Biology. Denise Balacich (2009)
The Effectiveness of Current Treatment for Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration as Opposed to Previous Treatments Used
Age-related macular degeneration is what is known as the leading cause of blindness in the aged population and comes in two types: dry, which then eventually turns into wet. This chronic eye disease is the deterioration of the macula, containing light sensitive cells on the retina. Age related macular degeneration is a result of environmental, hereditary, and metabolic factors. A proper extensive examination performed by an ophthalmologist is very important in catching the disease relatively early. Upon diagnosis, proper treatment must be followed. Although there are only treatments for those with wet age related macular degeneration, with our current technology and research today, medications are much more effective than what was present in previous years for wet macular degeneration.
Biology. Lauren Calandra (2009)
A Review of the Equivalence of Generic Drugs Compared to Brand-Name Drugs Used in Clinical Settings
Generic drugs have been a controversial topic of interest for the last few decades. A Generic drug is identical, or bioequivalent to a brand name drug in dosage, strength, safety, and quality. Generics become available once the originators patent has expired. This stipulation lets the generic manufacturer skip the expensive drug trials and years of testing to mass produce the drug for much cheaper costs. Generic versions are therefore much cheaper than branded drugs and have allowed much the ability to afford their prescriptions. However, generic drugs are controversial since their inactive ingredients are not required to be the same as their counterpart. Some researchers believe this can cause adverse events in the patients that switch from brand name to generic. This is mostly evident in narrow therapeutic index (NTI) drugs such as Coumadin, Synthroid, and Dilantin. These drugs have a very small therapeutic dose range that if tampered with the slightest amount could cause significant toxicity or sub-therapeutic levels. Although research does not pinpoint branded drugs as superior many studies do not support the interchangeability of generic drugs.
Biology. Christopher Cappelli (2009)
Gender Differences Created by Urinary Creatinine Adjustments Made to Heavy Metal Measurements
In large studies, spot urine collection is used to measure environmental exposure to heavy metals. While 24-h urine analysis is more accurate, it is not the preferable method, because it is more time consuming, labor intensive and costly. Creatinine levels in urine are used to normalize heavy metal measurements, because creatinine is excreted in urine at a constant rate per day. This study analyzes differences in heavy metal concentrations between males and females after adjustment for creatinine. Significant differences in creatinine-adjusted heavy metal levels were found to exist between the sexes. Moreover, age may also have an effect on heavy metal levels when adjusted for creatinine regardless of gender, because creatinine levels vary with age. As males develop more muscle mass during adolescence than females, gender has a large impact on the final adjusted heavy metal measurements. This finding is important for hospitals and other health-care facilities where the heavy metal data for men and women are grouped together yielding a single range of normal values, which is used to assay an individual's health and exposure to heavy metals. According to our findings, different normal ranges of metals adjusted for creatinine should be used when examining adult men and women.
Biology. Michelle D’Amura (2009)
Osteoarthritis: Pathology, Etiology, and Treatment
The goal of this paper is to review current literature on osteoarthritis focusing on epidemiology, etiology, normal and abnormal knee anatomy and physiology, as well as both traditional and new molecularly-targeted treatment options. The paper will attempt to synthesize a working-model of how osteoarthritis (OA) inflicts its damage at the level of tissues, cells, and molecules while also incorporating my own experiences at an orthopedic clinic specializing in surgery and maintenance care of OA patients. In order to understand the disease state, the paper will first introduce normal joint anatomy and physiology with a focus on the synovium and articular cartilage to create a foundation for understanding the etiology of OA. The paper then discusses different models of OA and considers several possible mechanisms for the development of osteoarthritis. The model will include several factors including mechanical damage of the joints and the resulting inflammatory immune response, as well as subsequent ‘molecular cell’ defects like cell death/apoptosis, changes in the extracellular matrix, and changes in signaling pathways, protein interactions, and gene expression. Finally, the paper explores the most current treatment options and describes my own experiences with OA patients at the New York University School of Medicine’s Hospital for Joint Diseases, where I witnessed both cutting edge surgical techniques, targeted drug therapies, and improved methods for imaging and diagnosis in OA patients. At the NYU Hospital for Joint Disease, I was fortunate enough to work closely with doctors and researchers who dedicated their lives to improving diagnosis and management of OA. In this setting, I witnessed firsthand many different surgical procedures and even observed much of the basic laboratory work that continues to expand the medical community’s ability to understand and treat the disease with increasing resolution and precision.
Biology. Georgia Dellas (2009)
Examination of Drosophila Melanogaster Ovaries Using Transmission Electron Microscopy
The goal of this study was to identify a fixation and embedding procedure for the analysis of Drosophila melanogaster oocyte development by transmission electron microscopy.The oocytes of D. melanogaster develop among the ovarioles that reside in the ovary. Oogenesis follows a process that divides a stem cell into daughter stem cells and a cystoblast cell.The cystoblast formed further divides to produce a cyst of 16 cells. Of this 16 cell cyst, one cell develops into an oocyte. The remaining cells support oocyte development. Results determined by genetic and immunocytological studies indicate that mutations in the small repeat-associated siRNA (rasiRNA) pathway genes may affect stem cell maintenance in the female germ line. Future studies will use electron microscopy to analyze stem cell maintenance and oocyte development in mutant strains.
Biology. Lauren Fisher (2009)
The influence of systemic diseases on oral health care
An estimated 80 percent of American adults have some form of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease ranges from simple gum inflammation to serious disease resulting in major damage to the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth. Gum disease is a threat to oral health. Research has shown that periodontal disease can lead to health effects that go well beyond the mouth. Studies show that there is a relationship between periodontal disease and increased risk of heart attack or stroke and difficulty controlling blood sugar levels in people with diabetes mellitus. The main goal of treating periodontal disease is to control the infection. The number and types of treatment vary, depending on the extent of the gum disease (Torpy et al., 2008).
Biology. Megan Higgins (2009)
A Fraudulent Epidemic: The Negative Correlation Between Autism and Childhood Vaccination
When the amount of autistic-diagnosed children increased in the early 1990’s from 4 cases per 10,000 to 30 to 60 cases per 10,000, it was hypothesized that the autism “epidemic” was due to a mercury based preservative found in vaccines. The preservative, thimerosal, is made up of ethyl-mercury, a compound whose harmful effect had not been analyzed. Though thimerosal was speculated to be similar to the relatively toxic compound methyl-mercury, studies on ethyl-mercury showed that it is actually very innocuous and easily excreted by the human body. Research completed throughout the 1990’s has proven that there are no known developmental or neurological effects from thimerosal-containing vaccines. Though the compound was removed from all vaccines as a safety precaution, it is innocuous at the quantities found in vaccinations. Unfortunately, the correlation between childhood vaccines and autism is still perceived by some parents and autism advocacy groups as being the origin of autism spectrum disorders.
Biology. Sejmir Izeirovski (2009)
The Anterior Midgut of Larval Yellow Fever Mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti): Effects of Nutrients on the Transepithelial Voltage and Strong Luminal Alkalinization.
Isolated anterior midguts of larval Aedes aegypti were bathed in aerated mosquito saline containing serotonin (0.2 μmol l−1) and perfused with NaCl (100 mmol l−1). The lumen negative transepithelial voltage (Vte) was measured and luminal alkalinization was determined through color change of luminal m-cresol purple from yellow to purple after luminal perfusion was stopped. Addition of 10 mmol l−1 amino acids (arginine, glutamine, histidine or proline) or dicarboxylic acids (malate or succinate) to the luminal perfusate resulted in more negative Vte values, whereas addition of glucose was without effect. In the presence of TRIS chloride as luminal perfusate, addition of nutrients did not change Vte. These results are consistent with the presence of Na+-dependent absorption of amino acids and dicarboxylic acids. Effects of serotonin withdrawal indicated that nutrient absorption is stimulated by this hormone. Strong luminal alkalinization was observed with mosquito saline containing serotonin on the hemolymph-side and 100 mmol l-1 NaCl in the lumen, indicating that alkalinization does not depend on luminal nutrients. Omission of glucose or dicarboxylic acids from the hemolymph-side solution did not have any effect on luminal alkalinization, whereas omission of amino acids significantly decelerated it. Re-addition of amino acids restored alkalinization, suggesting the involvement of amino acid metabolism in luminal alkalinization.
