Dear Honors Seniors,
I’ve read through these capstone abstracts, and they seem so polished, so certain, so accomplished. But you
and I know—and your capstone advisor certainly knows—just how much effort and angst have been poured
into your capstone projects.
To complete an Honors capstone is not just to master a body of knowledge and then to contribute to it. To
complete a capstone is to become aware of how much there is to know and how much the world needs
knowledge—needs scholars, artists, theorists, and researchers—who take nothing for granted and question
their own assumptions, who test their theories against the complexity of an ever-changing world and the
stubborn persistence of recurring questions.
Reading these abstracts and talking with you and your advisors fill me not just with pride but with hope and
even astonishment. You have been given much—from your parents, from your professors, from American
University and its Honors Program—but, as your capstones prove, you have also made great use of these
gifts. You have created new knowledge through these projects, and the world needs you to continue working
and creating, thinking and doing.
I look forward to hearing news from you in the coming years about your accomplishments and the challenges
you’ve faced. Because you know how much the Honors Program has tried to connect you with people who
would help you realize your ambitions, you will understand how earnestly I mean it when I say that the
Honors Program welcomes your continued contributions after you graduate. We hope that you will
participate in alumni mentoring and in other opportunities to assist subsequent generations of talented
students like yourself.
I’ll close by repeating what so many faculty have said to me, their voices conveying the genuineness of their
emotions. “Thank you for giving me an opportunity to teach these students who are so talented and so full of
passion. They inspire me.”
All my best,
Dr. Michael L. Manson
Director, University Honors Program
This volume is dedicated to the members of the faculty
who have inspired, counseled, and mentored these Honors graduates
and to all those celebrating their accomplishments from afar and in spirit.
John Ackerman
University Honors in Political Science
Capstone Advisors: Professor Kimberly Cowell-Meyers, SPA: Government;
and Professor Jennifer Gumbrewicz, SPA: Justice, Law and Society
From Prison to Ballot Box: Political Disenfrachisement of Released Felons in the U.S.
The U.S. is the only country in the world that includes the removal of voting rights as punishment for all felonies.
Millions of felons in the U.S. have had their political rights removed and the unfortunate truth is that most of these
felons are black. Severe racial issues in the American justice system are belied by the explosion in the amount of
incarcerated black Americans over the past thirty years, unrelated to an increase in criminality. The racial imbalance in
incarceration, combined with a removal of suffrage, presents a foundational problem for American democracy. This
study examines the legal history of the statutes regulating felon voting disenfranchisement in order to determine the
direction of felon voting rights. Have states become more or less restrictive over time and are internal changes related to
external, federal changes to racial voting structures? Four diverse case studies were undertaken to examine this question.
John’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Corinne Acosta
University Honors in Elementary Education
Capstone Advisor: Professor Julie Sara Boyd, CAS: Education, Teaching, and Health
Classroom Culture
A student teacher’s experience with diverse student populations inspired her to plan a cultural unit to increase the
cultural awareness of her students. The main goal was to allow each student to learn about his or her culture while
learning about the other cultures represented in the classroom. This project took place over a seven-week period with six
lessons and a showcase for parents in the final week. Weekly blog posts and videos allowed the student teacher to recap
and reflect on lessons along the way. This project includes lesson plans, instructional materials, as well as modifications
for future implementation, including adaptations for different populations and opportunities for cross-curricular
planning.
Corinne’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Brian Afeltra
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Randolph Persaud, SIS: International Studies
Crafting the Nation to their Advantage: The Case of the French National Front and the Vlaams Blok
This capstone analyzes how European right wing populist parties portray nationalism and national identity in their
discourse, specifically examining the French National Front (NF) and the Belgian Vlaams Blok (VB). Examining party
rhetoric, it is evident that populist parties of the new radical right must now incorporate aspects of civic identity into
their construction of the nation that normally is grounded in ethnocentrism. Operating in a political environment that
has seen a resurgence of liberal values driven by globalization and integration, these parties present themselves as
defenders of their respective nations’ cultures and identity, which they portray as threatened by non-European
immigrants. The NF and VB have been successful because they have been able to detach their anti-immigrant message
from the stigma of extremism by associating it with civic signifiers of the nation. This research addresses a deficiency in
the literature that has not sufficiently established the changing relationship between right wing populist parties and the
way they construct national identity to their advantage.
Brian’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Katherine Alexander
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Marianne Noble, CAS: Literature
Lived Experiences of Male and Female Hybridity within Chimamanda Adichie’s Diaspora
Postcolonial theory claims that hybridity can bring power and agency to the postcolonial subject, and hybridity is often
viewed as a positive experience. However, this optimistic outlook on hybridity hides much of the anxieties and pressures
that come along with it, and postcolonialists tend to ignore the complications for the sake of celebrating the benefits of
hybridity. In order to avoid simplifying hybridity and overshadowing its dangers, the claims of the celebratory view of
hybridity must be investigated, and its failures as a theory to apply to the lived experience of hybrids must be explored.
There are several critics who question the optimistic view of hybridity, but their critiques fall short on two counts: the
effects of hybridity on subjects within the diaspora, and the differences between male and female hybrids. The Nigerian
author Chimamanda Adichie, however, addresses these missing pieces in postcolonial theory. In her short stories and
novels, Adichie offers a new view of hybridity: she explores how hybridity affects Nigerian characters in America, as well
as the effects of gender on hybridity. Adichie creates hybrids that suffer through identity crises and anxieties of
falsehood; her hybrids live difficult and dark existences. Yet in her short stories, these anxious hybrids are all females.
The men, on the other hand, are confident, content, and examples of “happy hybrids”: they feel little anxiety in their
positions, and are portrayed as naïve and shallow for feeling this way. Through allegories that use the diaspora as their
stage, Adichie is therefore arguing for a re-examination of hybridity: not only must we challenge the notion of
empowered hybrids, but we must also look at how—and begin to explore why—the female experience of hybridity is
different from the male experience.
Katherine’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Christopher Alires
University Honors in Audio Production
Capstone Advisor: Professor Paul Oehlers, CAS: Performing Arts
Producing an Album
In this capstone, the author worked as part of a 5-piece rock band writing, producing, performing, recording, and mixing
a substantial portion of a full album. The band completely recorded 8 full songs as well as some transitional material and
foundational demos of a handful of other songs. The author worked with fellow capstone students Brad Lauchert and
Daniel Cobar on the final mixes of these 8 songs. In addition, he mixed the following songs independently. This is the
track listing as those songs appear on the CD:
1. An End…
2. City Lights
3. Dark as Blue
4. Friends in Black
5. Nothing Stays
6. Tomorrow Ends Today
Candice Allouch
University Honors in Psychology
Capstone Advisor: Professor Alan Silberberg, CAS: Psychology
Desire for Social Contact Drives Behavior in the Rat Empathy Device
Bartal et al. (Science Magazine 334:1427-1430, 2011) showed that when rats are given the opportunity to exhibit
empathetic behavior toward another rat, they would do so. By placing a rat in an arena unconstrained (free rat) with a
cagemate constrained in another space (trapped rat), the experimenters observed that the free rat had learned to
seemingly deliberately open the restrainer to free its partner. The free rat would need to touch the front panel of a
contained tunnel in order to trigger the opening of the tunnel’s back door. This would allow the trapped rat to escape
the tunnel into an open arena separate from the partner’s. The initially trapped rat would end up farther from the
originally free rat. They interpreted these results as strong biologically rooted evidence that non-primate like mammals,
such as rodents, behave with pro-social tendencies toward a conspecific’s distress, much as do human beings. Bartal et
al. determined that since the free rat continued to open the tunnel’s rear door even after several sessions, therefore
freeing the trapped rat and putting more distance between the two rats, this meant that the pro-social behavior exhibited
by the free rat could not be driven by its interest in social contact. Rather, the free rat was motivated by empathetic
intentions, striving to reduce the amount of distress felt by its constrained partner. In two experiments, this capstone reevaluated Bartal et al.’s study and tested female rats to determine whether empathy is, in fact, innately present in these
animals. This study showed that, in the first condition, the free rat does not learn to trigger the mechanism that opens
the rear door to free the trapped rat. Further, after a successive amount of trials, a trapped rat that has escaped will tend
to return to the presumably aversive tunnel. Lastly, the study found that a free rat that has experienced triggering the
door mechanism would continue to do so despite this behavior, and not free its partner. This capstone attributed these
results and those of Bartal et al.’s to two ideas: neophobia and gregariousness. During the initial sessions, neophobia
drives the trapped rat to quickly leave the container. However, after many sessions and neophobia dissipates, both rats
exhibit gregariousness and empathetic behavior becomes less evident as the prevailing intention.
Candice’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Regan Alsup
University Honors in Communication
Capstone Advisor: Professor Chris Palmer, SOC: Communication
Shenandoah National Park Visitor Center Display Video
Perhaps one of the most pertinent social issues we face today, both domestically and globally, is climate change. As
scientists continue to study the changing climate, they are increasingly certain of the effects of human activity and are
progressively more concerned about the future of our Earth if those actions do not change. The challenge, then, is to
determine how to best educate the public about the issue and what they should change in their day-to-day habits to
support a more environmentally sound lifestyle. The National Park Service has an unparalleled ability to reach people in
an informal learning setting. Thus, Shenandoah National Park, as one of the largest parks on the east coast, has a great
responsibility to draw climate change education into their visitors’ displays. Carbon emissions also affect Shenandoah
specifically in that they reduce the air quality and therefore visibility from Shenandoah’s famous overlooks. This project
is focused on developing a climate change media plan centered around a new display in their visitor center to educate the
public about air quality, climate change and reducing their carbon footprints. While the full display is still under
development and is projected to be finished in early Spring 2013, this part of the project outlines the media plan for the
project and includes a completed video that introduces air quality issues in the park.
Regan’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read her project description. Click here to
download the full video.
Samantha Amberg
University Honors
Capstone Advisors: Professor Zehra F. Peynircioglu, CAS: Psychology;
and Professor William Brent, CAS: Performing Arts
Perception of Blended Timbres: Effects of Instrumentation and Sound Onset
Timbre, the color or quality of a tone, is the aspect of sound that distinguishes two sounds of equal loudness and pitch.
The questions posed by the current study ask how instrumental timbre-blends are perceived and labeled by musicians
and what influences instrument type and sound attack have on their identification. In this experiment, live recordings of
cello, saxophone, violin, clarinet, and piano were blended to develop 20 distinct timbre dyad stimuli; 10 of which
consisted of a single isolated tone and 10 of which consisted of the same isolated tone with the sound attack (onset)
removed. Experienced musicians were presented with a sliding continuum of these timbre dyad blends and were
prompted to locate the pure component timbres on the continuum. Accuracy of timbre component identification was
compared across instruments and between the two experimental conditions. Main effects of blend type and attack
removal were shown as well as a significant interaction effect between blend type and attack removal on identification
accuracy. Secondary effects of pair asymmetry and ease of individual instrument identification were also found. The
results offer a novel approach to the study of timbre by investigating its facets in a practical manner in real instruments,
rather than in synthesized music. It also provides insight regarding the perception of certain instruments that would be
valuable to a composer looking to achieve perceptual effects.
Samantha’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Aileen Andres
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor James Lee, SIS: International Studies
Tana River Disputes in a Drying Climate
Clashes between the Pokomo and Orma Tribes of Tana River District in eastern Kenya reached a climax in August of
2012. This project explores the connection between the changing climate in Tana River and the violence between these
two tribes. Historical roots are explored initially dating back to the 17th century migration that brought the Orma and
Pokomo to the same region. Next, the onset of micro-migration as a result of drought is introduced, along with the
effect of land grabbing by the Kenyan government and large corporations. The paper looks at the environmental aspects
as well as the isolated conflicts before exploring the convergence of the twain. This research is published on a webpage
that the author developed using Dreamweaver. It includes graphics and diagrams that created through Google Earth and
Dia Software. The main webpage includes a link to a second webpage, ‘Resources,’ which provides a list of resources for
organizations working in the Tana River District area, as well as policy suggestions as the groups move forward.
Aileen’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Kirsten Ashbaugh
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Dan Schneider, SIS: International Studies
Do the Media Exacerbate the Effects of Terrorism? Chechen Hostage Crises and the Media’s Role in
Achieving Terrorist Objectives
Scholars and policymakers assume that “all press is good press” in the case of terrorism. They base this assumption on
the reasoning that the media effect sympathy among targeted international audiences; these international audiences then
urge their own governments to pressure the target domestic government into enacting concessions for terrorist groups.
However, no empirical evidence supports this assumption. This study examines the quantity and quality of media
coverage following two hostage terrorist attacks occurring in Russia, the Moscow Dubrovka theater siege of 2002 and
the Beslan school siege of 2004. Evidence from this study suggests that the conventional assumption that the media is
beneficial for terrorist groups is false. Media coverage increased proximate to these two terrorist attacks. However, these
two terrorist attacks did not sustain increases in coverage. In addition, reporting was variably favorable toward terrorist
groups and their causes. Last, this study considered the statements of foreign leaders, finding that these statements had
no correlation with media reporting in their respective countries. Rather, foreign leaders tended to heavily criticize
terrorist groups while ignoring the terrorists’ causes. Hence, this study concludes that while media reporting may
encourage fear, a short-term objective of terrorism, it does not necessarily result in pressure on governments and thus
does not necessarily help to achieve long-term terrorist objectives.
Kirsten’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Mariam Aziz
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Eileen Findlay, CAS: History
Cutting Genitals, Like “Making Cookies”: The Tradition of Male Circumcision Among the Coptic
Orthodox Church Community
Like “making cookies,” male circumcision among the Coptic Orthodox community of Egypt is a tradition that is deeply
rooted in perceived history and customs. This study set out to investigate the politics of this practice and understand the
structures that perpetuate and enforce it. To understand the perceptions around male circumcision, forty six members of
the Coptic Orthodox community were surveyed and three priests and one bishop were interviewed. The study revealed
major fragmentations in the communication structures within the Coptic Church, along with a silence around issues of
sexuality and the body that were left aside for medicine to explain. Perceived history also played a significant role in
perpetuating this practice, which has become a fact of this historical moment and has gone unquestioned, possibly to the
detriment of the lives of millions of boys. As expected, the legal aspect of circumcision was mostly ignored among the
community, or given very little attention. These findings point to the interplay of institutions in enforcing a silence
around a “surgery” performed daily in Egypt, with major implications on the role of conversations around sexuality
within the Church and beyond.
Mariam’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Mohamed Nazran Baba
University Honors in Economics
Capstone Advisors: Professor Paul Winters, CAS: Economics;
and Professor Mary Hansen, CAS: Economics
The Impact of Education on Successful Microlending in Sri Lanka: Evidence from a Field Experiment
Microfinance provides crucial access to credit for the poor, and is expected to help poverty and reduce income inequality
in low-income regions across the world. The paper draws on a field experiment initiated in 2005 which used randomized
grants to generate capital shocks to a coastally representative group of Sri Lankan microenterprises. Using a panel data
set of over 400 Sri Lankan microenterprises, this study ran multiple fixed-effects regressions to perform an impact
assessment on the microcredit initiative. The study found that microlending has a clear positive impact on
microenterprise recipients’ real earnings. In addition, higher returns were observed with entrepreneurs who possessed
higher levels of education, implying that human capital may affect the successful use of microlending. The paper
demonstrates the value of impact assessment on microfinance initiatives and contributes to a growing body of literature
that draws on the increasingly important role human capital plays in executing successful microfinance initiatives.
Mohamed’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Savannah Bailey
University Honors in Business
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
Playing with Firearms: A Proactive Public Relations Strategy to Ensure a Powerful and Profitable
Future for the NRA
As recently as December 2012, the National Rifle Association (NRA)’s aggressive and combative tone during public
appearances following the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School accurately captured the group’s disconnect with
the majority of Americans. While the NRA’s extremist-leaning position allows it to capitalize now on an energized base
during a push for increased gun control, as a long-term strategy this damages both the NRA’s public favorability and
reputational clout, in turn weakening its financial position. A huge camp of Americans, many of them NRA members,
support some of the less-restrictive gun measures without calling for an all-out ban on guns—a highly unlikely resolution
in any case given the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This capstone recommends that NRA employ Hill +
Knowlton Strategies (H+K Strategies), a widely-respected global public relations firm, to adjust its strategy for engaging
with both the public and the media. This investment will not only improve public opinion of the organization and
ensure its cultural relevance far into the future but will also turn around the last four consecutive years of falling net
income. This capstone finds that, by spending only about $260,000 annually, the NRA will see a return on investment of
1268 percent from attracting new members, securing highly valuable earned media placements, and increasing overall
goodwill as a result of public relations strategies and tactics.
Savannah’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Steven Ballew
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Robert Johnson, SPA: Justice, Law and Society
The Death Penalty and Prosecutor Behavior
This independent study will explore an area of the death penalty that has been severely under-researched. When looking
at capital punishment’s utility, many researchers have looked toward its deterrent value. However, the way prosecutors
leverage the possibility of the death penalty to bargain for harsher sentences, while reported in the press, has been widely
ignored by academia. This study will combine quantitative and qualitative analysis to give a better understanding of how
prosecutors use the threat of the death penalty during the plea bargain process. It will also examine the benefits and
disadvantages that such leverage has on the system of justice in the U.S. Finally, it will scrutinize how prosecutors in
states without the death penalty utilize the existence of a federal death penalty and the effects that such behavior has on
the principles of federalism embodied in our government’s constitutional structure.
Steven’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Bradley Barbour
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Frederic Jacobs, CAS: Education, Teaching, and Health
Urban Priests and the Boston Busing Crisis
The oral history "Urban Priests and the Boston Busing Crisis" investigates the roles that the Boston Archdiocese and
Boston area Catholic schools played in the desegregation of the city’s public school system and the resulting "crisis" that
peaked between 1974 and 1975. The subjects of two interviews were selected for an oral history treatment: Father
William Joy of St. Angela’s in Mattapan and Father Walter Waldron of St. Patrick’s in Roxbury. Throughout the
interviews, a number of topics are discussed, including the Church’s relations with Boston’s black communities and the
Irish-Catholic communities of Charlestown and South Boston, Cardinal Medeiros’s racial justice policies, the politics of
Catholic schools admitting white students escaping the Boston Public Schools, and efforts of each individual priest in his
effort toward promoting desegregation.
Bradley’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Raimon Bassas-Angles
University Honors
Capstone Advisors: Professor David Eyl, KSB: Marketing;
and Professor Chris Hudgins, KSB: Marketing
Manchester City: A Marketing Challenge in the Soccer Industry
The purpose of this capstone is to analyze how the English soccer club Manchester City can increase its revenue from a
marketing standpoint and engage in the virtuous circle of success. The study started from three empirically tested
premises (that the soccer industry is profitable, that paying the highest salaries correlates with success, and that UEFA
Financial Fair Play Rules will affect clubs like Manchester City in Europe), and then it investigated the soccer industry. It
has three relevant revenue components: matchday, broadcast, and sponsorship or marketing. By assessing the state of
the industry and the three largest revenue generators, the study then focused on Manchester City’s performance on the
same three indicators. The capstone concludes that Manchester City is starting to show some symptoms of the virtuous
circle of success, but that there is still more room for growth. If the club continues to be unprofitable, it won’t be able to
participate in UEFA’s competitions, which would be devastating in terms of revenue. In addition, sponsorship and
(especially) matchday revenue are still small in comparison to the leading competitors.
Raimon’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Erika Baumann
University Honors in Sociology
Capstone Advisor: Professor Andrea Brenner, CAS: Sociology
A Scrum of Their Own: Why Women Play Rugby and How Team Culture Affects Player Participation
with the American University Women’s Rugby Football Club
Despite being known as aggressive or even violent, rugby is one of the fastest-growing women’s sports at the collegiate
level. As a full-contact sport, rugby is extremely physical and has a high potential for injury; however, it is also well
known for the sense of camaraderie that often develops among team members. Through the use of interviews of current
players for the American University Women’s Rugby Football Club (AUWRFC), this research examines what motivates
college-aged women, diverse in body type, athletic ability, and athletic background, to begin playing rugby, and why
many of them continue to play throughout their college careers. New players join for a variety of reasons, including
wanting a challenge, staying fit, and making friends. The factors that motivate players to keep playing, despite the many
obstacles female players face, are not only the mental and physical challenges presented by the game; more important is
the network of relationships they form with their teammates. These bonds are reinforced through the team’s culture,
which includes its student-run leadership structure, the creation of “rookie classes” who learn the sport together, and a
variety of longstanding social traditions that bring the team together and tie AUWRFC to other teams. The sense of
community formed on the team extends well beyond the realm of rugby and into other elements of the team members’
lives, as well.
Erika’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Jacqueline Baumgartner
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Loubna Skalli-Hanna, SIS: International Studies
Social Media and Political Movements
The phenomenon of the “cyber dissident” is a relatively new concept brought about through the modern age of
technology. The Arab Spring in 2011 brought this concept to the forefront, and social media began to be seen as a tool
for protest and even mobilization against oppressive state power. This article examines how citizens use social media
such as Twitter and Facebook to dissent against their authoritarian regimes. It also examines how governments use
censorship to counter online political activism. Ai Weiwei in China and Ahmed Maher in Egypt provide two case studies
that demonstrate the complex power relations between cyber dissidents and their respective governments. This paper
examines how Ahmed Maher during the April 6th Movement and Ai Weiwei in the wake of the Sichuan earthquake
controversy in 2008 used social media to challenge the regimes in Egypt and China, respectively.
Jacqueline’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Jennifer Beard
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Anders Hardig, SIS: International Studies
Green Rentier State: A Case Study of the Renewable Energy Sector in Morocco
The experience of Morocco calls into question the neoliberal orthodoxy that economic liberalization paves the way for
democratization. Over the last 30 years, Morocco has met the requirements of the “Washington Consensus” while
paradoxically strengthening its authoritarian control over its populace. King Mohammed VI and his inner circle, the
Makhzen, remain the most powerful actors in the political and economic system despite the constitutional reforms and
newly elected Islamist parliamentary plurality committed to anti-corruption in the wake of the Arab Spring. A case study
of the renewable energy sector (RES), the monarchy’s most recent major effort to integrate Morocco into the global
economy, supports the rentier state theory argument that political reform could be hindered by non-oil rent-seeking
behavior such as political rents from the Persian Gulf and the West. In particular, the renewable energy sector has
attracted foreign aid from the European Union and the Bretton Woods institutions, eager to support green initiatives,
and from Arab oil-states, due to the weakening of the Euro. Instead of boosting productivity in the RES, Morocco’s
top-down approach facilitates rent-seeking behavior among the elite, precluding the future prospects for productivity.
The findings support the conclusion that the Makhzen has co-opted the process of economic liberalization to replenish
its patron-clientele network and enhance its international legitimacy. Therefore, economic liberalization might actually
have a negative relationship with political reform unless the power of the Makhzen is first curtailed.
Jennifer’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Veronica Beaver
University Honors in Spanish Studies
Capstone Advisors: Professor Olga Rojer, CAS: World Languages and Cultures;
and Professor Ludy Grandas, CAS: World Languages and Cultures
Second Person Singular Pronouns: More Than Just a Part of Speech
In both teaching and daily use, it is fundamentally important to emphasize that language is not a fixed structure, but
rather a phenomenon that is always changing, growing, and adapting to the modern world. This study analyzes the
everyday use of four 2nd person singular Spanish pronouns in Colombia (tú, vos, usted and su merced) and seeks
solutions for the way they are taught in Spanish as a Foreign Language (ELE) contexts using the Colombian movie, Los
colores de la montaña (The Colors of the Mountain), as a teaching aid.
Veronica’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Noah Benjamin
University Honors in Political Science
Capstone Advisors: Professor Kimberly Cowell-Meyers, SPA: Government;
Professor Sonja Walti, SPA: Public Administration and Policy;
and Professor Matthew Hartings, CAS: Chemistry
The Impact of National Research and Devlopment Expenditure on Research and Development Output
Scientific and technological research and development, as a public good, is vital for a thriving society. However, due to
market failure, the public sector must make up for the private sector’s under-funding of such scientific R&D.
Nevertheless, relatively little is known about how effectively government is able to fund R&D. This study aims to
establish a clear connection between government funding for scientific R&D and the products or outputs of such R&D.
While many have examined the role private industry, universities, and government agencies have as both institutions of
funding and institutions of scientific R&D, results have been mixed and inconclusive. Instead, a direct comparison of
the institutions of policy with the outputs of R&D hopes to avoid the pitfalls of ambiguity found in prior research. This
study examines the relationship between measures of funding for R&D and measures of R&D output, such as patents
and journal articles, using a cross-sectional analysis of 31 OECD countries. The results of this study demonstrate that
R&D expenditure and R&D outputs are positively correlated. Furthermore, this positive relationship remains strong
when controlled for possible intervening variables such as the strength of a country’s education system, its levels of
corporatism, its GDP, and its military expenditures.
Noah’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it, and click here for the appendix.
