University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj
<p>The DU Undergraduate Research Journal is an annual, peer reviewed publication of research articles from all undergraduate disciplines. The mission of DUURJ is to encourage, recognize, and celebrate intellectual activity that occurs outside of the classroom, though exemplary research conducted in classroom settings may also be displayed. The journal staff is comprised entirely of DU undergraduate students and works in conjunction with the Undergraduate Research Association to promote academic research across all disciplines.</p> <p>DUURJ accepts manuscripts on a rolling basis. For information on submission guidelines, click <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vWvLiwBdlrfjkbB4EdH1T4WcVczUtAPs/view?usp=sharing">here</a>. If you have questions about how to submit, please see <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qr4HaYpeQ_2h1h2nQuwChmoTEYhFKtSU-KREszB1ies/edit?usp=sharing">here</a> or contact us directly at duurj@du.edu. If you are interested in joining DUURJ as an editor, please email us at duurj@du.edu. </p> <p> </p>University of DenverenUniversity of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal2690-4152DU Undergraduate Showcase Abstracts: Research, Scholarship, and Creative Works
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/213
<p>DU Undergraduate Showcase Abstracts: Research, Scholarship, and Creative Works</p>
Other ContentabstractsabstractsabstractsVarious Authors
Copyright (c) 2023 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2023-05-102023-05-10Dr. Debak Das
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/212
<p>An interview of Dr. Debak Das by our Editor at Large, Elijah Kruger.</p>
InterviewsinterviewinterviewinterviewElijah Kruger
Copyright (c) 2023 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2023-05-102023-05-10Seed Aid: The Importance of Local Decision-making
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/203
<p>This policy paper focuses on the disconnect between donor and recipient states regarding seed aid and the implications of seed aid on local agricultural sovereignty and sustainability; it proposes that a reevaluation of international seed aid policies is needed. International food security organizations and food aid donors should prioritize local seeds for seed aid purposes to support local biodiversity and food sovereignty, and the stability and sustainability of local agricultural systems in the long term. Making adequate and accurate assessments of situations is crucial, and sourcing locally is an integral aspect of supporting local seed systems. The fundamental problem with the seed distribution system today is the limited availability of local seeds. Responding to food crises with an influx of seeds from donor countries poses a serious risk of undermining the livelihood security of farmers by disrupting local seed systems, risking local biodiversity, and resulting in genetic erosion. Therefore, efforts to increase food security in crisis situations should focus on supporting local seed production in the region or country whenever possible rather than bringing seeds in from outside or abroad.</p>
ArticlesseedsFood AidPolicyFood AidInternational StudiesEva Chappus
Copyright (c) 2023 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2023-05-102023-05-10Dr. Paul Sutton
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/210
<p>This interview was conducted by the DUURJ Editor At Large.</p>
InterviewsinterviewInterviewinterviewAyanna Schubert
Copyright (c) 2023 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2023-02-242023-02-24Dr. Andrew Goetz
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/209
<p>This interview was conducted by the DUURJ Editor At Large.</p>
InterviewsinterviewinterviewinterviewAyanna Schubert
Copyright (c) 2023 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2023-02-242023-02-242017 Charlottesville Riots – Media Coverage Paper
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/189
<p>This paper intended to dissect the similarities and differences of media coverage for a very significant recent event--the 2017 Charlottesville "Unite the Right" riots and anti-racism protests. A focal moment within this series of events is the car attack by perpetrator James Alex Fields Jr., a white-supremacist responsible for the death of one woman and countless other injuries. The analysis reflects the coverage of this event through the lens of MSNBC and Fox News, two politically contrasting domestic news sources. An emphasis on media framing, which is loosely how media is manipulated to make the consumer think about a certain topic in one way, helped categorize and describe the differences of these two sources. This discussion of multiple framing variables ultimately showed that these two sources captured a single event in very different ways. These discrepancies illuminate a significant contrast in perspectives of this violent and hateful event. </p>
ArticlesTerrorismCharlottesvilleMedia CoverageFramingViolenceMSNBCFox NewsMediaPoliticsRaceTerrorismNewsJournalismHistoryPolitical ScienceAbran Bartlett-Miller
Copyright (c) 2023 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2023-05-102023-05-10Asymptotic Behavior of Random Defective Parking Functions