Biology. Jacquelyn Laurie (2009)
Diabetes Mellitus: Its Prevalence, Complications and Effective Treatments
Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disease affecting Americans. This disease is characterized by very high blood sugar levels. The three main types of diabetes are Type I, Type II and Gestational diabetes. There are many complications that can arise in an individual with diabetes including hyperglycemia, ketoacidosis, retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy. Many of these complications can be avoided if blood sugar levels are maintained at a normal range. Insulin and oral medications help patients reduce the risk of complications and aid in insulin production. Awareness of the causes and complications of diabetes will hopefully influence the American people to make conscious decisions about their diet and lifestyle to prevent the disorder.
Biology. Lauren Levy (2009)
The Effects of Various Ethanol Concentrations on the Activity Level of Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become frequently utilized in developmental biology and genetics creating a greater need to further understand its behavioral tendencies, specifically under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol (ethanol) is a central nervous system depressant causing a variety of behavioral effects ranging from mild euphoria and relaxation to impaired sensations and unconsciousness. This wide range is due to the amount of alcohol taken in, suggesting the phenomenon of hormesis. Hormesis is defined as a phenomenon whereby harmful substances such as ethanol appear to be beneficial or stimulatory in extremely low concentrations. Previous research has shown stimulatory effects of low doses of ethanol on the behavior of zebrafish (Danio rerio). This study compared the effects of different ethanol concentrations on the activity level of adult zebra fish. The fish were individually exposed to the following five ethanol concentrations for one hour prior to the experiment: 0% (control), 0.125%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1.0% EtOH. During the 3-min experimental period, each fish was videotaped while moving in a fingerbowl under which was placed a grid comprised of 3 cm x 3 cm squares. Activity level was measured by counting the number of grid lines crossed by each fish during the first minute and also during the entire 3-min experimental period. The results were analyzed and used to test the hormesis model.
Biology. Annie Lincoln (2009)
A Review of Nutritional Criteria for Geriatric Admitted Patients with Metabolic and Neurological Disorders in Clinical Settings
Within the past century alone, the medical and scientific community has made immense advancements and attained a vast amount of knowledge in an effort to combat disease. As a result of these improvements, the average life span of an individual has increased dramatically, resulting in one of the largest populations of men and women over the age of 70 ever seen. In this review, I have analyzed numerous studies focusing on nutritional requirements of geriatric hospital patients with metabolic and neurological disorders, and applied the knowledge I attained while interning for the Nutrition and Wellness Department at Bridgeport Hospital in Bridgeport, CT. It was discovered that a high rate of geriatric admitted patients exhibit diabetes mellitus Type I or Type II, and those physically incapable of mastication are tube fed diabetic-specific formulas. Recent advancements have acknowledged elderly-specific formulas that provide increased amount of protein and essential amino acids to promote and stimulate muscle protein synthesis. It was also discovered that individualized nutritional attention and counseling from dietitians and/or nurses along with the patients caretaker or family for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia, benefited and increased the patients’ nutrient intake overall, signifying the importance of its implementation in clinical settings. Conclusively, meeting the upmost nutritional standards and individualizing patient care will aid in overall well-being and eliminate high rates of malnourishment seen in geriatric patients within the clinical environment.
Biology. Kristina McEvoy (2009)
Improving Gait and Muscle Strength in Children with Cerebral Palsy
This paper discusses cerebral palsy, specifically spastic cerebral palsy, and the different treatments that are being researched to improve gait and muscle strength in children affected with this condition. First, I describe what cerebral palsy is as well as its causes, and then explain the different types of cerebral palsy. For the remaining part of the paper I discuss the different treatments that are being researched and how successful they have been in improving children’s gait and muscle strength. I then compare these different treatments to conclude which are most successful, as well as determine if the success rates had anything to do with the children’s gender. The different treatments included in this paper are botox injections, baclofen infusion, orthopedic surgeries, and strength training/physical therapy.
Biology. Tanya Modica (2009)
Electron Microscopy Analysis of Ovaries from Drosophila melanogaster
The goal of this study was to develop a preparation procedure for the analysis of Drosophila melanogaster oocyte development by transmission electron microscopy. Drosophila oocytes develop within tubular ovarioles within the ovary. One to two germ line stem cells reside at the tip of each ovariole. Oogenesis is initiated when a stem cell divides to produce a cyst of cells, one of which develops into an oocyte. The remaining cells support oocyte development. Future studies will use electron microscopy to analyze oocyte development in mutant females. Our micrograph results indicate that the procedures developed to observe and analyze the developing oocyte were successful. Cellular components were able to be properly preserved and clearly identified. These cellular components included membrane bound organelles such as mitochondria, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulums, lysomes and nuclei. Structures of the cytoskeleton were also preserved and include transverse, longitudinal and cross sections of microtubules. Though this project is in its beginning stages, it is the foundation for future studies involving the analysis of mutants using transmission electron microscopy.
Biology. Amanda Post (2008)
Natural Services Provided by Ecosystems and the Environmental Consequences of Tourism
Tourism is increasing all over the world. At the same time, people are becoming more aware of the environment and are being called on to be responsible for how they treat it. While raising awareness helps in local areas, often it does not reach beyond borders and language barriers. The very act of traveling itself can be detrimental to the earth. Tourism increases erosion and encourages development on and around delicate ecosystems. It increases waste and affects local wildlife populations. Tourism advertises the earth’s natural beauty but does nothing to sustain or preserve it. Specific case studies covered in this paper show the harmful effects of tourism as well as the benefits of ecotourism. Ecotourism is another kind of tourism that takes into consideration local communities and the ecosystem’s health. It is an improved alternative that reduces harmful impacts of tourism and provides long-term sustainability to ecosystems and communities worldwide.
Biology. Ryan Rogers (2009)
Chromosomal Aberrations in Vicia faba Exposed to UVA and UVB Radiation
The bean species, Vicia faba, is a popular subject for cytogenetic studies. It has only twelve diploid chromosomes and the chromosomes are fairly large, making them more easily identified. Research conducted with Vicia faba has provided the scientific community with an abundance of information regarding mutations. These occur as a result of mutagens that cause breaks in the chromosomes. The aim of this study was to determine the chromosomal aberrations caused by Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B rays on the chromosomes in the Vicia faba bean plant. Both UVA and UVB are known clastogens as they are readily absorbed into the DNA and are capable of causing chromosomal breaks. Due to the fact that it has a shorter wavelength, UVB is expected to cause more breaks as it is more easily absorbed into the DNA. In order to observe and quantify these effects, Vicia faba seeds were sprouted, the roots were exposed to radiation, and the resulting aberrations were observed and statistically analyzed. To study the wavelength effects, several groups of root tips were treated in different conditions. Three groups were treated with colchicine to remove the spindle fibers, while three were left alone so the phases of mitosis could be observed. For the purposes of this experiment, root tips were viewed at the highest magnification under an oil immersion lens (1000X). This allowed for proper identification of the kinds of aberrations caused by UV light. Based on the visual data and the quantitative analysis it can be stated with reasonable certainty that UVA and UVB radiations cause significant damages to the Vicia faba chromosomes.
Microbiology. Joseph Scala (2009)
The Effect of Oscillating Fields on Staphylococcus aureus
At any given time there are billions of colonies of bacteria taking up residence on your skin. These colonies of Staphylococcus aureus generally pose no harm, but given the right circumstances can have devastating effects on the body. Conventional treatments, such as antibiotics and antiseptics, have shown little help against the monster known as MRSA (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Electric fields are a topic of interest in sterilization and alternative methods of infection treatment. Though a field not well studied, research shows it holds great promise in the treatment against certain kinds of bacteria. (Hülsheger, 1983) The efficacy of electric fields on the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus is still under investigation, though preliminary and broad range field tests show negative results. A more concise study of many frequencies in the electric field may show more promise in battling this monster.