Mercedes Beras-Goico
University Honors in Business
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
Microfinance in the Dominican Republic: Adopem’s Plan for National & International Expansion
Microfinance in Latin America is a very profitable, dynamic, and coveted market to enter. The Dominican Republic,
specifically, has seen incredible growth in microfinance in the past ten years. Banco ADOPEM, the second largest
microfinance institution in the Dominican Republic, has been able to successfully integrate two crucial components of
the business: the social and the financial. However, as of November 1, 2012, the BBVA Foundation from Spain acquired
46 percent of ADOPEM’s shares and is in negotiations to buy out other investors, aiming for controlling interest in the
firm. BBVA top management is promoting national and international expansion. But given that 12 percent of
ADOPEM’s national offices are underperforming, it is inefficient for ADOPEM to inaugurate new offices in other
provinces before they have reached operating efficiency in their current offices. This capstone argues that, to reach
operating efficiency, ADOPEM will need to implement general management strategies for the betterment of the
institution as a whole and specific strategies that aim at solving the pressing issues in inefficient offices. The paper asserts
that, internationally, ADOPEM should not invest directly in inaugurating new offices in Latin America, but invest in
specific Microfinance Institutions in Puerto Rico, Honduras, and Panama that allow for sustainable growth and
increased projected profits.
Mercedes’ full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Avram Billig
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Kimberly Sims, CAS: History
From Tammany Hall to Tuileries: Political Considerations Behind the New York Press Coverage of the
Paris Commune
This thesis utilizes New York press coverage of the 1871 Paris Commune to offer a new perspective on international
coverage in the post-Civil War era. The 1870s featured the first mass use of telegraph reporting from Europe, giving
newspapers access to up-to-date international reports. These reports invariably passed through New York’s press, which
monopolized their receipt and distribution. In 1871, the leftist Commune ruled Paris for three months, and the New
York press published steady and sensationalist critiques of the Parisians, contrasting French radicalism with German
order. Their celebration of Germany occurred as the major political parties courted German-American voters, whose
growing numbers and unclear party allegiances made them a prized electoral bloc. Historians have identified the highly
political New York press’ use of international coverage to serve domestic political ends. Coverage of the Commune
reflected these papers’ efforts to attract the adamantly anti-French German-Americans, a political maneuver that strongly
affected general opinions of the Commune. This thesis analyzes the coverage of New York’s four most influential
papers, representing both major political parties, and identifies the impact of political considerations on their reportage.
By connecting domestic politics with a widely covered international event, it demonstrates how political division in the
post-Civil War era framed Americans’ understanding of events abroad.
Mikaela Binsfeld
University Honors in History
Capstone Advisor: Professor Kimberly Sims, CAS: History
Welcome to Los Angeles? Riots, Race, and Immigrants in the City
This paper uses primary sources from the late 1980s and early 1990s Los Angeles City Council to examine the
Salvadoran immigrant community before and after the Los Angeles riots. This paper demonstrates that as discourse
changed in Los Angeles following the riots, so too did the ability of Salvadoran immigrants to receive the types of
resources they needed to build up their community. In examining the Salvadorans during this time period, this paper
explains how discourse on race, crime, and immigration affects public policy, and it demonstrates the devastating
consequences that marginalizing communities can have for all of society.
Mikaela’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Zoe Bollinger
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Michelle Egan, SIS: International Studies
Market Integration in the EU and ASEAN
The European Union (EU) stands as a quintessential modern example of regional economic integration. However, while
the EU has become a standard to which others are compared, it is not alone in attempting regional market integration.
This paper introduces comparative regionalism to study economic integration, focusing specifically on regional
economic integration projects in the EU and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Excluding the
history of colonialism, which played a major role in Asian regionalism, the EU and ASEAN have similar roots and goals
for economic integration including the desire to create stability and peace in a post war era, cement regional power to
gain a stronger collective voice, and foster economic growth and competitiveness. From these similar foundations,
however, the trajectories of their regional and specifically economic integration projects have diverged dramatically. This
paper first identifies the institutional, normative, and regional political and economic differences that have affected how
these two polities have integrated markets. Key factors identified consist of institutional structure and capacity to enforce
supranational decisions, regional political conditions including internal versus external hegemons and alternative forums
for economic integration, and dynamics of regional trade including the presence of alternative trade agreements and
internal versus external trade. This paper then analyzes the roles of these elements in defining the respective trajectories
of economic integration pursued in the EU and ASEAN. Through this analysis, this paper seeks to bridge a gap between
literatures analyzing regional integration on a case by case basis and to move away from the use of a static model of
regional economic integration. This paper introduces an element of comparative regionalism to gain a deeper
understanding of the factors shaping market integration in both regions.
Zoe’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Rebecca Borton
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Manuel Suarez, SIS: International Studies
Taxes, Petrol, and the Failure of the Mexican Fiscal System
This paper integrates several decades of work on taxation, energy pricing, natural resource rent management, and
environmental issues to produce a holistic vision of the perversions and consequences of Mexico’s current fiscal regime.
It is critical that Mexico increases the size and sustainability of both tax and petroleum revenues for the adequate
provision of public goods. The key to this reform is divorcing the two revenue streams. Mexico’s tax-and-petrol fiscal
regime has four interrelated problems: 1) overall government revenues are too low; 2) government revenues are too
dependent on petrol; 3) petrol revenues are used for current spending and energy subsidies; 4) investment in Pemex is
driven by tax revenues rather than petrol prices. In analyzing the mutually distorting roles of Mexico’s federal revenue
structure, dependence on Pemex (the state owned petrol monopoly) and petroleum-based revenues, and
mismanagement of petrol revenues, this paper clarifies the fiscal, distributional, and environmental imperatives for
multifaceted reform of not only the tax system and energy sector, but also the way in which the Ministry of Finance
interacts with them. It concludes by summarizing some of the most critical reforms to address these interlinked
problems. These reforms include strengthening non-petrol based tax revenues, ensuring proper pricing of petrol
products in the domestic market, and separating petrol revenues and investment in Pemex from short-term fiscal
concerns of the government.
Rebecca’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Laura Brown
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Sandra Cannon-Brown, SOC: Communication
CSPI PSA: Antibiotic Overuse in Animal Agriculture
This motion-graphics PSA, produced for distribution by the organization Center for Science in the Public Interest,
communicates the problem of excessive antibiotics use in animal agriculture. The roughly two-minute story focuses on
two characters—an individual with a case of multidrug-resistant food poisoning and a chicken being fed antibiotics.
Through graphics and voiceover, the PSA describes how irresponsible use of antibiotics contributes to antibiotic
resistance. In the end, the PSA encourages consumers to choose, and request from retailers, meat raised without the
unnecessary administration of antibiotics. The creation of the PSA began with research, guided by CSPI’s Food Safety
expert, and close communication with the client, CSPI, to write a treatment that accurately and concisely communicates
the facts. Next, production involved drafting graphics in Adobe Illustrator, animation of the PSA in Adobe AfterEffects,
recording a voice-over, choosing music to accompany the animation, and consulting with film and motion graphics
professionals to hone the final piece. The PSA will be distributed online by CSPI through social media and to its 100,000
newsletter subscribers, exposing the specifics of the problem to health-conscious consumers. Beyond contributing to
CSPI’s campaigns for consumer safety and health, producing this motion-graphics piece provided the opportunity for
experience in professional non-profit media. Ultimately, this project undertook the challenges of communicating a
complex human health issue, working with a client to produce a professional piece, and mastering animation techniques.
Laura’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Izaak Bruce
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor George Berg
The Arab Spring in Tunisia and its Aftermath
This paper examines the Arab Spring in Tunisia, its impact on the political system, and the effect on its relationship with
the United States. Chapter one summarizes the history of Tunisia since independence in 1957, ending with an analysis of
the factors contributing to the overthrow of President Ben Ali in 2011. Chapter two focuses on the current political
scene in Tunisia, studying the challenges the nation faces and the parties vying for popular support. This section is based
on Arabic source materials to understand these political parties and their messages, focusing on the ruling Ennahda
Movement. After a careful study of its rhetoric and policies, it reaches the conclusion that Ennahda is a genuinely
moderate Islamist party and a viable partner for the U.S. Chapter three addresses the U.S.-Tunisian relationship from the
American perspective, beginning with President Eisenhower through the Obama administration’s response to the
revolution. Chapter four presents the paper’s conclusions and opportunities for successful U.S.-Tunisian collaboration in
the future. Both nations should cooperate to advance their shared interests in security, democracy, and development.
Izaac’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Zachary Brulinski
University Honors in Business
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
Ron Santa Teresa: Opening New Distribution Channels through Diageo
Ron Santa Teresa is Venezuela’s oldest registered rum distillery. Its roots go back over 200 years. Located nearly 70
kilometers west of the capital, Caracas, its sugar mills and distillery were built on the train station of El Consejo. The
company and plantation remain family-owned, and the company produces some of the world’s most internationally
acclaimed rum. Santa Teresa wishes to expand sales into new international markets, especially the United States, where
demand is growing. This capstone presents a strategic business analysis of Ron Santa Teresa and opportunities for
opening distribution channels through Diageo PLC (NYSE: DEO). Diageo is the largest alcohol producer and
distributor in the world, and it has easy access to the industry’s largest markets. With a commanding presence, Diageo
has consistently been able to effectively market its product and drive sales growth. Without acquiring control, but
possessing distribution rights, Santa Teresa can remain a family-owned business while capitalizing on global market
expansion through its distribution giant, Diageo.
Zachary’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Rebecca Buhner
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor William Quirk, CAS: World Languages and Cultures
A Translation of Faserland by Chrisitian Kracht
This work is a translation of Christian Kracht’s novel, Faserland, from German to English. Kracht’s 1995 debut novel
explores the identity crises present in a generation of young Germans through the internal narrative of a nameless man
on a journey throughout Germany and down into Switzerland. The narrator, representing those who, after reunification,
felt neither at home in their old Federal Republic or their new unified country, is unable to establish an identity for
himself or come to terms with his generally negative feelings toward Germany. With an English translation, not only will
a greater understanding of the intricacies of post-reunification German society become available to a much wider
audience, but the audience will also be introduced to more contemporary German literature.
Claire Callahan
University Honors in Law & Society
Capstone Advisor: Professor Robert Johnson, SPA: Justice, Law and Society
Ultimate Punishments: A comparative study of life sentences in England and America
Solitary confinement has a long and shameful history tracing back to its first system-wide use in American prisons in
1820. However, European nations have all but abolished the practice in the modern era in pursuit of alternative methods
of control that promote rehabilitation over the extreme punitive method of isolating prisoners in solitary confinement.
This paper analyzes current, closely monitored developments in solitary confinement practices in prisons in England and
Wales and compares them to the largely unmonitored forms of segregation in American prisons. The purpose of this
study is to discover what led England to break away from the American model of solitary confinement in the 1990s and
what restrictions and reforms British corrections officials and the government have implemented to make this severe
form of imprisonment a more humane and controlled practice. The discussion of British reforms reveals both the
imperfections and successes of solitary confinement programs in England and Wales today. Additionally, the study
examines why the United States remains faithful to the costly and excessively used practice of solitary confinement even
in the face of national and international disapproval. The result of this comparative analysis will reveal the different
priorities each nation has regarding imprisonment and solitary confinement and whether one is more beneficial and
effective than the other. The paper’s conclusions will discuss how the United States could modify and implement some
of the British solitary confinement reforms to redirect the American corrections system toward rehabilitation.
Elizabeth Calos
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Benjamin Jensen
The Weakest Link: Credible Deterrence Threats and Alliance Entrapment
This capstone’s abstract is unavailable at this time.
Elizabeth’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Sondra Campanelli
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Maya Maroto, CAS: Education, Teaching, and Health
Beets, Beans, Bananas, and Other Things I Love: A Comprehensive Guide to Nutrition in the United
States
The state of nutrition in the United States is an ever-changing landscape. As new scientific studies reveal more about the
human body, our ideas of the best way to nourish ourselves become more refined and tailored. This capstone provides
an analysis of the current state of nutrition in the U.S., as well as a guide for the best practices going forward. The work
also includes 30 original recipes that were formulated using that research. The recipes are designed to be accessible to all
Americans, specifically focusing on lower-income families and those interested in changing their diet to incorporate
more healthful foods.
Sondra’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Kaitlin Campbell
University Honors in Business
Capstone Advisor: Professor Parthiban David, KSB: Management
Rebranding a Higher Education Institution Using Corporate Practices: A Case Study of Arizona State
University
For a number of reasons, higher education institutions may seek a new, stronger position in the increasingly competitive
market. The process of radically changing a brand or organization is known as rebranding, and is prevalent among
corporations. While the drivers and goals of rebranding may be different between corporations and higher education
institutions, the complex process is very similar. This paper offers eight guidelines adapted from corporate rebranding
practices that higher education institutions should consider when making their own transformation. These guidelines are
demonstrated through analysis of Arizona State University, which has undergone a significant rebranding in the last
decade. Though many are reluctant to do so, higher education institutions can use practices found in the corporate
environment to better themselves in a multitude of ways including academically, financially, and socially.
Kaitlin’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Todd Carney
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Benedetto, SPA: Government
New Reporting: Is New Always Better?
This paper looked at how the election coverage has changed in the last century with the introduction of new mediums
such as television and the Internet. The paper aimed to answer whether new platforms such as television and the
Internet covering elections are good or not. In addition, it sought to find how much television and the Internet are
responsible for some of the often cited problems with the media, such as focusing too much on trivial issues. There has
been a fair amount of research focusing on television or the Internet’s impact on election coverage, but there is little
research that compares both mediums’ impacts. Furthermore, there is even less research that takes into account the most
recent election cycle. The research process for this paper included reviewing 125 articles from the following time
periods: the 1920s, 1950-1990, the 1990s, and the 2012 cycle. The synthesis included looking at 25 articles from each
time period, except for the last time period, where the process looked at 50 articles. That was to account for 25 articles
from traditional news sources such as the New York Times and 25 from new media sources such as Buzzfeed. The
research process also included considering past scholar’s arguments on whether the Internet and television have been a
positive influence on election coverage. The paper weighed both arguments using evidence from articles and scholars
and concludes that while election coverage has continued to deteriorate over the last century, it has not been as linear as
some might suspect. As a result, the paper could not conclude that the Internet and television are definitively responsible
for the problems in election coverage, even if both have contributed to some of those negative issues.
Todd’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Francesca Cavalli
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor John Robert Kelley, SIS: International Studies
Virtual Exchange Programs: Expanding the Public Diplomacy Agenda of the 21st Century
Fueled partially by the emergence of the Internet, an unprecedented amount of power has been placed in the hands of
the individual to engage with people abroad, mobilize groups around causes, and thereby set the foreign policy agenda.
Consequently, public diplomacy in the United States has seen a recent transition away from government-to-public
initiatives and toward engagement strategies conducted at the individual level. This capstone provides an in-depth
evaluation of one of these strategies–international exchange programs. First, this study provides a comprehensive look at
the evolution of international exchange programs from the Cold War initiatives of the past to the virtual exchange
programs of the present. Then, this study uses a mixed-methods approach to test the effectiveness of virtual exchange
programs as a valuable tool of public diplomacy. The study concludes that, given certain technological conditions, virtual
exchange programs have the potential to achieve the same outcomes as face-to-face interactions, namely attitude change
and the creation of strong interpersonal bonds.
Francesca’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Minjun Chen
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Ji-Young Lee, SIS: International Studies
Implications of “Gangnam Style” for Strengthening the Asian Diaspora Community in the United States
and Promoting East Asian Reconciliation
Last Fall, Psy’s “Gangnam Style” and its associated horse dance became a global sensation, surpassing Justin Bieber’s
song “Baby” to become the most viewed video on YouTube, leading to performances with celebrities and politicians
alike and inspiring countless parodies. This paper contributes to literature on the role of music in fostering a sense of
community among diverse peoples and the role of strong diaspora communities in conflict resolution. This study
hypothesized that Psy’s popularity across the diverse and tension-laden Asian diaspora in the United States has
promoted 1) stronger bonds among and across the younger generation of Asian Americans and Asian international
students working and studying in the United States and 2) stronger feelings of community among Asians in the U.S. In
turn, those stronger feelings would promote a) better East Asian relations and b) an environment conducive to the
reconciliation of political and territorial tensions between China, Japan and South Korea. To test these hypotheses, this
study surveyed 219 Asians and Asian Americans and interviewed 20 Asian and Asian American leaders studying and
working on the East Coast of the U.S. Findings suggest that the popularity of the song “Gangnam Style” was not a
salient variable in promoting an overall stronger Asian community in the United States. There is also no strong
correlation between international students who perceive there are stronger bonds in the Asian community post”Gangnam Style” and more optimism toward better East Asian relations and the resolution of East Asian issues. Results
do suggest though that stronger bonds in the Asian community was a salient intervening variable for Asian Americans in
promoting perceptions of East Asian relations and optimism toward the resolution of outstanding East Asian issues as
compared to the overall sample of Asian Americans.
Minjun’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Jacquelyn Cheng
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Nanette Levinson, SIS: International Studies
Pitching Purpose: Digital Marketing for Social Good
Within the last five years, the field of marketing has been completely transformed by the emergence and refinement of
new web technologies. It is now faster and simpler than ever for individuals to find highly customized content while also
making contributions back into their respective areas of interest. Most important, they can do so unburdened by timing,
distance, or national borders. With a continuous need of funding and grassroots support, cause-driven organizations are
particularly well-positioned to benefit from this shift, yet surprisingly few have managed to effectively leverage digital
marketing techniques. Many nonprofits have historically viewed marketing as a wasteful activity that distracts from
“saving the world,” failing to realize that these new technologies are more measurable, cost-effective, and adaptable than
their predecessors. With the full arsenal of digital tools now available, these organizations can easily and organically
engage their supporters to fuel fundraising and humanitarian efforts. This capstone evaluates the most common digital
marketing methods, focusing most heavily on the power of social media to build and sustain movements. It then applies
these best practices to two case studies analyzing the digital marketing efforts of both Invisible Children’s Kony 2012
campaign and of the “benefit corporation” Warby Parker. By employing these strategies, cause-driven organizations can
most efficiently overcome budget constraints, emotional distance, and other hurdles to their success.
Jacquelyn’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Joseph Chmielewski
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Julia Belopolsky, CAS: World Languages and Cultures
Russian Fairytales
The following study reports on the findings of a full semester spent translating Russian fairytales. Having studied the
language for a number of years, the author was interested in delving deeper into this intrinsic aspect of Russian culture.
Beyond merely examining the differences between various types of fairytales, this study took the the time to understand
the morals and ethics of each story. Armed with this new understanding of Russian culture, it is impossible to ever view
the country the same way. Professor Belopolsky taught the author not only how to translate, but also how to understand
a story’s meaning from a new perspective.
Joseph’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Muriel Clauson
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Parthiban David, KSB: Management
Franchise Combat: The Franchisee & Franchisor Relationship
The unique characteristics of franchises can lead to a taxed relationship dynamic between the franchisor and franchisee.
This report aims to understand sources of conflict between the two parties and potential solutions to improve the quality
of this working relationship. The analysis begins with background information on franchising in general. This
information helps build the foundation of the discussion on some of the key problems both franchisees and franchisors
face in their roles. The analysis culminates in a discussion of potential solutions to address these problems. This report is
not intended to be an exhaustive study of the franchise industry, but rather a creative look at problem identification and
conflict management.
Muriel’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Christopher Cleary
University Honors in Business
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Managment
The Commercialization of College Football and the Compensation of Players
The rising popularity of college football nationwide has led to a revenue explosion and the commercialization of NCAA
football. No longer is major college football about the players—universities and the NCAA now work to make the most
money off so-called “student athletes” as they can. Despite the student athlete working more hours than a full-time
employee and making millions of dollars for the university, the athletes receive nothing more than a full scholarship that
does not even meet their basic needs. 86 percent of college football players live below the poverty line, yet they are
forced to remain in poverty while waiting for a chance at the NFL. Although the NCAA promotes the idea of the
student athlete, if the student fails athletically his scholarship is taken away and he is not given a chance to be a student.
This capstone argues that guaranteeing four-year scholarships and increasing full scholarships to cover living expenses is
a first step that needs to start now. However, in the interest of equity, college football players should get a small portion
of the revenue they help generate. This revenue would be placed in escrow, unable to be withdrawn until a player
graduates college. Compensating players in this manner furthers the mission of universities by promoting graduation and
fairness. Players are the principal producers of billions of dollars of revenue. It is time, this paper argues, that they start
to collect their fair share.
Christopher’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Jaim Coddington
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Eve Bratman, SIS: International Studies
Sustainable Development in Practice: A Case Study of the Iracambi Research Center
This research uses the Iracambi Atlantic Rainforest Research Center, located in the Rosário da Limeira municipality of
Minas Gerais, Brazil, as a case study to synthesize specific methods and practices in sustainable development. This study
of Iracambi is important because it investigates an underrepresented and arguably successful development organization
that operates in the Mata Atlântica, a highly threatened forest biome. After establishing the theoretical foundation for the
study through an examination of development theories and specific frameworks for sustainable development, the
researcher uses literature review and semi-structured interviews to evaluate Iracambi’s specific development initiatives.
These include the organization’s environmental education program, medicinal plants program, and payment for
environmental services initiatives. By analyzing these sustainable development initiatives in practice, this research
endeavors to demonstrate real-world definitions and examples of sustainability, identify the most effective and enduring
of Iracambi’s development methods, and recognize which lessons can be taken away from the Iracambi model for
potential implementation in other socioeconomic and environmental contexts.
Jaim’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Michelle Cogut
Capstone Advisor: Professor Chemi Montes, CAS: Art
AU Admissions Booklet
This graphic design capstone project examines how American University markets itself to prospective students. Selecting
a university to attend is a difficult decision, especially since students are often overwhelmed by college visits, mailings,
rankings, and numerous guidebooks and publications on the college admissions process. This project aims to simplify
that decision process for prospective students who are interested in AU. Consisting of an admissions booklet and a
sample degree-specific booklet created for the graphic design program, this project provides a wide variety of
information found through different sources in just one place, making it easier for prospective students to get a better
understanding of what the university has to offer.
Michelle’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to view the admissions booklet and here to
view the graphic design booklet.
Marney Coleman
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor T. Garrett Graddy, SIS: International Studies
Impact of D.C. Farm to School Network on Nutrition Education and Urban Food Security Among
District of Columbia Public School Students: Prospects and Barriers
At a time when childhood obesity rates and malnutrition are at an all-time high, stakeholders across the board are
attempting to find creative solutions to this complex issue. The first part of this capstone examines the Farm to School
Network in the District of Columbia and its impact on addressing food security and nutrition education among D.C.
Public School and D.C. Public Charter School students. This study analyzes local policy initiatives and utilizes participant
observation to determine areas of success and barriers to more effective programming. These analyses found that strong
institutional support within the city government and coalition building provided a framework for success. Yet the
absence of consistent messaging and lack of emphasis on student autonomy stood as barriers for the programming. The
second part of this capstone attempts to address these barriers in a proposed two-week school garden curriculum for 3rd
to 5th grade students with an emphasis on place-based education and student-led investigatory activities.
Marney’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Daniela Cortez Verano
University Honors in Economics
Capstone Advisor: Professor Paul Winters, CAS: Economics
The Impact of Microfinance on Sales of Informal Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: The Case of
Peru
In the past several years, there has been increasing interest in the use of microcredit as a tool for improving the lives of
the poor. The underlying idea is to support the business enterprises of the world’s low-income and small-scale
entrepreneurs by providing them with access to loans on reasonable terms. As one of the fastest growing economies in
Latin America, Peru has the world’s best business and policy environment for microfinance. However, little has been
done to quantify the impact of microfinance on profitability and revenues of informal small and medium-sized
enterprises. This paper reports on the findings of a survey conducted in two urban cities in Peru by the World Bank’s
Informal Enterprise Survey (IFS) and reflects on the potential benefits of microfinance as a source not only of antipoverty development finance, but also as a key driver of sales.
Daniela’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Erin Crandell
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Elizabeth Cohn, SIS: International Studies
Framing in the Chinese Media: Who Framed Bo Xilai and How?
The Bo Xilai scandal was arguably one of the most significant Chinese domestic news events of 2012, and the way that
the government used the media to frame and control the coverage was indicative of the Chinese political and social
structure as a whole. This research project analyzed the following research questions: How does the Chinese government
use problem definition and cause identification to frame events in its media for U.S. audiences? How do the frames
reinforce the Chinese government’s legitimacy? This work builds on theories of framing and “frame building,” and the
research question will be answered through a content analysis of Chinese government sponsored English-language
coverage on CCTV. Framing has implications in this case for China’s foreign policy as well as their domestic policy. The
framing of CCTV’s coverage reinforced the government’s legitimacy, linking social and political order with the stability
of the Chinese Communist Party. The frame also drew on China’s Confucian roots, emphasizing ethical and legal
obligations as the foundations of social harmony.
Erin’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Julie Cross
University Honors in Economics
Capstone Advisor: Professor Evan Kraft, CAS: Economics
The Impact of Consumer Confidence on Household Deleveraging Trends During the 2008 Financial
Crisis
At the onset of the 2008 financial crisis, a sudden trend toward U.S. household deleveraging and a contemporaneous
drop in U.S. consumer sentiment occurred. This paper seeks to determine whether the increased deleveraging can be
explained by the fall in the consumer sentiment index. The paper used quarterly data from 1980 through 2010 for the
consumer sentiment index as well as eight other independent variables to estimate the debt service ratio through two
similar multiple linear regression models. The study ran and analyzed rolling regressions that stopped each quarter from
Q2 2007 to Q4 2008, as well as a separate regression through Q4 of 2010, to ascertain the significance of consumer
sentiment as the financial crisis progressed. Two conclusions emerge: 1) a decline in consumer confidence leads to an
increase in household deleveraging, and 2) consumer confidence more significantly predicts deleveraging trends during
the financial crisis than in the rest of the sample.
