FRIDAY
APRIL 20
Friday, April 20, 10:00-11:15
SESSION ONE
Eckles Auditorium
ROUNDTABLE: Separate but Equal?
PRESENTERS: Jaskaren Randhawa, Gabrielle Graham, Becky Wales, and
Ashley Wells
MODERATOR:
James Miller, English and American Studies Professor; Chair, American
Studies Department, GWU
jam@gwu.edu
Separate but Equal: Is it
Feasible in Contemporary American Society?
Jaskaren Randhawa, Gabrielle Graham, Becky Wales, and
Ashley Wells
jask626@gwu.edu
Contemporary feminism remains
divided in its objectives and plans of
action. We believe that in order to truly advocate the advancement of
women in American society, their biological and psychological
differences must be valued as different yet equal and that equality of
opportunity will only exist when institutions respect these
differences. With this in mind, the objective of our roundtable is to
explore contemporary feminism in order to reframe current approaches
towards female leadership and equality with the purpose of improving
American leadership as a whole.
Friday, April 20, 11:30-12:45
SESSION TWO
Session 2A, Academic 127:
The Cost of Intervention
Session 2B, Eckles Auditorium:
Mediated Bodies
Session 2C, Academic 100:
Needs Medicating
Friday, April 20, 11:30-12:45
SESSION 2A
Academic 127
ROUNDTABLE: The Cost of Intervention
PRESENTERS: Caleb Rosenberg; Andrew Slusser; Lindsey A. Conover;
Brendan Gilmartin, Zacharias Teshome, and Jeff Chan
MODERATOR:
Jennifer Nutefall, Instructional Coordinator, Gelman, GWU
jnutefal@gwu.edu
Ethanol and American Politics:
A Manageable Success
Caleb Rosenberg
crosenbe@gwu.edu
The challenge of combating global
warming is not so much a scientific
or even environmental problem as a problem of politics and social will.
Realistic solutions to global warming must thus be both environmentally
sound and politically viable. This presentation argues that by choosing
ethanol as
transportation fuel such a politically and environmentally practical
opinion to mitigate global warming has been found.
When To Intervene in the
Free Market Economy
Andrew Slusser
slusser@gwu.edu
This presentation explores the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York's decision
to organize a privately funded bailout for a rogue hedge fund, long
term capital management, and its assets. Using my two frameworks,
credit risk and free market economics, the validity of the bank's
decision is revealed and assessed.
Debt vs. Degredation: How
Globalization Limits the Prospects of
Environmental Policy
Lindsey A. Conover
conovela@gwu.edu
This project sets out to
investigate the limitations on state authority
to correct globalization's environmental degradation. The argument will
emphasize two aspects that have restricted national legislative powers
to promote environmentally conscious industrialization policy: the
impending political powers of international financial institutions and
the social incentive to first resolve more pressing issues like
disease, hunger, and poverty.
The World Bank's Exploitation
of the Developing World
Brendan Gilmartin, Zacharias Teshome, and Jeff Chan
brengil@gwu.edu
For over 60
years the World Bank has contributed to the systematic
exploitation of the developing world. Through sober analysis, this
presentation will elucidate misconceptions about the Bank and influence
future
decision makers to reform the Bank's policies.
Friday, April 20,
11:30-12:45
SESSION 2B
Eckles Auditorium
PANEL: Mediated Bodies
PRESENTERS: Alexandra Miller; Emily Murphy; Kinsley Makielski
MODERATOR:
Joseph Fisher, PhD Candidate, American Literature; Graduate Teaching
Assistant in English, GWU
fishdog@gwu.edu
The Ideal Body Image among
Hispanic Women in the United States: A
Desire to Be Extremely Thin as a Mechanism to Be Financially Successful
Alexandra Miller
alliem@gwu.edu
Immigration has been a part of
American history since the establishment
of the United States. One particular group, the Hispanic immigrant
population, has been steadily growing and continues to get larger. As a
result, many Hispanic people live in poverty. At the same time, the
United States continues to be the hegemon of consumerism around the
world. The sharp contrast between the lives of many Hispanic
individuals (particularly women) and wealthier Americans creates a
drive for Hispanics to achieve financial success. Hispanic women try to
achieve financial success by changing their body shape to mimic that of
a slender, Caucasian women.
Does This Make Me Look Gay?
A Study of Homosexuality in Film Throughout
Cultures
Emily Murphy
emilym@gwu.edu
Do media representations of
homosexuals actually match the cultural
consensus of the country from which they originate? Are we actually
progressing in our acceptance and tolerance of the homosexual
community? This presenation will seek to answer these questions and
more by looking at three well-known films from the USA, France, and
Mexico that deal with the gay community and homosexual experiences.
Butch, Femme, and Shades of
Gray
Kinsley Makielski
kam06@gwu.edu
This project will explore the
images and respresentations of lesbians
in the mass media, focusing on common stereotypes such as "butch" and
"femme." I will look at the perpetuation of these stereotypes and work
to determine where they stem from, why they are used by the mass media,
and why they are used and embodied by lesbians.
Friday, April 20, 11:30-12:45
SESSION 2C
Academic 100
PANEL: Needs Medicating
PRESENTERS: Matthew
Oczkowski; Emily Anderson
MODERATOR:
Charity Fox, PhD Candidate, American Studies; Graduate Writing
Preceptor, GWU
cyfox@gwu.edu
The Evolution of Drugs and
Songwriting
Matthew Oczkowski
mtocz@gwu.edu
It's no secret that drugs have
played a key role in songwriting.