Microbiology. Yuliya Seldina (2009)
The Effect of Oscillating Electric Fields on the Growth of Escherichia coli
The discovery of disease causing microorganisms and the formulation of the Germ Theory of Disease prompted research aimed at inhibiting the growth and reproduction of pathogens. At first a variety of methods were investigated. The discovery and success of antibiotics in curing bacterial infections and increasing human life expectancy, however, biased efforts towards chemical treatments. Viruses and degenerative conditions such as cancer and AIDS have not responded well to this approach and continue to claim many lives. Furthermore the number of antibiotic resistant strains is rapidly increasing as is the price/number of medications consumed by the average person. With the cost of healthcare soaring one wonders if maybe a more efficacious (albeit less profitable) or complimentary means of tackling the problem has been overlooked. This study was conducted to investigate the effects oscillating electrical fields have on Escherichia coli. The question posed is can the frequency of the field be tuned to induce a resonant effect specific only to the organism itself? Tests conducted using a sinusoidal waveform at frequencies ranging from 100-160,000 Hz were conducted and yielded unique results in 3±0.5 kHz range as well as in the 20-80 kHz range. Further studies are being conducted to better understand the actual effect of the electrical fields on the bacteria.
Microbiology. Alex Vasilakos (2009)
The Formation and Prevention of Biofilms
The purpose of this research is to develop a general awareness of biofilm prevention and formation in aquatic environments. The main focus is to create an ideal environment for the genesis of biofilms, which upon close observation will lead to an understanding of their resistant nature. It was hypothesized that biofilms form in nearly all environments, whether water, or solid surfaces, living or lifeless forms. Another hypothesis stated that certain chemicals and substances would inhibit the growth of biofilms while others would act as catalysts for their growth. The approach of this study was to test various hypotheses and to recreate habitats where biofilms are most likely to form. Employing several discrepant techniques; The Buried Slide Technique, Micro Fishing Apparatus, Winogradsky Column, and The Biofilm Growth and Prevention Ecosystem, biofilms will be created from natural environments including wet soil and water. From these experiments, one will observe the formation and development of biofilm in an aquatic environment day by day, gaining an informative mastery of biofilm proliferation. In “The Biofilm Growth and Prevention Ecosystem”, the most striking aspect of the experiment was the effect of the Tea Tree Oil; it completely prevented biofilm formation for two weeks on a surface, whereas the control in the same environment was covered with biofilm. It was concluded from this research and the employment of various experiments, that biofilms are able to form on practically any surface that comes in contact with water, whether it be underground or in a still standing glass. This study was able to determine that although highly resistant, it is possible to control biofilms with proper antiseptics.
Education. Lauren Pollock (2009)
In the spring semester of 2009, I was placed as a student teacher in a second grade, general education classroom at P.S. 29 in Staten Island, New York. After meeting all of the students, two stood out to me as having special needs which I strived to accommodate to the best of my ability. Throughout the seven weeks I spent there, I taught a unit on different aspects of literacy, including different genres and skills exercises, and tracked the progress of these two students specifically. These are my experiences planning and preparing for student learning, teaching, analyzing student learning, and reflections.
Education. Francesca Landolina (2009)
The hands-on experiences of a Student Teacher reinforce the principles of constructionist learning emphasized in the Education Department of Wagner College. These accumulated experiences as a Student Teacher at PS23 provided me with countless concrete experiences that increased my confidence as a teacher. In preparing to student teach, I found the importance of becoming familiar with PS23, a small, well-to-do, suburban community. In my initial first grade placement, I taught an Interdisciplinary Unit on Communities, using various forms of assessment (ie: observations, portfolios, performance-based assessments, conferencing, and a Unit exam). Modeling, social interaction, and hands-on learning proved to be effective instructional strategies. My experiences as a student teacher illustrated the importance of lifelong learning and reflection to improve one’s teaching.
Music. Anthony Babino (2009)
Senior recital
Guitarist and lyric baritone Anthony Babino performed his senior recital on April 17, 2009. The recital showcased a wide range of musical styles, with Anthony performing works on both guitar and voice in the classical, jazz, folk, and pop/rock styles. In preparing the recital program, much effort and research went into text translation, as well as the compilation of background information on the various composers and their respective works.
Accompanied by Assistant Professor Joyce Chung on piano, the recital began with a performance of five selections from Franz Schubert’s song cycle “Die schöne Müllerin.” Study of this work included learning about historical performance practice in the Romantic period, and analysis of the work, as well as an intense study of the German language. Anthony then performed two pieces for solo guitar, “Adelita” by Francisco Tárrega and “Prelude no. 4 in E Minor” by Hector Villa-Lobos. The first half concluded with a performance of two Neapolitan songs, “Anima e core” by Salve d’Esposito, and Toto’s “Mala Femmena,” in which Anthony accompanied himself on the guitar and was joined by his brother Steven on bass.
Following a brief intermission, Anthony was accompanied on stage by his guitar teacher Edward Brown (guitar), Jon Caro (guitar), and Steven Babino (bass) in an arrangement of Sal Salvador’s jazz guitar duet “Walkin’ Time.” Two jazz standards, “All of Me” and “It’s Only A Paper Moon,” took shape as the configuration of musicians changed over to Anthony (guitar), Steven (bass), Dr. Robert Delfausse (piano), Jeff Lederer (saxophone), and Anthony’s dad Tony (drums). Daniel Gallagher (guitar) then joined the group to perform two of Anthony’s original compositions, “How She Does It” and “Melancholy Feeling,” both featured on his upcoming debut album. The recital concluded with two Beatles classics, “I’ll Be Back” and “This Boy.” The latter featured a familial trio performance by Anthony (guitar), Steven (bass), and Tony (guitar), performing in close three-part vocal harmony.
Music. Yiselle Blum (2009)
Senior recital
Yiselle Blum prepared a senior recital for performance on Sunday, April 26, 2009. The aspiring opera singer was accompanied by adjunct professor Mark Hyczko. Yiselle’s program incorporated arias and duets from roles she has been preparing during her study as a lyric mezzo-soprano, including Cherubino in Mozart’s “Le nozze di Figaro,” Zerlina in his “Don Giovanni,” Stephano in Charles-François Gounod’s “Romeo et Juliette,” and Erika in Samuel Barber’s “Vanessa.” Also included were German lieder by Franz Schubert as well as songs by Samuel Barber. Yiselle’s program concluded with a Cape Verdean morna by Amandio Cabral in the Creole-Portuguese style indigenous to the island nation located off the coast of West Africa.
Preparation of this repertoire demanded thorough research and analysis, including study of historical performance practices. Additionally, the program required training in vocal technique and diction as well as attention to character development and portrayal. Creating and studying translations of the texts were of vital importance for achieving accuracy and honesty in the rendering of the characters and therefore in the expression of the music itself. The texts include examples in German, English, Italian, French, and Cape Verdean Kriolu, which combines elements of Portuguese and West African languages.
Music. Robert Brown (2009)
Senior recital
Pianist Robert Brown composed a number of compositions for presentation in Campus Hall on April 30, 2009. A pupil of adjunct instructor Ernest Jackson, he wrote his compositions in an attempt to apply all the performance and analytical techniques he has learned at Wagner.
Music. Katherine (Kate) Burns (2009)
Senior recital
Kate performed her senior recital on April 25, 2009 in the Campus Hall Performance Center. With faculty member Joyce Chung at the piano, she performed examples of various genres and styles, including classical works, African-American spirituals, and ballads from 20th century musical theater. She opened her program with two arias from sacred works by J.S. Bach. Three Fauré songs and a concert aria by Mozart filled out the first half of her program. Kate also performed John Carter’s “Cantata,” a setting of four traditional spirituals. A composition student of Barbara Wesby, she performed two original works, the first a programmatic minimalist piece for two pianos featuring Kate and Barbara Wesby at the piano. Her second composition, “Curtain Call for Three Voices,” had won the 2009 Stanley Drama Award in Composition. Mae Deevy ’09 and Caitlin Ferchaw ’11 joined Kate to perform the latter. The program ended with selections from “The Scarlet Pimpernel” and “Songs for a New World.” In the latter, Katherine accompanied herself on piano and was joined by the a cappella ensemble Vocal Synergy, which she founded and directs. Research for the recital included study of Baroque performance practice and preparation of program notes and texts in Italian, French, German and Latin.