Judy Daghestani
University Honors in Business
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
Marketing Luxury Western Retail Brands in the Middle East
Foreign luxury fashion brands expanding to the Middle East can profit from consumers’ purchase and shopping
behaviors as long as the brands market themselves in a way that appeals to the Middle Eastern consumer. In this
research paper, the term Western can be defined as Europe as well as the North American region and the Middle East
refers to the countries Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Successful brands realize that fostering a
global image while pleasing the Middle Eastern customers in the region is vital for their success. Consumer
demographics may differ per Middle Eastern country, so brands need to appeal to the local cultures and take into
consideration traditions, values, and religion for advertising purposes. This paper analyzes different expansion and
marketing strategies taken from Western retail companies who have successfully established their brands in the region.
Western retail brands can pursue such tactics in order to ensure that the consumers are receptive to the brand’s intended
message. Luxury brand management will be altered depending on consumer demographics, consumer tastes, values and
traditions, religion, and shopping behavior per Middle Eastern country. This paper focuses on how Western designer
brands can aim to function glocally (global + local) when expanding to the Middle East, altering their marketing strategies
without diminishing the brand’s value.
Judy’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Gwen Daugs
University Honors in Philosophy
Capstone Advisor: Professor Farhang Erfani, CAS: Philosophy and Religion
Sexuality & Sexuation: An Examination of Freud & Lacan
The development of sexuality through the introduction of sexual difference is often taken for granted in normative
accounts of gender. Attempting to map out a path through and between the modern and postmodern to simultaneously
assert and disrupt sexual difference, this paper examines Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic account of sexual development
from polymorphous perversity to heterosexuality. This paper critically evaluates Freud’s account of sexual development,
contending that integrating Jacques Lacan’s concept of the real into sexual difference clarifies the tensions Freud
acknowledges between biologism and constructivism in the Oedipal complex. Further tracing out the implications of the
Lacanian real, this paper explores the role of the real in sexuation, maintaining that feminine sexuality’s relation to the
lack in the symbolic provides a way to productively limit and maneuver within the symbolic.
Gwen’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Rebecca Davis
University Honors in Justice and Law
Capstone Advisor: Professor Douglas Klusmeyer, SPA: Justice, Law and Society
International Comparison of Rights and Juvenile Justice
This capstone analyzes the non-ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in the United States
through a framework of comparative criminal justice. It analyzes the "exceptionalist" American attitude toward the CRC
as well as the singularly punitive trajectory of American juvenile justice. To explain how the phenomenon of American
Exceptionalism has affected political actions regarding the CRC, this paper analyzes scholarly explanations for American
Exceptionalism, narrowing the appliciability of these explanations down to the specific political movements that
influence the campaigns for and against American ratification of the Convention. This paper conlcudes that while
American Exceptionalism is generally regarded as a broadly American phenomenon, it is best described as a regional
phenomenon in the context of arguments against the CRC, as empirical analysis shows that support for the anti-CRC
political measures are overwhelmingly Southern and religious in nature. The resulting refusal of the U.S. to ratify the
CRC has resulted in the failure to embrace principles and suggestions for the administration of juvenile justice that could
drastically alter and improve the current American juvenile justice system. The U.S. struggles with an increasingly
punitive and expansive juvenile justice system even as other democratic nations have applied principles of rehabilitation
and incarceration as a last resort to make their systems more manageable and to reduce juvenile crime rates. This
capstone project was inspired by research into the evolution of the American juvenile justice system that was completed
for a Legal History Seminar last fall, and was undertaken under the advisement of Professor Douglas Klusmeyer.
Nicholas Dayton
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Mary Giandrea, CAS: History
The Expansion of Public Opinion to Expand the Electorate
This paper examines the intricate relationship between the rise of public opinion in late eighteenth and early nineteenth
century Britain with the rise of newspapers. The definition of "public" was limited at first, but then over time, as the
middle classes began to gain greater influence because of their newfound wealth, the definition of public opinion began
to include the middle classses. With this expansion of what constituted a public opinion, the Great Reform Act of 1832
passed through Parliament. With the passage of the act, Great Britain was able to avoid falling into the bloody
revolutions that had plagued and would soon be plaguing the continent. By using cheaply distributed pamphlets, the
middle classes altered public sentiment in their favor. The middle classes were appeased with their demand for greater
representation after the elimination of rotten boroughs.
Stefanie Dazio
University Honors in Communication
Capstone Advisor: Professor Wendell Cochran, SOC: Communication
The Landscape of Breaking News
From the town crier to Twitter, breaking news has been an integral part of the information-sharing landscape for
centuries. As technology advances, so too does the way a story is reported, produced, and consumed. This capstone
discusses and disseminates the landscape of breaking news through three papers. The papers respectively delve into the
past, present, and future of the breaking news landscape. Research, interviews, and subsequent analysis show that
technology has largely driven, and will continue to drive, the evolution of this landscape. Looking toward the future,
news organizations must learn how to adapt in this social media-friendly climate in order to best compete in the digital
age and whatever lies ahead.
Stefanie’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Lopo DeCastro
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Matthew Taylor, SIS: International Studies
Financier of the Commanding Heights of the Brazilian Economy: The National Bank for Economic and
Social Development and 60 Years of Shifts in the National Paradigms
Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) is one of the largest institutions of its kind in
the world. Its disbursements make up around 20 percent of all credit in Brazil over the past decade. The bank thus can
be said to be one of the most important institutions, if not the most important, in Brazilian economic development.
Given that there is still much light to be shed on the subject, and that Brazil’s economic development trajectory is
increasingly the subject of international interest, this paper focuses on the BNDES and its role in the economy
throughout its 60 years of history. By documenting three separate and distinct phases in the history of the BNDES, this
paper analyzes the behavior of the BNDES in light of three overarching paradigms of national development strategy that
were prevalent in three different periods. These are developmentalism, neoliberalism and neodevelopmentalism. This
latest paradigmatic shift has been characterized by Ian Bremmer, Sergio Lazzarini and Aldo Mussachio as the return of
“state capitalism.” This paper uses the “industrial policy” perspective seen in the works of those authors as a base to
understand how the state can play a key coordinative role in the economy to maximize economic performance. Using
this perspective, the paper analyzes a specific sector of bank activity (export promotion) as a case study to demonstrate
how the bank has revised its role over time.
Lopo’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Zachary Deibel
University Honors in History
Capstone Advisor: Professor Kate Haulman, CAS: History
A "Just Sensibility of the Nation:" Classicism and the Formation of Early American Foreign Policy
This capstone’s abstract is unavailable at this time.
Zachary’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Phoebe DePadua
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Amitav Acharya, SIS: International Studies
The South China Sea and Spratly Islands Dispute: From Military Flashpoint to Economic Opportunity
This research paper looks at the South China Sea and Spratly Islands disputes from an economic lens and develops an
argument for possible cooperation among claimant states if a joint development model is implemented in the contested
territories. The purpose of this paper is to acknowledge past and current proposed solutions for territorial disputes and
to expand on existing academic discourse on the Spratly Islands by asserting that economic cooperation among all the
actors is viable and that other joint development models serve as a framework for mitigating conflict within the seas. To
prove this point, the paper notes existing economic cooperation among claimant states for oil exploration, lists joint
development models that were successful in the East China Sea as well as in the Asia-Pacific region, and explores the
role of multi-national corporations (MNCs) in promoting a peaceful resolution and outcome to the conflict. The paper
demonstrates that a joint development model based on past economic cooperation is a promising way to mitigate
conflict in the Spratly Islands territories, as long as MNCs push for further petroleum resource development in the area
and claimant states recognize that the benefits of joint exploration in the seas outweigh other options. The implication
for this paper is that it suggests that with further recognition of the vast resources and economic opportunities present in
the seas, claimant states of the Spratly Islands disputes will ultimately choose to cooperate with one another in favor of
pursuing development in their respective states.
Katrina Deptula
University Honors in Communication
Capstone Advisor: Professor John Douglass, SOC: Communication
Let Me Down
In this feature-length screenplay, a detached and jobless 20-something must reconnect with estranged friends and family
before her sister’s wedding. Jules Gadomski is living on her sister’s couch. Fresh off the plane from the Peace Corps, she
is back in the place she was running from, and not too happy about it. She hasn’t really talked to her family for two
years, and before then a phone call once a week was unusual. But now that she is jobless and her sister is getting married
,she has to confront them all. Her sister, Nat, lives the dream of a Manhattan yuppie employed at a successful PR firm.
Her old flame, Jack, wiggles his way back into her heart. Jules comically, yet dramatically, navigates her past while she
helps plan Nat’s wedding and struggles to get control of her love life. She must learn to let in her family and her love
interests. Jules was looking for a challenge and a jolt when she ran away to the Peace Corps. She discovers that coming
back is the biggest challenge of all.
Katrina’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Caitlin Dettmer
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Jennifer Gumbrewicz, SPA: Justice, Law and Society
Virtual Child Pornography
Child pornography has a history of being unprotected by the First Amendment because it harms children physically and
psychologically. As technology has advanced, however, virtual child pornography has become possible. Virtual child
pornography harms no children and studies have shown that there is little correlation between watching child
pornography and physically harming children. As such, this capstone argues that there is no compelling interest to ban
virtual child pornography. Despite this evidence, the PROTECT Act bans the pandering of child pornography. The
paper asserts that this is an abridgement of the First Amendment and that virtual child pornography should be protected
speech under the First Amendment. The paper concludes that, even if virtual child pornography were to be found
obscene under the standard set in Miller v. California (1971), the possession of virtual child pornography should still be
protected by Stanley v. Georgia (1968).
Caitlin’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Maria Diaz
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor T. Garrett Graddy, SIS: International Studies
Sustainable Agricultural Programs in Latin American as a Solution to the Issue of Food Security
Countless studies have shown that sustainable agriculture is a viable solution for tackling the problem of food insecurity.
In that context, this study looked at three organizations in Latin America that work with sustainable agriculture to find if
there are common elements in the work the organizations do and their approach to food insecurity. This work used
interviews with the organizations and written material from the organizations as the main source of information. The
findings indicate that despite the differences between the organizations and the programs they carry out, there are certain
common themes that encompass their work on sustainable agriculture. These themes include campesino a campesino
methodology, biodiversity, the environment, and nutrition as main themes of food security programs. The second part
of the project entailed the creation of a webpage directory of organizations in Latin America that work with sustainable
agriculture and/or agroecology.
Maria’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Rachel Dockery
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Chana Barron, SPA: Justice, Law and Society
Defining Tuition Under the Indiana Constitution
In an effort to counteract budget deficits, public schools around the country have implemented fee programs that charge
students for their participation in extracurricular activities. This capstone examines the constitutionality of these fees in
the state of Indiana, where the Constitution guarantees a tuition-free public education. The research specifically
examines the fees within the Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation, although this is only one of many schools
that have implemented participation fee programs. By examining the text and history of the Indiana Constitution, the
current understanding of education policy, and the actions of state courts in similar situations, this paper aims to
demonstrate that extracurricular activities serve as an integral part of education in America. This paper further asserts
that charging for extracurricular activities is the equivalent of charging tuition for an integral part of education, which
violates Article 8, Section 1 of the Indiana Constitution.
Rachel’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Morgan Doyle
Capstone Advisor: Professor Ludy Grandas, CAS: World Languages and Cultures
Siembras en la Plaza de Bolivar
For many of Latin America’s indigenous peoples, ancestral lands serve as the foundation for entire worldviews.
Colombia’s diverse indigenous communities are no exception. However, due to sustained violence in the countryside by
guerrilla groups and the Colombian military alike, entire indigenous communities are being displaced to cities, hoping to
find refuge. Bogotá, as the country’s capital city, receives a large percentage of these displaced people and has had to
incorporate them into a space traditionally conceptualized as urban and cosmopolitan. Despite laws intended to help
return them to their ancestral lands, many displaced indigenous people, some having lived in the city for more than a
decade, are reluctant to return to their homes, still plagued by violence. This capstone examines the ways in which the
city of Bogotá and the indigenous communities displaced there have interacted with one another, creating a hybrid
urban-indigenous people and space. As long as the country continues to be defined by violence and poor rule of law, this
work finds that these trends will continue, and the indigenous people who have found their voice and their identity in
the urban context will not be silenced.
Morgan’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Margaret Dunsmore
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Leila Austin, SIS: International Studies
Chinese Involvement in the Middle East: Implications for the United States
As China grows as a world power, its actions and policies will have an increasing effect on the policies and goals of the
United States. Given the importance of the Middle East to U.S. policies, it is important for U.S. policymakers to
understand how China’s activities and influence in the Middle East will affect the U.S. and its goals. This paper discusses
the People’s Republic of China’s historic involvement, recent political involvement, and recent economic involvement in
six different countries (Iran, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Egypt). It then explores the repercussions for
the U.S., either good or bad, that this involvement may have. This paper concludes that while at the moment China’s
actions in the Middle East often could lead to negative outcomes for the U.S., there is room for cooperation on matters
of mutual interest in the future.
Margaret’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Adrienne Elkin
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Eve Bratman, SIS: International Studies
Ten Weeks of Immersion: A Critical Review and Reflection of Life at the Legendary Arcosanti
This capstone is an investigation into the inner workings of Arcosanti, an innovative urban environment located seventy
miles north of Phoenix in central Arizona. Founded in 1970 by Paolo Soleri as an alternative to urban sprawl and an
architectural experiment, Arcosanti has since developed into a comprehensive community focused on sustaining its
founder’s vision. This “urban laboratory” is emblematic of numerous initiatives aimed at minimizing humans’ impact on
the environment, an imperative endeavor given the rapid depletion of resources and growing concern over climate
change. While living on the premises for ten weeks, the author of this paper studied the relationship between buildings
and their natural surroundings, took part in the construction of a massive multi-tiered greenhouse, and most
interestingly, observed the functioning of this sixty-person community. The latter is where she focused the bulk of her
reflection, examining the organization’s efforts at strengthening community ties while simultaneously functioning as a
nonprofit and for-profit facility.
Mitchell Ellmauer
Capstone Advisor: Professor Adrienne LeBas, SPA: Government
Links on the Chain: The New Left and Labor Revitalization
From 1965 to 1981, hundreds of thousands of workers went on strike. This period, known as the “long 1970s” labor
uprising, was the longest period of sustained working class militancy since the Great Depression. How can this wave of
worker militancy be explained? Was it due to structural factors, or were workers influenced by other changes in
American protest culture? Building on recent literature on the relationships between ascendant and mature social
movements, this paper argues that protest diffusion is an essential component to social movement revitalization.
Drawing on an exhaustive survey of the secondary literature, the paper demonstrates how social movements outside of
labor, including the civil rights and feminist movements, influenced workers’ perceptions of unionism during this period.
It demonstrates that the frames, tactics, and militant culture of the “New Left” diffused into the workplace through
overlapping movement communities, shared leadership, and formal coalitions.
In terms of the paper’s contribution, social movement theorists generally recognize that social movements are not
bounded, discrete entities, and social movements often influence the development of other social movements. However,
most of the literature on movement revitalization describes processes that are endogenous to a social movement, while
the literature on inter-movement relationships is mostly focuses on social movements that emerged at the same time.
However, very little research has been conducted on whether rising social movements can have an influence over mature
or declining social movements, a gap to which this paper addresses itself.
Jeffrey Eyler
University Honors in Finance
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
The Mobile Payments Opportunity: Redefining the Wallet
The economy is going mobile. The transaction value of mobile payments is expected to triple over the next three years.
The value proposition to consumers is convenience, time-savings, and improved marketing offers. The mobile payments
industry was born out of the evolution in banking, telecommunications, and retail. This paper argues that future success
depends on the collaboration of these stakeholders, despite the competition occurring between them. The current
economic model for payments is expected to remain intact. Additional regulation is forthcoming and the transition to
EMV provides a needed tailwind to installing Near Field Communication and the point of sale. Consumer adoption of
the mobile wallet has been difficult but will improve as companies begin fully deploying their product. This paper asserts
that the economic implications of mobile payments will span across the developed and developing world and that the
critical time for mobile payments’ success is over the next two years. This report focuses on the mobile wallet and using
the mobile phone for proximity payments at the point of sale. This is also known as ‘tap and go’ and is the most
promising and widely discussed version of mobile proximity payments. There are two other types of mobile payments,
including m-commerce, where the individual buys an item online via their phone, and swiping a plastic payment card on
a phone using a portable device. Unless otherwise noted, mobile payments refer to the mobile wallet.
David Falco
University Honors in Psychology
Capstone Advisor: Professor
Dilution Hypothesis and Overgeneral Memory
This capstone’s abstract is unavailable at this time.
Eileen Falk
University Honors in Law & Society
Capstone Advisor: Professor Jennifer Gumbrewicz, SPA: Justice, Law and Society
Privacy, Due Process, and Morality: A Legal Analysis of Federal Fetal Personhood
This capstone examines the constitutionality of the proposed federal Sanctity of Human Life Act, HR. 23, which would
declare that life, or “personhood,” begins at conception. If passed, this act would grant embryos and fetuses all legal and
constitutional rights granted to citizens and persons under the U.S. Constitution. Legislators and advocates have
introduced similar legislative acts in states across the country, with the functional purpose of outlawing all abortions.
This capstone investigates the federal case law and legal principles regarding abortion, privacy, and due process in light
of the proposed federal Sanctity of Life Act to determine its constitutionality. The intention of this study is to determine
whether it conflicts or could coexist with current federal law, primarily through examining Supreme Court precedent and
legal reasoning. The research demonstrates that this bill would be unconstitutional under current Supreme Court privacy
and equal protection frameworks and precedent. In order for this law to be upheld, the Supreme Court would need to
overturn and reinterpret all current abortion law, including privacy, due process, and equal protection frameworks.
Eileen’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Maura Farrell
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Paul Winters, CAS: Economics
The Effects of Labor Migration on Sending Villages in Northern India
This study examines the economic effects of migration on sending households and villages in Northern India. Using
data from a World Bank Survey of Living Conditions in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh from 1997-98, this paper analyzes
multiple household and village-level indicators of development. The study uses OLS and probit regressions to determine
the effects of migration on various household and village-level indicators. The study concludes that migration in Bihar
and Uttar Pradesh does not lead to significantly increased standards of living at the household level, and does not have
an effect on the overall strength of the village economy. This finding indicates that migration in these areas fits the
archetype of distress migration, which does not lead to accumulation over time.
Abby Fennewald
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Leonard Steinhorn, SOC: Communication
Edward R. Murrow and the Positive Power of Journalism
Can a journalist change society? In the case of Edward R. Murrow, the answer is yes, and this paper explores Murrow’s
broadcasting career as a case study of the positive social impact that journalism can have. The paper will frame its
examination with a discussion of how media influence the public at large and how the media’s impact changed with the
advent of broadcast journalism. Murrow drew national attention to previously underreported issues and parts of our
society, and he pioneered broadcast journalism techniques and visual storytelling while doing so. Murrow drew large
audiences because of his personal skill as a broadcaster as well as his willingness to challenge the status quo and speak
truth to power. Today, the legacy of his work lives on as he, like other journalists whose stories influenced society, has
been immortalized by Hollywood. Today, in a time when the role and style of journalism is constantly changing, and
when resources for investigative journalism shrink, it is important to study and highlight practitioners who show that
good reporting and afflicting the comfortable represent the best in American journalism.
Abby’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Valeriy Filatov
University Honors in Business
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
Economically Targeted Investment: Societal Impact Through Private Financial Returns
While traditional investing maximizes the risk-adjusted financial return of an investment in the context of an overall
portfolio, it does not account for an investment’s externalities, or its non-financial impact. This paper aims to serve as a
guide for investors seeking to both receive financial returns and have a positive impact on society. The first part of this
paper discusses the societal impact of financial investments, which consist of their net social, environmental, and
economic effects. Societal impact can have an indirect, yet potentially significant, effect on an investment as a
consequence of local economic growth and reputational risk.
The second part of this paper investigates economically targeted investing (ETI), a form of responsible finance.
Responsible finance is an approach to evaluating investments based on their total financial and societal returns. ETI
seeks to achieve a competitive financial return while maximizing societal benefits to specific geographic areas
underserved by financial institutions. Investors are able to follow a variety of approaches to ETI that may prioritize
financial returns, diversification, or societal impact. While their size would allow them to create substantial societal
impact, pension funds are subject to regulation that effectively minimizes their ability to pursue non-financial returns.
Ultimately, regardless of their legal structure, investors in ETI must take care to avoid sacrificing financial return for an
incommensurable level of societal impact.
Valeriy’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Eric Fleddermann
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
Cybersecurity in the Media Industry: The Growing Threat of Cybercrime and the Strategic Options to
Defend Against it
Depleting billions of dollars every year from the U.S. economy, cybercrime is a large and growing problem for
corporations in the United States. While cybercrime can hurt companies in almost any industry, recent incidents have
demonstrated that media companies are particularly vulnerable targets for cybercriminals looking to steal valuable
information and undermine the American media sector. This paper analyzes the issue of cybercrime, explains the specific
threat to the media sector, discusses the lack of regulation to guide companies, and considers options that media
companies can pursue to deal with cybersecurity issues. Using News Corporation as a case study, this paper makes
recommendations about what media companies can do to improve their cybersecurity. While Congress has not yet
passed legislation mandating media companies to take particular cybersecurity measures, this paper asserts that News
Corporation should learn from its past hacking incidents and take initiative to become a model of cybersecurity for the
media sector. This paper recommends that News Corporation increase the presence of in-house information security
personnel, follow procedures for increasing its network defenses, and engage consultants from cybersecurity firm
Mandiant Corporation to improve its cybersecurity. By taking these steps to defend itself against cybercrime, News
Corporation can better protect its reputation, intellectual property, proprietary information, and news sources, and it can
provide a model of quality and security for other media companies to follow. This paper concludes by asserting that,
through its commitment to cybersecurity, News Corporation can become a more secure and successful media company
in the 21st Century.
Eric’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Emily Fleitz
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Colman McCarthy, SIS: International Studies
Plateau Pads
This capstone looked at the problems with menstrual health care and education for girls in rural Tibet and developed a
business plan for a project called “Plateau Pads.” The solution is to provide girls healthy, safe menstrual care and
education through a new initiative with the nonprofit, Machik. This project will provide young women (aged 12 to 18) in
Tibet with a kit to make their own reusable cloth pads as well as a trilingual health booklet about safe menstrual practices
and other health issues. The project will begin in Machik’s Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) in July 2013 in health
classes for young women. The goal is to teach 25 girls from across the Tibetan plateau about menstrual health and how
to make their own sanitary pads. The business plan details how this project will be implemented in the coming months
and in the long term will be able to empower some of the approximately 600,000 girls in Tibet.
Emily’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read the business plan. Click here to view the
health booklet.
Allison Frishberg
University Honors in Economics
Capstone Advisor: Professor Paul Winters, CAS: Economics
Drug-Related Violence in Mexico: Is it Fueling Mexican Migration?
After Mexico’s former president, Felipe Calderón, began his military crackdown on criminal drug cartels in late 2006,
drug-related violence has escalated within Mexico and innocent individuals are increasingly becoming the targets of often
gruesome acts of violence. As a result, many Mexicans live in fear of losing their livelihoods and even their lives.
Meanwhile, Mexican immigration into the United States continues and, despite increased efforts at thwarting illegal
border crossings, undocumented immigrants continue attempting to cross the border and start new lives in the U.S. This
paper seeks to determine whether the recent surge in drug-related violence in Mexico is one of the principal motivations
behind Mexican household members’ decisions to migrate. Using an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model,
this paper tests whether an increase in deaths from two forms of drug-related violence results in a significant increase in
the number of domestic and international trips made by members of Mexican households. The results indicate that as
the severity of drug-related violence increases, the total number of trips made by members of Mexican households (both
to other Mexican states and to the U.S. and Canada) also increases. From the perspective of U.S. policymakers, these
findings signify that any attempts to stem illegal Mexican migration to the U.S. must address not only economic
determinants of migration, but also must focus on putting an end to the violence that currently plagues Mexico.
Allison’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Sophia Geskin
University Honors in Mathematics
Capstone Advisor: Professor Stephen Casey, CAS: Mathematics and Statistics
From Complex Analysis and Group Theory to Geometry and Art
Many college dorms display at least one print by M.C. Escher. Many people admire Escher’s work but do not know its
mathematical roots. Escher’s interest in divisions of planes goes back to his early work, but the mathematical influence
in his work did not fully appear until he journeyed through the Mediterranean around 1936. Particularly, when visiting
La Alhambra in Spain, he became fascinated with the order and symmetry of the tiling. He then studied mathematical
papers on topics such as symmetry groups, non-Euclidean geometries, and impossible shapes, later incorporating them
into his artwork. When one looks at an Escher print (e.g., “Angels and Demons”), one immediately sees the complicated
tiling within the circle. However, what is not necessarily realized is that the work is a representation of a hyperbolic
geometric space. Though inspired by the at tiling of the Alhambra, Escher strayed away from Euclidean geometry in
many of his works, creating tiling in spherical and hyperbolic geometries. These three types of geometries make up the
world in which we live. On a local scale, we live on a flat surface (i.e., in Euclidean geometry), but calculating distances
on Earth’s surface requires spherical geometry. On a larger scale, the universe acts under the laws of hyperbolic
geometry, the same as in Escher’s “Angels and Demons.” In a similar manner, this paper argues, much of Escher’s work
is the visualization of key mathematical concepts from Complex Analysis and Group Theory.