However, there have been recent shifts in the way songwriters use drugs
as a vehicle for their songwriting. Not only have some songwriters
abandoned traditional psychotropic hallucinogens for less conventional
but more readily available over-the-counter drugs or prescription
"medicine," but the means through which these songwriters have
portrayed drugs lyrically have also shifted from the commonly imagined
"hippie" portrayal to an enemy whose abilty to control reality has
affected the writer firsthand. The presentation will illuminate how
this "evolution of drugs" molds, warps, and even distorts the creative
genius of songwriters, for better or for worse.
"I'm Still the Optimist,
Though It Is Hard": Pushing the Boundaries of Public Discourse on Youth
Depression
Emily Anderson
Emska19@gwu.edu
In this work, I will examine the
overwhelming number of cases of youth
depression as a consequence of modern society. Looking at depression as
represented by various artists and voices from the "counterculture," I
will attempt to open the public discourse on depression to mean more
than "needs medication."
Friday, April 20, 1:00-2:15
SESSION THREE
Session 3A, Academic 127:
Two and a Half Men
Session 3B, Eckles Auditorium:
Dissenting Opinions
Session 3C, Academic 100:
The Gender of Intelligence
Session 3D, Academic 122:
Powerful Words
Friday, April 20, 1:00-2:15
SESSION 3A
Academic 127
PANEL: Two and a Half Men
PRESENTERS: Ashley J. Bohrer; Jamie George, Sean
Williams, and Dan Corbally
MODERATOR:
Pat McGann, Communications Director, Men Can Stop Rape
pmcgann@mencanstoprape.org
Hard-Core Pornography and
Masculine Identity
Ashley J. Bohrer
ajbohrer@gwu.edu
While discussions of pornography
have galvanized American citizens for
decades, the debate has focused almost exclusively on issues of
legality and female equality. This presentation, however, expands the
scope of
scholarly debate and examines the delicate and multi-faceted
relationship between pornography and masculinity.
The Single Man's Meals
Jamie George, Sean Williams, and Dan Corbally
jageorge@gwu.edu
This presentation will show the
results of research consisting of personal interviews and book
research on the topic of single men and how eating habits are affected
by the lack of a woman's presence. This topic relates to gender and age
issues.
Friday, April 20, 1:00-2:15
SESSION 3B
Eckles Auditorium
PANEL: Dissenting Opinions
PRESENTERS: Sarah Biggart; Andrew Noel; Elisa Cameron
MODERATOR: Chris Venner, Professor of Philosophy, GW
cvenner@gwu.edu
We the People: Political
Protest and the Conformity of the First Amendment
Sarah Biggart
Sbiggart@gwu.edu
While political protest appears
to serve as an expression of democratic
individualism, it is dominated by society and public perception.
Through a case study of the Ku Klux Klan, this presentation will
analyze how public
dissent towards the Klan's means of political expression and
fundamental ideas has crippled its medium for protest.
Ócutl, or "Being the
Torch": Indigenous Resistance via
Progressive Theological Perspectives
Andrew Noel
asnoel@gwu.edu
Today, indigenous Mayan
communities continue to respond and react to
oppressive economic frameworks and political procedures acquired from
Latin America's colonial era. Drawing on indigenous and liberation
theological perspectives, this presentation serves as an
interdisciplinary
examination of contemporary Mayan resistance to neoliberal
macrostructures.
Building Bridges with
Universal Hands
Elisa Cameron
lcameron@gwu.edu
Today, our world is extremely
diverse and as a result more and more
community organizations have turned their focus towards
multiculturalism. Multicultural commmunity organizations have an
obligation to understanding their responsibility to the diversity of
the surrounding community and how to make their efforts beneficial.
This presentation
will examine how Centronia, a nonprofit community organization in
Washington, D.C.'s Columbia Heights neighborhood, defines and supports
a multiculturalism.
Friday, April 20,1:00-2:15
SESSION 3C
Academic 100
PANEL: The Gender of Intelligence
PRESENTERS: Adrienne A. Williams; Bridget Nugent
MODERATOR:
Neil Irvin, Director of Community Education, Men Can Stop Rape
nirvin@mencanstoprape.org
Gendering in Intelligence
and the Implication for Higher Education
Adrienne A. Williams
adwillms@gwu.edu
The debate about whether women
and men have equal intelligence is an
old one, but not in the college setting. There are policy implications
based on whether female and male intelligence has been culturally
constructed or is biologically based. It's time to examine those
implications in a college environment.
Evidence Marshaled from
Provocation
Bridget Nugent
brnugent@gwu.edu
To sustain leadership in the
global arena, the United States should
foster the abilities of all citizens. However, women in this country
face biases and barriers at every level in certain fields. Disparaties
of women in science, math, and engineering professors derives not from
inherent inability, as biological determinists believe; rather,
socializition and discrimination present in early childhood, formal
education, and professional settings better explains gender variances
in these subject areas.
Friday, April 20, 1:00-2:15
SESSION 3D
Academic 122
PANEL: Powerful Words
PRESENTERS: Lindsay McKenzie; Kelechi Okengwu; Laura Feigin
MODERATOR: Christopher Sten, English Professor; Director, Writing in
the
Disciplines Program, GW
csten@gwu.edu
New Ideas give Genuine
Elucidating Results
Lindsay McKenzie
LMMcKenz@gwu.edu
The word "nigger," due to its
history and emotional charge, is often
exempt from critical analysis and study. However, examining the
N-word's historical context, its relevance to contemporary society, and
what its future holds, reveals much about race relations in America.
On Being Black
Kelechi Okengwu
emem66@gwu.edu
The most generic definition that
can be given is that black people are
people who are either African descendents of Africans and most commonly
have dark skin. To all those outside the group that are defined as
black, black is not only skin pigmentation, but it is also a whole
culture. Black in American political and social definitions means those
who descended from West African slaves. The aim of this paper is to
suggest that "black" has various subunits that are almost always
blindly summed up together in the minds of all other races.