Music. Jonathan Caro (2009)
Senior recital
Jonathan Caro is a guitarist and bass vocalist. He performed a recital of music for guitar and for voice on May 9, 2009. The repertoire reflected his varied musical interests and the influences of a number of musicians. Each half of the program comprised sets of music for guitar as well as for voice. The guitar works include movements from Bach’s “Lute Suite in E minor”; an arrangement by Tommy Emmanuel of the Arthur Smith tune, “Guitar Boogie”; “Impetu,” by Flamenco guitarist and composer Mario Escudero; and pieces by contemporary composer Andrew York. Vocal selections included “An die ferne Geliebte,” the song cycle by Beethoven; and “Se vuol ballare” from “Le nozze di Figaro” by Mozart.
Music. Mae Deevy (2009)
Senior recital
Mae Deevy performed her senior recital on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at Wagner’s Campus Hall Performance Center. After studying abroad in Rome in spring 2008, Mae fell in love with all that Italy had to offer and decided to share musical aspects of her experience in her recital. The diversity of her program was inspired by her interests in music and Italian culture. Her recital comprised four sets ranging from 18th century opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and German lieder by Franz Schubert to contemporary songs by Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler, the American theatrical song-writing duo, and musica leggera (Italian pop songs) by Mina, Giorgia and Zucchero. Mae was especially passionate about the latter set, which she arranged and performed in collaboration with guitarist Jonathan Caro ’09. In other works she was accompanied by Adjunct Assistant Professor Joyce Chung on piano.
Music. Sally Kaelber (2009)
Senior vocal recital
Sally Kaelber prepared a senior vocal recital that included works by Robert Schumann, Gabriel Faure, Stefano Donaudy, Stephen Sondheim, Frank Wildhorn, William Bolcom and others. The varied program allowed Sally to perform many types of music in a variety of languages. The variety demonstrated Sally’s stylistic range. Schumann’s romantic “Waldgespräch” set to music poetry by the German Joseph Eichendorf. Fauré, considered by many the master of French melodie, contributed the difficult “Chanson d’amour,” among others. Danaudy contributed the Italian secular song “E Filli m’ha detto.” Very different from these were a number of traditional African-American spirituals. From Rupert Holmes’s “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” Sally performed “Moonfall.” Sondheim was represented by “That Dirty Old Man,” sung by the character Domina in “Forum.” The program concluded with several cabaret songs by William Bolcom.
Music. Christine Vient (2009)
Senior vocal recital
Soprano Christine Vient prepared a senior recital for performance in the Wagner College Performance Center on Sunday, May 10, 2009 with Mark Hyczko on piano. Christine’s recital included works by George Frideric Handel, Enrique Granados, Jason Robert Brown and other composers. Four languages were represented: English, Italian, German and Spanish. The variety of the selections, which ranged from jazz standards and musical theater songs to opera arias and art songs, allowed for a diverse program. The aria “Lascia ch’io pianga” is from Handel’s Italian opera “Rinaldo,” and “Va godendo” is from another of his Italian operas, “Serse,” whereas “Waft Her, Angels” is from his English oratorio “Jephtha.”
Business. Joanna Wine (2009)
New York State vs. Bernard Madoff
In a perfect, black and white world, guilty people would never go free and innocent people would never be unjustly incarcerated. However, our world is neither perfect nor black and white. Our legal system has been developed as an adversarial process to hopefully account for those shades of gray, allowing both sides to point out how imperfect our world really is. It is not the attorney’s job to determine a person’s guilt or innocence, but rather to zealously advance the cause of her client.
Personal morals and opinions will be set aside to present a defense for Bernard Madoff. My values and respect for the law, however, will not deviate from the highest standard. Although we still await his indictment in reality, presupposed charges will be made against him, and evidence will be admitted into “court.” As his attorney, I will present the best defense of my expert ability to mitigate his awful, albeit self-inflicted, situation.
Education. Allison Marotta (2009)
Teacher Work Sample
This Teacher Work Sample is based on the design and implementation of an interdisciplinary unit plan. It consists of four phases. Phase one is the planning and preparing, phase two describes the teaching, phase three describes the assessment, and phase four is the reflection. The unit followed the Reading Workshop Model, and taught the students how to use the reading strategy of questioning. Each lesson taught the students different types of questions that they can ask when they read. The students learned how to use the “5 W Questions,” questions that help them make inferences, questions to help think about what the author is saying, questions to think about the “larger meaning” of the story, and questions to find more information.
Education. Alyson Raiolo (2009)
Student teaching at Public School 21, a Title I school in the suburban area of Port Richmond, Staten Island, was one of my most rewarding experiences in a school yet. I was placed in a 5th grade CTT classroom, where I was able to work with students one-on-one, in small groups, and teach whole-class lessons including a comprehensive unit on Ireland, a country they were expected to present to their school. Each lesson of my unit allowed me to learn and practice how to differentiate instruction, modify my lessons, assess each lesson both formally and informally, use different strategies, and reflect upon my challenges and mistakes, as well as my development and growth as a teacher. This paper highlights the impact of my experiences as an educator on student learning.
Education. Amanda Cortese (2009)
Student teaching is an experience that one will always remember. I was in a 5th grade regular education class at P.S. 35, the Clove Valley School. I worked collaboratively with my cooperating teacher to develop a five-lesson unit on speech writing. Within each lesson are accommodations and adaptations to meet the needs of higher- and lower-functioning children in the class. Many different assessment tools are provided within the unit to assess learning outcomes of students and instructional methods of the teacher. After teaching my unit, I reflected on the methods of instruction and assessment that worked in the classroom and on ways to improve methods that did not work.
Education. Amanda Gerlitz (2009)
Student teaching at P.S. 21 has provided me with memories and experiences that I will never forget. One of the most memorable experiences in my inclusive fourth-grade classroom was developing and implementing my Women’s History Thematic Unit. I was able to implement my own lessons and reflect on the practices that worked and did not work in the classrooms. Since I was able to observe and get to know the children, I was able to make any adaptations I felt were necessary in order for the students to successfully benefit from this unit. This unit also gave me the opportunity to assess my students. After this experience, I feel prepared to have my very own classroom.
Education. Amy Olkowski (2009)
Student teaching offers future teachers a wonderful experience and a chance to build confidence, skills and instructional methods before taking the next step into becoming an educator. I can confidently say that is what I have been able to obtain during my placement in class 1-103A, a first grade CTT classroom of 21 exceptional students who have taught me more than I ever thought I could learn about teaching and about myself. I was able to gain an insight into the significance of appropriately and effectively assessing my students in order to effectively implement future lessons as well as differentiated instruction in order to target the needs of all students. My unit, titled Our Land, allowed me to implement various disciplines ranging from reading, writing, mathematics and science. This collection of thoughts presents my fears and my successes during student teaching and also depicts all that I have learned from myself, my cooperating teachers, and most importantly my students.
Education. Angela Incantalupo (2009)
I was assigned to a first-grade Collaborative Team Teaching (C.T.T.) class at P.S. 4 for my student teaching experience. As I was planning lessons one day, I noticed that one of the upcoming social studies lessons was about transportation in the past and present. I realized that if I expanded this idea to “travel,” I could write an entire unit of lessons under that one common theme. In addition to the five lessons in the unit, I devised five assessment strategies to help guide my instruction and assess student learning. I found that planning and implementing this unit not only gave me experience teaching, but I also learned valuable classroom management and assessment development strategies.
