UO Libraries' Award for Undergraduate Research Excellence (LAURE)

Permanent URI for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/1794/313

Undergraduate education at the University of Oregon occurs in an environment where teaching, research, and service are integrated and mutually enriching enterprises. Many undergraduates already engage in the UO's research processes by working in laboratories and in the field. The LAURE program (formerly the Undergraduate Research Award) is intended to recognize students who demonstrate extraordinary skill and creativity in the application of library and information resources to original research and scholarship.

Successful projects will:

Make extensive, creative use of library services, resources, and collections in any format.
Demonstrate effective application of information literacy and fluency principles:

determining information needs
evaluating and analyzing information
managing, organizing, and synthesizing information
applying information in the context of the research project
communicating information in formats appropriate to an academic audience
making responsible use of information by providing appropriate and accurate citations and credits

Show evidence of significant personal knowledge in the methods of research and inquiry.
Demonstrate originality of thought, mastery of content appropriate to class level, clear writing, and overall quality of presentation.

For more information, consult the LAURE Research Guide

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 100

Open Access
The 2017 Trump Travel Ban and Its Longterm Consequences for Muslims in the US
(University of Oregon, 2024-06-06) Mironova, Maria "Masha"
Donald Trump’s four-year presidency altered the US sociopolitical landscape in previously unimaginable ways. Among the communities targeted by the administration’s novel legislation were Muslim Americans, who were subject to one of the earliest executive orders the newly elected president signed: the so-called Trump “Muslim ban” or Trump “travel ban,” formally, EO 13769, succeeded by EO 13780. These orders significantly lowered the number of immigrants and refugees to be admitted from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen; as a result, 700 travelers were detained, up to 60,000 visas “provisionally revoked” (Hersher). Of note is also the fact that these six states have nothing in common outside of having Muslim majority populations. As a result of the Ban, numerous families were separated, plans for immigration to the US in search of a better life cut short, and anti-Muslim hate affected yet another policy. The executive order, though supposedly aimed at “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry in the United States,” as the full title suggests, had a profound impact on the Muslim population in the US, resulting in not only limits on freedom of movement, but also profound mental and physical health consequences, increased rates of Islamophobic attacks, and familial separation. It is thus the goal of this paper to explore several facets of the consequences of the Ban and outline what they mean, on a personal and structural level for the Muslims in the US and the country as a whole.
Open Access
THE IMPACT OF UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL POLICY ON WOMEN'S LABOR MARKET OUTCOMES AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITY IN THE UNITED STATES
(University of Oregon, 2024) Dougherty, Caitlin; Davis, Jonathan
This study examines the impact of early childhood education and care (ECEC) policies, such as universal preschool, on labor market participation and gender equality in the United States. While there is substantial research on the effects of ECEC in countries with universal welfare systems like Denmark, there is significantly less research exploring these impacts within the U.S. context. This gap is particularly notable regarding how such policies influence labor force metrics, poverty reduction, and economic equality across genders. The findings reveal that a “Preschool for All” policy leads to a statistically significant increase in labor force participation among women by 1.2 percentage points, suggesting enhanced economic engagement. Wage and salary income also exhibit a positive, though not statistically significant, increase of $847.75 each year for the following five years post implementation. The effect on hourly wages shows a 53 cent increase. While both are suggestive of improvement in women’s labor force participation, neither is statistically significant. Additionally, preschool for all slightly increase in weekly working hours by .11 hours, indicating that some mothers might have transitioned from part-time to full-time, leveraging the availability of preschool to balance work and childcare responsibilities. Importantly, the policy contributes to a statistically significant decrease in the poverty rate by 1.3 percentage points. ECEC policies not only support women's entry and retention in the workforce but also act as a double reduction anti-poverty strategy, enhancing economic stability and reducing poverty among women.