Racial Identity: An
Exploration of the Externally Imposed Racial
Identities in Light in August
and The Human Stain
Laura Feigin
lfeigin@gwu.edu
This presentation explores how
society influences a person's racial
identity. It attempts to prove that heritage and race are not the only
factors that create a person's racial identity. By comparing and
contrasting William Faulkner's Joe Christmas from Light in August
and Philip Roth's Colman Silk from The Human Stain to
sociological studies and findings, it suggests that racial identity is
an external factor rather than an internal factor.
Friday, April 20, 2:30-3:45
SESSION 4A
Academic 127
ROUNDTABLE: Marketing the Unmentionable
PRESENTERS: Sarah Caffee; Michael T. Mort; Clifford Shapiro; Alison
Dieringer
MODERATOR:
Lisbeth Fuisz, PhD, English, GWU
lsfuisz@earthlink.net
Coca Cola in Latin America:
Creating More Problems Than It Solves
Sarah Caffee
caffees@gwu.edu
Since 1906 Coca Cola has marketed
its products in Latin America while
simultaneously carrying out philanthropic work. This presentation
examines the
company's motives for its philanthropic work and argues that the
presence of Coca Cola in impoverished countries actually hinders their
social and economic development.
Commercializing College
Campuses
Michael T. Mort
MTMort@gwu.edu
By comparing several schools in
both the past and present, this presentation hopes to
reveal an increasing trend toward commercialization on college
campuses. I will look at modern universities much like modern
corporations, and describe how the university, and its students, suffer
as a result of this capitalistic trend.
Photomedia in the Case for
Global Warming
Clifford Shapiro
cascas87@gwu.edu
Many examples of global warming
can be documented with photographs.
Images depicting the shrinking glaciers of the world are one example
recently highlighted in Al Gore's An
Inconvenient Truth. By comparing
historical images of glaciers around the world to contemporary
photographs taken during the same time of year and from the same
location, visible proof of glacial melting is obtained. But why do
images like this not galvanize the public to address global warming?
This
presentation will explain how we have become suspicious of the
photographic image and thus made it more difficult to make the case for
global warming.
Gardasil: A Miracle Vaccine?
Alison Dieringer
alison_d@gwu.edu
In June 2006, Gardasil, a vaccine
that prevents straings of the human
papilloma virus - which in turn also preempts cervical cancer, was
approved by the FDA. Though not quite a "cure for cancer" Merck &
Co immediately began advertising the vaccine as the way to become "one
less" victim of cervical cancer. With the help of Edward Bernays'
Propaganda we will examine the controversies and the Gardasil
advertising campaign to question both Gardasil's enormous potential and
the uncertainty as to if it is truly the miracle vaccine it claims to
be.
Friday, April 20, 2:30-3:45
SESSION 4B
Eckles Auditorium
PANEL: Unnatural Disasters
PRESENTERS: Nathan Micon; Anne Robison; Timur Akman-Duffy
MODERATOR:
Frederic Siegel, Associate Vice President and Dean of Freshmen, GWU
fsiegel@gwu.edu
Got Healthcare? Why American
Morals Demand Universal Healthcare
Nathan Micon
nmicon@gwu.edu
This presentation will discuss
the viability of universal healthcare.
Specifically of interest is whether American morals are more congruent
with preserving a limited governnment or dismantling the class
structure within our healthcare system. Also to be considered is how
universal healthcare serves as a conduit for achieving the "American
dream."
Environmental Racism within
the United States: A Call for Action
Anne Robison
arobison@gwu.edu
There are communities within the
United States that suffer from
disproportionately higher numbers of toxic-waste dumps, incinerators,
highways that intersect the communities, asbestos, and lower pollution
standards. The who, when, why, and "how can we change this?" questions
will be answered in a discussion about "environmental racism."
The Trial of Hurricane
Katrina: A Class Action Case
Timur Akman-Duffy
timurad@gwu.edu
Breaking news from Louisiana
today! God, yes God, has come down to the
Lower Ninth Ward and is holding an investigation of the aftermath of
Katrina! Members of all social classes have been invited to come to
tell their story. You can see government helicopters landing just
behind me, and large groups of displaced victims have been arriving in
droves all morning. This investigation, dubbed "The Trial of Hurricane
Katrina," promises to deal with the race and class debate that has
lingered since Katrina hit exactly two years ago. We will be on
location all day, so stay tuned!
Friday, April 20, 2:30-3:45
SESSION 4C
Academic 100
PANEL: Story Time
PRESENTERS: Katharine Crnko; Heather Hwalek; Elizabeth Hillin
MODERATOR:
Dolsy Smith, Reference and Instruction Librarian, Gelman, GWU
dsmith@gwu.edu
The Familial Constructs of
Disney Feature-Length Animated Films and
Their Impact on Modern Cultures
Katharine Crnko
kcrnko@aol.com
The Disney Corporation has a firm
hand in today's media and popular
culture. Disney's strongest influence is over the child market, mainly
because animated movies are the primary way children experience popular
culture. This presentation will examine the effects of these movies,
specifically in
reference to the families they portray, but also focusing on the
development of gender-specific behavior, social norms, and self-image
in children.
Storytime with the
Subcomandante: The Politics of Modern Fabulism
Heather Hwalek
hyhwalek@gwu.edu
This presentation cites salient
fables, parables, and their moral themes, and
connects their structure, intention, and effect with the writing of
Subcomandante Marcos. Through literary, political, and historical
criticism, the presentation explores why a revolutionary leader would
choose
to write in this genre and how this form affects his audience.