Education. Ashley Mallen (2009)
Student teaching at P.S. 22 in a third grade general education class has been an enjoyable learning experience. I gained skills in classroom management and lesson planning through the implementation of a Realistic Fiction Unit. My unit included 5 lessons which covered a variety of different realistic fiction books and gave students the opportunity to apply different skills they learned. My lessons incorporated an introduction to realistic fiction, a review of story elements, analyzing how characters seem real, building a character, and the use of dialogue. The following teacher work sample includes four phases: planning the unit, implementation, analyzing student learning, reflection that map out my placement experiences. By reading my teacher work sample, you will gain some insight into my student teaching experience and what I have learned.
Education. Caitlyn Carman (2009)
The first grade at P.S. 21 was the first class that I taught in student teaching. In this class I was able to experiment and learn many things from the students and teachers. Through an Olympic-themed school year, and individual goals, each child and grade is able to shine and succeed. Within this placement, I was able to work in a CTT classroom filled with 30 students, 10 of whom were special education and 5 who were ELL learners. One technique I used and saw was differentiation. In addition, I was able to teach my first unit plan on Dr. Seuss. These lessons were a great way to engage students in an author study.
Education. Colleen Bowman (2009)
This Teacher Work Sample is focused on a unit on pollution and recycling. There are four phases. The first phase is information about P.S. 42, the neighborhood, teachers, classroom, and the students. The second phase is the unit. There are four lessons that are divided up into the four main subjects, and each lesson teaches about either pollution or recycling. The third phase includes examples on ways assessments were incorporated by the classroom teacher to assist all learners. The fourth phase is a reflection on the unit and the impact I had as an educator on the learning of my students.
Education. Daniela Mandara (2009)
The Teacher Work Sample model is an evaluation process that has allowed me to assess the impact that I have had upon the learning of my students at P.S. 4, located on Staten Island, New York. Throughout its four phases — Planning and Preparing for Student Learning, Teaching, Analyzing Student Learning and Inquiry into Teaching, and Self-Evaluation and Reflection — I have been able to design a curriculum model, implement and assess an interdisciplinary unit about immigration, and finally reflect on the experience. As a result of being intrinsically motivated to succeed, I have continued to set goals within each of the four phases, enabling me to continue growing and developing both academically and socially throughout my future educational career.
Education. Emily Bonano (2009)
This teacher work sample is a comprehensive summery of my student teaching experience at P.S. 23 in Staten Island, New York. During my six-week placement in a second-grade general education class, I was able to learn several important skills regarding lesson planning, classroom management, accommodating students with special needs, and assessment strategies that would help me in my future years of teaching. I implemented an interdisciplinary unit on diversity that included four lessons integrating social studies, reading, writing, art and music elements into the general theme. I focused on two students who needed accommodations in each of my lessons and how I approached their special learning needs. I reflected on my experience planning and implementing my unit plan.
Education. Kathleen Spencer (2009)
P.S. 21 is located at 68 Hooker Place, Staten Island. My first placement was in a second grade, regular education classroom. My cooperating teacher was Mrs. Jodi Snow. Student teaching at P.S. 21 has provided me with the skills, knowledge and tools to become the best possible teacher. In creating a unit on “Community,” I incorporated differentiation and adaptations for the students in my classroom. I also assessed student progress through observations, questioning, discussions and student work. As I came to the close of my experience, I knew I would take away with me everything I had learned, using it when I became a teacher with my very own classroom. My paper highlights the impact I had on the learning of my students.
Education. Kristen Dalto (2009)
Lesson planning is one of the most difficult parts of teaching. It is crucial to have a lesson plan that reaches each student in the classroom. The only way to accomplish this is through differentiation of each lesson. Recognizing that every child learns in a different and unique way is a necessity when lesson planning. One creative way of lesson planning is through the development and implementation of thematic unit plans. This thematic unit was currently presented to a first grade class at the Michael J. Petrides School. Using poetry as a connecting theme makes each lesson fun and enforces the ideas of poetic language in an inconspicuous way. This provides for two lessons in one. Five important subjects that are focused upon include Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science and Art. Each subject has poetry as its connecting factor and aids in students’ learning. Each of the five lesson plans also take into consideration the different learning styles of the children in the class. It delivers information visibly, audibly and through manipulatives.
Education. Kristina Ketelsen (2009)
Teaching! What was I getting myself into when I decided to become a school teacher? I am asked that question whenever I tell people that is my dream. Yes, a special education teacher who will change the lives of the youth in America. I was assigned to P.S. 29 to embark on an unforgettable experience. Most importantly, I’ve learned many strategies to implement, accommodate, and actively engage children’s creativity in their daily learning process. I want to provide a healthy, fun, exciting learning environment for my future students where they will be able to express themselves and perform well, succeed! My experience has been the most exciting part of my career so far and I am so eager to move forward and become what I truly hope to be: an inspirational leader.
Education. Meaghan Gnieski (2009)
Student teaching as P.S. 29 has been a unique experience full of learning, growing and reflecting. While at the school, my time was spent with Mrs. Murphy’s fifth-grade inclusive class. With this class, I was able to implement an interdisciplinary unit focused around the novel, “My Brother Sam is Dead.” This unit allowed students to explore the novel while incorporating mathematics, art, social studies and science into our novel study. After teaching this unit, I was able to take my experience and reflect on my teaching style and techniques, my classroom management skills, and my approaches to both summative and formative assessment. Overall, the experience was worthwhile as well as extremely rewarding.
Education. Michelle Parenti (2009)
Four years ago, I began my journey as a Wagner College student. I was nervous and timid for what my Wagner College experience would bring me for the next four years. In my senior year, I completed my final journey in my teacher’s preparation program: student teaching at P.S. 4 on the South Shore of Staten Island. I met amazing staff, faculty and students, and I have broadened my knowledge on the education process. For this experience, I developed a 2nd grade interdisciplinary thematic unit on New York City. The unit had strengths and weaknesses; however, all of the lessons contained differentiated instruction and accommodations for the students with Asperger’s Syndrome. I assessed each of my lessons in different ways, and I reflected on my experiences and the impact I had on the learning of my students.
Education. Nicole Mineo (2009)
My teacher work sample is a narrative about my experiences in a fourth grade honors classroom at P.S. 23. In this suburban neighborhood of Staten Island, New York, I had an experience of a lifetime, working with a class that helped me grow and learn along with them. I incorporated a unit into the classroom that involved reader and writer’s workshops, art, and social studies. At the end of the unit, I assessed the students by gathering various writing samples from them. During my time in this fourth grade class, I also focused on two students, providing one-to-one attention. From these students, I learned various strategies on how to accommodate different students’ needs in the classroom and in a unit. I had a very rewarding experience in this fourth grade classroom, and I would not trade it for anything in the world.
Education. Rachel Dunn (2009)
There are 29 students in Class 2-222 at this school in Staten Island, N.Y. A unique student in this class, “R,” required special attention and accommodations for lessons. Although R has an Individualized Education Program, it sets minimum goals for him, far below his grade level. In order for R to be successful in the classroom, I created daily modifications for R in his lessons. This study discusses R’s background, his needs and strengths, lessons and accommodations, and forms of assessment. At the end of the study R was placed in a 12-1-1 class in another school.
Education. Sarah McLaughlin (2009)
In the spring semester of 2009, I spent seven weeks in a 3rd grade cooperative team-taught classroom at P.S. 22 on Staten Island. Student teaching and collaborating with two cooperating teachers and 23 students, 12 of whom were special needs, provided me with the opportunity to learn more about my teaching and teaching styles. I successfully planned and executed lessons designed for learners of different levels while providing ongoing assessment and evaluations to give students the best opportunity to reach their potential. These are my experiences planning and preparing for student learning, teaching, analyzing student learning, and reflections.
English. Mehgan Sobel (2009)
My paper explores the historical context of “The Abandoned Baobab.” I examine the time period in which Ken Bugul’s autobiography takes place as well as the era in which it was initially published, in French, and when it was finally published in English, stopped from printing, and then re-released. Throughout the paper I look at the perceptions of Africans, and more specifically African women, in the eyes of the Western world and show how this culture of misunderstanding was reflected in Ken’s work as well as the publishing of her piece.
