis of its community capitals.
Using an auto-ethnographic frame and my experience with the Soliya Project, this research project attempts to close the gap in literature researching the presence of an American Southern dialect within cross-cultural settings. This research seeks a deeper understanding of how a perceived linguistic bias toward a Southern Dialect affects self-disclosure. Consequently, I explore an understanding of cross-cultural communication in light of linguistic biases and insecurities, their influence on self-disclosure, and cultural variations in the use of silence, specifically within computer-mediated communication.
This op-ed examines the implications of excessive screen time on young children, highlighting its effects on cognitive development, particularly in the areas of attention and executive functioning. Research reveals a negative correlation between fast-paced digital overstimulation and essential conceptual and practical skills, such as concentration, problem solving and decision-making. As gatekeepers of digital access, parents play a crucial role in shaping their children’s screen habits. This piece explores alternative activities that promote hands-on learning and independent play, both of which foster cognitive flexibility and academic achievement.
This quasi-experimental study will evaluate the effects of virtual reality (VR) gaming on balance and stress in Campbell University undergraduate students aged 18-30. Participants, untrained in college athletics, will complete the Profile of Mood States (POMS) survey and modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT) before, midway through, and after a 4-week VR program. The study aims to assess changes in stress and balance following 12 VR sessions, providing insights into VR's potential as an intervention for stress management and balance improvement in younger adults. Results will help determine VR's effectiveness compared to traditional methods.
Comparing the daily temperature data in Raleigh using statistical analysis methods, there is clear evidence that there is a significant increase in temperatures in the past 30 years.
Graduating from Campbell University in December ‘25 with a bachelor’s degree in science in mathematics. Love helping other students succeed in math, it makes me happy to see them finally understand.
In the last fifty years, there has been a drastic increase in representation of LGBTQ+ characters in entertainment media, particularly television. This research paper explores the influence of LGBTQ+ characters depicted in television on the public’s opinion of the LGBTQ+ community. After exploring the past literature on the topic, the paper will examine the data depicting this increase in visibility, and then get into specific examples of queer characters and how their portrayal either helps or harms the cause of widespread queer acceptance. This paper finishes with an analysis of research exploring the relationship between LGBTQ+ characters and public acceptance.
“The Appalachian Murder Ballad: An American Search for Transcendence” discusses the evolution of the ballad form, inherited by America from Europe. Many Appalachian ballads broke from the European tradition in form and content, essentially creating a subgenre: the lyrical ballad (related but not identical to the form championed by Romantic poets Wordsworth and Coleridge). Still a narrative folksong, the American lyrical ballad features non-objective narrators, non-narrative lyrics, and credited songwriters. The paper shows how these ballads incorporated socioeconomic and religious ideologies, blues influences, and supernatural and grotesque elements to manifest a search for emotional expression and transcendence in Appalachian culture.
Thiamine-dependent enzymes catalyze a variety of transformations in nature. We hypothesize that thiamine can also facilitate cross-coupling reactions between carbonyl compounds and alkyl halides, going beyond its natural scope. Preliminary results indicate that the thiamine-dependent enzyme, SucA, catalyzes the coupling of α-ketoglutarate with 1-(bromoethyl)benzene, an unprecedented reaction for these enzymes. To advance our study, we will continue reaction optimization and characterize the enzyme’s selectivity. This will involve conducting reactions and monitoring product formation by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The successful completion of this project will result in a novel pathway to valuable products with high yield and selectivity.
Zeke Epps analyzes Truman Capote's Other Voices, Other Rooms through various critical frameworks, focusing on power dynamics. Starting with Feminist theory, citing works from Kramare, Orbe, and Wood; and Queer theory, pulling from Ball and Butler, Epps identifies limitations of both, suggesting that a holistic analysis of the novel requires an intersectional framework focused on the complex, overlapping systems of privilege and discrimination created by intersections among social categories such as race, gender, class, and sexuality. Epps compares intersectional theory to specific, identity-oriented theories and argues in favor of rigorous intersectional analysis for Capote's novel and other works of gothic literature.
One of the most common elements present in our universe is carbon. It is used in rubber, plastics, material coatings, and pencil graphite. However, how has this element impacted human history in terms of communication, religion, culture, and recording history itself? In an exciting blend of science and human studies, this lecture aims to answer this question by showcasing just how valuable carbon black-based inks have been in developing societies and written languages. Additionally, this lecture seeks to recapitulate major movements in preserving and spreading of knowledge through writings from antiquity as well as methods for dating carbon-based artifacts and manuscripts.