Wickedness Within Wicked
Elizabeth Hillin
Ehillin@gwu.edu
Presenting research about the
pros and cons of female cliques
and preconceived judgments between different races, this presentation
argues that the message conveyed within Broadway's Wicked
isn't as positive or influential as viewers may believe.
Friday, April 20, 2:30-3:45
SESSION 4D
Academic 122
PANEL: Gimme Shelter
PRESENTERS: Saba Ghorab; John Spangler; Emily Jagger
MODERATOR:
Katy Otto, Development Director, Men Can Stop Rape
kotto@mencanstoprape.org
Conflictive Relationships:
Root of Women Homelessness
Saba Ghorab
sghorab@gwu.edu
Like a rollercoaster ride,
healthy relationships have their ups and
downs. Whether it's the good times or the bad, couples learn from their
experiences with each other and as a result become closer. However, a
relationship becomes conflictive when it involves abuse, whether it's
sexual physical an/or emotional. A conflictive relationship tends to
cause familial disputes that have negative effects on the couple as
well as offspring. Children who are raised among violence and drugs are
scarred for life. Consequently, young girls get involved in
relationships in sheer desire to escape household problems and to find
alternatives. Generally, these relationships turn sour and women end up
in conflictive relationships themselves. Intimate male partners may
have drug addictions and exhibit traits that cause women to live in
turmoil, which ultimately leads to the women being homeless. So, why do
women stay in conflictive relationships that cause their downward
spiral?
Buying Influence: Economic
Classes and the Public Sphere
John Spangler
jspang3@gwu.edu
The "one person, one vote"
democratic system was created to distribute
political power evenly among citizens, but does the upper class's
influence in the public sphere negate the votes of lower-class citizens
in a representative government? This presentation will focus on women
and the public sphere, using an organization for homeless women in
Washington, D.C. as a case study.
Battered Women: Trends and
Injustices
Emily Jagger
ejagger@gwu.edu
To view domestic violence through
specific lenses is to thoroughly
examine the many facets that comprise the problem. It is possible to
identify
trends and possible sources of abuse within the home, sometimes called
intimate partner violence, and thus find the best way to help survivors
create a new life free of fear. Through the investigation of previous
research, it becomes evident why women choose to seek help from
shelters or not, and if shelters are the best way to recover from
domestic abuse. This presentation considers domestic abuse and
women's shelters through six general frameworks; race, education,
politics and the legal system, religion, socioeconomics, and family.
With our primary research of shelters in Washington, D.C., we can see
if common trends derived from our secondary sources correlate to the
trends within certain shelters in the District.
Friday, April 20,
4:00-5:15
SESSION FIVE
Session 5A, Post Hall:
Women, Power, Tradition
Session 5B, Eckles Auditorium:
What Did You Do In School Today?
Session 5C, Academic 100:
Monumental Statements
Session 5D, Academic 122:
Representing Washington, D.C.
Friday, April 20 4:00-5:15
SESSION 5A
Post Hall
PANEL: Women, Power, Tradition
PRESENTERS: Hillary Bundy; Ashley Roberts; Wendy Soriano
MODERATOR: Cynthia Deitch, Associate Director of Women's Studies;
Professor of
Women's Studies, Sociology, and Public Policy and Public
Administration, GWU
deitch@gwu.edu
Female Circumcision:
Mutilation or Tradition
Hillary Bundy
hillaryb@gwu.edu
This paper looks at why the West
views female genital mutilation as a
human rights violation. It argues that it is important to look at all
sides of
the story without bias, and it aims to show why the way the West is
portraying this issue is wrong.
From Separate Spheres to
Suffrage: How Philanthropy Defined by the
Doctrine of Separate Spheres Led to the Beginning of the Suffrage
Movement in Britain
Ashley Roberts
aroberts@gwu.edu
This presentation will discuss
the connection between philanthropy and
the beginning of the suffrage movement in Victorian Britain.
Middleclass British women were expected to undertake philanthropic
work, and this work led to the suffrage movement. By giving women an
independent arena to work, by giving them necessary organizational
skills, and by giving them a reason to demand legislative action,
philanthropy led to the women's suffrage movement.
Lives of Women: Past and
Present
Wendy Soriano
wsoriano@gwu.edu
This paper will delve into the
socially constructed ideals made for
women in the past. It will focus on the women's suffrage movement
created by women in order to advance. It will then examine women's
achievements in the present and how women's role has changed over time.
Friday, April 20,
4:00-5:15
SESSION 5B
Eckles Auditorium
PANEL: What Did You Do In School Today?
PRESENTERS: Harry Wodehouse, Nick Weiss, Elliott Brown, Jessica Kief,
Ben Fitzgerald, and Angela
Aronoff; Samantha Ahle
MODERATOR:
Paola Ceccarini, Reference and Instruction Librarian, Gelman, GWU
paolac@gwu.edu
Sleep Deprivation Among
College Students Examined Through Time
Management
Harry Wodehouse, Nick Weiss, Elliott Brown, Jessica Kief, Ben
Fitzgerald, and Angela
Aronoff
hwodehouse@gmail.com
It is common knowledge that a
lack of sleep has adverse effects on the
academic performance, social experiences, and health of college
students. Knowing this, why do students prioritize sleep as one of the
last things on their "to do" list? The activities students engage in
when they should be sleeping are, ironically, those that are negatively
affected by its deprivation: academic work, socialization, and
health-related issues. Thus, our proposed reason for the cognitively
dissonant behavior is a lack of time-management skills. This
presentation will examine time management among college students and
how it ultimately leads to sleep deprivation.