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/200
<p>Suppose that m drivers each choose a preferred parking space in a linear car park with n spots. In order, each driver goes to their desired spot and parks there if possible. If the spot is already occupied then the car parks in the first available spot after that; if no such spot is available then the car leaves the street without parking. When m > n, there will always be defects–cars that are not able to park. Building upon the work in Cameron et al. "Counting defective parking functions," we introduce a multi-shuffle construction to defective parking functions and investigate parking statistics of a defective parking function chosen uniformly at random.</p>
ArticlesParking FunctionsDefective Parking FunctionsCombinatoricsProbabilityDistribution AnalysisMathematicsMathematicsJohn MannZecheng You
Copyright (c) 2023 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2023-05-102023-05-10Buddhist Nationalism: Rising Religious Violence in South Asia
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/201
<p>Buddhist nationalism has contributed to expanding religious violence in many South Asian countries. The roots of this violent form of nationalism are complex and multi-faceted, making a clear solution difficult to achieve. Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Burma are some of the most pressing and violent case studies in South Asia today and can illustrate the reliance of Buddhist nationalists on ethnoreligious identities to relegate non-Buddhists to second-class status, to the point of massive acts of violence and aggression. This paper seeks to illuminate the complex social history driving the rise of Buddhist nationalism in these countries, particularly strong military-religion relationships, histories of colonial oppression, long-standing cultural tensions, and Western rhetoric regarding Buddhist values. In the modern period, Buddhism has become increasingly politicized for the benefit of nationalist movements. Buddhist extremism is largely derived from the political contexts of increased ethnic nationalism and the influence of monks in Buddhist communities. Buddhist extremism often has more to do with ethnic tensions than religious tensions, though religious motivations are still substantial in many of the conflicts involving Buddhist extremists. In South Asian countries, the most substantial Buddhist nationalist movements tend to practice Theravada Buddhism. This Buddhist practice differs from other forms of Buddhism on the topic of non-violence and peace, aligning more closely with nationalist values and the connections between religion and state power; some Theravada sects view non-Buddhists as subhuman or second-class.</p>
ArticlesBuddhismNationalismReligionBuddhismReligious StudiesEva Chappus
Copyright (c) 2023 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2023-05-102023-05-10The Effect of Language Type and Perceived Controllability on Stigma and Compassion
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/188
<p>Previous research suggests that mental health stigma creates significant barriers to treatment seeking and adherence, diminishes treatment outcomes, and motivates social rejection towards people experiencing mental illness; by contrast, compassion seems to offer protective effects, improving treatment outcomes and helping behavior. The current work extends the established literature by experimentally examining the independent and interactive effects of two factors theorized to influence stigma and compassion: controllability and language. Participants read vignettes about hypothetical mental illnesses explained with a genetic attribution (indicating low controllability) or a behavioral attribution (indicating high controllability) and completed measures of perceived controllability, stigma, and compassion. We found that genetic etiology, compared to behavioral etiology, decreased stigma and increased compassion. Although not statistically significant, preliminary evidence suggests that language might interact with<br />etiology to affect stigma. In the behavioral etiology condition, identity-first language (compared to person-first) exacerbated stigma, whereas, in the genetic etiology condition, this effect was descriptively reversed, though statistically nonsignificant. Our findings provide evidence that emphasizing the contribution of uncontrollable factors (e.g., genetics) to psychopathology could help reduce stigma and increase compassion for people experiencing mental illness. Language may also interact with controllability to inform stigma. This work could aid in advising empathetic and supportive language practices dependent on condition characteristics (e.g., perceived controllability), however, replication is needed to demonstrate the reliability of these effects.</p>
Articlescompassionstigmaetiologyperceived controllability,Person-first language,mental healthlanguage-typestigmacompassionSocial psychologyMaddie LeakeChristine McGrathTrudy MickelClaire ShaverGina PaganiniE. Paige Lloyd
Copyright (c) 2023 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2023-02-242023-02-24Do Semantics Matter in Empathetic Person Perception of Children or Adults with Mental Illness?