Embargo
Eternal Hunger: A Qualitative Analysis of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and its Role as a Driver of the New Nuclear Arms Race
(University of Oregon, 2024) Zupo, Dominic; Cramer, Jane
The emergence of a new Cold War and the arms racing it brings has captured the attention of the globe. To understand the drivers of the new global tension the current discourse has overwhelmingly looked to great power politics for explanations. A dominant narrative has emerged that frames the United States as a superpower in decline currently facing increasingly aggressive challenges from China. This study directly challenges that narrative by investigating the role of nuclear weapons laboratories as the possible key driver of this new era of nuclear arms racing and proliferation. Specifically, this thesis uses process tracing and organization theory to explain how Lawrence Livermore National laboratories developed an organizational ethos that sought to master its resource dependence by pursuing influence over the policy that controls the distribution of the resources it seeks. This thesis argues that in doing so Lawrence Livermore acts as a driver of arms racing and in turn the new Cold War.
Open Access
Harmony and Matrimony: A Cameo of Hermaphroditus
(University of Oregon, 2023-03-21) Reed, Ren
This case study examines a cameo ring featuring Hermaphroditus. The use of this cameo has been theorized by The Getty as amulatory or related to Hermaphroditus cult. However, the common uses of similar rings, subject matter, and an analysis of Hermaphroditus within the historical record indicate that this cameo ring’s primary use was romantic in nature. References to Hermaphroditus worship associate them with union, marriage, and fecundity. The historical record is supplemented by rituals involving gender nonconformity and dual worship of Hermes and Aphrodite in Argos– one of two mother cities to Helicarnassus, a location to which Hermaphroditus has strong ties. The practice of these rituals does not necessarily indicate that the cameo has cult significance. Rather, this image of Hermaphroditus exists within a religious context akin to portrayals of Apollo or Aphrodite, and resembles their presence on cameos. These deities were considered particularly fitting for cameo rings primarily used as love gifts. In this context, these rings signified commitment and reciprocity. Hermaphroditus’ associations with marriage and harmony make them a subject matter consistent with the intent of similar pieces.
Open Access
Reweaving the Uaman Luar: Cultural Reproduction and Autonomy among the Kamëntšá
(University of Oregon, 2023) Glass, Rowan
Where there is colonial power, there is Indigenous resistance. Latin America offers many case studies for an analysis of Indigenous cultural survival, historically and to the present day. While some have received considerable popular and academic attention, most have gone comparatively unknown, particularly in the Anglophone academic mainstream. My research aims to address this gap by interpreting processes of cultural reproduction among the Kamëntšá, a culturally and linguistically unique people of the Sibundoy Valley of southwest Colombia. Building on ethnographic data collected during three months of fieldwork with artisans, shamans, land defenders, and community members in the Sibundoy Valley, I argue that the Kamëntšá, while facing cultural, political, and ecological threats on multiple fronts, are engaged in the integral reproduction of their culture to ensure the survival and vitality of their community. The Kamëntšá experience demonstrates the viability of Indigenous cultural survival and autonomy outside of the settler-colonial and neoliberal status quo. I conclude by arguing that Kamëntšá processes of cultural reproduction contribute to ensuring their cultural autonomy, demonstrating the pluriversal dictum that “another world is possible,” and that the Kamëntšá case sheds light on cultural reproduction and autonomy construction as they operate in other subaltern contexts.
Open Access
How to Tie Wood Knots
(University of Oregon, 2023) Zarate, Ri
Woods anisotropic nature causes “defects” in lumber creating unwanted curvature. Actuation is activated by fluctuating moisture content within the wood cells making a shrinking and swelling motion (Hoadly 73-90). Laminating two perpendicular layers of wood veneer, one dry (passive) and one with high moisture (active), creates predictable, strong, and scalable self-actuating curvature without additional energy input (fig 1) (Rüggeberg 4-9, Timoshenko 235). Programable actuation is well studied (Vailati 11-12, Tahouni 13), but knots are particularly difficult to choreograph due to the formal combination of bending and torsion (Bhattacharyya 3-4). This study sought to create a self tying veneer knot by honing 2D geometry to laser cut prior to shaping (fig 2a, 2b). Speed was found to be controllable by varying width of bilayers resulting in several wood knots. Increasing elasticity of the veneer in its final curved form opens possibilities for improving material performance by using woods ingrained “physical intelligence” (Siti 1-2).