Does Playtime Equal
Braintime? A Look at What Constitutes a Legitimate
Education
Samantha Ahle
samahle@gwu.edu
Although education is valued for
its rigor, who gets held accountable
for the education received is important. With the No Child Left Behind
Act, schools are held accountable for education; in the Sudbury School
model, the students are held accountable. Based on data and personal
experience, which would be better for Washington, D.C.?
Friday, April 20, 4:00-5:15
SESSION 5C
Academic 100
PANEL: Monumental Statements
PRESENTERS: Tim Gowa; Matt Kamisher-Koch; Brittany Verga
MODERATOR:
Katherine Malone-France, Director of Collections and Programs, Stephen
Decatur House Museum
katherine_malone-france@nthp.org
Deaths in the Family: The
Cost of a Headline
Tim Gowa
tgowa@gwu.edu
In a city indeliably marked by
media and politics, this paper explores
the changing nature of memorials as seen through the Journalists
Memorial. Massive implications for construction in Washington, D.C.
which dramatically affects Washington residents adn policymakers alike,
and fuel a substantial industry situated somehwere within the confines
of the National Mall.
The Confederate Monument: A
National Monument for Regional Cause
Matt Kamisher-Koch
Mattkk@gwu.edu
Monuments commemorate many
things: the valor, courage, or incredible
fortitude of figures long gone. However, the Confederate Monument
justifies a nation that no longer exists and a way of life that has
disappeared. It was erected to inspire new generations to believe in
the "lost cause" and to present a stylized version of history where
such a cause has always remained strong. This presentation analyzes the
historical motivations for its establishment and its unique place in
American political and social history.
Location, Location,
Location: What It Means for Memorials
Brittany Verga
bverga@gwu.edu
Monuments in and around Washington, D.C. may be classified as either
"tradtional" or "living." Is it solely structure that dictates this
difference? The debate over the location of the Air Force Memorial
forced the relocation of this monument. It presently serves as a
traditional memorial, but this may not have been the case if it
neighbored the Iwo Jima Memorial as originally planned.
Friday, April 20, 4:00-5:15
SESSION 5D
Academic 122
PANEL: Representing Washington, D.C.
PRESENTERS: Lauren Pessoa, Alyssa Wood, and Shoshana Miller; Josh
Spitzer, Chloe Labiner, and Zachary Stafford; Nicole Sweeney
MODERATOR:
Tina Plottel, Reference and Instruction Librarian, Gelman, GWU
plottel@gwu.edu
Media Madness
Lauren Pessoa, Alyssa Wood, and Shoshana Miller
lpessoa@gwu.edu
More than twenty years ago, in
1986, national media coverage concerning
the emergence of crack/cocaine in American inner cities reached epidemic
proportions. This presentation argues that the media misrepresented the
effect crack
had in D.C., which produced social and political repercussions that
could be reproduced today.
Homelessness: Sleeping on
Invisible Pavement
Josh Spitzer, Chloe Labiner, and Zachary Stafford
jspitzer@gwu.edu
Residing in Washington, D.C., one
cannot walk a block without noticing
someone living on the street. Although some choose to ignore the
presence of a homeless person, this presentation brings this issue to
the surface. Despite our lack of personal experience in being homeless,
we have studied the psyche and daily routines of people on the
streets in order to bring greater awareness, understanding, and
compassion to their current problems. This knowledge will make people
feel more obliged and morally responsible for assisting the homeless.
With our primary research of shelters and personal stories of homeless
people in Washington, D.C., we hope that we can personally gain a
glimpse of these lives on the streets. Statistical information and
general facts from our secondary research will also ignite societal
interest in the homeless epidemic.
Re-Learning Education:
Approaches for a Multicultural Community
Nicole Sweeney
nicolejs@gwu.edu
What bearing does a multicultural
environment have on early childhood
practices? Does a multicultural setting require adjustments to the
standard approach? The experiences of directors and teachers as well as
parent testimonies help get to the heart of the varying opinions and
realities of this question. According to organizations like CentroNia,
a Columbia Heights-based community education center, the merits of a
standard curriculum ought to be heavily scrutinized. Specifically,
CentroNia's concern is being bilingual: English and Spanish. They find
themselves in a community with minority populations much higher than
the rest of the nation. Should the educational standards catered toward
such different demographics be expected to apply there?
SATURDAY
APRIL 21
Saturday, April 21, 10:00-11:15
SESSION ONE
Session 1A, Post Hall:
All in the Family
Session 1B, Eckles Auditorium:
What's Black & White and Read All Over?
Saturday, April 21,
10:00-11:15
SESSION 1A
Post Hall
PANEL: All in the Family
PRESENTERS: Amanda Formica; Alyssa Steinmetz
MODERATOR:
Jason Hipp, Senior in English, GWU
jhipp@gwu.edu
AIDS and Sexuality:
Influencing American Family Values
Amanda Formica
aformica@gwu.edu
This presentation explores the
influence that the AIDS epidemic in
America had on a new stage of the GLBT civil rights movement from the
level of a changing American family.
Disciplining the Future:
Parenting Technique across Generations
Alyssa Steinmetz
Aks551@gwu.edu
What happened to the old-fashioned spank? Over the past half-century
parenting methods have become more permissive, one probable cause for
the current unruly, undisciplined generation of children. Advice on
disciplining one's child has changed to reduce the emphasis on harsh
parental discipline and promote a more liberal approach to raising
one's child. Parents today are criticized for being too tolerant of
their child's bad behavior, but are they not just adhering to
contemporary parenting advice?
Saturday, April 21,
10:00-11:15
SESSION 1B
Eckles Auditorium
PANEL: What's Black & White and Read All Over?