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/190
<p>Experiences of stigma, discrimination, or aggression negatively affect the well-being of people experiencing symptoms of psychopathology. However, empathy is thought to undermine prejudice and discrimination and is linked with positive outcomes (e.g., greater well-being, more social support, etc.) among those with stigmatized mental illnesses. The current work investigates the influence of target age (adult or child) and language type (person-first or identity-first) on how much empathic concern perceivers report toward individuals with a hypothetical mental health condition. This research contributes to an ongoing debate about whether person-first or identity-first language carries stigmatizing or protective effects, while also considering a novel potential moderator: target age (i.e., does person-first and identity-first language similarly affect perceptions of adults and children?). To this end, we employed an experimental vignette design examining empathy expressed toward individuals with a mental health condition, where age was manipulated within subjects and language was manipulated between subjects. The results determine that perceivers report greater empathy towards children than adults. However, the use of person-first and identity-first language did not result in significant findings. Thus, whether language type influences empathic concern remains uncertain. These findings suggest a need for increased<br />empirical examination of interventions to inspire empathy towards people, perhaps especially adults, experiencing symptoms of psychopathology.</p>
ArticlesEmpathyAgeLanguageMental HealthStigmaPerson PerceptionPsychologySocial PsychologyRylie HansenCaroline PolakEmma GriesStevie OstmanGina PaganiniPaige Lloyd
Copyright (c) 2023 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2023-02-242023-02-24Environmental Activism: Pro-Environmental Behavior, Consumerism, and Environmental Justice
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/195
<p>This literature review examines established research on the concept of pro-environmental behaviors (PEB) and its subsects: activism and consumerism. There are competing opinions regarding the salience of pro-environmental activist behavior. This dichotomy is characterized by the role of social media, which can be simultaneously used for performative identity signaling and as a platform to facilitate global collective activism. The research shows a stark contrast between pro-environmental activism and pro-environmental consumerism, with the former acknowledging historical injustices and addressing the social, economic, and environmental disparities created by neo-liberal policies designed with the purpose of profit extraction at the expense of marginalized communities. This review concludes with a question not addressed in current research: does pro-environmental consumerist behavior create a sense of complacency that hinders the necessary actions for systemic change? This is important to consider going forward as corporations continue to lead consumers to believe their products and practices are sustainable, perpetuating the neoliberal conservation narrative that fundamentally prioritizes capitalism over systemic environmental change.</p>
ArticlescolonizationactivismPEBsocial mediaconservationenvironmental justiceidentity-signallingEnvironmental JusticeConsumerismActivismSustainabilityEnvironmental SustainabilitySociologyEnvironmental SciencePolitical ScienceKaden Uribe
Copyright (c) 2023 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2023-02-242023-02-24Examining the Effect of Physician Language on Physician Impressions
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/191
<p>Previous research provides evidence that stigma can be perpetuated through language with consequences for well-being and quality of care. For example, providers who use stigmatizing language transmit bias toward patients with implications for care provided by other healthcare professionals. The current work extends upon this research by investigating perceptions of physicians who use stigmatizing or humanizing language. The current work sought to document the negative consequences of providers’ indelicate language on impressions of the provider, thereby motivating thoughtful language choices. To this end, the current work experimentally manipulated the language (stigmatizing, identity-first and destigmatizing, person-first) that hypothetical providers used to describe individuals with substance use disorder and examined participants’ judgments of the providers (likeability and positive behavioral intentions). We predicted that the provider using stigmatizing, identity-first language would elicit more<br />negative responses than the provider using destigmatizing, person-first language. However, the results provided no support for this hypothesis; instead, we observed only an effect of the vignette content: participants had more positive perceptions of the physician who spoke first, compared to the physician who spoke second. Although the current work did not observe significant effects of language, past work indicates the importance of empathy, warmth, and respect from providers for patient well-being and outcome. We suggest directions for improving upon the current study, as well as possible topics for future research that may aid in understanding these important antecedents of inclusive and successful patient-physician interactions.</p>