Open Access
Information Sources and COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Adults with Disabilities
(University of Oregon, 2023) McClain, Devan; Ngo, Nicole; Dudukovic, Nicole; Drum, Charles
People with disabilities are at increased risk of experiencing severe COVID-19 outcomes and should receive vaccinations and boosters to mitigate risk. However, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy has been previously observed in this population and little is known about its underlying contributors. The purpose of this study is to investigate COVID-19 vaccine and booster hesitancy, sources of public health information, vaccination and hesitance rationales, misinformation susceptibility, and political ideology by expanding upon the 2021 COVID-19 and Vaccine Survey Project from the American Association on Health & Disability. Results found that over 70% of previously-hesitant respondents (n= 32) had received a primary dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and that over 90% of all respondents (n=280) had received a booster. Both the Hesitant and Not Hesitant Groups reported health care professionals as the most trusted source for reliable COVID-19 vaccine information, and the ability to correctly identify COVID- 19 misinformation was related to both information sources and political ideology variables. Findings reinforce the value of health care providers in the provision of accessible and accurate COVID-19 vaccine messaging as a means of combatting misinformation, which aligns with strategies for reducing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the general population given the emergence of distrust in science during the pandemic. Additionally, because this is the only study to examine the role of information sources and the longitudinal element of vaccine hesitancy among people with disabilities, and public health policymakers will be interested in the proposed programmatic applications of this research on elements of vaccine decision-making.
Open Access
Building Community Solidarity: The 1988-90 Strike of the Morgan-Nicolai Door Factory and the Creation of the Eugene-Springfield Solidarity Network
(University of Oregon, 2023) Cross, Katie; Lafer, Gordon; Shoop, Casey
The purpose of this research is to document the failed Morgan-Nicolai Door Factory strike of 1988-90 with a specific focus on those in the community who would use the strike as a catalyst for the development of the Eugene-Springfield Solidarity Network (ESSN). Through the literature review, the author contextualizes the strike within the greater economic and political forces of the 1970s-1990s. And through newspaper articles and interviews with participants in the movement, the author determines that despite the failure of the Morgan-Nicolai strike itself, the strike and its long-term effects could qualify the movement as a “successful failure.”
Open Access
Investigating Variations in Unemployment Between North and South Spain and Associated Implications
(University of Oregon, 2022-06) Kraschel, Emily
Unemployment rates in Southern Spain have long been significantly higher than in Northern Spain, negatively affecting Spain’s national unemployment rate. This has led Spain to have one of the highest unemployment rates in the EU, making it a target for corrective policies. The European Central Bank has enacted conservative fiscal policy across members and implemented further austerity policies on Spain due to its perceived high risk to the Euro and large amount of unpaid loans. The ECB has continued to increase interest rates for the currency which negatively effects economies trying to stimulate investment such as Spain. The regional difference has previously been explored through purely quantitative methods and is widely attributed to a deficit in industrial output or a cultural aversion to work. The purpose of this research is to use a combination of quantitative decomposition through regression and various historical, policy, and geo-sensing sources to gain a deeper understanding of factors which may contribute to unemployment, to explore possible avenues for development which could improve employment in the South.
Open Access
Colombian Counterpoint: Transculturation in Sibundoy Valley Ethnohistory
(University of Oregon, 2022-05) Glass, Rowan F. F.
Anthropological and historical scholarship on cultural change in colonially subordinated cultures has often stressed deculturation—cultural loss and degradation—as a consequence of colonialism. This paper disputes that narrative by presenting the case of Indigenous cultural change in the Sibundoy Valley of southwest Colombia from an ethnohistorical perspective. Drawing on historical, ethnographic, and theoretical texts, and relying on the concept of transculturation—understood as a complex process of partial loss, partial gain, and the creation of new cultural phenomena from intercultural encounters—as a more nuanced alternative to deculturation, I outline the history of cultural change in the valley from the prehispanic period to the present. While recognizing that colonialism was experienced as a catastrophe for the Indigenous communities of the valley, I suggest that the latter’s deep historical experience of transculturation in the prehispanic era enabled the preservation and rearticulation of core elements of their native cultures in the post-contact period. That experience allowed for the incorporation of foreign, colonially imposed cultural elements into the pre-existing cultural framework of the valley. The historical continuity of the transcultural experience in the valley demonstrates that its Indigenous communities have not been passive subjects of colonial power, but active agents in negotiating and mitigating its deculturating effects. This approach emphasizes the historical agency of Sibundoy Valley natives and positions them as the central protagonists of their own history, suggesting the applicability of this perspective to other situations of cultural change in colonial contexts.