Sophia’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Kyle Gibson
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Susan Shepler, SIS: International Studies
The Case for Youth Overcoming Israel: Apartheid
The apartheid government in South Africa that was in place from 1948 until 1990 remains one of the most oppressive
regimes in modern history. Part of the historical significance of the apartheid system is in recognizing, remembering, and
preventing institutions from suppressing human dignity and human rights through such a systematic set of laws and
policies. In 1973 a new norm and international law was put into effect by the United Nations titled the “Apartheid
Convention.” This legal norm showed a new development in the international system in an attempt to deal with the
inhumanity and oppressive character of the crime of apartheid. The purpose of this policy was in many ways to
criminalize apartheid policies and also to spur international action to prevent the imposition of racial segregation similar
to apartheid South Africa in the future. In recognition of the importance of apartheid as a historical example of ending
oppression through grass-roots, youth-based, and non-violent activism and international support, some have attempted
to label the current situation within the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) as “apartheid.” The purpose of this
paper will be to highlight the importance of the comparison of the conditions under apartheid in South Africa and the
current situation in the OPT. Additionally, this paper will focus specifically on the methods and goals of youth activists
in South Africa and Palestinian youth in the OPT to determine if youth resistance and nonviolence could prove to be a
potential catalyst for change in the Palestinian context.
Kyle’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Peter Gill
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Abdul Aziz Said, SIS: International Studies
Local Capacities of Peacebuidling in Xinjiang
The study analyzed the ongoing conflict in China’s Xinjiang region from a new perspective by focusing on local tools
that could potentially facilitate peacebuilding. This study found that Muslim leaders and Uyghur intellectuals could play a
vital role in local peacebuilding by serving as a much-needed channel of communication between Xinjiang’s sharply
divided Uyghur and Han communities. This hypothesis is based on a brief historical account of the conflict and an indepth conflict analysis that demonstrate how ethnic tensions between Uyghur and Han make up the foundation of the
conflict. Because of their unique relationships with local Uyghur communities and urban Han communities and officials,
religious leaders and intellectuals are jointly in a position to enact positive change in the Xinjiang conflict at the local
level.
Peter’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Wyatt Gordon
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Olga Rojer, CAS: World Languages and Cultures
A History of German Film: From Caligari to Tykwer
Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari ist ein Film von Robert Wiene, der im Jahre 1919 gedreht wurde. Der Film ist das Vorbild der
modernen Horrorgeschichte. Der Film findet in Holtsenwall statt, einer Stadt, die das Chaos in Nachkriegsdeutschland
genau widerspiegelt. Jeder Bürger konnte Opfer der geheimnisvollen Serienmorde werden. Ironischerweise fragt Alan
Dr. Caligari—den Mörder—wann das Leben Alans zu Ende gehen wird. Diese Szene spiegelt die Beziehung zwischen
dem Publikum und mächtigen Autoritätsfiguren, wie der zukünftigen Nazibewegung, wider. Am Ende des Filmes muss
man sich fragen, wer verrückt ist: Dr. Caligari oder die Hauptfigur, Francis. Die mörderische Autorität oder die Leute,
die so eine Autoritätsfigur trauen: wer ist verrückter?
Wyatt’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Ethan Goss
University Honors in Religious Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Mark Schaefer, CAS: Philosophy and Religion
The Profanity of Materiality: Gnostic Theology and the Struggle for the Sacredness of Social Justice
Gnosticism, an early heretical sect of Christianity, believed that the material world was created through either ignorance
or malice, and that humans were divine souls trapped within cages of flesh. The name “Gnosticism” derives from
gnosis, or knowledge, due to the saving power that the knowledge of reality’s true form gave the believer. Christ, for the
Gnostics, delivered the secret knowledge, providing the opportunity for the few believers to save themselves.
While Gnosticism has all but died out, the trend of raising the spiritual above the material has continued as a trend in
Christian theology from St. Augustine of Hippo onward. Even today, commonly held beliefs on the afterlife and the
death and resurrection of Christ come not from Biblical sources, but from neo-Gnostic theology. By demonizing the
physical, material world, Gnostic theology removes the call for social justice and environmental stewardship so key to
authentic biblical Christianity.
Theories on the origins and theology of the Gnostics, as proposed by leading experts in the field of Gnostic Christianity,
are synthesized and combined in this paper with an original exploration of the potential harm caused by neo-Gnostic
thought within modern Christian theology.
Ethan’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Robbie Gramer
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Dean James Goldgeier, SIS: International Studies
Overlooked Emerging Security Challenges: A Role for NATO in Combating Drug Trafficking
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been the bulwark of Euro-Atlantic security since its inception in
1949. Today, NATO faces a crisis from within: member states are reticent to invest in an outdated alliance, especially in
light of European austerity measures and a costly decade in Afghanistan. NATO’s New Strategic Concept outlines a plan
to overcome this crisis by adapting the Alliance to face ‘emerging security challenges’ and initiating an ongoing dialogue
on Alliance transformation. The dialogue centers on NATO’s values in counter-terrorism, WMD non-proliferation,
energy security, and cyber security, but overlooks drug trafficking as a serious emerging security challenge.
NATO has come face-to-face with the security threats from drug trafficking in Afghanistan and the Balkans. This study
aims to bring drug trafficking into the NATO transformation dialogue by analyzing the danger drug trafficking poses to
regional security in NATO’s sphere of operations—from Africa through the Balkans to Central Asia. Based on
interviews with multiple NATO policymakers, the study demonstrates that NATO has certain comparative advantages
over other international institutions to contribute to this emerging security challenge. These include operational
experience and legitimacy, training, intelligence sharing, and intelligence analysis capacities. Additionally, this study posits
that NATO’s ongoing transformation represents a window of opportunity to institutionalize lessons learned from
Afghanistan after a decade of failed counter-narcotics policies. Finally, this study argues that NATO needs to be as
dynamic as the unconventional threats its members and partners face to prove its value in the 21st century security
environment. Facing a threat as complex and serious as drug trafficking will prove NATO’s relevancy and value to the
Alliances’ members and partners.
Robbie’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Ryan Grant
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Daniel Sayers, CAS: Anthropology
The Cairns of Dowell Mountain: The Shifting Cultural Landscape of Montane Central Virgina
Dowell Mountain, seated in the heart of Virginia’s Southwest Mountains, is home to roughly 600 enigmatic stone
mounds on or near its slopes. These stone constructions, all built by human hands, represent an insight into the lives of
the people who lived there. By studying the locations, orientations, dimensions, and apparent construction techniques of
the cairns, along with any other artifacts and signs of land use nearby, this noninvasive archaeological survey attempts to
determine the origins and purpose(s) of these mysterious stone piles. Extensive onsite mapping and measuring, coupled
with in-depth academic historical research and anecdotal local histories of the area, begin to shed light on human
interaction in and with the hills. This research serves to describe the cultural and economic patterns that have shaped life
in this small corner of Virginia over the years and to generate parallel insights into the cultural history of rural life in the
mountainous Mid-Atlantic in general. Indeed, these mountains have witnessed the changing cultures that have occupied
the region over millennia, from archaic and woodland Native Americans to the proud Monacan Confederacy, who were
later replaced by white planters and loggers. Previous studies have examined Monacan ceremonial culture and the several
Eighteenth Century presidential homes in the area, but little research has been done on the lives of everyday people
trying to survive in the mountains.
Ryan’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
William Graves
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Sally Fowler, KSB: Management
Industry Analysis: Commercial Scale Photovoltaic Developers
This capstone’s abstract is unavailable at this time..
William’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Zachary Green
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Jeffrey Nussbaum, SOC: Communication
Communications Plan fo rthe Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy
Each year, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) honors up to three sports-related charities with the Patterson
Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy. Although award recipients do not receive a monetary grant, they gain
access to the RWJF’s extensive network of grant-writers and charitable experts who assist winning organizations in both
improving efficiency and broadening their reach.
Through its self-nomination process, the Patterson Award typically receives 35-50 applications each year. This
communications plan provides multiple ways to increase the number of applicants as well as to increase the award’s
presence in the media. This proposal first researched the successful tactics of other award organizations and then
tailored them to the Patterson Award. In addition, the plan includes the use of new social media as well as the marketing
opportunities they present.
Zachary’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Madeline Gregory
University Honors in Business
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
Strategies for Implementing Big Data Analytics
The purpose of this work is to identify the opportunities and risks of companies adopting big data analytics capabilities
and to advise companies on how to best incorporate big data analytics into their current systems and business models.
Section one of the paper examines how companies can understand big data and analytics tools and use data from both
internal and external sources to drive their overall strategies. This section focuses on internal sources of data, including
data collected from operations and inventory tracking systems, and external sources of data, referring to data coming
from social media platforms. By analyzing data from these sources, companies can better integrate their different
business functions to cut costs and increase efficiency as well as learn more about their consumers through social media
sentiment analysis. The second section of the paper focuses on how companies should go about managing their big data
initiatives. It calls for proper planning, training of employees, and incorporating data analytics as a driver of all strategic
decisions. Next, section three acknowledges threats to big data projects that companies must recognize and attempt to
mitigate in order to be successful. The fourth and final section of the paper gives examples of analytics leaders—such as
Amazon, Netflix, Target, and Geico—and details how these companies have used big data analytics to drive their
success. This section also contains a case study on J.C. Penney’s recent failed turnaround under CEO Ron Johnson and
gives recommendations to the company on how it should incorporate big data analytics in order to refocus its
operations, reconnect with customers, and prosper in the future.
Madeline’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Lyndsey Grubbs
University Honors in Communication: Public Communication
Capstone Advisor: Professor Gemma Puglisi, SOC: Communication
The Troy Davis Foundation: Building a Future Nonprofit
Troy Anthony Davis was executed by the state of Georgia on September 21, 2011. The case was built on a mountain of
doubt that leads a majority of those questioned to believe that Georgia executed an innocent man. This capstone serves
to build a plan for an upcoming nonprofit in the name of Troy Davis. The Troy Davis Foundation envisions a world in
which an impassioned community will stand up to change the nation’s criminal justice system’s wrongs to rights. The
plan includes an overview of the nonprofit and its programs, a potential board of directors, the specificities and legalities
of becoming a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in the District of Columbia, as well as fundraising plans, a competitive
market analysis, and future recommendations for startup, implementation and growth.
Lyndsey’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Aviv Halpern
University Honors in Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government
Capstone Advisor: Professor Jennifer Gumbrewicz, SPA: Justice, Law and Society
A Country Divided over Citizens United
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (FEC) has been termed one of the most important campaign finance decisions
of the past century. The sweeping decision in Citizens United has caused significant controversy and confusion among the
public. The decision allowed for corporations to use general treasury funds to sponsor electioneering communications
and advertisements used to advocate for candidates. Shortly after the decision was announced, a movement began calling
for Congress to amend the Constitution and abolish corporate personhood. This paper examines the precedent that
paved the way for the Court to make a ruling in Citizens United, along with identifying issues with both the decision and
the amendment strategy, suggesting that the emphasis on corporate personhood is misplaced. The question to which any
effective legistlation must respond is not whether corporations have the First Amendment right to speak politically, but
rather what is an appropriate method for corporations to speak given their corporate form. This paper contends that
there is a legislative solution that returns to Court precedent, as in Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce and McConnell v.
FEC, by establishing political action committees as an appropriate method for corporations to speak politically.
Aviv’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Brooklyn Hamel
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Elizabeth Cohn, SIS: International Studies
Naïve Decision or Calculated Maneuver: Exploring Brazil’s Choice of China as an Economic Partner
Over the past decade, Brazil has worked toward deeper economic integration with China in hopes of benefiting from the
relationship, but recent studies claim that the partnership is more competitive than complementary. The purpose of this
research paper is to investigate Brazil’s decision-making process in choosing China as a strategic economic partner. This
question can be explored using a framework constructed around expected utility theory. Scholars postulate that the
initial terms and conditions under which Brazil made the decision to integrate with China have changed so that the
partnership no longer benefits Brazil’s best interests. Terms and conditions are conceptualized in this paper as
constraints present in the decision-making process that either pushed Brazil toward economic integration with China or
pulled it away. Analysis of various bilateral agreements, trade documents, statements from government officials,
newspaper articles and trade data are used to examine existing constraints in the decision-making process. The study
finds that stress of the decision maker, competing interests between the countries, and uncertainty and complexity
surrounding the relationship all play a role in constraining the terms under which Brazil decided to integrate its economy
with China. Constraints in the early period of the partnership made the Sino-Brazilian relationship more beneficial to
Brazil, while constraints in the late period lowered possible Brazilian satisfaction with the alliance.
Brooklyn’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Haithem Hammad
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Shadi Mokhtari, SIS: International Studies
Al-Azhar and the Implementation of Human Rights in Egypt
A thousand years old, and a revered scholarly institution in the Muslim world, Al-Azhar has long served as a source of
moderate religious guidance for many Sunni Muslims. Al-Azhar was co-opted by the Egyptian state under President
Gamal Abdel-Nasser in the mid-1950s and remained under the influence of the Egyptian government until the fall of
the Mubarak regime in January of 2011. In the post-revolutionary turmoil of Egyptian politics, Al-Azhar has re-emerged
as an independent religious institution with moderate views and is well-positioned to advance human rights through an
Islamic framework. Although not the perfect advocate for human rights, Al-Azhar stands as a political counterweight to
the conservative Salafi movement and the Muslim Brotherhood and is pursuing a progressive agenda in the spheres of
media, politics and government.
Haithem’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Erin Hannigan
University Honors in Performing Arts: Musical Theatre
Capstone Advisor: Professor Cara Gabriel, CAS: Performing Arts
“Everybody Does It: A One Woman Show”
“Everybody Does It: A One Woman Show” is intended as an exploration of the autobiographical story as theatre. This
play utilized journals, photographs, and other mementos form the playwright’s life as source material. These materials
were used to create an onstage, autobiographical journey that was unified and fluid. The playwright used the work of
stand-up comedians such as Mike Birbiglia, monologists such as Mike Daisy, and the one-woman show of her advisor,
Cara Gabriel, as inspiration for the piece. The show was rehearsed over a period of four weeks and had its world premier
on March 2, 2013, in the Kreeger Auditorium. After the performance of the show, the playwright received feedback
from the audience. In the true spirit of theatrical collaboration, the playwright incorporated this feedback into a new
draft of the show. “Everybody Does It” is a work in progress that the author plans to continue to develop and
workshop.
Erin’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Katherine Hayes
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor John Willoughby, CAS: Economics
Marketing for Economic Development: The Case of Dubai and Abu Dhabi
The purpose of this paper is to examine the branding strategies of Dubai and Abu Dhabi in order to critically analyze
how they have impacted the economic development of the two emirates. Specifically, it will examine the research
question: How has nation-branding been used to effectively promote economic development in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
Through a review of significant academic sources, official branding documents, published development plans, and
government websites, this paper will trace the development paths of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, outline the key principles of
their branding strategies, and conclude with an analysis of the economic interactions between the two emirates and
challenges to future economic growth.
X’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it .
Robert Helbig
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Michelle Egan, SIS: International Studies
NATO-Brazil relations: Limits of a Partenership Policy
The purpose of this capstone project is to assess the potential of a partnership between NATO and Brazil based on
interviews with over twenty high-level experts on Brazilian foreign policy and the application of international relations
theory. Because building international partnership has become a vital task of NATO, and because Brazil is trying to
increase its influence in global politics, senior NATO officials have called for the Alliance to reach out to Brazil. The
paper argues that Brazil, as a regional middle power, has taken on a soft-balancing approach toward the U.S., thereby
following adversary strategies to NATO including global governance reform and South-South cooperation. The
theoretical debate on alliance formation and international regimes leads to the conclusion that NATO is unlikely to
succeed in reaching out to Brazil, which is why NATO should develop different approaches to increasing its influence in
South America and the South Atlantic.
Robert’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Sophia Higgins
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Ralph Sonenshine, CAS: Economics
Foreign Direct Investment: Relationships with Investment Promotion and Development in Brazil,
Mexico and China
Countries seek to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) using a multitude of strategies, from proactive image-building
to aftercare services for investors. A contemporary trend is to coordinate these activities through a national investment
promotion agency (IPA). This study looks to achieve clarity on the relationship between this promotional activity and
FDI. Furthermore, this paper explores the subsequent impact of FDI on national development. A time series analysis of
top Latin American FDI destinations Brazil, Mexico, and Chile from 1997-2011 demonstrates that of the many strategies
employed by IPAs, the presence of advertised tax credits and performance export zones appear to be commonly used
and successful in attracting investment. Further analysis shows that each country’s level of development, as measured by
GDP per capita, is significantly and positively related to IPA-advertised tax credits and performance export zones that
proxy for an accommodating investment environment.
Sophia’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Allix Hillebrand
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Nathan Paxton, SIS: International Studies
Contraception Choices in Japan
This capstone’s abstract is unavailable at this time.
Allix’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Sarah Hofgesang
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Seth Gershenson, SPA: Public Administration and Policy
Is School Choice Equitable? Enrollment of Students with Disabilities in Public Charter Schools vs.
Traditional Public Schools
Due to the rapid expansion of charter schools as popular options for education reform, charter schools are the focus of
extensive research into their effectiveness in improving student outcomes. However, the research question of who
benefits from enrollment in charter schools has received less attention. Case studies provide evidence that some charter
schools purposefully exclude students with disabilities from enrollment, in violation of the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
However, the existing literature has not demonstrated that charter schools systematically violate IDEA, Section 504, and
ADA. This study uses data spanning from 1998-99 through 2010-11 from the Common Core of Data of the U.S.
Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, as well as multiple regression analysis, to test
whether public charter schools enroll disproportionately fewer students with disabilities than do traditional public
schools. Results show that public charter schools enroll lower percentages of students with disabilities than do traditional
public schools, but this effect is a result of student demographic characteristics. Schools that enroll higher percentages of
minority students enroll disproportionately fewer students with disabilities. This indicates a need for further investigation
of public charter school enrollment practices.
Sarah’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Meredith Hollingsworth
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Rachel Watkins, CAS: Anthropology
Greener Pastures: Cultural Cemetery Landscapes in the United States
Since its emergence in 1998, the green burial movement has sought to bring more sustainable burial practices to the
United States. While research exists documenting the ecological impacts of conventional burial and the potential for
green burial to alleviate those, none exists looking at the cultural significance of natural burial grounds and how their
cultural landscape promotes more sustainable practices. This study originally intended to qualitatively describe both
green and conventional death culture and to quantitatively define the maintenance footprints of maintaining those
landscapes. The study found that while green burial has the potential to increase its political economy in the U.S. death
landscape, it remains small because of cultural misconceptions about sanitation and the power of the death industry.
This study also came to inconclusive quantitative results, warranting further study.
Meredith’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Iris Irwin
Capstone Advisor: Professor Jennifer Gumbrewicz, SPA: Justice, Law and Society
A Comparison of Post-Conflict Disarmament Programs in Sierra Leone and Liberia
This paper explores the post-conflict disarmament programs implemented in Sierra Leone and Liberia at the end of their
respective civil wars. It gives a brief history of each country’s relevant political and historical background leading up to
and including their civil wars. It then details the policy developments that led up to the creation of the Comprehensive
Peace Agreement in Liberia and the Lomé Agreement in Sierra Leone. These two agreements were the foundation for
each country’s successful disarmament program. The paper then explains how each country implemented its
disarmament process, followed by an analysis of why each program succeeded. It compares the disarmament programs
to each other and concludes that Sierra Leone’s program was superior because the entities in charge had better
coordination with each other and engaged in more security sector and transitional justice reforms after completing the
initial disarmament. It ends by noting that, while Sierra Leone conducted a highly successful disarmament program,
disarmament is not a one-size-fits-all concept and must be adapted to each conflict’s unique circumstances.
Iris’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Kendall Jackson
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Victoria Kiechel, SIS: International Studies
Purchasing Patterns at American University
American University in Washington, D.C. has demonstrated a commitment to sustainability, seen recently in policies like
the school’s pledges to work toward goals such as becoming a carbon-neutral and a zero-waste campus. A crucial part of
being a green school, though, is minimizing the impact that the construction and maintenance of buildings has on the
environment. To accomplish this, American has made a commitment to achieve a green building certification known as
LEED for all of its buildings. To attain this, each building must earn a minimum number of points as specified by
LEED guidelines. One of these points is awarded for sustainable purchasing. This paper will focus on research and
analysis done on the university’s purchasing practices. The paper details what the research and analysis process involved:
sorting all university purchases made within a two-month observation period, analyzing the sustainability of the
purchasing as defined by LEED, and looking individually at each of the 48 buildings on campus that made purchases
during this time. The paper concludes by summarizing suggestions regarding how to move the university toward earning
this credit in LEED.
Kendall’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Sara Jacobs
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Daniel Kerr, CAS: History
L@s Desaparecid@s no Desaparecen
This capstone is a public art project that builds on a series of oral testimonies taken in Chinandega, Nicaragua during the
independent research portion of a study abroad program. The testimonies are of families (mostly mothers) who have lost
loved ones to migration. The collection of testimonies focuses on the void that l@s desaparecid@s (the disappeared)
leave behind in their communities and families. The posters are meant to convey that l@s desaparecid@s are much
more than just statistics—they are mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sons, and daughters. This project is a series of five
posters designed to be used as an organizing tool to facilitate conversations about a community problem (migration) and
actions the community can take to address the issue. This capstone also includes English translations of the original
Spanish testimonies and a process paper.
Sara’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Elisabeth Johnsen
University Honors in Business
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
Public-Private Partnerships and Their Use to Improve Global Health
Globalization has brought many of the issues faced by citizens of developing countries to light, including the limited
access these people have to the things necessary for good health, such as qualified doctors, nutritious food, clean water,
and, most pertinent to the discussion later in this paper, medicines. The problems that prevent people from securing
good health in the developing world are immense and undoubtedly insurmountable by one organization or even one
sector, be it public, private, or civil service. While globalization brought these problems to light, it can also bring
organizations from the public/government sector, the private/commercial sector, and civil society together. Separately,
these organizations are limited in their abilities and by the characteristics of the sector to which they pertain. However,
united by a common goal, these organizations can not only coordinate the efforts made in their traditional roles to reach
a common goal, but they can partner in new ways that will combine the strengths, resources, and expertise of the
different sectors into a collaborative, highly effective partnership. Private organizations can partner with health-focused
government and NGO programs to build capacity, improve effectiveness, and extend reach, but there is great variation
in how these partnerships can be formed and in what they involve. This paper aims to explore some of these existing
public-private partnerships, look for the best practices in these partnerships, explore the opportunity for a consulting
company to offer their services in this field, and describe some of the changes that pharmaceutical companies can make
to facilitate public-private partnerships.
Elisabeth’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Ivy Johnson
University Honors in History
Capstone Advisor: Professor Kimberly Sims, CAS: History
Liberated Women, Fulfilled Jew: Gender and Jews for Jesus in the 1970s
The evangelical organization Jews for Jesus began in 1970 and grew parallel to the feminist movement. This capstone
examines how, due to the influences of evangelical Christitanity and traditional Judaism that underline this syncretic
movement, the women of Jews for Jesus did and did not benefit from the gains of the feminist movement. This
resesarch relies on Jews for Jesus literature from the 1970s and interviews with two founding members. Overall, the
paper argues that the women of the organization during the 1970s had opportuinites for leadership and freedom in their
personal lives that were unusual for a conservative religious organization at the time, but they did so not under the name
of feminsism but rather out of practicality, for they were soleley focused on the goal of evangelism.
Ivy’s’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Amanda Jolly
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Amanda Berry, CAS: Literature
Latin American Protest Literature: Literary Strategies to Combat Oppressive Paradigms
Latin American protest literature is as diverse in nature and subject as it is often identifiable in strategy and tone. Though
addressing a diverse array of topics in a variety of forms and styles, Latin American protest literature displays some
consistent characteristics that extend beyond simply the foundational aspects of the genre. This paper hypothesizes that
many of these shared characteristics are rooted in the political, social and environmental paradigms in which the region
exists. Three textual examples will be used as case studies: “La United Fruit Co.,” by Pablo Neruda, “Guatemala 1954:
Funeral for a Bird” by Arturo Arias, and “And We Sold the Rain” by Carmen Naranjo. The texts are meant to represent
diverse aspects of the genre of Latin American protest literature, though are not sufficient to comprise a survey of the
subject. This capstone will analyze each of the samples through two different lenses: historical context and literary
qualities. This project will then analyze the nexus of the two elements in an effort to identify the relationship between
historical context, established power paradigms, and the development of protest literature in Latin America.