Articlesstigmatizing languageimpression formationsubstance use disorderbehaviorHealthcareSocial PsychologyPsychologySocial psychologyKathleen HoppsAnna RiniMaggie Williams
Copyright (c) 2023 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2023-02-242023-02-24FACTORS AFFECTING PRESENCE AND OCCUPANCY OF MARABOU STORKS (LEPTOPTILOS CRUMENIFERUS) AT ABATTOIRS AND SLAUGHTER SLABS NEAR JINJA, UGANDA
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/194
<p>This study examined the factors affecting the presence and occupancy of marabou storks at abattoirs and slaughter slabs near Jinja, Uganda. The average number of storks per unit area was compared across different areas within one large abattoir, including an analysis of the presence of free food, human disturbance, and other scavenging birds (pied crow, piapiac, spur-winged lapwing, and cattle egrets). Occupancy across two abattoirs and one slaughter slab was compared and related to the number of animals slaughtered daily at the facility. Direct observations at abattoirs and slaughter slabs were conducted for ten minutes with five minutes between observations. All observations were taken at the same time of day. Brief interviews with officials at each facility provided information about the number of animals slaughtered and the areas that make up the abattoir.<br />Overall, more marabou storks were found at the largest abattoir, where the most animals are slaughtered daily. More storks were seen in areas where abattoir workers throw the birds offcuts. An apparent association between the number of marabou storks and the level of human disturbance exists, with more storks found in areas of higher disturbance. However, this is likely influenced by the presence of free food. The presence of other scavenging birds did not have any effect on the presence of marabou storks under statistical analysis using a chi-square test (χ², df =1, n = 90, α = 0.01).</p>
Articlesmarabou storksabattoirsurban adaptationsscavenging birdsUrban wildlifeHabituationMarabou StorksUgandaEcologyElena Arroway
Copyright (c) 2023 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2023-02-242023-02-24The Importance of Our Performing Arts
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/193
<p>This essay is titled "The Importance of Our Performing Arts" and it was written in February 2022. I was taking an argumentative writing class at the time where we have free range to choose a topic to write about, so naturally, I choose something I am passionate about, the impact of youth theatre on our adolescents. <span style="font-weight: 400;">The prompt was to identify a driving question or phenomenon related to the arts to investigate and develop a complex thesis you could argue in the paper through the use of rhetorical strategies, I decided on the discussion between funding in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields and the arts and humanities, specifically youth theatre, and how the imbalance impacts adolescent development. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I incorporate theory revolving around aesthetics theory in Philosophy to better explain why not only the performing arts but art, in general, is a driving force for personal growth and self-discovery. I was able to deepen my understanding of just how important art is to the human condition and although holding no utility, society would be lost without it.</span></p>
Articlesaesthetic theoryPhilosophyperforming artsPhilosophyperformance practiceaesthetics theoryphilosophyLiteratureGina Parker
Copyright (c) 2023 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2023-02-242023-02-24DU Undergraduate Showcase Abstracts
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/187
<p>Abstracts from the DU Undergraduate Showcase</p>
Other ContentMultiMultiMultiVarious
Copyright (c) 2022 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2022-05-162022-05-16Dr. Jennifer Greenfield
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/186
<p>Interview of Dr. Jennifer Greenfield</p>
InterviewsInterviewDr. GreenfieldInterviewInterviewAnit Tyagi
Copyright (c) 2022 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2022-05-162022-05-16Dr. Lawrence J. Berliner
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/185
<p>An interview with Dr. Lawrence J. Berliner</p>
InterviewsInterviewDr. BerlinerInterviewInterviewAnit Tyagi
Copyright (c) 2022 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2022-05-162022-05-16DU's Annual Research Showcase Celebrates Undergraduate Original Scholarship and Creative Endeavors