English. Elizabeth Mustacchio (2009)
The Many Facets of Mimicry in ‘Second-Class Citizen’ and ‘The Abandoned Baobab’
Mimicry is known to cause a person to lose sight of who they are, and their ability to focus on their own culture slowly deteriorates. Homi K. Bhabha defines mimicry as “the sign of a double articulation; a complex strategy of reform, regulation, and discipline,which ‘appropriates’ the Other as it visualizes power” (Bhabha 122).Colonial powers view themselves as superior, and they continue to remain ignorant of the beliefs held by other human beings. Adah and Ken, the protagonists, are influenced by new cultural aspects, and they struggle to hold onto their African traditions in an environment that fails to understand the ways of thinking they were brought up with. Their childhoods, race, gender, and education all contribute to why these two characters are so deeply affected by the Western society. “The Abandoned Baobab” (author Ken Bugul) and “Second-Class Citizen” (author Buchi Emecheta) both focus on how African women must struggle to find their own identity, while still attempting to respect their own African background and roots, in a world that has made them a victim of mimicry.
Sociology. Annie Clock (2009)
Modern Media and the Idealized Body Image
This small-scale research report was designed as a sociological study to analyze the relationship between a female’s media consumption and her level of body satisfaction. Using a communications-theory framework where repeated media images become accepted by viewers to be reality, a hypothesis was derived, stating that as the number of hours of media consumption increase in females, the level of body satisfaction decreases. To determine the specific relationship between these two variables, a targeted questionnaire was designed and least squares regression equations were derived from the collected data to test the hypothesis. Analysis of the data collected in this study indicated a negative trend between media consumption and the level of body satisfaction expressed by females, supporting the research hypothesis. Gender differences were found among this sample, such that greater media consumption among males was associated with higher levels of body satisfaction. This study was limited by its sample size and may only be generalizable to other college campuses since the study respondents were primarily students and staff members at a small liberal arts college.
Chemistry. Jessica Derr (2009)
Synthesis of an Iron(III) MRI contrast agent: A Novel Synthesis of Ligands for Use in MRI Contrast Agents
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most common techniques used today to detect abnormalities in deep tissues throughout the body. Contrast agents are often used with MRI imaging to help enhance the image. These contrast agents are usually metal ions such as gadolinium(III), manganese(II), manganese(III), copper(II), and iron (III). These contrast agents, however, can be very toxic, have a very short half-life, and the contrast-enhanced phase is very short. Blood-pool contrast agents are being researched with the metal ions to help enhance the diagnostic procedure. One synthesized 3-Hydroxyl-1-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2-methylpyridin-4(IH)-one(Hhmp)(2), to bind the iron(III) compound and to HSA(human serum albumin).
Iron complexes are potentially highly suitable as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agents. However, the toxicity of the free metal ion hinders their efficacy as contrast agents. 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone is a member of a class of highly iron-selective ligands, which negate toxicity effects and allow for control of biodistribution. 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone was used as a parent ligand and a variety of insertion reactions were performed. These insertion reactions incorporated ethanolamine, 3-aminopropan-1-ol, 4-(3-aminopropyl)morpholine, 4-aminomorphaline, B-alanine, 1-(2-Aminoethyl)-piperazine, 1-Amino-4-methyl-piperazine, benzoic hydrazide, or nicotinic hydrazide into the pyrone ring, thereby synthesizing new ligands. Nicotinic and benzoic hydrazide had the greatest yields with 85.72% and 64.27%. These ligands will be investigated as contrast agents in future experiments.
English. Jacqueline Bruno (2009)
I wanted to write my research paper on double consciousness and race in Clair De Duras’s “Ourika.” I would use Gates and Dubois, and perhaps other examples of the “race theory” from Richter’s chapter on post-colonial and ethnic studies. I would like to focus on Ourika and how she wants to feel a part of society, though something is keeping her from fully feeling that way. Her sense of “double consciousness” and her inability to feel at home in a place she calls home. I really look forward to moving further with this topic. I have taken a Post-Colonial Lit course with Dr. Johnson, and I feel I have enough background with this sort of topic that I can move at full force toward a solid paper. First off, the author is just amazing. So ahead of her time, she has a black female protagonist who is also the narrator, which makes it the first in many areas of 18th century European Lit. As John Fowles said, she has made "the first serious attempt by a white novelist to enter a black mind.” I think this is huge for this time period. Then “Ourika” itself is filled with many links to literary theories on race and feminism. I would love the opportunity to continue on my journey for this to be my research paper. I really think, despite the length of this book, that I can and will have more than enough to say for 20 pages. A novel like this, with so much history, can't possibly have a difficult time in doing so. I am going to make an argument about society’s inability to accept black people while philosophers were arguing for the freedom of the mind, spirit and body during the Enlightenment. Being that the Enlightenment period is as profound a movement as has ever existed, I strongly believe that I will have plenty to speak about. “Ourika” is described to us in a subjective manner during one of the greatest western movements for freedom. For a reason which I will discuss in my paper, “Ourika” is not included in this chase for freedom and prosperity.
Education. Jacqualena Grigoli (2009)
My teacher work sample is a narrative of my student teaching experience and the impact I had on the learning of my students. Divided into four phases, I describe how I learned about the community and P.S. 42, how I prepared and implemented lessons for second graders in a CTT classroom, and how I assessed and adapted the materials to meet the needs of all students while reflecting on my teaching.
English. Nicole King (2009)
Was Ourika Truly Rescued? A Postcolonial & Psychoanalytic Reading of ‘Ourika’ by Claire de Duras
Claire de Duras’ “Ourika,” written in 1823, examines the life of the title character, a Senegalese woman who relates her story to a doctor shortly before her death. Rescued from slavery as a toddler and raised by a wealthy French society woman, Ourika is well-educated and highly cultured. However, due to her discovery of racial difference, the prejudices that go with it, and what it means for her future, she creates a destructive image of herself, which leads to her psychological, and eventual physical downfall. Ourika’s rescue from slavery and privileged upbringing within this aristocratic family actually hinder her from living a truly fulfilled life through its creation for her of a false sense of self. When she finally becomes conscious of her race – and what it means to be black in the society she had grown accustomed to – she is thrust a state of melancholia from which she never truly escapes.
After examining “Ourika” using principles from both the Postcolonial and Psychoanalytic Schools of Literary Criticism, one cannot justifiably argue that Ourika was truly rescued by either Chevalier de B. or Mme de B. While they did rescue her from slavery, they gave her a life in a world where she was destined to fail. She experienced the effects of being objectified and commodified and she was a victim of “mimicry” and “unhomeliness,” which, combined with her inability to successfully complete Lacan’s Mirror Stage, forced her into a state of melancholia. The conditions in which Mme de B. and the Chevalier placed her truly did set her up to experience all the worst aspects of living as “the Other” in a postcolonial world. These conditions ultimately led to her psychological undoing because of the false self-image that they helped to create.
English. Erica Vasaturo (2009)
Native Americans in Youth Culture
In schools across America, “Ten Little Indians” is still a popular counting song. Around Thanksgiving time, teachers trim their bulletin boards with cute little “Indians,” and children take part in school plays wearing makeshift headdresses and paper bag Indian costumes. Children dress up as “Indians” for Halloween, and when they misbehave they are called “wild Indians.” Could you imagine telling your child to stop acting like a wild Negro? No, because that would be considered racist and insensitive — yet Americans continue to make racist comments about Native people without realizing that what they are saying is offensive and oppressing to Native people and damaging to the young minds of children. According to Doris Seale, “It is imperative that, if our children are to grow up to create a more equitable, bias-free society, they must be carefully nurtured now.”
My research is focused on the effects of stereotypes in youth culture on children. I will use samples of children's literature, popular movies, cartoons, and other forms of media, as well as school text books. I am eager to find if they at all skew the way in which Native Americans are viewed by children and young adults, as well as how Native history is taught in schools, and if it changes the image of Native Americans to children either positively of negatively.