Amanda’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Carly Jones
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor William Belding, SIS: International Studies
Conflict versus Collaboration: Insurgents, Drones, and the Flawed Strategic Mindset of the United
States Defense Institution
After the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, officials of the United States Department of Defense declared that there would
be “no going back” to the narrow-minded strategic approach that guided the institution in the Cold War era. However,
analysis of the technology-centered “revolution” occurring within the Defense Department demonstrates that the
transformation has so far been one of tactic, not strategy. This paper utilizes Nobel Prize recipient Thomas Schelling’s
models of conflict behavior to parse the strategic differences between conventional war and insurgency. A comparison
of the essential elements of insurgency with those of conventional warfare demonstrates that the relationships between
players in these two conflicts are fundamentally converse and therefore demand very different strategies. Review of
classical insurgency and counterinsurgency literature supports an understanding of insurgency as a “people’s war” and is
strategically lending to Schelling’s model of bargaining games. In contrast, the American defense institution’s reliance on
technology, as fomented by intradepartmental analyses of the American military victories against the Soviet Union and
Iraq, demonstrates that the Defense Department is primed solely for pure conflict. This paper evaluates current U.S.
drone policy by examining key indicators of popular support and recruitment of Al Qaeda in Pakistan and Yemen. This
illustrative case study demonstrates that the use of drone strikes as the primary U.S. Defense tactic against transnational
insurgency is counterintuitive to the critical bargaining game played between insurgents and the local population. The
paper therefore concludes that the U.S. reliance on drones is no more than a symptom of the Defense Department’s
inability to think outside of the strategy of pure conflict, which places the American military at a disadvantage in the
global campaign to lessen terrorism.
Carly’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Rachel Jones
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Terry Davidson, CAS: Psychology
The Effects of Western Diet on Hippocampal Dependent Cognitive Function in a College-Aged
Population
This paper reviews the relevant literature and proposes an experimental approach to assessing the relationship between
consumption of a western diet and cognitive functioning for young adults in the collegiate environment. Previous
research has established a relationship between the western diet and obesity. The western diet is characterized as an
energy‐dense diet that is high in fat, particularly saturated fat and processed sugars, and low in unrefined carbohydrates.
Further research has linked the consumption of the western diet to impaired cognitive function in animal and human
models. While studies have shown that cognitive function is impaired by the western diet, the underlying mechanism
that produces poor performance on cognitive tasks and promotes obesity has not been determined. One model
proposes that an impaired ability to inhibit competing memories during memory recall produces poor performance on
cognitive tests. Furthermore, the inability to inhibit memories of positive digestive outcomes may lead to
overconsumption of the western diet and contribute to obesity. The present paper describes an experimental approach
that could investigate this theory by evaluating college students’ executive cognitive function and their ability to inhibit
memories while also tracking their eating habits and weight gain. In addition to cognitive tests, this study would track the
participant’s academic performance to determine if cognitive impairment has a functional impact on academic work.
Further research in this area is important as it may lead to new early intervention methods aimed at preventing cognitive
decline and would add to the current dearth of knowledge about how diet, obesity, and cognition are related in young
adults.
Rachel’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Shefali Kapadia
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Cristel Russell, KSB: Marketing
Branded Booze in Music: The effects of alcohol product placements in music videos on memory,
attitude, & behavior
References to alcohol and other illicit substances in the media are on the rise. A relatively unexplored medium is the
music video. This study measured the effects of product placements of alcohol in two music videos: Pitbull’s
“International Love” and Big Sean’s “Dance (A$$).” Each video was manipulated to create a blurred condition, where
the alcohol brand was blurred, and a cut condition, in which the product placement was completely removed, for a total
of six possible conditions. The study found the highest brand recall among those assigned to Pitbull’s original condition.
The results also indicated a greater objection to Big Sean’s video. Participants overall expressed a greater likability toward
the artist Pitbull and the "International Love" song and video. None of the videos seemed to influence behavior in terms
of likelihood to consume alcohol. The results of this study have implications for marketers in terms of effectiveness of
product placements in music videos. The results are also useful to those who study the effects of negative themes in the
media.
Shefali’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Alexander Kaplan
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Leonard Steinhorn, SOC: Communication
Media Coverage of the Presidential Horse Race and of Presidential Polls
During presidential campaigns, the quest to analyze who is winning has become the foundation of what the media care
about and report on, for better or for worse, but how this analysis works has been mostly unexamined. This study
investigates the components that make up horse-race journalism, with a particular emphasis on the reporting of
presidential polls and how they influence media coverage. Examining seven different news organizations from three
presidential election campaigns, this study looks into how the media present polls to the public, which polls are
presented to the public, and what other possible components are considered by media to show where candidates stand
in the presidential campaign. The study also looked into the narratives created by those components. The study finds
that horse-race coverage is seriously flawed. Poll reporting is often vague and does not mention aspects like margin of
error. Certain polls are also given more weight than others, with polls crafted by these individual media organizations
used more than other polls, and national polls given more attention than state polls. This results in coverage of a
supposedly unstable race with twists and turns, even though state reporting constantly shows a much steadier campaign
throughout. Along with polls, other factors contribute to this sensational coverage. Economic incentives may drive this
type of coverage. This filtered and possibly inaccurate media view of the election not only defeats journalism’s
purpose of reporting news factually, but could also affect the vote of certain types of voters, and therefore could affect
an election itself.
Alexander’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Hannah Karl
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Chemi Montes, CAS: Art
Apocalypse Zeitgeist: An Illustrated exploration of the end of the world
This project pairs the traditionally innocent art form of the alphabet book with an unexpectedly grim subject matter: the
end of the world. This combination—the use of a kid-friendly format to present humorously dark content—results in an
alphabet study for a more mature audience. Will zombies and aliens bring about our demise? Or will war and climate
change do us in? Presenting scenarios that range from frighteningly realistic to wild science fiction, this book explores
themes of fear and humanity. The creation of original text and illustrations was an exercise in variety, ensuring that each
was different enough to be interesting yet similar enough to come together as a cohesive whole. Visual research and
experimentation led to the development of an illustration style that presents the content in a playful, personal way. The
production of the final product, a perfect-bound book, incorporates knowledge of composition, publication design, and
craft.
Hannah’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Tobin (Toby) Kearn
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Michel Robe, KSB: Finance and Real Estate
Industrial Concentration and Equity Returns
This capstone’s abstract is unavailable at this time.
Helen Killeen
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Stephen MacAvoy, CAS: Environmental Science
Fishing for Forgotten Rivers: Ths History and Toxicology of Subsistence Fishing on the Potomac &
Anacostia Rivers, Washington, D.C.
The Potomac and Anacostia Rivers have significant historical, cultural, and environmental importance for D.C. residents
and are the locus for myriad, often competing, interests that seek to exploit both the use and exchange values of the
watershed. This paper explores the historical, environmental, and political context for modern water resource
management in the D.C. metropolitian area. The segments of the Potomac and Anacostia that fall within the District are
particularly important for the local urban fishing population. Many of these fishers rely on the fish they catch from the
Potomac and Anacostia as part of their livelihood portfolio. Unfortunately, a long history of environmental degradation
has reduced water quality in both rivers, and consequently presented a health risk to urban fishers who consume fish
caught in the polluted waters. Conservation and rehabilitation efforts in the decades since the Clean Water Act have
dramatically improved the state of the watershed. However, significant work remains to be done in order to make the
Potomac and Anacostia both “fishable and swimmable.” As government, conservationists, industry, and residents work
together to create a better future for the capital’s rivers, it will be of utmost importance to ensure that the aspirations and
needs of D.C.’s urban fishermen, who have long been among the most vulnerable and least represented watershed
stakeholders, are included in calculations for the future of the Potomac and Anacostia.
Helen’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Clare Kimock
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Rachel Watkins, CAS: Anthropology
Descriptions of Dwarfism in the Skeletons of Two Individuals from the Robert J. Terry Anatomical
Skeletal Collection
This paper describes two individuals from the Robert J. Terry Anatomical Skeletal Collection housed at the National
Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. (TC 300R and TC 1636). Both of these individuals are documented to
be dwarves (specifically pituitary dwarves), but the presentation of dwarfism in the skeleton differs between the two. The
paper first describes each individual’s background and demographic information, and the paper then describes the
skeletal material of each. This study discusses morphology (looking at metric and non-metric traits) as well as
pathological conditions and the preservation of the skeletal material. This capstone does not attempt to diagnose any
pathological conditions—conditions that have been diagnosed in each individual are noted, and the analysis is limited to
description. The paper reviews a portion of the paleopathological literature on skeletal dysplasias, along with recent
theoretical developments in biocultural anthropology. It concludes with a comparison of the manifestation of dwarfism
in each of the individuals and a brief discussion of life histories.
Clare’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Carly Kinney
University Honors
Capstone Advisors: Professor Candice Nelson, SPA: Government;
and Professor Kimberly Cowell-Meyers, SPA: Government
The Tea Party’s Effect on Republican Campaign Rhetoric
Shortly after Barack Obama was first elected President in 2008, a social movement known as the Tea Party emerged to
promote fiscally conservative policy. Whereas previous scholarship has studied the movement’s effects on Senate races,
this study considers the extent of the Tea Party’s influence on Republican candidates for the U.S. House of
Representatives. By examining campaign materials from 72 races across the 2008, 2010, and 2012 elections, this study
considers whether candidates for districts with direct Tea Party influence saw more conservative campaign rhetoric than
Congressional districts without direct Tea Party influence. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative
analysis, this study finds that the Tea Party’s impact on Republican rhetoric is twofold. The Tea Party has shifted the
entire Republican debate to focus on their issues, while also significantly influencing future rhetoric in districts with Tea
Party candidates in 2010.
Carly’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Andrew Klemash
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Susan Karr, SPA: Justice, Law and Society
Morality in Political Rhetoric: Examining the Effects of Moral Language in Debate Using the
Contemporary Gun Control Controversy
The place of morality in law is undisputed historically, as the very language of rights reveals, but the letter of most law is
absent any language of morality. Despite this absence, the political rhetoric that supports or opposes contentious law is
almost always filled with moral rhetoric. The examination of the dialogue between the proponents and opponents of the
gun legislation and policy reform that was proposed as a result of the tragedy of the Sandy Hook school shooting and
the recent spate of high-profile mass-shootings in general reveals that not only is there a strong moral language used by
both sides, but that each side sees itself as possessing the moral high ground while also fearing the other side’s
intentions. Whether it is the political left or right or either side’s fringe elements who demand even more radical
solutions to the problem, the rhetoric is centered on moral concerns and is ever-escalating in intensity, sometimes into
the realm of the absurd. The moral element of the rhetoric creates an “us” versus “them” adversarial relationship, but
because the basis of the rhetoric is moral, neither side can give ground for fear of losing their self-assumed moral
superiority. The focus of political debate could benefit from the use of the “no harm principle” applied to the use of
moral rhetoric, because scapegoating targets such as those who have mental health issues or the entertainment industry
may harm cause cascading harms in civil society. Furthermore, moral rhetoric can actually undermine its moral authority
by being invoked in political rhetoric when it violates the no harm principle against civil society.
Andrew’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Adam Klionsky
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Gemma Puglisi, SOC: Communication
Wonk n’ Roll: American University Battle of the Bands Concert Series
This integrated marketing communication plan details the strategies and tactics implemented in the promoting of the
“Wonk n’ Roll: American University Battle of the Bands” benefit concert series. The series of musical showcases
features local college bands participating in genre-specific concerts benefitting local charities. Through extensive
outreach to Washington, D.C.’s student and musical communities, the concert series launched a new platform for young
musicians to share their passion with the world, while also aiding causes dear to them. The concert series launched with
a Folk, Indie, and Blues showcase on April 20, 2013, which had over 100 people in attendance and raised $600 for the
Free Minds Book Club and Writing Workshop. The series will continue indefinitely, incorporating acts from universities
throughout the Washington metropolitan area and across the country.
Daniel Knoll
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Anthony Quainton, SIS: International Studies
Teaching America’s Youth About the Middle East: Lesson Plans about History, Conflict and Why it
Matters to the American Teenager
This capstone’s abstract is unavailable at this time.
Sara Kokkelenberg
University Honors
Capstone Advisors: Professor Galina Buchina, CAS: World Languages and Cultures;
and Professor Olga Rojer, CAS: World Languages and Cultures
The Threat to Russia’s Forests
The purpose of this research paper is to take a comprehensive look at Russia’s environmental governance, particularly
on the topic of forestry, and identify possible leverage points to create change. Through research into Russia’s forest
management and policy, civil society, and reactions toward foreign pressure, this study identifies three possible areas
from which improvement in Russia’s forest governance could come.
At base level, infrastructure needs to be updated and inspectors need to be adequately distributed, as well as properly
funded, in order to increase their efficiency and decrease the incentive to accept bribes across Russian borders.
Additionally, this paper argues that the Russian government needs to loosen its grip on NGOs and environmental
activists. In the wider international arena, in order to make a realistic impact on improving forest management in Russia,
increased international pressure, particularly coming from the EU, needs to be applied to Russia’s timber market. In
addition, attention needs to be drawn to China’s loose environmental standards and the negative implications for
Russia’s image if Russia continues to increase timber exports to China. Lastly, the creation of a well-managed woodprocessing industry, similar to that now used in Finland and Sweden, would earn Russia higher returns at a lower
ecological cost and prove beneficial for their market. Since the Russian government’s primary focus is on improving the
economy, improving Russian forest management would be crucial to developing the Russian economy as a whole. If
Russia were able to stop illegally logging old-growth forests, improve the situation of already degraded landscapes, and
succeed in increasing forest sector production in an environmentally sustainable way through a forest regeneration and
wood-processing industry, it would benefit not only Russia’s economy but also biodiversity and the global climate.
Margaret Kran-Annexstein
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Julie Mertus, SIS: International Studies
Discourses in Post Conflict Activism: How International and Local Movements Frame and Influence
Each Other
In today’s globalizing world, it is impossible for social movements to avoid influencing each other. The differences and
relationships between international and local movements show how international movements can help frame local ones
and in various conflict zones, women have taken on the discourses and values of international NGOs in order to gain
power for their national campaigns. Fighting against patriarchy, local women have sought to find a place for their
narratives in the international discourse while empowering other women to better their lives. This study seeks to
understand the ways in which local and international social movements represent the needs of women; in what ways
those needs are made meaningful through language; and, reciprocally, how women use that language to benefit their
campaigns. This study uses discussions of various international, post-conflict women’s movements and how global
discourses influence local campaigns to reach a conclusion about the nature of women’s empowerment movements
globally. Further, through a content analysis of the mission statements of international NGOs, such as Women for
Women International and MADRE, and national NGOs or campaigns, such as the Association of Women of Vukovar
in Croatia and Medica Zenica in Bosnia, this study points to the emphases movements place on different values and
issues and thus considers which interests—cultural, economic, social—“matter.” This research points out discrepancies
between the emphases of local and international movements. It concludes by asking whether the international
community should focus on context-specific struggles—and if so, what the international role should be—or if women
can have universal demands, and if so, if they are necessarily based on the opinions of donors and powerful nations.
Margaret’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Hannah Kulakow
University Honors in Business
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
Data Security in a Retail Environment
This paper investigates best practices for retailers to safeguard their customer data. Data security is a critical issue in
today’s business environment. How to effectively protect customer data, including sensitive credit and debit card
information, is an ever-present concern for businesses relying on customer loyalty. Retailers are not immune to the
disastrous results of a security breach. TJX Companies, Inc, an international company with $17 billion in annual
revenues, comprised mainly of TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods stores, experienced the largest data breach in
history from 2005 to 2006. With over 46 million customer records stolen, the incident continues to impact the financial
statements of TJX Companies, as well as the customers whose personal information was compromised. Analyzing this
case provides insight into how retailers can best avoid similar incidents in the future. This paper examines Payment Card
Industry Standards and legislation regarding data security. As a retailer, addressing these concerns proactively can assist
an organization in effectively safeguarding customer data.
Hannah’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Kevin Kunitake
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Daniel Kerr, CAS: History
The Most Unexpectedly Interesting Chinatown
This capstone studies the uniqueness of Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown, asserting it is a visual representation of
Americanized Chinese cuisine. Food and culture go hand in hand in the Chinese immigrant story in the United States,
leading to what’s commonly known as Americanized Chinese food, a cuisine arguably more American than Chinese.
Looking at the cultural gentrification of Americanized Chinese food through the microcosm of two noodles places in
D.C. Chinatown, China Boy and Chinatown Express, this paper aims to reiterate a greater theme of how cuisine can
segue to multicultural understanding. This paper is written not as an academic paper, but as literary journalism. As a
journalism student, the author learned many styles of writing and believed that this story is best told in this manner.
Thus this capstone is not only an investigation into the relationship between Chinese food and its culture, but also a look
into how to take such a worthwhile message and deliver it well.
Kevin’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Alexandra Langton
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Elizabeth Cohn, SIS: International Studies
A Comparative Analysis of Political Status: Hawaii, Cuba, The Philippines and Puerto Rico
This research addresses the prospects for permanent political status in Puerto Rico. On November 6, 2012, 61 percent
of the Puerto Rican electorate voted for statehood as the favorable political status option. This leads to the question of
whether this vote alone is sufficient for a change in political status. To determine whether Puerto Rico has met the
necessary conditions to gain permanent political status, this research will address the conditions necessary for a territory
to become a state or gain independence. Using a comparative case study model, this research compares Puerto Rico to
Cuba, the Philippines, and Hawaii. Outmigration during territorial periods, strength of U.S. institutions, cultural
similarities, strength of nationalist movements and mutual determination explain why Puerto Rico has not obtained
permanent political status while other former U.S. territories have.
Alexandra’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Samuel Larsen
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Chana Barron, SPA: Justice, Law and Society
China and the Rule of Law
As China has grown into the world’s second largest economy, a chorus of international voices has urged the ruling
Chinese Communist Party to reform the country’s authoritarian government. Both in China and around the world, many
of these calls for reform center on China’s need to be governed by the rule of law. This capstone defines rule of law
before working to determine what political and institutional factors are necessary for a state to be governed by the rule
of law. The conclusion of this research reveals that while implementing reforms based on the rule of law is necessary for
China, the rule of law itself provides neither a clear path to democracy nor a panacea for human rights abuses.
Samuel’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
James Lawrence
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
Prairie Fire Distellery Company Business Plan
Distilleries have been in operation in the United States since the arrival of the first European settlers in the 1600s.
However, due to prohibition, in the early 20th century much of the small-scale micro-distilleries were forced out of
business or underground, leaving only large, industrial-scale distilleries to operate for most of the 20th century. Recently,
many states in the U.S., including Kansas, have relaxed regulations and reduced barriers to entry into the distilled spirits
industry. This presents an opportunity to enter the distillery market and take advantage of growing demand for a variety
of craft spirits.
Prairie Fire Distillery Company’s mission is to produce the highest quality spirits through innovative distilling
techniques, exceptional ingredients, and a committed team of hard-working individuals. By diversifying product
offerings to match market trends, this company will achieve operational profitability in its first year and cumulative
profitability in three years. Distribution of products will be handled by established Kansas liquor distributor Standard
Beverage Corporation. An emphasis on marketing will be crucial to the success of the business as it establishes its brand
and attracts loyal customers interested in a locally produced, premium product at a competitive price point.
James’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Kelsey Lee
University Honors
and Sau Lim
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Pek Koon Heng-Blackburn, SIS: International Studies
The Effect of ASEAN on Human Trafficking in Southeast Asia
This paper examines the trafficking of vulnerable populations in Southeast Asia and the effectiveness of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in combating human trafficking in the region. Human trafficking is one of the
most egregious and persistent human rights violations throughout Southeast Asia, and increases in regional migration
and lack of inter-governmental coordination have consistently exacerbated this issue. ASEAN’s establishment in 1967
has since facilitated regional cooperation in Southeast Asia, and with the adoption of the ASEAN Declaration of Human
Rights in2012, the grouping is expected to put greater emphasis on addressing human trafficking issues in the region.
This paper critically evaluates the success of ASEAN’s anti-trafficking initiatives by researching different trafficked
groups in Southeast Asia (labor, sexual, child, etc.), examining the trafficking laws of countries with significant trafficked
populations, and assessing the effectiveness of existing ASEAN policies. The paper concludes that ASEAN has not yet
had a significant impact on reducing human trafficking throughout Southeast Asia. However, increased intergovernmental cooperation and accountability mechanisms promoted by ASEAN may lead to future improvements. This
research sheds light on the effectiveness of ASEAN as an international human rights actor and provides
recommendations for the improvement of the organization’s anti-trafficking endeavors.
Kelsey and Sau’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Daniel Leon
University Honors
Capstone Advisors: Professor Clarence Lusane, SIS: International Studies;
and Professor Shalini Ayyagari, CAS: Performing Arts
The Impact of Music Videos: How Visuals Impact an Individual’s Perception of a Song
Despite the perceived negative impacts of the visuals of music videos on youth, the industry has expanded them from
simple storylines to elaborate artistic visual representations, giving artists and directors more power over public reception
of songs. This brings to question how the visual portrayal of violence, sexuality, and race in music videos impacts the
audience’s perception of a song. That is why this research examines how an individual’s perception of a song is altered
by the visual components of a music video. The methodology used in this project consisted of developing two different
music videos for the same song that took into consideration the portrayal of violence, racial prejudice and sexuality.
These videos were then screened to focus groups made up of college-aged students chosen based on age, gender, and
race. Results revealed that the higher portrayal of violence, racial prejudice, and sexuality in a music video significantly
impacted an individual’s perception of a song. This means that if a music video contained higher levels of violence, an
individual perceived the correlating song to be more violent. In addition, this study found that there is a positive
correlation between the number of music videos watched and the amount of violence an individual perceives. These
results imply that artists and directors should be more cognizant of the ways in which their music videos can
influence and impact individuals, particularly youth. By doing so, they can aim to create more positive images in their
work, which will lead to more positive perceptions within the growing global audience.
Daniel’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Alexandra Lewis
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Jennifer Gumbrewicz, SPA: Justice, Law and Society
An Alternative Course for the Underwater Bomber: The Hypothetical Case of Umar Farouk
Abdulmutallab in a Military Comission
This research project explored the hypothetical case of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in a military commission.
Abdulmutallab was kept in civilian custody and tried in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Outraged, several Republican senators called for his transfer to military custody and trial in a military commission.
Through examination of international norms, treaties, and cases in conjunction with United States domestic law, this
project found that a military commission did have the jurisdiction to try Abdulmutallab.
Alexandra’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Mary Linders
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Antoine Yoshinaka, SPA: Government
Women’s Contributions to the Environmental Movement: A Study in Gender Diversity and Legislative
Success
Environmentalism has seen a rise in participation and leadership by women. A question arises about whether the
influence of women in this movement has helped or hindered its legislative success and whether such diversity is
beneficial to the outcomes of movement goals. This question is especially relevant for environmental groups, which
often frame themselves as representing the interests of the entire human population, across a broad range of races,
religions and geographies. Is the environmental movement increasingly inclusive, and if so, has it benefited from that
diversity? Specifically, how have the roles of women in positions of power in the environmental movement influenced
the legislative successes of that movement? The research results are inconclusive on the quantifiable direct contribution
of women activists to the success of environmental legislation. However, it is quite possible that women contribute to
legislating in less direct ways than immediate influence on lawmakers and legislative processes. There is a possibility that
environmental groups do their best work not in legislative channels but through other means, such as agenda setting and
raising public consciousness. More research is needed on these relationships, and groups may keep tracking and
attracting women to positions of leadership to enable further study of this possible phenomenon.
Mary’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
John Lisman
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
The Italian Wine Industry: Progress and Lessons
The Italian wine industry has produced some of the most celebrated and revered wines in the world. Lately, Italian wines
have become a leading force globally. Yet, due to the nature and composition of the industry, the wines face many
challenges selling both domestically and globally. This paper explores the history and traditions of Italian wine, followed
by some distinct characteristics of and challenges faced by the industry. A case study is included to offer another view of
the challenges many Italian winemakers face. The paper then seeks to derive lessons from the industry and apply those
lessons, through a different lens, to the global automotive industry. The lessons learned by the Italian wine industry are
feasibly applicable to many businesses. Italian wine will likely remain both viable and an industry leader in years to come.
John’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Benjamin Loeb
University Honors in Business
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
Why EMF Financial Products LLC Should Embrace Social Media
Social media is an increasingly important communications platform. On average, Americans spend 27 percent of their
time online on social media sites. Social media is relevant to business and financial advising because it is a great tool for
sharing knowledge, demonstrating value, and improving credibility. Businesses need to begin to recognize and adapt to
the changing communications and social landscape. This paper will outline ways for EMF Financial Products LLC and
other similar financial advisory firms to adopt social media strategies. The financial sector is heavily regulated, so the
paper will address ways firms can use social media tools within the confines of the law. The paper will focus on strategies
for Twitter, a real-time information social network, and YouTube, an online video community for creating and sharing
content. Companies can gain attention and credibility on these platforms by creating original content and contributing to
the existing conversations.
Benjamin’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Shay Longtain
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Simon Nicholson, SIS: International Studies
The Arctic as a Bellwether: Melting Ice and Evolving Governance
Global climate change is amplified in the Arctic, where warming temperatures and melting ice are rendering the region
more accessible to a variety of actors and interests. A new arena for environmental politics is emerging as circumpolar
governance mechanisms continue to evolve in the face of changing circumstances. Recognizing the growing influence of
non-state actors and civil society networks in shaping global environmental politics, this study analyzes the political
agency of indigenous peoples as pan-Arctic actors, especially relating to their participation in the Arctic Council.
Drawing insight from several theoretical perspectives, this study traces the logics of sovereignty, legitimacy, and
authority as they relate to recent developments in Arctic governance, while mapping the implications for indigenous
peoples. Given the rapidity and scale of change, this study finds that the Arctic is a unique and increasingly dynamic
region with the potential to spawn innovative mechanisms of environmental governance.