PRESENTERS: Samuel Kaminsky; Gregory C. Magee; Paige Hansen
MODERATOR:
Annie Lipsitz, MA, Women's Studies, GWU class of 2006
alipsitz@gwu.edu
Hip-Hop & Intellectual
Property
Samuel Kaminsky
Drsam008@gwu.edu
Born as a "borrowed" art form
from a disenfranchised and unrecognized
world, hip-hop has become one of the most popular genres in music
today. The hip-hop culture's almost contradictory origins and current
existence show a unique dichotomy of America, and is something that can
be analyzed in order to find certain truths about the way which the
nation as a whole treats intellectual property issues. This
presentation
examines the ways in which intellectual property spawned the culture
and how hip-hop's views on intellectual property have changed over time
with respect to how demographics of those participating in hip-hop have
changed as well.
Paintocracy: How Writers’
Benches Created a Unified Graffiti Culture
Gregory C. Magee
gmagee@gwu.edu
This presentation is a study of
graffiti writers’ benches in New York
City and their direct influence on the establishment of modern day
graffiti as a culture. It will focus on the emergence of a society
based entirely on graffiti through psychological and social studies and
this society’s effect on the people and city officials of New York
City. It will also look at the possible outcomes if New York had
decided to embrace graffiti and the youths during one of the lowest
points in the city’s history.
Two "Lincoln" Perspectives
Paige Hansen
prhansen@gwu.edu
This presentation examines a controversial, provocative statue of
Lincoln and a slave and how this "memorial" has taken on new meaning
today as a symbol of our history's past opinions and perspectives.
Saturday, April 21, 11:30-12:45
SESSION TWO
Session 2A, Post Hall:
Women's Perspectives: Identities of the
Past and Present
Session 2B, Eckles Auditorium:
The Social Dynamics of College Life
Session 2C, Academic 100:
You Are What You Eat
Saturday, April 21,
11:30-12:45
SESSION 2A
Post Hall
GROUP PRESENTATION: Women's Perspectives: Identities of the
Past and Present
MODERATOR:
Katherine Ely, Vice President for Media Relations, National
Organization for Women, Virginia Chapter; Media Relations Associate,
Media Matters
katherine.ely001@gmail.com
PRESENTERS: UW20 Section M17: Christin Aucunas, Jill Beckerman, Beth
Davison, Alicia Eggen, Christine French, Alpana Gowdar, Lauren
Lederman, Katy McCoy, Chelsea Mears, Melissa Moller, Darcey O'Halloran,
Elfine Peterson Tijo, Tracy Sakon, Jaclyn Watson, Tiffany Wong
chfrench@gwu.edu
This presentation explores the
identities of women throughout the
centuries and how our generation will carry on their legacy. The
presentation weaves together the autobiographies of prominent women
with our own personal narratives, including Hillary Clinton, Emily
Dickinson, Sylvia Plath, Frida Kahlo, Madonna, Mercedes de Acosta, and
many more.
Saturday, April 21,
11:30-12:45
SESSION 2B
Eckles Auditorium
PANEL: The Social Dynamics of College Life
PRESENTERS: Madelyn Healy and Stephen Rutgers; Christina Yugai, Alia
Khayrullina, and Naomi Hochberg; Nada Hammour, Hasan Daouk, and
Christine Traverner
MODERATOR:
Christina Mueller, Senior; Editorial Board, Le Culte du Moi; President,
Suicide Prevention Action Network, GWU
cmueller@gwu.edu
The Wealthiest Scavengers:
Social Norms of Students at Free Food Events
at the Nation's Wealthiest University
Madelyn Healy and Stephen Rutgers
mhealy@gwu.edu
The only words you see posted are
"Free Food." Whether it's Catholic
Dinner, a rush event for a fraternity, or the annual "Midnight
Breakfast," George Washington University students are driven to free
food. Through interviews of two students, this presentation discovers
why students seem
to be so attracted to free food.
Girls Next Door: Social
Dynamics of Thurston Hall
Christina Yugai, Alia Khayrullina, and Naomi Hochberg
chrstina@gwu.edu
Our film begins with two
roommates, Chelsea and Courtney coming back
from dinner to prepare for evening festivitities. The two begin
discussing Courtney's love life, which quickly begins a heated argument
between the two friends. Witnessing all this, Chantal is quick to join
in with her opinions. The other two disregard her words because they
view her as irrelevant and her problems do not concern them.
Working Wonders: Young Women
in the Restaurant Industry
Nada Hammour, Hasan Daouk, and Christine Traverner
nada88@gwu.edu
For this presentation, we
interviewed three young women who have worked in restaurants that
vary in class and atmosphere: an upscale eatery, a locally owned family
restaurant, and a fast food chain. The hierarchical aspect of our topic
reiterated many stereotypes people have formed about certain dining
experiences and sometimes proved them wrong.
Saturday, April 21,
11:30-12:15
SESSION 2C
Academic 100
PANEL: You Are What You Eat
PRESENTERS: Florence Wong; Emma Kruger and Michael Chartier
MODERATOR:
Megan Davis, Philosophy Professor, GWU
mvdavis@gwu.edu
The Americanization of
Ethnic Food
Florence Wong
florence@gwu.edu
America is a diverse mix of
people from around the world, adding their
culture to the Melting Pot. Some say that in this process of
Americanization, the authenticity of respective cultures have been
lost. Examination of Americanized Chinese, Italian, Thai, and fusion
cuisine will reveal that the original authenticity of the specific
culture is a necessary trade-off for the unique melting pot cuisine,
which is authentically American.
"Tale-gating": The
Implications behind the Food of the College Tailgate
Emma Kruger and Michael Chartier
ekruger@gwu.edu
Tailgating is a tradition that
revolves around food. People reveal
information about themselves through the food they enjoy at tailgates.