This paper discusses and evaluates factors within society making it harder for women to gain leadership roles in corporations and especially political office. It addresses two main factors: partisanship and media influence. The history of gender inequality and how it manifests in society today is also described. Evidence regarding how Republicans or Democrats view gender inequality is shown through different figures, especially relating to prominent media topics such as the #MeToo Movement. The discrepancy between women in politics compared to their male counterparts is discussed.
In the 14th-century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain is initially presented as the perfect knight, but he then experiences many challenges to his core values and beliefs through tests of honor, purity and courage. The "Nature versus Nurture" theory helps explain how personality is influenced throughout a lifetime. In this poem, "Nurture" - the environment and external challenges - have a significant effect on Sir Gawain's thought processes and actions, influencing his psychology and character development, and revealing his conflict as primarily mental, rather than physical.
This piece is a typographic logo containing my initials ACH. The design is European inspired with a minimalistic touch. Implied lines are emphasized in this logo to make each letter stand out.
"Below" is based on the concept of memento mori, or "remember, you will die." The viewer starts at a staircase that spirals down into a portal formed by distorted images of the Paris Catacombs, leading into a cold, dead graveyard -- the underworld. The composition doubles as an imitation of an eyeball: the stairs acting as the sclera, the portal as the iris, and the graveyard as the pupil. As the viewer looks down the staircase, it looks back at them -- reminding them that they too will meet the fate as the dead buried in those graves.
For this assignment I went with a surrealist and horror approach. As I combined the yolk of the egg and the spiraling amber eye, it created a sense of unease and mystery in the piece. The juxtaposition of seemingly unrelated elements contributed to the overall surreal atmosphere of the artwork.
A redesigned and more modern cover of the 1961 Literature Nobel Prize winning book, "The Bridge on The Drina". This project was fully created using Photoshop with pictures of the actual bridge in Višegrad along with images of the actual text that Andrić wrote. I wanted to show how Andrić’s words flowed like the river Drina, so I took a picture of the text with the paper imitating the swells of the water and implemented them into the river in the photograph. I then made the bridge stand out more by making the background have a blue blurred hue.
Inspired by the dramatic nuclear tensions in the world currently, I created this illustration to bring awareness to the dialogue and encourage peace. My use of comical typography provides a deep contrast to the harsh and terrifying background, almost as a means to cope with the horror. The goal of this piece is to make this issue visual and communicated in the most effective way I can- through art.
Draped plaster bust of a bearded man with Grecian curls clustered around his face. His full beard and intense brow give him a look of wisdom that belies his youthful age. His intense lifelike gaze seems to ask piercing questions. A toga is gracefully draped across his shoulders. This bust portrays Professor of Political Theory Dr. Matthew H. Young of Elon University in the likeness of the Greek philosopher Plato, a particular interest of his.
This Is my photo montage; I wanted to create a simple symbolic meaning for the saying "The light of the world" and to show a humorous visual of God placing light for the earth. In a deeper context, God, on the first day said, "let there be light", but on the fourth day God put up the sun and moon for a light source. Humorously I imagined God on the first day making the lamp and on the fourth day placing the bulb in the lamp so there is a light source for the world.
The goal of this project was to create a vibrant and meaningful redesign of Iceland’s currency, celebrating the contributions of three influential women in the country’s history. By incorporating the legacies of Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, Bríet Bjarnhéðinsdóttir, and Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the design not only honors their achievements but also highlights Iceland’s progressive history in gender equality and environmental preservation.
From the Victorian idea of women being the “angel of the house,” this series of paintings explores the concept of the corruption of femininity by society by creating femininity as something to be performed or perfected, rather than something unique and inherent to every woman. Through this series, this presentation will guide the viewer through the artistic process of these paintings and answer any questions the viewer may have regarding the process or pieces.
A hand-thrown teapot with mugs and a cooling bowl, glazed with a Western flair to embody cowboy culture. This piece represents the gathering of individuals to have a warm cup of tea or coffee and sit around telling stories or chit-chatting.
“Ld” is a logo for “Lucas Design” my personal Graphic Design business. The logo creatively uses an italic manipulation of Helvetica to mimic movement demonstrating my flexibility, professionalism, and organization as a Graphic Designer. The choice of a sky blue tone and sequential darker shades create unity, furthering the notion of movement in the logo. In this project, I learned the importance of having clean and collective marketing. The balance between font choice, color, and layout impacts how your brand is perceived, remembered, and upheld.
Enzymes represent attractive catalysts for sustainable synthesis given their ability to perform under mild conditions and carry out highly selective transformations. However, their adoption in industry is hampered by the limited scope of enzymatic reactions available. We seek to overcome this limitation by exploring the use of thiamine-dependent enzymes for synthesis of α-substituted ketones, which are precursors to more complex, bioactive compounds. This will be accomplished by screening enzymes against substrates possessing multiple chiral centers to form stereochemically complex products. This research will expand the scope of reactions available to thiamine-dependent enzymes, making them more broadly useful for chemical synthesis.