Open Access
Rural Relationships on the Oregon Women’s Lands
(University of Oregon, 2022) Getz, Madeleine
Residents of Grants Pass, Oregon, may have known their rural community was changing when five lesbians from Montreal settled outside the town in 1974 and established WomanShare, an all-female lesbian separatist collective. Certainly, as time went on, Oregon citizens living in rural communities employed, served, and gossiped about various lesbian collectivist communities existing a stone’s throw away, often in tones of disregard or distrust. And this phenomenon was not limited to Grants Pass: Across Oregon, feminist-lesbians were building collectives that acted as female-only spaces for full-time residents and hosted workshops and visitors, supported publications, and conducted spiritual ceremonies during their operation. Despite tensions that existed with surrounding settlements, thousands of lesbian visitors flocked to these separatist utopias in the idyllic Oregon wilderness.
Open Access
Understanding Native Hawaiian Land Relations Through Kānaka Maoli Literature
(University of Oregon, 2021-01) Harden, Jordan Kalani
Within a hegemonic Western discourse, Hawai‘i is largely considered an aesthetic tourist destination. It is perceived to be a vacation haven, bountiful in opportunities for real estate, commodification, and gentrification. While endeavors such as these have indeed proven to be economically prolific for the state, the profits do not directly, if even remotely, benefit the Native Hawaiians whose land continues to be seized and commodified in the name of said profits. Therefore, that dominant discourse which paints Hawai‘i as a tourist destination of great economic potential is in fact a colonialist notion, denoting Hawaiian land as public property to be seized, altered, and owned. In reality, the land that is used for expansive capitalist ventures is often seized from Native people, as has been the trend since settlers first invaded Hawai‘i. This truth is further troubling when one considers Native Hawaiian land relations and the spiritual connection that many Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) have to that land. In light of the spiritual ties that many Kānaka Maoli have to land, or 'āina, its seizure and alteration by non-Native persons is an act of colonialism against not only Kānaka Maoli homes, but also against our bodies and spirits. This spiritual and emotional connection between Kānaka Maoli and our land is deeply rooted, and it is an idea commonly expressed in contemporary Kanaka culture by the term aloha ʻāina. In understanding this sentiment, it is essential that one first understands that aloha carries a much deeper meaning than the Hawaiian “hello” and “goodbye.” Aloha connotes one’s deep love for and connection to Kanaka culture. It also signifies love for one’s neighbors, friends, and ancestors. In essence, aloha ʻāina is an expression of one’s identification with and commitment to Hawaiian land and its connected historical and cultural significance. By close reading Kanaka texts and terminology such as this, one can begin to understand the sanctity of Kanaka land relations, thereby lending to an understanding of one of the ways by which colonialism against Kānaka Maoli continues in perpetuity. In this thesis, I will investigate and discuss relationships between Kanaka bodies and ‘āina. I will do this by close reading Kanaka literature, including the Hawaiian creation mele known as the Kumulipo, the narrative and performative device that is hula, and my Auntie Betty's stories that have been passed down to me through oral storytelling. I will contextualize my findings in both historical and contemporary frames. Ultimately, I am conducting this research with the aim of contributing to existing scholarship which aims to dismantle the dominant narrative which suggests that we live in a post-colonial era. The idea that colonialism is an extinguished historical event is a dangerous and false misconception that allows for the perpetuation of the discriminatory maltreatment of marginalized Indigenous communities and cultures. This discrimination is enacted in countless ways, including but in no way limited to the seizure of Kānaka Maoli lands. It is my hope that this research will encourage any and all readers to continue to learn about Kanaka Maoli and other Native cultures, and that this endeavor for further knowledge will lead to advocacy on behalf of, and greater reverence toward Native people, narratives, and knowledge.
Open Access
Jack-of-all-trades, The Role of Astrocytes in Circuit Formation and Plasticity
(University of Oregon, 2020-06) Perez-Catalan, Nelson A.