Through several college alumni's personal experiences, the meaning of
tailgating to them has been revealed. The food that is prepared and
enjoyed at tailgating reflects the cultural values, beliefs, and
history of the people.
Saturday, April 21, 1:00-2:15
SESSION THREE
Session 3A, Eckles Auditorium:
OPEN POSTER SESSION
Session 3B, Ames Pub: Who Are We?
Women's Self-Expression
Saturday, April 21,
1:00-2:15
SESSION 3A
Eckles Auditorium
OPEN POSTER SESSION
PRESENTERS: Chris Brinlee, Jr.; Sung Min Lee; Brigitta Reytblatt,
Shaina Cherry, and Nancy Lam Nguyen; Sasha Belinkie; Nicole White;
Praveen Savalgi
MODERATOR:
David Ettinger, Ph.D., International Affairs and Political Science
Librarian, Gelman Library, and Assistant Professorial Lecturer, Elliott
School of International Affairs, GWU
dettingr@gwu.edu
Social Class and the
American Military
Chris Brinlee, Jr.
brinleec@gwu.edu
This presentation discusses the
demography of the U.S. military in the current
war in Iraq. It addresses the security of wealthy or educated soldiers,
and the appeal of military service to poor whites and minorities.
A Score of Years: What a
Difference!
Sung Min Lee
coolsung@gwu.edu
In this constant evolutionary
world, a log book is created to keep
track of the remnant relics of the past. As time changes, new creations
of culture, icons, and technology are introduced and familiarized to
the current environment. However, what becomes of those memoirs being
locked up in the dusty parts of the bookshelf? This presentation takes
a look back a
score ago to see the many differences that have occurred through the
everlasting adventures of a college life. A simple time machine is
brought forth to see what the new millennium has retained of the past.
The Real Deal - Women and
Chocolate
Brigitta Reytblatt, Shaina Cherry, and Nancy Lam Nguyen
brigitta@gwu.edu
So what is the real deal with
women and chocolate? Many people believe
in the stereotype that all women love chocolate. Through interviews,
this presentation disproves this and finds that women do appreciate the
thought behind
the giving of chocolate as a gift, such as on Valentine's Day.
Clarity in Political
Communication: The Potential of Visual Argument to
Achieve a Greater Level of Understanding than Prose
Sasha Belinkie
sfannie@gwu.edu
The question asked in this
presentation is whether visual communication
(comic books and graphic novels) has a greater potential for
communication than prose. This questions will be approached by
examining the clarity of the arguments conveyed by George Orwell in 1984
and Alan Moore's V for Vendetta.
Food Marketing to Ethnic
Minorities
Nicole White
nwhite@gwu.edu
It is no secret that companies
have to find a target market in order to
successfully sell a product. An organization will fail if it tries to
please everyone all the time. And food marketing is no different. While
there is no problem in proposing marking campaigns to specific groups,
the problem with marketing to ethnic minorities is that the companies
tend to market foods that are generally low in nutritional value and
unhealthy. This presentation will investigate the business practices of
marketing unhealthy foods to minority consumers.
Of Feathers and Feelings: A
Look at the Nature and Behavior of Geese
Praveen Savalgi
psavalgi@gwu.edu
Although instinctual animal
behavior can reveal elements of our own
nature, geese, in particular, exhibit many complex behaviors. From
social structure, to concern for others, to endurance, geese are
fascinating creatures. Understanding this nature allows us to better
understand ourselves and what we could become.
Saturday, April 21,
1:00-2:15
SESSION 3B
Ames Pub
GROUP PRESENTATION: Who Are We? Women's Self-Expression
MODERATOR:
Mazal Menasche, Sophomore; 2006 Symposium Presenter
mazalm@gwu.edu
PRESENTERS: UW20 Section M16: Aboudi Bakhsh, Ian Barton, Alexa Blanco,
Star Calaman, Catina Dailey, Stephen Ford, Jaime Fowler, Malorie
Greenberg, Gylise Harrison, Laura Maas, Lindsay McConnell, Kat Medida,
Lola Olawole-Anjorin, Alexandra Shahady, Candice Shang, Emily Sou, Sean
White
shahady@gwu.edu
We are bloggers. We are
researchers. We are thinkers. But most of all,
we are ready to express ourselves through writing. This multimedia
Symposium session showcases a diverse group of presentations about
women autobiographies from Tanika Lynch's Whore to music like
the Dixie Chicks' Taking the Long Way.
Saturday, April 21, 2:30-3:45
SESSION FOUR
Session 4A, Post Hall:
Sustenance
Session 4B, Eckles
Auditorium:
Serious Play
Session 4C, Academic 100:
The Burden of Protection
Saturday, April 21,
2:30-3:45
SESSION 4A
Post Hall
PANEL: Sustenance
PRESENTERS: Daniel Singer; Shannon Morris; Ally Pregulman
MODERATOR:
Sarah P. Wilhelm, Reference and Instruction Librarian, Eckles, GWU
palacios@gwu.edu
The Cafeteria Revolution:
How Americans Will Escape Poor Health
Daniel Singer
dsinger@gwu.edu
The FDA is a lame duck,
agribusiness the tyrant, and Americans the
victims. So who is going to save us from our national eating disorder?
University cafeterias, which are currently undergoing a revolution to
buy local organic food across the country, provide the best opportunity
to make a difference.
Diet for a Warming Planet
Shannon Morris
smorris@gwu.edu
Corporate farming practices have
detrimental effects on the environment
and on individual health. Their production consumes energy and
resources. Unsanitary conditions, supplements, and inadequate
government regulations also put consumers at health risk. Because of
this, this presentation proposes we adopt a "diet for a warming
planet," which focuses
on free-range, local, and organic products.