English. Michelle Therese Varga (2009)
Camus, Gordimer and Subjugating ‘The Arab’
The social oppression that Western imperialism imposed is not far removed from contemporary society in Africa when taking in account the view of “the Arab.” Albert Camus’ short story, “The Guest” (1950), explores the attitude of a colonized Arab in Algeria. Nadine Gordimer describes the motivations of two modern Arabs in her short story, “Some are Born to Sweet Delight” (1991), and her novel, “The Pickup” (2001). The Arabs in these texts lived through the repercussions of colonization and social oppression in Africa during three different time periods, which determined ways to maintain the Arab as “the Other.” Since each man suffered a slightly different form of oppression, each reacted to domination in a different way, ranging from accepting it, to fighting it, to eventually using it as a social advantage. Their choices make a profound political and psychological statement about their character and the condition of the world in which they live.
English. Erin Davis (2009)
The Role of Post Colonial Mimicry and Double Consciousness in ‘Indiana’
The purpose of my paper is to use the literary theories of Homi K. Bhabha and W.E.B. Dubois to show that George Sand’s titular Indiana is a subject of postcolonial mimicry and double consciousness. The Creole has often appeared in 19th century texts as a trope of the Other, a character against which protagonists may be defined as civilized or Western. But in some cases, these Creoles have also been created with a duplicitous role, appearing to represent Western ideals. This double representation leads to an ambiguity of the character’s identity, forced into a role without definition. Indiana is portrayed as a colonized woman living in France who tries to appear as though she herself is also French. As the novel progresses, Indiana’s outward show as a French woman becomes more and more transparent, and she is finally exposed as a silly young Creole wearing her French appearance much as a young girl wears her mother’s clothes. Torn between two worlds, Indiana’s oppression rises in a form of fragmented identity; she is not-quite a Creole, and not-quite a Frenchwoman. I look at the role of Indiana’s childhood and parental figure, Ralph; Indiana’s French dress and other physical representations of her double identity; Indiana’s lack of education and resulting gullibility and naïveté; her role as the Other in animalistic and supernatural imagery; her juxtaposition both with the Creole Noun and the Frenchwoman Mme. Nangy; her inability to control her own destiny or make her own decisions; and her overall inability to define or create herself.
History. John Popaca (2009)
America’s Quest for the Moon: Rocketry, the Space Race and the Cold War
With its roots stretching as far back as 994 A.D., rocketry has been an infrequent but important part of history — infrequent, because it has been invented, left alone, rediscovered and redeveloped through the years. Rocketry has been deemed obsolete by some men, the wave of the future by others, and everything in between. This paper shows not only the history of rocketry, but how it leads to the American victory in the Space Race amidst a world gripped by the Cold War. The paper opens in Germany in the final days of World War II and moves to incorporate a concise background of information on rockets. The paper starts with the last days of the war in Europe, because it was then when America and the Soviet Union gained the majority of their rocket technology and scientists. Both the American and the Soviet Union’s voyages to space were made possible largely by the contributions of seized German technology and scientists. The paper then goes on to discuss the implications of NASA’s birth and the main objective set down by President John F. Kennedy: to put a man on the moon before the close of a decade. The paper is technical and historical, detailing the many vehicles that took our astronauts to space, and finally the moon, as well as the political implications that forced this action. There is a very brief assessment of the Cold War, but the body of the paper focuses on the technological and political struggle that was the American story of putting a man on the moon. The research culminates with a fact-based interpretation of the implications of the Apollo 11 landing.
History. Kevin Burke (2009)
Thoreau the Thinker
The American movement that took place during the nineteenth century known as the Transcendental Movement had a great impact on American society. Henry David Thoreau was the most prominent, influential, prolific and important member of the Transcendental Movement. Through the process of living in a one-room cabin that he built with his own hands along the shore of Walden Pond, Thoreau was able to simplify his life and commune with nature. The process of simplification and oneness with nature enabled Thoreau to become a unique American mystic. The higher laws that Thoreau adhered to inevitably led him to also become one of the most outspoken and prolific activists of his time. Texts such as “Walden,” “Life Without Principle” and “Civil Disobedience” have become important to activists from all over the world, including Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Tolstoy. Thoreau found a home in the noble society of nature and was able to strictly follow the genius of his soul and adhere to the higher laws. His texts are timeless and are just as important in today’s society as they were during the nineteenth century. The foundation of Thoreau’s philosophy is simplification and following the genius of the soul. Researching primary documents — such as his journal, correspondences, poetry and essays — reveals just how difficult the process of self-realization was for Thoreau. Thoreau’s texts also provide a deep understanding of the alienation that western society created. His texts can also help individuals to realize the genius of their own soul.
History. Mathew McCloskey (2009)
A Trunk in the Narrows: Irish Immigration to Staten Island
As a result of the potato famine in Ireland, many Irish families were forced to emigrate from the country. By 1854, between 1.5 and 2 million Irish left Ireland in search of new opportunities. In the United States, most Irish became city-dwellers. With little money, many had to settle in the cities that the ships landed in. By 1850, the Irish made up a quarter of the population in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. New York City today has the largest number of Irish Americans of any city in America. The Irish are an American success story. Today, Irish Americans play a significant role in New York City and state politics, Wall Street, the Roman Catholic Church, the media, and the major sports leagues. In fact, Irish Americans own the Knicks, Rangers, Giants, and Madison Square Garden. Irish Americans also are massively active in the Fire Department of New York, the New York Police Department, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and have been for over 150 years.
The “Five-Points-Irish” were subjected to mass housing, no jobs, no food or clean water and reverted to crime and corruption just to survive. This is opposed to the Staten Islanders, who were living well enough off to be able to buy insurance policies on their livestock. The blatant opposite living conditions of the Islanders and Five-Pointers create two different breeds of Irish Americans. This could prove the point why the Irish of Manhattan sided with the Democratic Party and the Irish of Staten Island sided with the Republican Party. Now, I must precede this statement with this fact. It is impossible to formally trace each voter’s lineage to Ireland (I took the liberty of only counting those with blatantly Irish surnames like O’Brien, Malone, McRoberts, etc.). According to the Canvass Book of Richmond town in 1866, 94 percent of Irish voters voted Republican. The other six percent abstained from voting completely. This gives us a completely different view of how all Irish voted during the late 1800s.
Common knowledge of New York history tells us that every Irishman sided with the Democrats. We see this with the use of corrupt political societies such as Tammany Hall — which gets its name from the leader of the Lenape Indian Tribe Tamenend — which takes recognition for bringing the Irish out of the poverty stricken Five Points and into the civil service, a process described as “making the Irish become White”. We see many of the civil service jobs like firemen, policemen, and mail carriers becoming completely overrun by Irishmen. Working for the state during the late 1800s did two good things for the Irish: it put food on the table and money in their pockets. Yet many of the politicians and union bosses saw that the Irish workers were jumping up the rungs of the social ladder; therefore, they exploited them unconditionally. This changed many of the Irish into mindless voting machines. They figured that since the politicians gave them the money and food to feed their families, the Irish owed them a vote. This was not the case with the self-employed farmers of Staten Island. In my research, I have found copies of actual insurance policies taken out by a Mr. Michael Malone on every piece of livestock on his farm. This proves that the Irish on Staten Island were well enough off to keep food on the table and to vote with their minds, not with their bellies. I hope to prove that the Irish have successfully assimilated into the culture of New York City and across the United States of America.
English. Kristina Santoro (2009)
In my final paper I plan to discuss the effect of the minority writing in another culture or sex’s language or creative expression. I would like to use three novels for my main arguments: “The Abandoned Baobab” (Ken Bugul), “Indiana” (George Sand), and “Ourika” (Claire de Duras). I believe that by comparing these three novels, one will be able to see the difference in each minorities creative oppression.