Neurons are electrically excitable cells that transmit information throughout the nervous system with high speed and accuracy. This is largely facilitated by their specialized morphology, with dendrites receiving diverse information, to axons propagating the message to specific neighboring neuronal partners. During development, neuronal networks undergo rapid changes, ranging from short-term changes on the order of milliseconds, to long-term modifications in neural architecture that could last as long as the lifetime of the organism. This ‘plasticity’ ensures that neuronal networks, or circuits, undergo constant checks during development, while also facilitating a degree of adaptability that acts as the basis for learning and memory. The mechanisms that the nervous system employs to establish the correct connections and regulate plasticity remain a poorly understood topic in neuroscience. Research in both mammals and invertebrates, including Drosophila, have defined that glial cells are capable of instructing neurons to find partners to form synapses, a specialized chemical junction between two neurons where electrical signals propagate. More specifically, studies in astrocytes, the most abundant glial cell subtype in the central nervous system, have demonstrated that while neurogenesis precedes astrogenesis in the cortex, neuronal synapses only begin to form after astrocytes have been generated (explored in Chapter 1). Astrocyte development is crucial for circuit formation in the nervous system, and their dysfunction can lead to neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, neuroimmune, and neoplastic diseases, such as ALS and Alzheimer’s. This thesis explores a subset of the mechanisms employed by the nervous system to regulate circuit plasticity and circuit establishment during development, with a specific focus on astroglia. iv My first goal was to characterize plasticity within a model neural circuit during development. In the second chapter of this thesis, I use the highly specialized genetic toolkit available for Drosophila to characterize the structural dynamics of motor neuron dendrites during development in vivo by utilizing fluorescence microscopy. By manipulating neuronal activity in my model motor neurons, I show that the presence of stable microtubule populations within dendrites is directly correlated with structurally stable arbors. Furthermore, overexpression of the cell adhesion molecule Neurexin in motor neurons led to the increased stability of microtubule populations within dendritic arbors. Finally, I demonstrate that astrocytes are required to restrict motor dendrite plasticity to newly hatched larva. Interestingly, astrocytes robustly express Neuroligins, which are binding partners for Neurexin, suggesting that astrocyte-secreted proteins are capable of directly regulating neuronal morphology and plasticity. Previous studies in vitro have shown that in addition to regulating circuit plasticity, astrocyte-derived secreted and cell surface molecules (CSMs) can modify synaptogenesis during circuit development. In a separate line of questioning, I explore the role of astrocyte-secreted and cell surface proteins in the formation of excitatory cholinergic synapses in vivo (described in Chapter 3). Specifically, I took part in a reverse genetic screen to knock down astrocyte-derived proteins using commercially available RNAi lines. Concurrently, we labeled both neuronal membranes and their presynaptic sites (Brp+) using Synaptic Tagging with Recombination (STaR) to assess non-cell autonomous changes in synapse number. We performed two parallel screens, the first labeled individual dorsal bipolar dendritic (Dbd) sensory neurons. The second targeted neurons that generate synapses localized in the mushroom body, a memory and v learning center in the Drosophila brain. Excitingly, the major astrocyte-secreted molecules that induce synapse formation (e.g. TGF-β) or inhibit synapse development (e.g. SPARC) in vertebrates are conserved in fly, and we identified fourteen novel genes (of 245 tested) required in astrocytes for synaptogenesis. In sum, this work further characterizes dendritic dynamics during a critical period in Drosophila development. My data shows that altered neuronal activity in aCC/RP2 motor neurons within a critical period of motor circuit plasticity causes significant dendritic remodeling within minutes, and that astrocytes are required for proper critical period closure. Further, I demonstrate that the ablation of astrocytes postcritical period induces abnormal period of heightened plasticity. Finally, this work provides direct evidence of the key regulatory function of astrocytes in synaptogenesis, and their role in regulating global synapse formation in the central nervous system.
Open Access
Fossil Foodscapes: Examining the United States’ Carbon Diet
(University of Oregon, 2020-06) Polk, Siena
While many are aware of the inputs required to maintain food production at an industrial level in the United States, we seldom reflect on the profound significance of a food system that is so deeply rooted in what Matthew Huber calls the “dead ecologies of fossilized energy.” In order to more fully understand and critique the linkages between fossil fuels and agriculture, as well as their ecological and social implications, I examine the use of fossil fuels in agriculture through an eco-socialist framework. I employ Wim Carton’s fossil fuel landscape and Marx as developed by John Bellamy Foster’s concept of metabolic rift to illuminate the linkages between combustible carbons and the food we eat. Ultimately, these two concepts lead to a place of critical understanding in attempts to envision a more sustainable and resilient future. Such an inquiry is of the upmost urgency considering the dual threats of climate change and soil erosion. Both threats are exacerbated by our continued use of fossil fuels and the machines they power.