Within the past decade, virtual reality has enhanced the well-being of individuals in both the exercise and rehabilitative realms. Pertinent studies have concluded that virtual reality as a medical and kinesiological device shows promising results boosting proprioception, physical function, and performance while minimizing risk. In similar populations, improved mood and an enhanced perception of physical well-being have been observed. Virtual reality immersion games in which it is possible to simulate realistic sports scenarios are hypothesized to mimic the same effects in Division One athletes undergoing rehabilitation. Using a cardio-based application, our study aims to broaden this collection of research.
Using Harnett County, NC, as the site of a hypothetical Malaria outbreak, a series of emergency management recommendations are proposed to mitigate and respond to the emerging public health emergency. Malaria is a mosquito-borne, infectious disease, found mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South America but is occasionally found in the United States. Supposing an outbreak was to occur locally, it would necessitate exploring local, state and federal resources, available for a successful cross-jurisdictional response. This paper approaches a hypothetical public health emergency using a multijurisdictional-intergovernmental approach.
We will use film analysis techniques, shot frames, and video clips to argue this thesis: Wonder Woman is portrayed as a Christ figure through her self-sacrifice, sense of justice, and ability to perform miracles through the use of various film techniques.
The beauty standard refers to physical traits that society deems beautiful. This can include an individual’s body weight and shape, height, and facial features. The positive relationship between attractiveness and benefits presented to attractive individuals leads people to seek to be ‘beautiful’ by society’s standards. Beauty ideals are often influenced by mass media and social media platforms which have negative impacts on an individual's mental well-being. Heavy media exposure to social media representations of the beauty standard has negative consequences for adolescents’ mental health and self-esteem. While social media use has numerous downsides, there are beneficial applications to its use.
This article analyzes HBO’s Succession through the Narrative Paradigm (Fisher, 1984, 1985, 1989), Co-Cultural theory (Orbe 1998; Razzante & Orbe, 2018; Razzante, et al., 2021), and Dominant Group theory (Razzante & Orbe 2018; Razzante et al., 2021) to examine its portrayal of power dynamics and identity conflicts. The series probes the Roy family’s multibillion-dollar company, uncovering problems such as familial dysfunction, corporate greed, and systemic privilege. Using Walter Fisher’s Narrative Paradigm, the examination emphasizes how the Roy family creates narratives to maintain control. Mark Orbe’s Co-Cultural theory and Robert Razzante’s Dominant Group theory analyze Siobhan “Shiv” Roy’s navigation of gendered challenges set by her father, Logan Roy, while benefiting from her privileges as a rich white woman. Through thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006), vital scenes showcase Logan’s persuasive dominance and Shiv’s complicity in aiding oppressive structures. This analysis emphasizes Succession’s portrayal of oppression and privilege, providing an important commentary on power and cultural identity in organizational communication.
Wapello is a rural community in Louisa County, Iowa that serves as an integral part of the broader region with its many anchor institutions, including the courthouse, high school, and historical society museum. However, Wapello’s current issues with food security and limited healthcare access are emblematic of the issues of many other rural American communities. Through interviews and data analysis, this case study seeks to understand the local employment decline, physician shortages, and Wapello’s classification as a food desert. I conclude that the town’s issues can be mitigated through its community capitals and an appreciative inquiry approach to community development.
Legends of King Arthur have passed through generation after generation, adapting to various cultures. Thomas Malory’s fifteenth-century Morte d'Arthur remains one of the most well-known collections of Arthurian legends. Malory makes the adulterous affair between Sir Lancelot and Arthur’s queen, Guenevere, a key element of the plot. Six centuries later, the BBC television series Merlin retells the Arthurian love triangle—this time with a twist. Through their representation of Guenevere and her role in the infamous Lancelot–Guenevere affair, Thomas Malory and the creators of Merlin reveal the specific gender and political concerns of their respective cultures.
“The Troubles” in Northern Ireland refers to a time of conflicts, public murders, and terrorist attacks in the closing decades of the 20th century, often characterized as a conflict about religion, pitting Irish Catholics versus Protestants. But were the Troubles really about religious differences? This project critiques that simplistic characterization, demonstrating that social inequities, the vestiges of colonialism, and an apocalyptic hermeneutic contributed at least as much to the Troubles as religion.
An artist's talk focused on our current work as individual artists. The talk will showcase artworks and explore the intricacies of various artistic processes while also discussing chosen mediums and highlighting the materials and techniques that define our work. Additionally, we will each share our unique approaches to art-making, demonstrating how our perspectives influence our creative decisions.