How Much Change Is Too Much
Change? The Role of Reorganization in
Non-Profit Organizations
Ally Pregulman
apreg@gwu.edu
Saul Alinsky believes that the
life-span of an organization is five
years. After that, the organization either dissolves or combines with
another group. What aspects of the restructuring process of a
non-profit organization make the process a success so that Alinsky's
argument is refuted? This presentation explores the restructuring
process of
non-profit organizations and whether or not this process is effective,
creating a comprehensive critique of reorganization process and its
inefficacies.
Saturday, April 21,
2:30-3:45
SESSION 4B
Eckles Auditorium
PANEL: Serious Play
PRESENTERS: Kristin Pallister; Jackie Penn, Lindsay Alper, and Rachel
Pomerantz
MODERATOR:
Mary Buckley, Theatre and Dance Professor; Program Coordinator,
International Arts and Culture, GWU
buckley@gwu.edu
Nature-Deficit Disorder: The
Detrimental Effects of Losing Touch with
the Wild
Kristin Pallister
krispal@gwu.edu
The rise of technology has
yielded the fall of a childhood spent
outdoors. But how does playing video games instead of climbing trees
affect today's children psychologically? Nature-deficit disorder links
the shift to a multitude of problems, from obesity to depression. This
presentation analyzes the effects of this new form of childhood.
The Fourth "R"
Jackie Penn, Lindsay Alper, and Rachel Pomerantz
jhpenn@gwu.edu
Recess should be implemented for
children ranging from lower school to
middle school because it develops social and motor skills, among
others, that will be useful in the future. This issue is important now
because recently schools in the Washington, D.C. area, as well as the
rest of the nation, have been shortening or cutting the amount of free
time during the school day to make room for more academic scheduling.
Having free time to play is beneficial because it gives children an
opportunity to grow intellectually, psychologically, physically, and
socially.
Saturday, April 21,
2:30-3:45
SESSION 4C
Academic 100
PANEL: The Burden of Protection
PRESENTERS: Martine Read; Mohit R. Shah; Lauren Berkowitz, Katherine
Easter, and Zeina Hinnawi
MODERATOR: Sonia Lee, Junior, Sociology and Philosophy, GWU
sonialee@gwu.edu
The Evolution of "Reasonable
Suspicion" in Fourth Amendment Rights
Martine Read
martz8@gwu.edu
The "reasonable suspicion"
standard has evolved since its emergence in Terry vs. Ohio
(1963). The implications of this standard support and embody the
existing tension between the privacy rights of U.S. citizens and the
need for government protection, security, and order.
The Burden of Protection
Mohit R. Shah
mrshah@gwu.edu
In the 21st century, we know of
many ways to protect the works we claim
as our own. But is the cost of this protection worth it? Our
selfishness asks us to implement laws and policies to satisfy our claim
on works (i.e. compositions, novels, projects, designs, products,
etc.). Do we know what is lost due to this act? Is the process of
evolving scientifically, technologically, and as humans slowed down?
This presentation shows how the laws of copyright place burdens on
those they supposedly protect. It will refute the common notion that
copyright is meant to protect us and our ideas.
The Injustice of the
Disenfranchisement in D.C.
Lauren Berkowitz, Katherine Easter, and Zeina Hinnawi
lberk2@gwu.edu
This presentation addresses the
lack of congressional representation
for the citizens of the District of Columbia. It examines the
historical cause of the issue and suggests that the current reason for
this injustice is a result of Washington, D.C.'s high minority
population and their political stance, which tends to be Democratic. It
argues that D.C.'s voting rights should be obtained by a congressional
statutory bill.
Saturday, April 21, 4:00-5:15
SESSION FIVE
Post Hall
ROUNDTABLE: Global Intervention
PRESENTERS: Rachael Ashley Moliver;
Zach Hindin and Ben Nelson; Nida Jafrani; Robert S. Banick
MODERATOR:
Dolores Perillấn, Poetica 21 ~ Word in Action: Spanish Professor, GWU;
Faculty Fellow, Service Learning, CoRAL Network
perillan@gwu.edu
The Importance of Involving
Female Peacekeepers in Current Peacekeeping
Operations: An Assessment of the United Nations Security Council
Resolution 1325
Rachael Ashley Moliver
rmoliver@gwu.edu
This presentation assesses the
United Nations Security Council
Resolution 1325 and its current negligible enforcement by the United
Nations. This project proposes that if the United States of America
were to enforce this resolution, equality in peacekeeping operations
and a significant reduction in sex-trafficking would be plausible.
Bringing Dawn to Darfur
Zach Hindin and Ben Nelson
zhindin@gwu.edu
This presentation addresses the
systematic problems in Sudan that have led to
instability for decades, most recently, in the violence in Darfur. The
presentation works to clarify common miconceptions about Sudan while
providing
policy recommendations (at both the domestic and international level)
to address the identified spurs of conflict.
Banaa: The Sudan Educational
Empowerment Network
Nida Jafrani
njafrani@gmail.com
Banaa: The Sudan Educational
Empowerment Network is a program that was
started by students here at the George Washington University. This
presentation will address the topic of how receiving leadership
education
in the United States will allow Sudanese citizens to effect long term
progress in their native country. The formal paper on which this
presentation is based will be resolved around
the concepts of peace-based education and how this type of aid could be
successful in conflicted parts of Africa, specifically Sudan.
Civil Society and Democracy
Promotion: The Middle Eastern Perspective
Robert S. Banick
rbanick@paceacademy.org
Civil society aid has taken on
increasing importance in U.S. democracy
promotion efforts over the past 15 years. Judging the efficacy of this
aid is crucial to the spread of democracy throughout the developing
world. This presentation will make such a judgment using the U.S.
democracy
promotion experience in the Middle East as a case study.