Open Access
“You Shall Not Oppress a Resident Alien”: The Conception of Immigrants in the Hebrew Bible
(University of Oregon, 2020-06) Thielman, Miriam
An increase in global immigration has resulted in humanitarian crises across the world as countries struggle to respond to the growing number of refugees and asylum seekers arriving at their borders. Understanding the specific messages within the Hebrew Bible regarding immigrants is important for developing faith-informed responses to immigrants and refugees. Religion often influences people’s beliefs, actions, and even the policy decisions for which they advocate, and the various forms of Christianity practiced in the United States frequently use the Hebrew Bible and New Testament as their sacred instructive texts. A detailed study of relevant portions of the Hebrew Bible, coupled with analysis of biblical commentaries and scholarly criticism, suggests that the Bible underscores the imperative to care for the most vulnerable members of society, as well as to include immigrants in the community. Arguably, people of faith should take this overarching message into account when considering how to respond to immigrants’ arrival in the United States.
Open Access
Understanding Native Hawaiian Land Relations Through Kanaka Maoli Literature
(University of Oregon, 2020-06) Harden, Jordan Kalani
Within a hegemonic Western discourse, Hawai‘i is largely considered an aesthetic tourist destination. It is perceived to be a vacation haven, bountiful in opportunities for real estate, commodification, and gentrification. While endeavors such as these have indeed proven to be economically prolific for the state, the profits do not directly, if even remotely, benefit the Native Hawaiians whose land continues to be seized and commodified in the name of said profits. Therefore, that dominant discourse which paints Hawai‘i as a tourist destination of great economic potential is in fact a colonialist notion, denoting Hawaiian land as public property to be seized, altered, and owned. In reality, the land that is used for expansive capitalist ventures is often seized from Native people, as has been the trend since settlers first invaded Hawai‘i. This truth is further troubling when one considers Native Hawaiian land relations and the spiritual connection that many Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) have to that land. In light of the spiritual ties that many Kānaka Maoli have to land,or 'āina, its seizure and alteration by non-Native persons is an act of colonialism against not only Kānaka Maoli homes, but also against our bodies and spirits. This spiritual and emotional connection between Kānaka Maoliand our land is deeply rooted, and it is an idea commonly expressed in contemporary Kanaka culture by the term aloha ʻāina. In understanding this sentiment, it is essential that one first understands that aloha carries a much deeper meaning than the Hawaiian “hello” and “goodbye.” Aloha connotes one’s deep love for and connection to Kanaka culture. It also signifies love for one’s neighbors, friends, and ancestors. In essence, aloha ʻāinais an expression of one’s identification with and commitment to Hawaiianland and its connected historical and cultural significance. By close reading Kanaka texts and terminology such as this, one can begin to understand the sanctity of Kanaka land relations, thereby lending to an understanding of one of the ways by which colonialism against Kānaka Maoli continues in perpetuity.In this thesis, I will investigate and discuss relationships between Kanaka bodies and ‘āina. I will do this by close reading Kanaka literature, including the Hawaiian creation mele known as the Kumulipo, the narrative and performative device that is hula, and my Auntie Betty's stories that have been passed down to me through oral storytelling. I will contextualize my findings in both historical and contemporary frames. Ultimately, I am conducting this research with the aim of contributing to existing scholarship which aims to dismantle the dominant narrative which suggests that we live in a post-colonial era. The idea that colonialism is an extinguished historical event is a dangerous and false misconception that allows for the perpetuation of the discriminatory maltreatment of marginalized Indigenous communities and cultures. This discrimination is enacted in countless ways, including but in no way limited to the seizure of Kānaka Maolilands. It is my hope that this research will encourage any and all readers to continue to learn about Kanaka Maoli and other Native cultures, and that this endeavor for further knowledge will lead to advocacy on behalf of, and greater reverence toward Native people, narratives, and knowledge.