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/184
EditorialShowcaseUndergraduate researchEditorialEditorialEditorialUndergraduate ResearchAnit Tyagi
Copyright (c) 2022 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2022-05-162022-05-16The Effect of the Oncometabolite Fumarate in the Response to DNA Damage
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/182
<p>Previous research has been conducted on the effect of oncometabolites on DNA damage repair; however, traditionally these studies have focused on the response to damage caused by DNA double-strand breaks, whereas this study involves cisplatin-induced damage that creates DNA cross-links. Here is reported the effect of the oncometabolite fumarate on the response of A2780 cells to DNA damage produced by cisplatin. Three assays were used to complete this study: comet assay, cell cycle assay and apoptosis assay. The comet assay revealed that fumarate influences the response of cells to DNA damage and, at a lower 1mM concentration, appears to protect cells from further DNA damage. When looking at cell cycle progression, it was found that fumarate does not change the cell cycle nor modify the effect of cisplatin. The apoptosis assay showed that fumarate also does not induce apoptosis nor alter cisplatin-induced apoptosis. This investigation adds to known information on the role of oncometabolites, specifically fumarate, on DNA damage repair responses.</p>
ArticlesDNA Damage RepairFumarateCancer researchGeneticsBiologyGeneticsGeneticsDNA Damage RepairFumarateGillian Luczyk
Copyright (c) 2022 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2022-05-162022-05-16Design Improvement of Transcatheter Aortic Valves for Aortic Stenosis Patients
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/181
<p>Aortic valve disease is a common condition in patients above 60 years of age and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Aortic valve stenosis is characterized by the narrowing of the aortic valve, which can be quite debilitating. This disease is treated with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), which is a rapidly expanding alternative to open-heart surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Although TAVR is a less invasive than SAVR, long-term durability of the transcatheter aortic valves could be the Achilles heel of the procedure. Thus, the main objective of this research was to improve the design of transcatheter aortic valves using experimental testing and design analysis. After the design, building, and testing phases of four differing valves, it was seen that there are benefits to two specific designs. One design was a TAV based on a native aortic valve while the other was an optimized TAV which deviated from the native structure. The native valve performed well during diastole based on its average regurgitation volume, while the optimized valve performed well during systole based on its average positive pressure difference and effective orifice area.</p>
ArticlesTranscatheter aortic valve replacementAortic valveHeartExperimental testing3D PrintingLaser cuttingStentDacronLeafletsSolid worksBiomechanical EngineeringHeart valvesTranscatheter aortic heart valvesAortic stenosisBiological SciencesMechanical EngineeringSammy Shoun
Copyright (c) 2022 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2022-05-162022-05-16A Thematic Analysis of How a Rhetor and a Demagogue Framed Their Presidencies
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/176
<p>This essay uses thematic analysis through the lens of framing theory to dissect how former U.S. President Barack Obama and former U.S. President Donald Trump created contrasting but successful frameworks of America to win their campaigns. The paper operates on the grounds that Obama is a rhetor and Trump is a demagogue. Frames consummate a multitude of themes that are created with rhetorical tools—namely figurative language. The storylines that are created by politicians can play an instrumental role in developing the constituent’s basis of reality. This study aims to unpack how a rhetor and a demagogue can use the same rhetorical tools to forge a successful framework for their audiences. The paper starts by establishing a basis of rhetoric, political rhetoric, and demagoguery. After creating that foundation, it leads into a thematic analysis of Obama’s 2013 Inaugural Address and Trump’s 2017 Inaugural Address, through themes of community, religion, and the future of America. The results reveal that the strength of the frame was the most important factor in its success. Both presidents used the same themes to create differing realities of America. The morality of the speaker was less relevant in shaping an influential narrative for the audience. This study provides further inquiry into Communication Studies research on how rhetors and demagogues use linguistics to persuade their audiences.</p>