Shay’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Max Looper
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Christopher Edelson, SPA: Government
An Analysis of the Potential Impact of Abigail Noel Fisher v. University of Texas on Race-Based
Affirmative Action
This paper examines the pending Supreme Court Case, Abigail Noel Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin et al. In Fisher,
Abigail Fisher is challenging the University of Texas at Austin’s use of race-based affirmative action in its admissions
policy. The policy states that any student who finishes in the top ten percent of his or her high school class in a Texas
public high school is guaranteed admission to the University of Texas; all spots that remain unfilled by the ten percent
policy are open to any applicants, but race-based affirmative action is one of many factors that is used to select students
for those remaining spots. The paper discusses previous Court decisions on race-based affirmative action before turning
to an examination of Fisher. It then examines several possible conclusions that the Court could reach, the likelihood that
the Supreme Court will reach each conclusion, and each conclusion’s impact on the future of race-based affirmative
action. While the paper concludes that the Supreme Court is likely to strike down Texas’s policy only on narrow
grounds, it argues that any decision striking down the policy will ultimately lead to the demise of race-based affirmative
action.
Max’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it .
Kelly Loria
University Honors in Language and Area Studies: Spanish/Latin America
Capstone Advisor: Professor Maria Tamayo, CAS: World Languages and Cultures
Arriving to the Point of Translation: A Study of the Most Effective and Age-Appropriate Practices in
English as a Second Language
This work is broken down into three parts. It begins with a translation of a selection from Isabel Allende’s novel Mi País
Inventado, followed by an analysis of the text and the translation process. The study that follows sought to find out what
role translation had in the language acquisition process of English Language Learners. Was the pedagogy more focused
on explicit learning, such as direct word-for-word translation, or a more gradual, communicative process? In addition,
the study examined the differences in children vs. adult pedagogy in the field of English as a Second Language (ESL) to
see if age had any determining factor on the more effective way to teach ESL. Through a series of observational visits to
ESL classrooms, personal experiences from in-service ESL teachers, and academic research, the study compiles the
practices that are considered most effective in modern English Language teaching, and how lessons and activities differ
depending on the age range of the students.
Kelly’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Megan Lowry
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Eric Novotny, SIS: International Studies
Mobile Money and the Unbanked: Risk, Reward, and Branchless Banking in Afghanistan
This paper will attempt to examine how the spread of mobile money in Afghanistan has affected the state of finance and
banking for the average Afghan. While many actors have been involved in the overall development plan of the Afghan
government, there are a limited number of actors in mobile money, allowing them to be examined closely. Research
involved qualitative methods examining the relationships between these actors, and in particular, the movement of risk
through the financial system of mobile money. This research found that mobile money is not regulated to an appropriate
degree, and that the concept presents a large amount of risk to Afghans using it. As the paper suggests, more emphasis
should be placed within the Afghan government and the development sector on improving or emphasizing the hawala
system of banking, as it is the least risky and a more sustainable form of banking for rural and urban Afghans.
Megan’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Amanda Ludden
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Sol Hart, SOC: Communication
When You Can’t Have What You Want for Something You Must Do: Unavailability and Perceptions of
Self-Efficacy
Decision-making research has shown that people are not consistent in their preferences when asked to make sequential
decisions for which no new information is given. For example, when someone is asked to compare three objects and he
indicates his preferences as A > B and B > C, it follows that he should prefer A > C—but that is not always the case.
This study measures how unavailability affects people’s (1) preferences in these sequential decisions and (2) perceptions
of self-efficacy in tasks contingent on their choices. The results suggest that people’s performance on a creative task is
unaffected by their choice assignment, but their evaluation of their performance is related to individual differences in
planning for time. From this, marketers and policymakers can design product arrays or choice sets in ways that drive or
diminish attention to certain options or attributes. When compounded with knowledge of individual differences, such as
people’s planning tendencies—which can be approximated by purchases and other behaviors— purveyors of choices are
empowered to target consumers with scary effectiveness. Such manipulation, even when intended to protect people
from themselves, creates an illusion of choice, asymmetries of information, and resultant ethical dilemmas.
Amanda’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Sean Lynch
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Anders Hardig, SIS: International Studies
The Arab Spring: Understanding the Success of Protest Through Social Movement
This paper investigates a puzzling result in the outcomes of the protests that swept across the Middle East in 2011-2012,
commonly referred to as the Arab Spring. While uprisings have occurred in many different countries throughout this
period, this paper attempts to determine an explanation for why autocratic, presidential governments such as Tunisia and
Egypt have had successful revolutions while monarchic governments such as Jordan and Morocco have not. For the
purposes of this study, a successful revolution is defined as one that overthrows its existing ruler. Many scholars have
attempted to answer this puzzle through the differences in power structure that these different regimes afford their
rulers, but this study sought to determine the differences between the two through social movement theory. By
comparing two autocratic regimes, Tunisia and Egypt, with three monarchies, Jordan, Morocco, and Bahrain, it tested
for certain variables of successful social movements to determine which are most apparent in successful cases. This
study concluded that the unity of the elite with the regime in power, the existence of mobilizing organizations in a
country, and the level of democratization in each country were the most important factors when determining whether a
country experienced a successful revolution. Studying this time period, which continues to unfold, through the lens
of social movement theory is an important undertaking for future research, as this paper merely starts the process of this
study and could be utilized to begin a deeper analysis of the Arab Spring through social movement theory.
Sean’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Kaeley Jo Majewski
University Honors in Psychology
Capstone Advisor: Professor Brian T. Yates, CAS: Psychology
Health Care Utilization for Patients Diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder Comorbid with
Anxiety: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Light Therapy
This study examined changes in health care use for patients treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or light
therapy (LT) for the treatment of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) comorbid with anxiety. The research was conducted
on pre-treatment and one-year follow-up participant data in which the participants either received LT treatment or CBT
treatment for their SAD. The participant data was gathered from a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
funded clinical trial that included 177 participants, 27 who were diagnosed with SAD comorbid with anxiety and 95 who
were diagnosed with SAD alone. The study was a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design with repeated measures on one factor that
compared the health services used after being treated with either LT or CBT. It is predicted that the use of CBT for
patients would lead to decreased health care usage in the future. This decrease was predicted specifically when
comorbidity was present. The results suggested that patient’s use of health care services, diagnosed with a comorbid
anxiety disorder, decreased significantly after treatment. The results also suggested that CBT is more effective in
decreasing health care services, most specifically when comorbidity was present. However, when patients were diagnosed
with only SAD, no significant decreases in health care use were found.
Kaeley Jo’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Leigh Maltby
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Aaron Boesenecker, SIS: International Studies
Cutting Through the Red Tape: Identifying the Causes of Non-Tariff Barriers in the Transatlantic
Economy from a Stakeholder’s Perspective
Despite the efforts of successive American and European Union governments to reduce non-tariff barriers to trade
(NTBs) through agreements like the New Transatlantic Agenda of 1995 and the establishment of transatlantic
organizations focused on promoting regulatory cooperation, such as the Transatlantic Economic Council and the High
Level Regulatory Cooperation Forum, NTBs continue to impede growth in the transatlantic economy. This capstone
assesses the causes of NTBs in the transatlantic economy by building on existing literature in legal studies, political
science, international relations, and sociology, and conducting interviews with policymakers, businesses, and transatlantic
organizations—the stakeholders in the transatlantic process—to glean first-hand knowledge about the decision-making
processes surrounding regulatory cooperation. As identified based on a thematic analysis of these elite, semi-structured
interviews, possible causes of NTBs in the transatlantic economy were identified as differences in the institutional
structures and societal perceptions of risk in the European Union and the United States, an institutional aversion to
change and competition within both the American and European regulatory systems, a difference in the type of
regulatory regime, and the development of strong relationships due to frequent interactions between American and
European public and private sector stakeholders.
Leigh’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Medha Marsten
University Honors in Theatre
Capstone Advisor: Professor Sybil R. Williams, CAS: Performing Arts
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
This production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare was directed and costume designed by Medha
Marsten. The production was set in Paris in the year 1900 to investigate themes of Orientalism and colonialism. It was
greatly inspired by the artwork of the time and reflected the moving trend in art from the Impressionists to the
Bohemians. This production was intended to show how an Elizabethan era play that is now over 300 years old could be
used to critique the Bohemian movement in Paris at the turn of the century and to hold up a mirror to our
contemporary society.
A theatre director controls the artistic vision of the play. He/She must create the entire world of the play. This means
that the director must consult with designers, as well as work with actors on text, movement, and characterization. The
methods used in this production were line readings, character discussions, movement exercises, and in-depth research
into Belle Époque Paris. The exploration of themes of Orientalism during the turn-of-the-century and contemporary
society found no improvement. Alleged appreciation for the “Orient” was superficial, according to Edward Said in his
work, Orientalism. In fact, this supposed obsession with the East may have been used to further French imperialism
throughout the world. However, at American University, ironically enough, this production led to a greater appreciation
for cultural exchange. In incorporating traditional Indian and Persian dance elements, music and costuming, as well as
similar elements from Bohemian-era France, this production was able to build and share a world that was as fantastic
and profound as that which Shakespeare creates in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Medha’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Allena Martin
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Chris Rudolph, SIS: International Studies
European Misfits: The Europeanization of National Immigration Policy in Italy and Spain
Since its inception, the EU has asserted increasing pressure and influence on national policies of its member states. This
capstone seeks to examine the effects of Europeanization on national immigration policy in Italy and Spain. Using the
Three Step Model of Cowles et al, the study analyzes EU, Italian, and Spanish lawmaking in the area of immigration to
determine if, and to what degree, Europeanization has occurred, and how suitability of fit and mediating domestic
factors influenced the outcome. The study found that the outcome in both Italy and Spain was surface-level absorption
of EU policies, without fundamental transformation in the way each country thinks about immigration policy. Although
a high degree of misfit, a necessary condition for Europeanization, is present in each case, the study found that
mediating domestic factors had a greater effect on the outcome. This study contributes to the growing body of literature
on Europeanization and confirms the inconsistency in the degree of Europeanization across countries and policy areas
observed by other scholars.
Allena’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Alyssa Martori
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Victoria Kiechel, SIS: International Studies
Composting Toilets: Urban Sustainability Solution
This project examines traditional and alternative sanitation systems. It focuses on current urban sewage treatment and its
shortcomings. To find a necessary alternative, the project explores composting toilets. Composting toilets use aerobic
decomposition to break down human excreta without the use of water or manmade chemicals and produces pathogenfree and nutrient-rich soil. The project explores the many benefits of composting toilets and their feasibility in urban
environments, while addressing many of the real and perceived drawbacks of this technology. Composting toilets are
faced with a great deal of cultural resistance in the United States. By looking at studies on environmental communication
and psychology, this project suggests possible educational tactics to make composting toilets a mainstream sanitation
practice. It also discusses Washington, D.C., as an appropriate city for a large scale composting toilet pilot program.
Alyssa’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Maxwell Matite
Capstone Advisor: Professor Michelle Egan, SIS: International Studies
Unsustainable? European Union Politial Governance
This paper provides a comprehensive examination of the EU and its governance institutions with an emphasis on
legitimacy as the basis for evaluating sustainability of political governance. The study uses data from Eurobarometer
surveys to draw its conclusion. The paper finds that the current political governance structure under the Lisbon Treaty is
facing a significant legitimacy deficit. Most EU citizens do not trust the EU, a fact that significantly impacts the Union’s
integrity and governance performance. However, there is a glimmer of hope for the Union as a majority of people
identify themselves as EU citizens, which indicates a common bond—one of the key factors to securing political
legitimacy.
Maxwell’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Victoria Mauro
University Honors in Biology
Capstone Advisor: Professor David Carlini, CAS: Biology
Playing Favorites: The Effects of Codon Bias in Escheria coli Cells
Codon bias is the unequal usage of synonymous codons in the protein coding genes of all cells, including Escherichia coli.
Though many hypotheses exist to explain the presence of codon bias, the translational selection hypothesis, the most
widely accepted hypothesis, posits that codon bias was the result of natural selection working for translational efficiency
based on the concentration of certain tRNAs in a cell. The global translational selection hypothesis takes this a step
further and suggests that selecting for efficiency in one gene may affect the fitness of the entire cell. In E. coli cells, two
of the six leucine codons have the largest and second smallest relative synonymous codon usage of all E. coli codons.
Thus, these codons were targeted for experimental mutation, and an ampicillin resistance gene was engineered, replacing
the eight preferred leucine codons with unpreferred codons. Both wild-type (WT) and mutant (mut8Leu) cell strains
were grown separately in the presence of ampicillin and tetracycline to test the local and global translational selection
hypothesis. Additionally, the strains were grown alongside each other in the presence of ampicillin to competitively
assess their fitness. It was found that WT strains had higher growth rates and frequencies in the presence of ampicillin in
both the growth assays and competitive fitness experiments respectively. However, growth in the presence of
tetracycline did not provide any significant differences in growth. Thus, though support was gathered for the local piece
of the translational selection hypothesis, more work is required to determine the validity of the global aspect.
Victoria’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Eric McCabe
University Honors in Business
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
Crossroads Incorporated: A 21st Century Private School Solution
The purpose of this business plan is to inform potential investors, advisors, and managers about Crossroads, a
revolutionary private school that will provide New York City families with quality, affordable private education and help
their children become bilingual leaders of the future. By offering an affordably priced Mandarin-English dual-immersion
program based around an International Baccalaureate curriculum, Crossroads will fill an underserved market and
challenge the existing hierarchy of private schools in New York City.
In many respects, this school will operate as other private schools in New York City do. It will offer a premium
educational experience, small class sizes, opportunities in and out of the classroom, and a safe space for learning and
development. But unlike its competitors, Crossroads will produce students who are bilingual in English and Mandarin
Chinese, all at a relatively low price. Parents will choose Crossroads because it offers their children a comparable, less
costly experience to other private schools while simultaneously teaching them fluent Mandarin.
Eric’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Kathleen McGarrity
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Lauren Feldman, SOC: Communication
World of Warmcraft: International Climate Coverage on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report
The purpose of this study is to investigate the portrayal of international climate change cooperation on the satirical
programs The Daily Show and Colbert Report and to compare this portrayal with that in mainstream media discourse. The
study used quantitative content analysis of The Daily Show and Colbert Report to demonstrate the proportion of overall
coverage of climate change dedicated to an international perspective and to identify which international topics were
covered. The study performed a qualitative analysis of specific segments from both programs to identify the targets of
humor and the nature of the messages. This analysis revealed that the programs targeted other media’s coverage of
international climate policy events, yet themselves demonstrated cynicism regarding the United Nationals Framework
Convention on Climate Change climate negotiation process. This project compared these messages to those of
traditional media outlets, which showed that mainstream outlets framed the issue of climate negotiation as a conflict,
while the satirical programs focused more on the inefficiencies and ineffectiveness of the United Nations. The cynicism
of these programs may influence the opinion of their audiences.
Kathleen’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Sarah McIntosh
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Jennifer Gumbrewicz, SPA: Justice, Law and Society
Implementation of the European Union’s 2011 Directive on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in
Human Beings and Protecting its Victims: Limitations in Spain and the Czech Republic
This paper set out to examine how Spain and the Czech Republic differ in their efforts to combat sex trafficking through
their implementation of the European Union’s 2011 Directive on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human
Beings and Protecting its Victims. The paper analyzed implementation of the Directive through an examination of legal
policies, social services, and anti-trafficking campaigns currently in place in both countries, as well as a comparison
between those policies and the provisions laid out in the 2011 Directive. Analysis of Spain and the Czech Republic’s
compliance with the 2011 Directive policies revealed that the Directive is not comprehensive enough to address the
financial problems source countries face in their fight to combat trafficking. These findings are significant because they
demonstrate that the European Union needs to provide financial incentives to source countries with limited financial
resources to help them implement the Directive provisions.
Sarah’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Andrew Menefee
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Clarence Lusane, SIS: International Studies
Political Economy of Race: Comparing the Deep South United States and the Northeast of Brazil
This paper explores the persistence of racial inequalities in the Deep South United States and the Northeast of Brazil.
Both countries share similar patterns of racial inequalities. Blacks continue to suffer lower education rates, higher
mortality rates, and lower income levels. The geographic dispersion of the Black population in both Brazil and the
United States today mirrors the historical geographic dispersion of slavery in each country. The Deep South United
States and the Northeast of Brazil contain the majority of the Black population, and these regions remain
underdeveloped compared to other regions. Both regions have a shared history as part of the plantation complex, an
economic order controlled by oligarchic elite. This paper asks how racial inequalities impact development. Drawing on
Kenneth Sokoloff and Stanley Engerman, this paper argues that initial inequalities during slavery persisted because
government institutions reproduced the deprivation and poor quality of life associated with slavery. This paper employed
a comparative historical approach to compare the implementation of education and medical services in the postabolition period in the Deep South United States and the Northeast of Brazil. The conclusions demonstrate how state
services supported the cultural hegemony of the White elite and excluded Blacks. The “invisible” nature of systemic
disparities, which become accepted as normal, makes it harder to create reform. This examination of the roots of
systemic inequalities helps explain why racial inequalities have remained so durable. These conclusions have implications
for comparative race relations and international development, and they can be applied to other countries to support
structural explanations for persistent underdevelopment in post-colonial societies.
Andrew’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Anna Merkoulova
University Honors in Business
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
An Analysis of German Culture in the Management of an Enterprise and Implications for General
Electric’s Future Acquisitions
Cross-cultural merger and acquisitions (M&As) have become one of the leading approaches for companies to gain access
to or expand their presence in global markets, yet these M&As have the unique challenges of dealing with both national
and organizational culture differences that must be addressed if companies are to successfully retain and benefit from
acquired businesses. This capstone explores the difficulties facing a company with a cross-cultural business investment,
using the real-world example of General Electric (GE) as it has announced its intentions to expand into the German
economy in 2013. The paper is a review of GE’s corporate culture, potential financial impacts of business acquisitions,
and recent literature on cross-cultural differences and integration recommendations. This framework presents cultural
integration as a crucial component to reduce integration expenses, investment risk, and project delays between an
American and a German company and to successfully complete a cultural integration of a business acquisition. In
conclusion, expanding companies like GE should look toward the areas of cultural differences where minimal employee
resistance exists and use them as opportunities to change management and improve the acquired business as necessary.
Anna’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Andrew Merluzzi
University Honors in Psychology
Capstone Advisor: Professor Anthony Riley, CAS: Psychology
Age Dependent MDPV- Induced Taste Aversions and Thermoregulation: A Behavioral and
Physiological Assessment of "Bath Salts"
As with all drugs of abuse, MDPV, a primary constituent in “bath salts,” is rewarding in rats. However, little is known of
its aversive effects, those which might limit drug intake. Recent reports have shown that adolescents are generally less
sensitive to the aversive properties of drugs, which may contribute to an increased vulnerability to use and abuse in this
population. The present study used the conditioned taste aversion procedure to determine if MDPV induces aversions in
rats and if those aversions are age-dependent. Specifically, the study gave subjects of both ages access to a novel
saccharin solution followed by various doses (0, 1.0, 1.8, and 3.2 mg/kg) of MDPV. This procedure was repeated for a
total of four conditioning trials, followed by a two-bottle test of the aversion. As similar drugs induce thermoregulatory
changes in rats, temperature was recorded following MDPV administration to assess if thermoregulatory changes
were related to taste aversion conditioning. Adolescent rats displayed less robust MDPV-induced taste aversions than
adult rats during acquisition and on the two-bottle assessment. Body temperature measurements revealed that adults
exhibited hyperthermia, while adolescents exhibited hypothermia following acute exposure to MDPV. Given that drug
use and abuse is a function of the relative balance between the drug’s rewarding and aversive effects, the fact that the
aversive effects are weaker in adolescents suggests that this population may be more vulnerable to MDPV use and abuse.
Andrew’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Jessica Micciolo
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Olga Rojer, CAS: World Languages and Cultures
Die urbane Topographie von zwei deutschen Stadten und ihr Versuch einer
Vergangenheitsbewaltigung
Vergangenheitsbewältigung (“coming to terms with the past”) is a recurring theme in German literary, political, and
cultural debates, and this capstone adds to the dialogue by analyzing the changes in the urban topography of two major
squares in two metropolitan cities in Germany after World War II. This capstone research project, written in German,
examines the unique urban histories of post-World War II Potsdamer Platz in Berlin and Marienplatz in Munich in order
to determine whether one particular rebuilding method has better enabled its inhabitants to come to terms with their
recent past. This analysis focuses on two architectural building methods: building anew, as occurred in Berlin, and
restoration, as occurred in Munich. It may be difficult to determine definitively which city better accomplished coming
to a Vergangenheitsbewältigung with its tumultuous history, but it appears that in the process of building Berlin anew,
Berliners were more successful.
Jessica’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Ethan Miller
University Honors in Economics
Capstone Advisor: Professor Evan Kraft, CAS: Economics
Increasing Inequality: Sources and Solutions
The protests of the Occupy movement and other movements of recent years have called attention to the massive gaps in
income that exist in the United States. However, coming up with concrete methods of reducing these gaps is always a
challenge. The challenge faced by activists and policymakers seeking to address the growing trend of income inequality is
in determining the economic variables that are most significant in growing the income gap and how to best address
them.
In order to start to address this issue, this study chose five economic variables by studying past literature concerning the
causes of income inequality. The study then analayzed these variables economically on a yearly basis for the United
States between 1967 and 2011. The analysis concluded that the decline in union density rates was the most significant
variable affecting income inequality, with the decline in manufacturing and increase in imports playing a supportive role.
The results are unclear for how women’s participation in labor markets affects income inequality, and the study
determined that real disposable personal income per capita did not have a significant impact.
These findings have serious implications for policymakers who have been setting a trend in recent years of stripping
workers of their rights to organize and bargain collectively. If this continues, income inequality will only continue to
grow. However, if significant steps are taken to protect the rights of workers and bolster their collective strength, this
country can start turning the tide against income inequality and make significant steps toward becoming a more equal
nation.
Ethan’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Amal Mimish
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Fereshteh Nouraie-Simone, SIS: International Studies
From Protest to Parliament: Understanding Egyptian Women’s Political Participation
Egypt’s January 2011 uproar of popular protest made women activists visible to the international community. When the
new government, controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood, threw out the 2010 constitutional amendment stipulating a
quota for women’s parliamentary representation, the international community immediately concluded that Egypt was
moving “backward.” The purpose of this work is to understand the barriers that Egyptian women face when reaching
for political power. In addition, this work presents a statistical analysis of GDP and the Economic Forum’s Gender Gap
Index. The research indicated that barriers to decision-making positions are multifaceted for women. Poverty, patriarchal
culture, and misunderstanding of Egyptian civil society are holding back progress in women’s representation.
Furthermore, efforts by international organizations vouching for increased parliamentary representation for Egyptian
women overlook key socioeconomic conditions that effect women’s underrepresentation. The results found no
correlation between GDP growth and reduced inequality measured by the GGI, indicating that proactive measures need
to be taken to boost equality for women.
Amal’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Farah Mohamed
University Honors in Communication: Journalism
Capstone Advisor: Professor Christopher Adams, SOC: Communication
Something Worth Cooking For
When we eat food, we often don’t think beyond the price, portion, taste, and ingredients. But for some, food is a matter
of survival. For others, a meal is a social occasion, an indulgence. In a series of feature articles and photographs, this
project explores the intersection of food, identity, and culture in a nuanced, personal way. The work includes five
themes: fusion food, cuisine adaptation, international students cooking in America, ethnic markets, and family-owned
restaurants. It can be viewed at http://somethingworthcookingfor.wordpress.com. Inspired by the author’s experiences
as a journalist, foodie, former restaurant and pastry chef apprentice, and international traveler, this capstone attempts to
provide readers with a garnish of gastronomical insight: how what we eat—and how we eat it, cook it, present it, and
shop for it—can ultimately tell us what we value in our cultural identity and in life as a whole.
Farah’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Jose Morales
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Gregg Ivers, SPA: Government
Jim Crow, Barack Obama, and Crawford: Voter I.D. Laws and Future as a Voter Suppression Tool
This capstone answers some of the many contemporary political questions surrounding new state laws mandating that
voters obtain and use photo identification cards when they vote. Almost every state has proposed such a law in their
state legislature and over half the states have approved them. This capstone acknowledges the foundation of the voter
I.D. in the South’s political history of suppression and racism—under the Democratic Party. The Republican Party is,
with one exception, the driving force behind the push to codify these laws, conflating allegations of voter fraud as
convictions. These laws disproportionately affect Democratic base voters (the young, the racial minorities, the indigent,
and immigrants) along with elderly and poor farmers. Democrats have led a political charge against these laws with
heated rhetoric of “poll taxes” and Jim Crow without relying on the fact that undercuts the primary charge: voter fraud
is an unsound justification for stringent voter I.D. laws because it is one of the rarest crimes committed, with in-person
voting being the least common subsection of that crime.
Jose’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Claire Moyer
University Honors in Business
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
The Music Industry in the 21st Century: An Innovative Partnership for Pandora Internet Radio and
Live National Entertainment to Drive Consumer Preferences
The music and entertainment industry has evolved with society, a fact that has not changed for industry businesses in the
twenty-first century. Significant advances in technology in the past decade have been a driving cause in the changes.