All states and the Federal government have developed their own process for criminal trial of minors as adults, an action that involves reclassifying the criminally accused outside a status with Constitutional rights acknowledged in current Supreme Court jurisprudence. The processes, protections, and standards for this movement vary substantively, with some that fail to conform to known minimal standards of procedural due process. We seek to address these discrepancies, their history, their probable causes, and their ancillary effects to show how they fail to provide adequate procedural safeguards to the least represented and least protected defendants in the criminal justice system.
Paparazzi earn a profit by taking highly intrusive photographs of celebrities and their children. This paper examines the beginnings of the profession and how it has evolved alongside the growth of mainstream media. The objective of this research is to explore what lawful protection children of public figures have in place for their privacy. Additionally, addressing whether the media does an effective job of reprimanding this level of intrusion or if they perpetuate it further.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a show about “one girl in all the world” chosen to fight the vampires, demons and the forces of darkness. In a show with a female hero, “traditional masculinity” is often represented symbolically through the supernatural. In this paper, I give a gendered reading of the vampires Angel, Spike, and Willow to examine vampirism as masculinity through sexuality, gender performance and essentialism. Several critics seem to assume Buffy exclusively explores femininity through the images of strong female characters, I contend however that masculinity is explored symbolically via vampirism through images of sex, gender roles and sexuality.
While it is commonly agreed that human trafficking is a horrendous crime and action should be taken to prevent it, the question arises of whether governments actually allow or even encourage trafficking to take place. The European Union (EU) has explicitly been working against trafficking for a number of years, yet the crime still frequently occurs in the region. As many countries in the EU have legalized prostitution in some way, one would wonder whether there was a relationship between legislative leniency towards prostitution and human trafficking, specifically of a sexual nature. This research seeks to test the question: how does the legalization of prostitution affect human trafficking in the European Union?
Solar power-based energy, in recent years, has become extremely popular as a source of renewable energy. Despite current research and popularity of solar panels, the cells within each panel can only reach a certain amount of efficiency due to the environment they are placed into and technological limitations. One way of increasing the efficiency of solar panels is to make use of mirrors since they reflect more light onto the cells. This study aims to confirm this theory and discuss how concentrated light on photovoltaic cells is important in moving towards a sustainable future.
Green chemical reactions use safer and less toxic reagents compared to traditional reaction conditions, which may involve harsh and hazardous compounds. A Wittig reaction using green reaction conditions was introduced into the organic chemistry labs at Campbell University in 2018. The synthesis resulted in a method that was safer but produced low yields and impure product. This work focuses on improving yields and purity via optimization of reaction time, temperature, concentrations, and other variables including workup modifications. Recrystallization trials with alternative solvents have shown increased yields. These improvements and other progress towards yield and purity improvements will be reported.
The issue of sentencing disparities, especially the influence of race and gender on sentence outcomes, has become a contentious issue within the criminal justice system. In fact, these disparities date back as far as the Jim Crow era, which can be argued is the root of these problems. In modern sentencing practices, racial and gender disparities persist despite these laws being abolished. In comparison to white individuals, African American and Hispanic individuals continue to suffer disproportionately severe punishments. I will examine how race and gender shape judicial decisions and their broader implications for fairness and justice in the legal system as part of my research into ongoing disparities in sentencing.
This poster is based on a longitudinal study that has been going on 8+ years on the Campbell University Division I Women’s Lacrosse. We have been able to use physiological & psychological data to see what affects performance and how training affects the athletes. Global positioning system (GPS) units are worn during practice and athletes completed out daily wellness scores via Metrifit app that measured mood, sleep, energy/fatigue, stress, and muscle soreness. In the future we will continue Metrifit survey data, add Athletic Sleep Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ), and create a questionnaire to learn more about the sleep hygiene of the lacrosse players.
Different alcohol substrates have been tested for a pedagogical multistep synthesis involving alcohol bromination followed by Williamson ether synthesis (WES). The bromination of 1-phenylethanol and 2-phenylethanol was partially optimized according to temperature and acid equivalents, where the former was produced in high yields and conversions. WES trials resulted in a mixture of target ether and styrene that could be quantified by GC. Bromination of 4-biphenylmethanol was optimized according to acid equivalents, temperature, and time, producing a solid alkyl bromide with good yields and high conversions. Both target ethers were formed in WES trials using both MeOH and EtOH.
"Making Amends" is an original composition that blends emotive storytelling of musical theatre with a catchy pop melody. With a simple yet dynamic accompaniment, the song builds in intensity through intricate rhythms while mirroring the emotional depth of the lyrics. It tells the story of two siblings who have drifted apart over the years, with one reaching out in a vulnerable attempt to heal old wounds. The piece captures the tension, regret, and hope of reconciliation, offering a raw and relatable exploration of family, forgiveness, and the desire to rebuild lost connections.