ArticlesPolitical rhetoricDemagogueryRhetorFramingFigurative languageObama's 2013 Inaugural AddressTrump's 2017 Inaugural AddressHumanitiesSocial SciencesMegan Cooney
Copyright (c) 2022 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2022-05-162022-05-16Factors Influencing Conservation Knowledge
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/172
<p>Basic principles have been established for visitors of national and state parks, but some visitors may be more aware of conservation practices than others. To understand visitor awareness, this study investigated three factors that influence the general public’s understanding of the Leave No Trace conservation ethic: natural areas visitation, state of residence, and media consumption. Each of the factors showed statistically significant impacts on awareness of Leave No Trace (LTN), supporting our hypotheses that this knowledge will increase with a higher frequency of park visits and media consumption, and that region of residence will also impact LNT knowledge.</p> <p> </p>
ArticlesLeave No TraceNational ParksState ParksMediaEnvironmentConservationNatural AreasConservationEnvironmentEnvironmental ScienceBiologyConservation BiologySamantha HelgesonAmanda FaschingAshley Kneemueller
Copyright (c) 2022 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2022-05-162022-05-16DU Research Grants Fuel Undergraduate Student Creativity and Academic Projects
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/180
EditorialUndergraduate researchOp-edUndergraduate ResearchUniversity of DevnerUndergraduate ResearchAnit Tyagi
Copyright (c) 2022 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2022-01-102022-01-10Dr. Jennifer Hoffman
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/179
<p>An interview with Dr. Jennifer Hoffman</p>
InterviewsInterviewPhysicsAstronomyInterviewPhysicsAstronomyInterviewPhysicsAstronomyAnit Tyagi
Copyright (c) 2022 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2022-01-102022-01-10Dr. Naomi Reshotko
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/178
<p>An interview with Dr. Naomi Reshotko</p>
InterviewsInterviewPhilosophyInterviewPhilosophyAnit Tyagi
Copyright (c) 2022 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2022-01-102022-01-10Rule 50 and its Discontents
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/167
<p><em>This issue brief discusses the debate surrounding Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter and athletes’ right to protest emphasizing the current importance of the matter in relation to the upcoming 2021 Tokyo Games. First, it discusses those who argue for the rule such as the president of the International Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) itself, and some athletes. Next, the brief turns to the cases against Rule 50 with an examination of scholarship on the matter as well as two case studies of athlete’s protesting. These case studies examine three instances of protest over two different IOC sanctioned events. The issue brief then pivots to an examination of the idea of athletes’ protest from a communications perspective with a look into nonverbal demonstration. Finally, the paper provides a possible explanation for the Olympic’s long-standing commitment to Rule 50 through the intersection of Coakley’s Great Sport Myth and the Myth of Sport’s Autonomy.</em></p>
ArticlesolympicssportsTokyo 2020Rule 50SportsInternational StudiesWalker Shumock-Bailey
Copyright (c) 2022 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2022-01-102022-01-10The Populist Paradox
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/162
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Donald Trump’s presidency has undeniably reignited academic interest in understanding the populist phenomenon and its political implications. Trump is frequently considered to be a stark departure from status quo politics, in favor of a radical right populism. Yet, the Trump presidency and populist theory itself poses a key contradiction, namely a populist paradox. I will propose a critical framework to understand populism as a mechanism of political power by the liberal state. In </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">What is Populism? </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jan-Werner Müller identifies a contradictory nature to populism, as it often perpetuates the same political problems that the populist politics sought to replace. How could populist ideology, which is lauded as recognizing the systematic failures of the liberal state, also be a mechanism for its continued control? This paradox requires a theoretical framework to explain and unpack its implications. The seminal work of political philosopher Michel Foucault has immense explanatory power for this paradox when utilized as a conceptual framework. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">From this analysis, I conclude the following: populism ideology functions as a democratic justification for the maintenance of status-quo politics, which ultimately reproduces state power. I intend to develop a theoretical contribution to radical right populism studies, especially in regards to Trumpism in the United States. Interpreting Foucault’s state power theories, this article applies the key concepts of power-knowledge, domination, and governmentality to populism studies.</span></p>