Consumer-based needs relate less to owning copies of the music as they did in the 1990s, but instead toward the
individual’s musical experience. This is prevalent in the growing trends toward both internet music streaming services
with individualized preferences, including Pandora Internet Radio, and the increase in live music performances,
including through Live Nation. As these organizations are leaders in their segments of the entertainment industry, this
paper argues that a partnership will allow both companies to benefit through access to an increased market segment,
more consumers, and the potential for increased revenue and profit. It also provides each with a continued opportunity
to be innovative and the leaders in new trends of the music and entertainment industry. Through this mutually beneficial
relationship, both Pandora and Live Nation will be able to contribute to the forward growth of how people consume
music and entertainment in the twenty-first century.
Claire’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Brianna Musselman
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Yves-Renee Jennings, SIS: International Studies
A Dialogue on Utility Rights in Kibera
For many years, Kiberans—Kenyans in the Kibera Slum in Nairobi, Kenya—have been living without adequate access
to water and electricity, and this situation has created pervasive tension between Kiberans and the government of Kenya.
This Honors capstone presents a simulation of a Sustained Dialogue (SD) pilot study that was undertaken to determine
if such a conflict resolution method would help Kiberans address the utilities issue that Kiberans have been
experiencing. The SD method brings conflict parties and other stakeholders together so they can examine relationships
that underpin a conflict issue. Such an examination often helps the parties build empathy, develop mutual understanding,
and constructively change their broken relationships in ways that help them address their issue. This capstone carried out
a simulation to determine the effectiveness of such a process if a real pilot study, based on the same methodology, took
place in Nairobi with Kiberans, government officials, and other stakeholders. The pilot simulation was performed by
volunteers who played the roles of Kiberan citizens, government officials, and other stakeholders. The simulation
findings reveal that this type of pilot study would effectively allow participants concerned with the utility issues in the
Kibera Slum to help the parties build more constructive relationships while they gain a level of empathy and
understanding conducive to ensuring that Kiberans’ needs for water and electricity are met.
Brianna’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Kara Naseef
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Barbara Wien, SIS: International Studies
ESL Through Emotion and Experience
While there are healing yoga programs available to refugees, none exist within the classroom. The purpose of “ESL
Through Emotion and Experience” is to create a curriculum for adult refugees that will meet their emotional and
language learning needs in order for them to best participate in their new community. Through Barbara Wien’s Peace
Education course, a TEFL certification course at Lado International College, and an annotated bibliography, this
curriculum has evolved into a summer course with a strong theoretical and pedagogical foundation. A certified teacher
could easily adopt and implement this interactive English course, which incorporates yoga and meditation, to teach
refugees. The curriculum contains detailed lesson plans and evaluation methods. Sabreen El-Shrafi, a classmate, designed
the field trip component of this curriculum. “ESL Through Emotion and Experience” has been developed through
careful background research of the target community—adult refugees—as well as research on the healing power of yoga
and best practices for teaching English as a second language (ESL). Through experiential learning methodology this
course engages participants to best meet their specialized needs.
Kara’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it. Click here to view the presentation.
Danielle Nispel
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Mahri Irvine, CAS: Anthropology
Sexual Assault Policies on College Campuses: A Beginning Look at Which Policies Influence Reports of
Sexual Assault at Institutions of Higher Education
This capstone’s abstract is unavailable at this time..
Danielle’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Sara Norton
University Honors in Psychology
Capstone Advisor: Professor Bryan Fantie, CAS: Psychology
Neurocognitive Correlates of Bipolar Disorder
This study sought to determine if patients in the euthymic stages of bipolar disorder, as well as the first-degree relatives
of individuals with bipolar disorder, make more source monitoring errors than healthy controls. A direct test of source
monitoring, as well as two indirect tests of source monitoring that measured false-fame mistakes, were administered to
bipolar patients who scored low enough on measures of depression and mania to be considered euthymic. This study
also adminstered the test to first-degree relatives of individuals with bipolar disorder, and healthy controls. Bipolar
participants were divided into two groups for data analysis purposes: those who scored performed relatively normally on
the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task and those who scored well below normal. As no experimental participants were able to
be recruited, no meaningful results can be concluded from the experiment at this time.
Grace Norton
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor James Lee, SIS: International Studies
South Africa Water Disputes and Health
This case study will focus on the current water issues affecting the lives of millions of South Africans. Climate change,
government policy, and carrying capacity are all drivers of water shortage problems plaguing the country. The study will
examine South Africa as a whole while focusing on the KwaZulu-Natal region, which includes the city of Durban, as
well as the Inanda Dam, where the region receives the majority of its water supply. In light of decreasing water supply
due to increased temperature, decreased rainfall, and population increases, the South African government enacted the
National Water Act in 1998. Although the National Water Act was passed as a water conservation effort, millions of
South Africans are no longer able to pay for the amount of water they need for daily life. The implications of this policy
have set the stage in South Africa for a potentially violent conflict in the future.
Grace’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Pamela Oliver
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Quansheng Zhao, SIS: International Studies
Prospects for Political Autonomy in Okinawa
Following more than two and a half decades under American administration and a widespread reversion movement,
Okinawa was returned to Japan in 1972. However, in the four decades since reversion, Okinawans have become
disillusioned with the realities of Japanese control. Okinawa hosts a disproportionate number of U.S. military forces in
Japan, provoking local resentment, yet Tokyo’s attempts to placate local discontent through massive government
funding have created a cycle of dependence that makes a change in the status quo unlikely. This paper examines the
historical factors shaping the relationship between Okinawa and the central government, in particular the legacy of
discrimination against ethnic Okinawans and the resentment for the period of American administration and the terms of
the reversion. It also examines the prospects for and viability of greater political autonomy for Okinawa in the form of
independence or divided sovereignty.
Alexandra Olson
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor James Gray, CAS: Psychology
Seasonal Body Consciousness: Changes in Body Image and Esteem throughout Seasons
This paper seeks to determine if there are differences in body consciousness throughout seasons, specifically from winter
to summer. The study hypothesizes that additional layers of clothing worn in the winter protects participants from
attention to their bodies. It also considers other factors, such as food consumption, mood affect, and exercise
performed. The study was conducted once in 2012 and again in 2013. In 2012, participants received a packet of
measures: the Contour Drawing Rating Scale, the Body Esteem Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Scale, and the
Perceived Sociocultural Pressure Scale. In 2013, the same measured were given safe for the Perceived Sociocultural
Pressure Scale. Participants completed the packet in the winter trial (January-February) and then once more in the
summer trial (April-May). All measures were used to find differences in body consciousness. In 2012, the expectation
that greater body dissatisfaction would occur in the summer trial was not met. There were no differences in body
consciousness from the winter to summer trials. However, there were significant correlations between the Body Esteem
Scale and the Negative Affect Scale, with the winter trial yielding a significantly greater amount of correlations than in
the summer trial. The 2013 trial maintained those results. This paper concludes that, due to the lack of sunlight and
therefore the absence of melatonin in the winter months, participants generally felt more negatively. Therefore, they
transferred their negative feelings to their body image, increasing the number of correlations between Negative Affect
and Body Esteem. The 2013 trial supported these findings.
Alexandra’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Ariane Osterwald
University Honors in Spanish Studies
Capstone Advisors: Professor Olga Rojer, CAS: World Languages and Cultures;
and Professor Ludy Grandas, CAS: World Languages and Cultures
Los Judíos Colombians: La historía de un Pueblo Escondido
Este ensayo repasa la historia de dos grupos judíos que viven hoy en día en Colombia. Un grupo, los judíos sefardíes,
tiene una larga historia con el país por la conquista de las Américas. Muchos de estos judíos llegaron al país como
conversos, o judíos que se habían convertido al catolicismo para escapar la Inquisición. El otro grupo, los judíos
askenazis, llegaron a Colombia durante la segunda guerra mundial. Este ensayo compara a los dos grupos e investiga sus
propias historias.
Ariane’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Annika Parks
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Anthony Quainton, SIS: International Studies
The Waking Giant and the Arab Spring: China’s Middle East Strategy in the Wake of the Arab
Revolutions
The purpose of this project is to study the impact of the Arab Spring on China’s strategic position in the Middle East
and to analyze how this movement will shape Chinese policy in the Middle East in the future. The paper employs a
qualitative analysis of the subject based on three cases that present different aspects of the Arab Spring and China’s
interactions with it: the revolutions in Libya and Syria, as well as the manifestations (and lack thereof) of the Arab Spring
in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and the United Arab
Emirates). This paper found that the Arab Spring exposed two main weaknesses of Chinese policy in the Middle East: its
lack of capacity for power projection and its lack of concrete alliances. However, the relative stability of the Gulf and the
potential for a weaker American presence in the Middle East present China with opportunities to expand its role in the
region in ways that will facilitate its economic interests, while China’s early reactions to the Arab Spring suggest that it
may be attempting to take advantage of these opportunities. These findings hold significance not only regarding China’s
future in the Middle East, but also regarding Chinese foreign policy in general, as they represent a shift from China’s
traditionally economically focused, non‐interventionist strategy to a more active presence on the international stage.
Annika’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Ami Patel
Capstone Advisor: Professor David Vine, CAS: Anthropology
The Story of My Story: An Autoethnographic examination of Indian immigrants to the United States
This study investigated the lives of second-generation Indian immigrants that are identified as or self-identify as IndianAmericans. By sharing the author’s personal story and incorporating the stories of two other Indian-American young
adults, this study delves into the customs and practices of Indian immigrants and how the identities of their children
played out in their daily lives. This project also explores the idea of an Indian-American hybrid culture that exists in the
United States. Although this is an elementary beginning to what could easily become a life-long undertaking, this study
suggests that each Indian immigrant home is its own hybrid culture in many ways, though certain cultural practices and
taboos have certainly stuck unconsciously. The significance of this work is that it sheds a greater light on the everchanging landscape of immigrant lives and culture in the United States.
Rachael Picard
University Honors in Communication
Capstone Advisor: Professor Gemma Puglisi, SOC: Communication
Girl Up Collegiate Outreach Strategy
This capstone project is an extension of a semester of public relations work on behalf of the United Nations
Foundation’s Girl Up Campaign. Girl Up seeks to expand its program of middle and high school clubs, which advocate
for women’s issues abroad, to college campuses across the United States. The public relations team for the Girl Up PR
portfolio class worked to bring one of the first collegiate Girl Up clubs to a college campus, developed a series of
marketing materials aimed at a college audience, and hosted and promoted a screening of the documentary Girl Rising,
which premiered this spring at the Sundance film festival. This project builds upon the work of the Girl Up public
relations team and provides a comprehensive outreach strategy to further Girl Up’s engagement with college campuses.
This outreach strategy focuses on engaging college students, especially former Girl Up high school student leaders,
sorority women and Girl Scout Gold Award winners, who are all interested in promoting women’s empowerment. The
college outreach campaign would focus on converting high school leaders into college Girl Up club founders as the
students transition to college. Through partnerships with the National Panehellenic Conference and Girl Scouts, Girl Up
could reach an expanded audience of enthusiastic, proactive women. This campaign will expand the range of students
exposed to Girl Up’s program through events, media, and social media, and will re-market to former club leaders to
encourage them to interact with Girl Up again once they reach college.
Rachael’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Mark Pigott
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Elizabeth Cohn, SIS: International Studies
Empowered Reform: The Role of Legal Empowerment Theory in USAID Law Reform Programs
This paper evaluates the extent to which donor-funded law reform initiatives engage in legal empowerment activities,
using USAID as a case study. Put simply, legal empowerment is “the use of law to increase the control that
disadvantaged populations exercise over their lives.” It represents a broader approach to law reform and a departure
from traditional rule-of-law promotion programs. This paper looks at ongoing USAID initiatives and codifies them
based on whether or not they satisfy certain aspects of legal empowerment theory. It also looks at whether the
employment of legal empowerment tactics varies across regions and takes into account the number of programs that
take institution-focused, top-down approaches to reform and those that take bottom-up approaches, focusing on civil
society. Then, to address the connection between what USAID sets out to do and what it actually accomplishes, it takes
a deeper look at two ongoing programs that appear to engage in legal empowerment work. This paper finds that USAID
does employ some legal empowerment principles on paper and, it appears, in practice as well.
Mark’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Natasia Poinsatte
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Luis Silva, CAS: Art
Construction of Space and Identity in a Global Age
This Honors capstone is a creative project exploring construction and conception of identity in a globalized age. It has
two components. First, the author will pose a series of questions to individuals from diverse backgrounds regarding the
increasing interconnectedness of global society and the breakdown of barriers of space. The responses will in turn guide
the author’s reflection and writing. The second part of this project entails the creation of a set of paintings that function
as an allegorical exploration of this theme. The paintings deal with memory, space, and a changing relationship to place
as it becomes less directly connected to a specific culture or collective human history. The formal process of
construction and invention in the paintings mirrors similar processes that occur in everyday life as we continually
interpret, construct and reinvent our surroundings based on our perspective and experience. They also reflect the more
literal construction of space as communities develop, build, consume, shift and fade. The paintings, loosely based on
photographs taken in Dakar, Senegal and Washington, D.C., weave together real and imagined spaces, relying on
abstraction to challenge the concept of an objective experience of place. The inclusion of manmade objects, both
intentionally produced and casually discarded, highlights the tension between order and chance, change and stasis in the
development of human spaces. The aim is to provoke thought and reflection not only about our differing conceptions
of nationalism, globalization, and identity, but also the relevance of those differences.
Terri Poxon-Pearson
University Honors in Physics
Capstone Advisor: Professor UJ Sofia, CAS: Physics;
and Professor Carter Hall, University of Maryland: Physics
Determining the Significance of Cobalt-60 in EXO-200
Neutrinos were first proposed by Wolfgang Pauli as a mechanism to conserve energy, momentum, and angular
momentum in beta decay. These “little neutral ones” have a very low cross section and a mean free path of about a third
of a light-year in solid lead, making them particularly challenging to study and explore. The discovery of neutrino
oscillations confirmed that neutrinos have mass, but shed little light on the absolute mass of the particles. The question
of neutrino mass, along with a fundamental question about whether or not the neutrino is a Majorana particle that
behaves as its own antiparticle, serves as the motivation for the EXO-200 detector. This detector, located 2150 feet
underground in Carlsbad, New Mexico, seeks to answer both of these questions by searching for the theorized
neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ) of 136Xe. Because of the rarity of these decay events, the EXO-200 collaboration
has made every effort to reduce radioactive backgrounds, especially within the energy band where 0νββ would be seen. It
is not possible, however, to eliminate all background contaminants. EXO-200 is constructed almost entirely of copper,
which is susceptible to producing 60Co, a radioactive isotope that decays with a half-life of 5.27 years and which creates
events near the 0νββ energy window. Through simulations and employing maximum likelihood fitting, this research has
explored the contribution of 60Co to background noise within the region of interest for 0νββ.
Terri’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Nageen Qasim
University Honors in Business
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
The Changing Role of Microfinance Institutions in the 21st Century
Traditionally, microfinance institutions concerned themselves with providing microcredit to low-income borrowers
primarily for the purpose of funding small enterprises or agricultural activities. However, in recent years, a new trend has
emerged. Instead of focusing entirely on the provision of microcredit, several microfinance organizations have entered
other commercial sectors such as health insurance, energy, and telecommunications. This capstone analyzes the reasons
why premier microfinance institutions such as the Grameen Bank and Accion International have expanded the portfolio
of goods and services they offer their clients. Furthermore, this paper analyzes whether the extension of services has had
an impact on local healthcare and education systems in countries such as Bangladesh and India. For example, a 2009
study conducted by the Bangladeshi Agricultural University reported significant linkages between rural women receiving
microcredit and an improved standard of living. The findings of the report indicated that 62 percent of the respondents
agreed they had experienced moderate changes in their livelihood, whereas 13 percent said their livelihood has changed
dramatically across three dimensions: positive change in annual income, change of housing, health, and sanitation, and
change of farm and household materials. This project also cites other studies to demonstrate the positive correlation
between access to extended microcredit services and health and education standards. In addition, the project uses
external resources such as World Bank and Microcredit Summit reports to examine the impact and need to cater to the
changing needs of the poorest of the poor.
Nageen’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Oren Rabinowitz
Capstone Advisor: Professor Shadi Mokhtari, SIS: International Studies
Following the Leaders: The Role of Religion in the Policy of the Ultra-Religious Political Parties
How much does religion play a role in the policy and political actions of ultra-religious political parties? This study
explores how ultra-religious political parties interact within the democratic system, with the goal of determining if these
parties moderate. The project was carried out as a small-N study, focusing on the cases of Egypt and Israel. The study
obtained data by conducting expert interviews with academics in the Washington D.C., area. This paper argues that
ultra-religious political parties do not moderate due to several factors, primarily the influence of religious leaders who do
not hold political office and the makeup of these parties’ constituencies who will remain loyal to the party. These parties
focus on certain core issues and are willing to act pragmatically on other issues in order to secure their interests. These
findings challenge the validity of how people understand moderation theory.
Oren’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Elizabeth Rademacher
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Chana Barron, SPA: Justice, Law and Society
Sexual Orientation, Discrimination, and Suspect Classifications: The Case for Applying Heightened
Scrutiny to United States v. Windsor
On December 7, 2012, the Supreme Court of the United States granted certiorari in the case United States v. Windsor, a
case involving the Bipartisan Legal Action Group of the House of Representatives and Edith Windsor, the widow of
Thea Spyer. At issue in the case is whether Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act ("DOMA"), which defines marriage
as the legal union between a husband and a wife, violates the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection to samesex spouses. In the past, the Supreme Court has applied rational basis scrutiny to laws that discriminate based on sexual
orientation. However, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that DOMA is unconstitutional based on
heightened judicial scrutiny. In the form of an amicus curiae, or "friend of the court," brief, this capstone explores the
argument for the Supreme Court to also apply heightened scrutiny to United States v. Windsor. This amicus brief
contends that rational basis scrutiny is insufficient when evaluating the constitutionality of laws that classify individuals
based on their sexual orientation. Instead, this amicus brief argues that the Supreme Court should apply a higher level of
judicial scrutiny, intermediate scrutiny, to classifications on the basis of sexual orientation based on four criteria: the
history of discrimination faced by the LGBT community, sexual orientation’s immutability, the LGBT community’s
weakened access to political power, and the lack of a relationship between sexual orientation and the ability to contribute
to society. Using the Supreme Court’s decisions in past equal protection cases, as well as psychological, sociological, and
legal research on sexual orientation and judicial scrutiny, this amicus brief submits that the Supreme Court should affirm
the Second Circuit’s decision that Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional by applying heightened scrutiny to this case.
Consequently, the courts should apply heightened scrutiny to all laws that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.
Elizabeth’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Claire Radziwon
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Olga Rojer, CAS: World Languages and Cultures
Desarollo Detrás del Empoderamiento: El Uso del Espacio en Bogotá
This article analyzes the use of space in the development of Bogotá, Colombia. It is based on research about
development and development discourse, which uses figurative space, and the development in Bogotá through the use
of public space. As a result of imperialism, development discourse was created by Western scholars and politicians in
order to create a figurative and linguistic space for them to talk about underdeveloped countries in a way that maintained
the power hierarchy. The article also makes a comparison between the use of Tahrir square during the Arab Spring with
the use of public space in Bogotá. In each case, the people occupied the public space and reclaimed their rights, unifying
and empowering themselves. In Bogotá, the government was traditionally comprised of rich politicians emotionally
removed from the community, which was full of violence, crime, and pollution. The Bogotanos did not take pride in or
responsibility for their city because they could not identify with it. Antanas Mockus and Enrique Peñalosa were the first
politicians in Bogotá that weren’t from the upper class, and the fact that they were part of the community made it easy
for people to respect and support them. They focused on improving the city with the people as their top priority, and in
doing so, empowered the people to have a say in the government, reclaim the public space, and take pride in their city.
As a result of their empowerment and responsibilty of improving the city, they could identify with the city and felt a
sense of belonging for the first time in Bogotá’s history.
Claire’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Kevin Ralph
University Honors in Philosophy
Capstone Advisor: Professor Justin Marquis, CAS: Philosophy and Religion
The Will to Affirm Music: Overmusic and Last Music in Nietzsche’s Philosophy
This paper addresses the significance of music in Nietzsche’s philosophy, for he establishes that there is a strong link
between music and his method of philosophy. Central to this argument is the application of the Overman, the proper
philosopher and freethinker, and the Last Man, the man of the herd who subscribes to ideology. This paper argues that
the parallel between music and Nietzsche’s philosophy can go further, that the existence of the Overman and the Last
Man must be met with a similar polar structure between Overmusic and Last Music. For this analysis, this paper use a
survey of Nietzsche’s philosophical works, biographical information, and a comparison of the music that he advocates
for and the music that has his contempt. The paper first outlines the arguments that form Nietzsche’s Overman and
Last Man. Doing so is necessary to draw out the similarities between music and philosophy. Part of this discussion
involves the role of music in Nietzsche’s personal life, which the paper will elucidate through the often-quoted maxim
from Twilight of The Idols: “Without music, life would be an error.” Then, the paper analyzes the reasoning that allows him
to distinguish the higher types of music from the lower types, which this project will link to the Overman and the Last
man. This leads to the argument for Overmusic and Last Music, and this paper uses Wagner’s Parsifal and Bizet’s Carmen
as case studies for each.
Kevin’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Prerna Rathi
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Mohammed Abu-Nimer, SIS: International Studies
The Power of Dialogue
Among all the troubling deficits that society struggles with today, people often think of financial and economic deficits
primarily. But the one that concerns this study utmost is the deficit of dialogue—the ability to address conflicts as they
are, to go to the source of what they are about, to understand the key players and to deal with them at a deeper,
foundational level. This research project suggests that people have an “opportunity” rather than a “problem” to resolve
conflicts in a sustainable way. The opportunity is to utilize the process of dialogue to not just resolve conflicts, but also
to promote peace. The purpose and methodology of this study are two-fold: (1) theoretical, to demonstrate how the
approach of dialogue is refined and developed over time to meet new challenges in conflict zones, and (2) practical, to
utilize the process of sustained dialogue as a long-term solution to engaging destructive relationships, such as those
involved in a brief case-study of the Kashmir conflict, and to transform them with a real-life example.
Prerna’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Autumn Rauchwerk
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Roberta Rubenstein, CAS: Literature
Eating Semmi: What Sprouts from Emptiness
This capstone’s abstract is unavailable at this time..
Autumn’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Katherine Riddle
University Honors in Music
Capstone Advisor: Professor Linda Allison, CAS: Performing Arts
My Life’s Delight
This capstone’s abstract is unavailable at this time.
Katherine’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to view the program. Click here to view the
concert poster.
Victoria Riechers
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Eve Bratman, SIS: International Studies
Sport Mega-Event Security and Urban Development: Johannesburg and Rio de Janeiro
As Rio de Janeiro prepares to host the final match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games, the city aims
to use these sport mega-events to promote urban development. This paper aims to answer what impact sport megaevent security preparations have on urban violence and development, as well as the local populations. The research
examines whether the preparations are successful and are good for cities. The paper compares Johannesburg and Rio de
Janeiro’s preparations, examining the immediate and lasting effects in Johannesburg and the current and speculated longterm effects in Rio. The findings indicate that, while during the World Cup itself crime dramatically decreased in
Johannesburg, there have been very few lasting effects of the security measures, despite governmental promises.
Additionally, there is a clear lack of faith that Rio’s favela pacification program will continue once the Olympics are over.
These findings are important because sport mega-events are increasingly perceived as a means to develop and produce
lasting legacies. Yet evidence indicates that the strategies are temporary, with very little impact in the long term despite
significant impact in the short term.
Victoria’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Rachel Ripps
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Kate Haulman, CAS: History
Saving Soivet Jewry: The Efforts of the Washington D.C. Jewish Community, 1968-1991
This capstone project focuses on the efforts of the Jewish community in Washington, D.C., on behalf of Soviet Jewry
from 1968 until 1991. An online historical exhibit best illustrates this important period in history through narrative and
images. The D.C. movement has largely been comprised by scholars, and this capstone project seeks to outline the
movement’s efforts and draw conclusions about their significance and effectiveness. This project concludes that the
Washington, D.C., Soviet Jewry movement should be remembered in history as the movement that succeeded in
drawing widespread and ongoing public attention to the issue of Soviet Jewry and human rights. The real value and
success of the Washington, D.C., movement can be seen in the existence of so many former Soviet Jews who
maintained their Jewish identity despite the incredible odds. This project used secondary sources for background
information, but the bulk of research came from primary sources largely from the archives at the Jewish Historical
Society of Greater Washington. The most important sources for this project were memoirs, interviews, photographs,
and published materials.
Rachel’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Zachary Robbins
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor T. Garrett Graddy, SIS: International Studies
Rethinking Food Security: The Moroccan Context
With nearly one billion food-insecure people around the world, many national and international organizations, such as
the United States government and the World Bank, have made achieving food security—ensuring that all people have
access to a sufficient supply of food—a top priority. Programs such as the United States’ Feed the Future initiative
assume that food security is apolitical—that food security can be achieved by simply introducing new agricultural
technologies, cultivation methods, or credit markets without accounting for underlying social inequalities. This paper
challenges this apolitical assumption and argues instead that the first step in a food security strategy needs to focus on
why a group of people is food-insecure. Using Morocco as a case study, this paper argues for the necessity of tailoring
food security policies to a country’s political, social, international, biophysical, cultural, and economic contexts. The
paper uses a political ecology lens to identify the barriers to Moroccan food security: a colonial legacy of a dualistic
agricultural system, which favored large, modern farms while neglecting small, traditional ones; an ambiguous land
tenure system; and an increased propensity to drought due to climate change.