“Indiana” is a novel about a young woman who is completely lost in her world. She is constantly falling into the arms or different men, and throughout the novel it is not clear who is telling her story. If the narrator is meant to be male, then do we ever really meet the true Indiana? And what is to be said about the author’s pen name being a male one? I would like to approach ideas concerning this novel, firstly, with the Gilbert and Gubar article about the Anxiety of Authorship because I feel that George Sand felt much anxiety about writing in a typically male expression; the novel. Her Anxiety shows in her work.
“The Abandoned Baobab” is a novel in translation from its original French. Using this novel as an example, I would like to discuss how, as a native from a colonized land, Ken Bugul is forced into writing in a language that isn’t hers and what this does to the experience of the reader. The different translations of the title made this book specifically interesting, as well as the idea of the African creating a history, through writing, in order to replace the one lost through colonization.
“Ourika” is particularly interesting to my topic because I would like to delve into what it means for a woman, writing in a man’s form of expression, to create a postcolonial character. This story combines the ideas behind the other two, hopefully making for an interesting contrast.
I am thinking about comparing all three novels to the concept of mimicry. Although it is typically used for postcolonial theory, I believe that, for my topic, it can be used to discuss “Indiana” as well.
English. Sarah Richardson (2009)
The novels “Indiana” by George Sand and “The Pickup” by Nadine Gordimer can be used to demonstrate the point that literary theory can be more or less successful when applied to a variety of texts. Both works contain a female protagonist from which the main story stems. They both address the issues of love, marriage, and family. The fundamental difference is that these novels are set, and were written, nearly two centuries apart. When feminist and post-colonial theories are used as a guide, the main female characters in these texts prove that theory can be more or less pertinent when applied to texts of radically different time periods.
English. Michele Mirabile (2009)
“Second-Class Citizen” is a novel about the experiences of the Other. Adah is reared in Africa as a colonized subject, yet longs to travel to England, her imperial mother. If what Jameson says is true, that all third-world texts are based on the subject’s experience as a colonized person, then how does one account for the author’s development of the character in a non-colonized society? Adah experiences intra-race racism, marital abuse and class conflict. I propose to use the text “Second-Class Citizen” by Buchi Emecheta, “From Third-World Literature in the Era of Multinational Capitalism” by Frederic Jameson, “From Jameson’s Rhetoric of Otherness and the National Allegory” by Aijaz Ahmad, and several secondary sources to demonstrate how this novel is not solely based on Emecheta’s experience of growing up colonized. She is an author in her own right whose character development encourages the reader to explore other theoretical approaches, such as Feminist Literary Theory and Race Theory, negating Jameson’s argument that third-world texts are singular in their literary accomplishments.
Jameson’s claim that a third world text cannot offer the same satisfaction as a western text is literary hegemony. Emecheta’s novel assists the western reader by simultaneously allowing them the opportunity to learn about a different culture while recognizing the similarities in the human condition of subjugation and oppression. It is important for pleasure readers and critics alike to recognize the subtleties of the character that comprise the whole. By taking one work and utilizing a variety of approaches the reader can glean more from the novel than those who typify it as having a singular purpose. “Second-Class Citizen” by Buchi Emecheta is a work whose intrinsic value can be measured in the lessons it teaches the west regarding post-colonialism, class divisions, gender and race conflict. When read with those ideas in mind, the text becomes just as rich as the novels of Proust or Joyce.
Anthropology. Troy Barry (2009)
Nunatsiavut: A Study of Community and Conservation in Labrador
This research project will study the role of a community of indigenous population in the Labrador region of Canada, currently undergoing processes of modern conservation and natural resource management. Specifically, the project will examine how traditional cultural patterns combine with social and political pressure to shape conservation efforts and resource consumption practices. Through established ethnographic methods, such as participant observation and interviews, this research will investigate how and why individual members of local non-indigenous communities and the members of the Nunatsiavut administrative and legislative government bodies shape both provincial and individual conservation motivations. Finally, this project will evaluate the cultural, social, economic, and environmental impacts of the Inuit Lands Agreement and the establishment of Nunatsiavut.
Anthropology. Brittany Frazza (2009)
Museums: Culturally Constructed Institutions
There are roughly 17,500 museums in the United States of America and American museums average approximately 865 million visits per year and 2.3 million visits per day. Museums have the capability of properly educating millions of people on different cultures of the past, and are often times the primary source of historical information to many people. The public tends to have an enormous amount of faith in museums, and the information that they provide us with, but they also have the capability to mislead millions of people about the cultures they showcase. This project, using ethnographic and historical research, will address the good, the bad, and the controversial issues present in the relationships between museums and their various communities, those who contribute to, and consume, their displays.
Anthropology. Amy L. Jones (2009)
The Re-Creation of Irish Culture in the Twenty-First Century
Following Franz Boas’ assertion that “in order to understand history it is necessary to know not only how things are, but how they have come to be,” this paper begins by examining different aspects of Irish culture from a historic, etic (objective) perspective, going on to ask how they are defined today from an emic (insider’s) perspective. Specifically it focuses on its deviances (as defined by Ruth Benedict), economy, religion, beliefs, migration patterns, and other aspects which define what it means to be Irish today. Through research with primary and secondary sources, participant observation, and both formal and informal interviews this project will describe how these definitions of culture have changed throughout time and location, and seek the mechanisms through which these changes have occurred.
Anthropology & Philosophy. Jessica Nees (2009)
Fertilizing Montana’s Roots: Biochar Application to Restore the Agricultural Community
Montana is often romanticized as a natural beauty void of environmental degradation. However, the careless history of the mining and timber industries coupled with poor agricultural practices has left Montana with serious environmental problems. Agriculture, despite variable weather, a declining workforce, and unstable international markets, has remained Montana's primary industry for over a century. However, farming and ranching are plagued with immense ecological and economic disadvantages, which threaten their own existence, and therefore the continuation of Montana’s culture as a whole. Application of the newly developed biochar technology shows signs of becoming an ecologically sustainable as well as economically viable technology for combating the problems that threaten the local agriculture communities of Montana. However, for the successful implementation of biochar into the infrastructural core of the community, a joint research effort between the soil science research and ethnographic data collection is imperative. This paper describes the design and implementation of the ethnographic component of that proposed project in the field sites of Carbon and Stillwater Counties located in south central Montana. Ultimately, through an integrative “farmer first” approach coupled with the implementation of local biochar production, the stabilization of the foundation of Montana’s agricultural community can become a realized.
Physics. Peter Acerios (2009)
Bohr Theory Studies
In the early twentieth century, Niels Bohr proposed a semi-classical model of the hydrogen atom. This study tests the model's ability to measure neutron mass, presents details of the model, and also considers other applications of Bohr Theory. The problem of multi-electron atoms is being investigated.
Chemistry. Amanda Florio (2009)
Condition of Synthesis and the Effects On Size and Morphology of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles
Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using aqueous solutions of zinc nitrate and hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) prepared with varying concentrations, reactant ratios, and pH. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to determine particle size ranging from 26.9-60nm formed with varying HMT to zinc nitrate ratios or different reaction times at pH 7 and 80°C. As the ratio of HMT to zinc nitrate increases, particle size decreases. At lower ratios (1:1), particle size increases over time. With a ratio of 1:1 at 90°C and pH values of 2, 5 and 7, particles have a hexagonal morphology and similar aspect ratio after 60 minutes. Particle morphologies were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
History. Justina Licata (2009)
Malcolm X: The Man and the Myth
Malcolm X’s legend is often reduced to a simplistic and one dimensional interpretation emphasizing his stance of self defense when fighting for equal rights during the Civil Rights compared to Martin Luther King Jr.’s stance of non-violence. This paper exposes the many facets of Malcolm to the reader. This thesis provides an extensive background on his unfortunate young life and reckless adolescent years leading up to his arrest and eventually his conversion into the Nation of Islam. This biographical background leads into an examination of the many misconceptions surrounding Malcolm X, his career, and his legend as well as the circumstances causing these fallacies. After reading the thesis, the reader will have a better understanding of the man Malcolm X was and how his work inspired numerous African Americans to feel pride and in turn causing them to believe that they deserved equal rights.