Open Access
Post-stroke Dysphagia’s Impact on Survivors and Spousal Caregivers: The Importance of Perceptual Congruence
(University of Oregon, 2020-06) Davis, Kayla R.
Previous studies have shown a link between survivors’ stroke severity and family caregiver burden, however other factors may contribute to this burden. Burden specific to post-stroke dysphagia and the consequences of incongruence between care recipient and care partner in their perception of the impacts of the care recipient’s dysphagia are potential variables that are unexplored. The present study aimed to determine the role of partner congruence in the perceived mealtime impacts of poststroke dysphagia on caregiver burden. Twenty-seven spousal dyads consisting of a stroke survivor experiencing post-stroke dysphagia and their spousal caregiver were surveyed concerning their perceptions of the logistical and social impacts of dysphagia on mealtimes and stroke and dysphagia severity. Dyadic congruence in perceptions of mealtime logistical impacts, but not mealtime social impacts, was associated with increased caregiver burden. Additionally, increased survivor dysphagia severity and caregivers’ perceived mealtime logistical impacts were also associated with increased caregiver burden. These results can guide speech-language pathologists and other health professionals in their interventions for clients with dysphagia and their families.
Open Access
MICKEY MOUSE AND MULTICULTURALISM: DISNEY’S GLOBAL CAPITALISM
(University of Oregon, 2020) Griggs, Taylor
This thesis aims to examine the limitations of the Walt Disney Company’s attempts at including diverse representations of marginalized people in their popular films, including Aladdin (1992), Pocahontas (1995), The Princess and the Frog (2009) and Moana (2016). It examines how Disney has succeeded and failed in its representations of diverse groups, given the fact that it exists as a multibillion dollar enterprise in a globalist, capitalist world. This paper examines the positive impact that diverse representations can have, especially on young audiences, and the authenticity, or lack thereof, of these representations, using Marxist and Neo-Marxist frameworks. Ultimately, the thesis concludes that based on the research conducted, because of the complexities and nuances of capitalism and the fact that it is impossible to have authentic representation even with seemingly strong attempts to do so, Disney films will always exist in a system that has exploited the marginalized people they are now intent on representing in their films, and it is not possible to have actual authentic representation of these marginalized groups under multicultural capitalism without a major economic shift.
Open Access
She’s Straight but She’s a Dyke: Sexuality Discourse on the Lesbian Lands
(University of Oregon, 2020) Dodds, Gracia
This essay focuses on the evolution of sexuality identity markers on the Southern Oregon Lesbian Lands. Research derived from the University of Oregon Special Collections and Archives serves to display the means by which different women understood and made sense of sexuality and sexual orientation. I have found that the term ‘lesbian’ is better understood as a catch-all word for all of women’s same-gender attraction; meaning that includes multi-gender attracted women. This research will give better insight into how umbrella terms, like lesbian, affect who is included (and excluded) throughout both the duration and existence of the lesbian communes, and in current times.
Open Access
“I Don’t Have Deaths on my Conscience”: the Impact of a Peer-Delivered Naloxone Program on a Community of Intravenous Drug Users in Eugene, Oregon
(University of Oregon, 2019-06) Rochester, Eleanor Gloria
The United States is in the midst of an epidemic of overdose deaths. In response, harm reduction programs commonly distribute the opioid antagonist naloxone directly to drug users so that they can act as first responders to overdose. When injected, naloxone reverses respiratory depression and can save the life of a person overdosing on opioids. As evidence for the effectiveness of these programs at reducing deaths continues to be collected, little research has been conducted into the impact of serving in this role on drug users themselves. To better understand the lived experiences of drug users with naloxone, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seventeen syringe exchange participants who currently carry naloxone. Interviews revealed that carrying and administering naloxone is empowering for many drug users, because it contrasts with the powerlessness they may feel in other aspects of their lives. Peer administrators use naloxone in a way that reinforces the community of care among drug users. This aligns with the goals of harm reduction programs, which seek to empower drug users to make choices to improve their lives, without abstinence as the ultimate goal. Future programs distributing naloxone to drug users should be aware of its potential not only to save lives, but to increase drug users’ self-confidence and strengthen the network of overdose care in their communities.

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