ArticlespopulismDonald TrumpMichel FoucaultFoucaultTrumppoliticsphilosophypoliticspopulismpolitical sciencephilosophypolitical scienceMegan Morrell
Copyright (c) 2022 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2022-01-102022-01-10Investigating the Effects of Climate Change on the Phenology of Achillea millefolium, Aquilegia coerulea, and Penstemon cyanocaulis
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/171
<p>As the effects of climate change are starting to unearth themselves, the impacts can be observed by tracking the patterns of cyclical natural phenomenon, also known as phenology, and how they’ve changed over time. These cycles are at the crux of making ecosystems viable for their local biodiversity, and understanding the ongoing changes allow the further understanding of the ecosystem’s change over time. Looking at the ordinal flowering dates of the <em>Achillea millefolium</em>, <em>Aquilegia coerulea, </em>and <em>Penstemon cyanocaulis </em>over the past century, the data may give insight into how warmer average temperatures earlier in the year are changing the cycle of flowering plants in the western United States. This framework encourages looking deeper into the phenology of plant life throughout different regions, investigating for changes over time due to climate change. </p>
Articlesclimate change, phenology, conservation, ecology, Achillea millefolium, Aquilegia coerulea, Penstemon cyanocaulisEcologyClimate ChangeecologybiologyHannah O'TooleKailey HicksLisa LongJackson Garske
Copyright (c) 2022 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2022-01-102022-01-10Promoting Democracy and Penance
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/170
<p>This research, using the writings of German and international intellectuals, journalists, and politicians, explores late Twentieth-Century German memory of the Holocaust and demonstrates the ways that it was influenced by the international community. The path of this development was rocky and uncertain, with historical revisionism, denialism, and unchallenged taboo, but also sincere historical engagement. Reflecting a broader trend in the field of history, this work emphasizes the influence of the transnational in cultural shifts. Rather than depict German collective memory as static, or solely domestic, it seeks to demonstrate the influence of international actors, beliefs, and ideas at major inflection points throughout German history.</p>
ArticlesGerman MemoryCollective MemoryNational IdentityIntellectual HistoryMemoryTransnational HistoryHistoryMathew Greenlee
Copyright (c) 2022 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2022-01-102022-01-10The Effects of Onlooker Gender and Restrictive Emotionality on Help-Seeking Behavior
https://duurjportal.com/index.php/duurj/article/view/159
<p>Endorsing traits associated with masculinity, such as restrictive emotionality (RE), may have negative implications for the health and well-being of both male and female identified individuals, specifically in terms of help-seeking. The current work examined whether gender of an onlooker (i.e., a coworker) impacted participants self-reported likelihood to seek help for a physical injury in the workplace. We also investigated if RE moderated the relationship between onlooker gender and intent to seek help. We hypothesized that participants would be more likely to seek help from a female (vs. male) identified coworker and that this anticipated effect would be exacerbated for those relatively high in endorsement of RE. Participants (<em>n</em> = 129) were recruited online to engage in a study where they self-reported likelihood to seek help from a male or female coworker when experiencing various injury symptoms at work and their RE. Our results provided support for only one of our primary hypotheses: as RE increased, intent to seek help decreased. Auxiliary analyses revealed that female identified participants were significantly more likely to seek help from a female onlooker than a male onlooker, whereas male identified participants were equally likely to seek help from females and males. These results suggest that RE may be associated with maladaptive help-seeking behavior and that participant gender and onlooker gender may interact to inform help-seeking with practical implications for developing interventions to encourage help-seeking.</p>
ArticlesGender normsMasculinityRestrictive emotionalityHelp-seekingonlooker genderworkplacecoworker genderOnlooker GenderRestrictive EmotionalityHelp-seekingPsychologySocial psychologyKassidy PatarinoMia McLaughlinAmelia Trembath
Copyright (c) 2022 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
2022-01-102022-01-10