Vanessa Robertson
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Max Paul Friedman, CAS: History
Wir Sind Nicht Deutsch! How anti-German communists won favor in post-Munich Czechoslovakia
With the benefit of 20-20 hindsight, countries in the ex-Soviet Bloc claim they never desired to join the Soviet Union.
In Eastern Europe, a new trend exists that blames the ‘inactive’ Western countries that balked in the face of illegitimate
Soviet coups surrounding the year 1948. In Czechoslovakia, however, the line between legitimate and illegitimate was
largely muddled as the communists rose to power in a “bloodless” and seemingly authentic manner. So how did it
happen if the modern rhetoric is that the Bloc didn’t want to be annexed? Did the Czechs mean to “hand over” their
country? Did the West know what was happening? What was in the West’s power to do? Though many scholars today
focus on detailing the precise facts of the coup and examining why the West didn’t intervene, this research will explore a
distinct and overlooked angle involving the Czech transition: the role of the “German question.” Through archival
research, this capstone seeks to examine communist propaganda within Czechoslovakia at the time, which galvanized the
tense and very strong anti-German sentiment in the country and leveraged it against the Western powers. This paper
intends to determine the extent to which the U.S. was aware of this psychological pressure and whether it did anything
to counter its effects. Contrary to the modern trend, at the time the majority of Czechoslovaks not only welcomed the
Soviets but were susceptible to an ongoing propaganda infiltration that played upon their worst fears: another German
attack.
Vanessa’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Ida Rosenthal
University Honors
and Rachel White
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Joseph Gizzi, SOC: Communication
Beyond Facebook and Twitter- Social Media and Non-Profits
The adoption and proliferation of social media has deeply affected how nonprofits approach their communications
strategies. Social media can be especially useful to small and medium-sized nonprofits that are limited by financial
restraints, smaller staff sizes, and less visibility in the public eye. It is impossible to predict which social media platforms
nonprofits should be using within the next few years. However, there are five characteristics that nonprofits can use to
evaluate if a social media platform has the potential to become valuable for their communications and marketing
initiatives. Based on theoretical research and interviews with local Washington, D.C., communications professionals,
these findings aim to offer small and medium-sized nonprofits practical advice that they can use almost immediately.
Ida and Rachel’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Jonathan Ross
University Honors in Psychology
Capstone Advisor: Professor Bryan Fantie, CAS: Psychology
Modeling Congress with Experimental Methods: A Test of Perspective Taking on a Mock Budget
Negotiation
This study attempted to replicate an experiment conducted by Galinski, Maddux, Gilin, and White (2008), which found
that a perspective-taking prime increases the success rate of a simple business negation, but with a simulated
Congressional budget negotiation. This capstone hypothesized that the perspective-taking treatment would increase the
success rate of the negotiations and decrease the amount of time required to successfully reach an arrangement.
Methodological challenges related to using experimental methods to model Congressional behavior and possible ways to
mitigate them were discussed. The results of the experiment were inconclusive due to unforeseeable design flaws
discovered over the course of the execution of the study. This paper discusses possible methods of eliminating these
flaws. It concludes that, while using experimental methodology to model Congress is extremely difficult to do correctly,
this method could be very useful and Congressional scholars should consider employing them.
Jonathan’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Claire Rychlewski
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Caleen Jennings, CAS: Performing Arts
Aperture: A One Act Play
Aperture is a one‐act creative work with three characters. The play tells the story of Sita, an Indian‐American single
mother, who is forced to delicately balance her daughter’s well‐being and her own sense of self when another couple
demands to conference with her about an unsavory incident between their two daughters. Meant to lead to a resolution,
the meeting instead turns into a spiral of he‐said/she‐said, as the exchange begins to unravel unspoken cultural
prejudices, dark sexual experiences and identities, and a marriage stuck between an idyllic past and a stagnant present.
Aperture serves as commentary on our culture of sexual education as well as an examination of a collision of cultural
viewpoints. The issue the play revolves around is sensitive— the discussions we have about sex in our early lives can be
confusing, uncomfortable, shaming and explosive. Placing this conversation in the hands of two sets of parents who are
speaking to each other instead of their children will ultimately reveal more about their perspectives on ethnicity, class,
and sexuality.
Claire’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Samantha Sandfort
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Lester Kaplan, SPA: Justice, Law and Society
Some Psychological Factors That Serial Killers Have in Common: Can Such Data Be Used to Prevent
Potential People from Killing?
Although serial killers have been around for centuries, there are still many aspects of their behavior that are not fully
understood. Because of this lack of knowledge, as well as their elusive nature, many serial killers remain at large for years,
or even decades. Several factors contribute to the difficulty of finding and capturing serial killers, including their
tendency to kill strangers and the apparently arbitrary nature of the murders they commit. However, when analyzing the
data available from known serial killers, some similarities among them become evident. Using these similarities, one can
construct theories to better understand and possibly even predict the behaviors of serial killers. This paper discusses the
definition of a serial killer and the classifications of different kinds of serial murderers. The paper isolates three variables
that many known serial killers have in common: sexually motivating factors, victim patterns, and childhood behavior.
This paper then analyzes those three variables using case studies of three known serial killers: Jeffrey Dahmer, John
Wayne Gacy, and Ted Bundy. By comparing and analyzing sexually motivating factors, victim similarity, and childhood
behavior of known serial killers, it may be possible to predict behavioral and psychosocial trends of future serial killers.
Samantha’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Richard Say
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor William Belding, SIS: International Studies
Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea: Explaining the Limited Global Response
This paper examines why the international community has done relatively little to combat and deter piracy in the Gulf of
Guinea as compared to what it has done with regard to Somali piracy. Although both regions have benefited from some
international support and attention, Somalia has received far more anti-piracy assistance than Gulf of Guinea countries
in recent years. This paper analyzes four variables: the frequency of pirate attacks, the total direct economic cost of
piracy in each of the two regions, country placement on the failed state index, and the intensity of the pirate attacks. This
paper found that the frequency of attacks and direct economic costs are the primary triggers for the large international
response to Somali piracy. State failure as measured within the study was inconclusive, and surprisingly, the intensity of
the pirate attacks was not a major factor in garnering a substantial international response.
Richard’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Anna Scalamogna
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Yana Sakellion, CAS: Art
Grandslam iPhone App
The Grandslam iPhone App helps baseball fans increase their chances of catching a home run or foul ball at any game.
The app allows users to record caught home runs and fouls balls, including their location and the inning, pitcher, and
batter. This data is then compiled along with information from all app users to create an interactive map. The map
shows the sections of the park most frequently hit. The app user can filter by right or left-handed hitters, home or away
team, favorite players, their catches, or a timeline. The app is designed to display information for an individual stadium
and team. The grandslam prototype was designed for the Washington Nationals.
Anna’s full capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Clair Schaub
University Honors in Language and Area Studies:Spanish/Latin America
Capstone Advisor: Professor Olga Rojer, CAS: World Languages and Cultures
Creaciòn y Recreaciòn
This paper explores the use of public parks in the formation of a community identity in Colombia’s capital city of
Bogotá. The 1990s began a period of change in Bogotá under the leadership of several of the city’s mayors who decided
to take new and creative approaches to fixing the chaotic and fractured city. One of those approaches involved
improving public spaces and green areas and reconstructing them as places where Bogotanos of all social and economic
classes could come together and interact.
Emily Schaub
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Fredrick Kang’ethe Iraki, CAS: World Languages and Cultures
The Conflict of Languages and Power and Languages of Identity: Issues of Regionalism, Nationalism,
and Globalism
This study investigates, through careful consideration of three case studies—Tajikistan, Kenya, and Ukraine—the
conflict that exists between languages that construct power and those that construct identity. It looks first at the
linguistic history of each region and discusses how history has shaped the current linguistic landscape. It then examines
how power and identity are manifested and maintained through language, and finally evaluates the effect of the conflict
of languages on social and economic development. It concludes that the existence of a language of power excludes
groups that determine their identities through another language from engaging in opportunities for advancement.
Emily’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Megan Schmenk
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Victoria Kiechel, SIS: International Studies
Sustainable Food Systems: A Case-Study of Washington, D.C,, and Nairobi, Kenya
Washington, D.C., and Nairobi, Kenya may not seem to have much in common. These two young cities, however, are
both the product of precise planning—Washington was the haven of the nation’s founding fathers, and Nairobi was
strategically plotted by colonists as an ideal outpost along a railroad. These cities provide the basis for this case study,
which will discuss issues of food insecurity, nutrition, and health by analyzing and comparing food systems in Nairobi, a
regional hub in a developing nation, and D.C., the capital of a post-industrialized country. The aim of this project is to
glean some insight into what it means to be “sustainable” in an urban environment and how sustainability efforts affect
urban food systems. To answer these questions, this project will draw from literature on demography, urban design,
environmental studies, and primary research. It will discuss the sustainability movement and how this affects food
systems. It will also compare and contrast how residents of Nairobi and Washington attain food and the possible
impacts of these processes on sustainability, health, and nutrition education. Qualitative analysis will highlight how some
urban organizations and residents are attempting to improve the sustainability of these food systems. Ultimately, this
capstone will show that, while food systems can differ in developing and postindustrialized urban environments, there
are facets of sustainability prevalent in each of these vastly different cities that can add insights into the sustainable food
movement and its potential to improve urban food systems.
Megan’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Marie Scholz
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Jennifer Gumbrewicz, SPA: Justice, Law and Society
Technology and the Fourth Amendment: The Past, Present, and Future
Enshrined in the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is the idea that individuals and their “persons, papers,
houses and effects” are protected from unreasonable searches and seizures conducted by government agents. From the
Supreme Court’s decisions, in separate cases, two main tests have evolved to determine if the Fourth Amendment is
applicable when government agents are using technology. The first test was established by the decision Olmstead v. United
States, 277 U.S. 438 (1928). The second test, which was seen to overturn the Olmstead test, was established in 1967 in the
decision Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347 (1967). Traditionally, the Court has chosen to use either the Katz test or the
Olmstead test, based upon the timeframe during which the case was heard; prior to 1967 the Court used Olmstead and
after 1967 the Court has followed the test set forth in Katz. However, new and emerging technologies, such as Global
Positioning Satellites and wiretaps, have been particularly problematic for the Supreme Court to address the use of these
frameworks. In particular, this was exemplified in United States v. Jones, 132 S. Ct. 945 (2012). In that case, the Supreme
Court used both of the tests in order to determine if the Fourth Amendment was applicable. This paper discusses the
development of the two tests and the implications of the holding in Jones as it applies to the use of new and emerging
technologies in criminal procedure.
Marie’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
John Scianimanico
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Anthony Quainton, SIS: International Studies
National Security Strategy: Assessing the Impact and Implementation That Strategic Planning Has on
National Security Policy
Every four years, the President and his administration release a National Security Strategy that outlines the major security
concerns of the United States and how they plan to address them. While having a clear and succinct strategy is widely
agreed upon by national security officials as a necessary component of the American policymaking process, there are
concerns that too much energy is focused on addressing the challenges of today and not enough on those that “loom
over the horizon.” Through the lens of the National Security Strategy (NSS), this paper delves into the politics and
procedures of national security policymaking and seeks to uncover the relationship, if any, between the goals Americans
promote and the policies they adopt. It takes a critical look at the Bush 2002 NSS and the Obama 2010 NSS and
identifies key characteristics within each. Additionally, it offers unparalleled insight on the overall effectiveness of the
NSS from key individuals interviewed for this paper, including Ambassador John Negroponte and American University
Professor Gordon Adams. Finally, the paper aims to investigate the relationship between the NSS and the Department
of Defense’s Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) and the State Department’s Quadrennial Diplomacy and
Development Review (QDDR). While each of the two latter documents lay out a strategic vision for implementing
defense and foreign policy, the connection they have with the larger National Security Strategy has been a tenuous one,
at best. This capstone concludes by stating that the NSS does not have any palpable impact on foreign and defense
policy. Instead of being a prioritized list of national security policies, it serves merely as a public affairs document that
highlights broad goals and offers little direction on how to best accomplish them.
John’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Carolyn Scorpio
Capstone Advisor: Professor Elizabeth Cohn, SIS: International Studies
What Caused the Chilean Winter? Exploring Social Movement Emergence and the Chilean Student
Movement
Beginning in May 2011, the Chilean student movement emerged as a nationwide effort with massive demonstrations and
public strikes, gaining international renown in just a few short months. Initially calling for education reform, the
students’ agenda has grown to incorporate the demands of discontented groups throughout the country, and now seeks
a complete restructuring of the neoliberal model that has been held up as the dominant model for economic growth and
political stability in Latin America. Although media attention has often cited the profound income inequality and high
financial costs of the privatized education system in Chile as root causes of the student movement, the question of what
ultimately sparked the mass mobilization, known as the “Chilean Winter,” has remained a puzzle. This study investigated
the case of the Chilean student movement through the lens of social movement theory in order to explain the root
causes and underlying conditions that gave rise to the ongoing student protests in Chile. Using a descriptive case study
method, the research applied qualitative analysis to analyze primary sources, including official rhetoric and documents of
the student movement organizations and leaders, the response by government officials to the students’ demands, and
Chilean and international media surrounding the movements’ emergence from May 2011 to August 2011, when the
Chilean student movement emerged with a national and international force. Analysis revealed that the emergence of the
Chilean Winter cannot be explained though any one single theory. Instead, there exists an interactive relationship
between the political processes model, resource-mobilization theory, and framing strategies, which led to the sudden
emergence of the student movement.
Carolyn’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Alexander Severin
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Kimberly Cowell-Meyers, SPA: Government
The Super PAC Era: Presidential Elections and Advertising Strategy in a New Age
More money was spent in the 2012 election cycle than ever before, $2 billion in the presidential contest alone. $500
million of this spending came from super PACs, largely unregulated organizations independent from campaigns. Because
these organizations are relatively new, research on their effects has been scant and preliminary. Furthermore, because
unlimited donations and loose-disclosure rules mean super PACs operate largely out of the public eye, there is concern
that super PACs may have a significant negative effect on the tone of presidential campaigns. No research to this point
has been undertaken to see whether the creation and operation of super PACs has had a significant effect on the tone of
presidential campaigns. This project uses an original dataset of nearly 500 television ads from candidates and super PACs
in the 2012 elections to test whether campaigns have begun “outsourcing” their negativity to the super PACs. The study
may find that independent-expenditure organizations, unaccountable to the public and able to raise vast sums of
unregulated capital, are more likely to run negative advertisements than will candidates who operate directly in the public
eye and who are compelled to conduct business under stricter campaign finance regulations.
Alex’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Andrea Sherrill
University Honors in Political Science
Capstone Advisor: Professor Kimberly Cowell-Meyers, SPA: Government
Lobbying and Environmental Policy
The United States policymaking process is a complex set of rules, institutions, and influences that work together to
generate laws. Set within this context is environmental policymaking, where several different agencies, Congressional
committees, and a slew of special interests work tirelessly and spend millions in an attempt to create legislation. Given
the importance of environmental policy, there is surprisingly little research that studies how and why the fossil fuel
energy sector, especially coal—the dirtiest energy source—has so much influence over policy decisions. This paper aims
to explore the ways that lobbyists, particularly those for the coal industry, subvert environmental groups and ensure that
the U.S. does not move forward on climate change policy. Resources, policy environment, and public perception will all
be considered to explain why the coal and other non-renewable energy industries so often succeed in thwarting
regulation and blocking environmental legislation.
Andrea’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
David Silberman
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Andrew Babb, SOC: Communication
Mobilizing Voters in the 21st Century: What Can Be Done to Increase Voter Turnout in the United
States
Voting is a critical part of our duty as Americans. As citizens of one of the oldest democracies in existence, Americans
take great pride in their history of democratically selecting their leaders. However, voter turnout in the United States is
much lower than that of other established democracies and continues to drop in elections. This paper identifies the
factors that affect voter turnout. Then, the paper discusses steps already in place in various parts of the U.S. to increase
voter turnout. It also describes some of the key differences between the U.S. electoral system and those of other
democracies, identifying what may cause such a disparity in turnout. Finally, the paper outlines recommendations that
will likely allow for more widespread democratic turnout in the future. The research shows that there are some problems
inherent in the American voting system that must be addressed. Furthermore, improvements can be made in terms of
voter turnout by increasing incentives for voting while also making the act of casting a ballot more convenient.
David’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Amelia Sklaroff
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Stephen MacAvoy, CAS: Environmental Science
Assessing an Innovative Rating System for University Purchasing Programs: The Next LEED
Certification?
A new organization known as the Sustainable Purchasing Council (SPC) has proposed an innovative ratings system to
certify the sustainability of institutional purchasing programs. The SPC aims to repair the existing guidelines used by
prevalent third-party rating systems that may be misweighting their standards and awarding certifications based on
flawed frameworks. However, their attempt to standardize a ratings system for such a unique process is creating
problems for the SPC’s proposal. By examining the purchasing programs at American University, an environmentally
conscious university, this capstone reveals the obstacles to a successful ratings system. With complications existing at
both the institutional and organizational level, the feasibility of the SPC accomplishing their objectives in the near future
is unrealistic.
Angela Smith
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Elizabeth Sherman, SPA: Government
What Factors Lead to Abortion Restrictions? A Case Study of Virginia and Texas Legislation
Abortion legislation is something that has historically been left to the states. While the landmark case Roe v. Wade
ensured every woman’s right to have an abortion if they so choose, many states have proposed and implemented
legislation that makes it significantly more difficult to obtain an abortion. In Texas a strict ultrasound requirement was
passed, ensuring that women had to undergo an ultrasound by the doctor performing the abortion 24 hours prior to the
procedure. These women had to look at the image on the screen or hear the fetal heartbeat while the doctor describes
the image and the development of the fetus. If the woman is less than 12 weeks along, they may have to undergo a transvaginal sonogram in order to get a clear image. With little public notice, the law passed and was enacted in 2012. Later in
2012, the Virginia State Legislature attempted to pass similar legislation, but the law was blocked on several levels and
received a huge public backlash. After the media firestorm, the legislation was amended in an effort to pass. What makes
it possible for some of this legislation to be enacted in some states with little controversy while other states can
introduce similar legislation to fierce negativity? This paper uses the ultrasound requirements in Virginia and Texas as a
case study to better understand what factors contribute to abortion restrictions. Looking at how these policies were able
to be passed helps us better understand how women’s rights to abortion can be restricted.
Angela’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Zachary Smith
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Evan Kraft, CAS: Economics
Nominal GDP Targeting: A new framework for monetary policy?
At the zero lower bound for nominal interest rates, the Federal Reserve has been unable to substantially lower
unemployment in the years following the 2008 financial crisis. A growing number of economists have suggested that
better results could be produced if the Federal Reserve committed to targeting a level of nominal GDP. This paper
discusses the ways in which such a policy is consistent with previous literature surrounding optimal monetary policy at
the zero lower bound. This capstone introduces a simple inter-temporal model in order to compare the efficacy of
NGDP level targeting to a standard Taylor rule. The results suggest that targeting a level of NGDP can lead to lower
real interest rates and lower unemployment in a liquidity trap. Finally, this paper gives consideration to the potential
advantages of a permanent switch to nominal income stabilization as the primary objective of monetary policy.
Zachary’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Amanda Smith
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Fulton Armstrong, CLALS
Leveraging Islamic Philosophy as a Counterterrorism Strategy
This capstone analyzes the divide between ancient philosophy and Islamist ideology. It also proposes a shift in U.S.
counterterrorism strategy away from solely military operations to a combination that includes philosophical arguments.
In order to win hearts and minds, the U.S. military should understand the arguments of terrorist organizations and early
Islamic thinkers so as to engage Muslims on an intellectual level and disprove incorrect or misinterpreted information
disseminated by Islamists. Ancient Greek philosophy shaped not only the Western world, but also medieval Islam.
Before Islamist fundamentalists declared philosophy contradictory to Islam, a vibrant debate that centered on
developing philosophy and theology existed in the Islamic world. With the loss of traditional philosophy in the 13th
century, Islamic philosophy was stifled. Prominent Islamist thinkers like Ibn Taymiya and Sayid Qutb emphasized
practice over intellectualism. Philosophy provides counterterrorism strategists with a medium to connect with Muslims
on a personal and intellectual level and engage Islamists and potential terrorist recruits in a debate on the tenets of their
beliefs.
Amanda’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Emily Smithman
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Kwaku Nuamah, SIS: International Studies
The Politics of PEPFAR
How does the U.S. allocate funds under the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and why is it more
successful in some countries than in others? President Bush established the U.S. President’s Plan for Emergency Relief
in 2003 to fight the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic. Since then, it has been incremental in decreasing the spread of the
virus and in providing assistance to those already infected. However, the multi-million dollar operation also raises several
serious questions. For example, how does the U.S. government decide to allocate funds? With HIV rates of 25.9 percent
among adults, Swaziland has the highest rates of HIV in the world—but in 2011, Mozambique received nearly twice as
much PEPFAR funding. Research shows that there are multiple factors in how the U.S. allocates money, such as the
willingness of country governments to work with the fund. Another question concerns the “hidden costs” of PEPFAR.
For example, has PEPFAR drawn African doctors away from other major health problems like malaria? If so, how many
lives has this cost? Research argues that malaria brain drain is a problem, but the exact number of lives cost as a result is
arguable. A last question is how PEPFAR benefits the U.S. government and public.
All of these questions, although critical of PEPFAR, can help to strengthen an extremely important program. This
capstone examines these questions under a broader research question: why is PEPFAR more successful in some
countries than in others? It examines that question through three case studies—Mozambique, Swaziland, and South
Africa. These three countries, although in geographical proximity, have different Freedom House rankings (respectively,
partly free, not free, and free) and different regime types. They provide three very different examples of how PEPFAR
can work. PEPFAR saves lives, and a critical look can help it continue to do so more efficiently.
Emily’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Tess Snodgrass
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Olga Rojer, CAS: World Languages and Cultures
The Future of Democracy in Senegal: The Urban Youth in Dakar
The roots of hip-hop in Dakar parallel the roots of hip-hop in America. It is a politically charged art form that seeks to
empower and educate those who are underrepresented and discriminated against. At the same time, however, the hiphop artists are still affected by the division and duality instilled by colonialism. These artists don’t seek political office. In
fact, they denounce the political scene, favoring representation through resistance. The youth in Dakar, like almost
anywhere else, are a product of their environment. Hip-hop in Dakar is a product of the youth. Futhermore, the hip-hop
in Dakar represents duality as it uses a unique mixture of Wolof and French. It combines a more traditional Senegalese
genre of music—tassou, which is similar to rapping—with the hip-hop beats that have been brought to Dakar from their
Western, colonial counterparts. This paper analyzes the emergence of politically driven hip-hop in Dakar, Senegal, and
how this artistic expression has impacted the society of youth in that city. It goes so far as to question whether these
politically charged hip-hop artists will be the future political figures in Senegal and thus, the answer to the country’s
democratic deficit.
Tess’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Kevin Stevralia
University Honors in Psychology
Capstone Advisor: Professor Eric Kothari, CAS: Psychology
A Neurobiological Approach to Psychopathy and the Implications for the Legal System
Psychopaths are dangerous and complicated individuals who generally end up in the criminal population. Many factors
must be considered when dealing with them. This paper takes a multifaceted, neurobiologically based approach to
psychopathy. The goal is to provide insight into the etiology, development, behaviors, and possibility of remediation
associated with these individuals. Exploring brain imaging studies with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in
concert with psychopathy, this paper will compare psychopaths’ brains to the brains of non-psychopathic criminals and
normal controls to find commonalities and differences. The fMRI studies will show any areas of the brain where
psychopaths have significant differences in tissue volume or activation. This study will then analyze these areas for their
relations to the disorder. Based on that underlying neurobiology, this paper will then explore the potential for
remediation of psychopathic individuals and the implications this has for the legal system in their dealings with, and
responsibilities to, these individuals.
Kevin’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Nicholas Stewart
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Jennifer Gumbrewicz, SPA: Justice, Law and Society
Apostasy in Islamic States: A result of too much faith or too little freedom?
This research explores the complex and equally controversial role of religious treason, or apostasy, in Islamic states.
Apostasy emerged in the 7th century as a means of punishing those who denounced their commitment to the Islamic
faith and adopted a new religion, and has since been codified into religious doctrine. Although a part of religious law,
apostasy is not universally punished throughout the Islamic world and is most often pursued as a matter of public policy
in Islamic states, raising an important correlative question. Most scholars have argued that apostasy persists with such
force in Islamic states due to their high degree of religiosity, which is partly true. However, as this research demonstrates,
faith is only partially responsible for the persistence of apostasy in Islamic states. Overlooked in discussions of apostasy
is the fact that Islamic states, namely Saudi Arabia and Iran, are among the most authoritarian polities in the world. This
authoritarianism reinforces structures that emphasize a high degree of intolerance toward any behavior deemed to
undermine the normative ideology of the state. Therefore, as this research argues, while apostates are committing an act
of religious treason, they are also committing the far graver offense of undermining the normative Islamic paradigms of
an authoritarian state bent on maintaining its power. In relying on various historical, sociological, and political
frameworks, this paper argues that apostasy, while often viewed strictly as a theological concept, ultimately persists in
authoritarian states due to their broader lack of toleration and the fine line between deviancy and criminality that
emerges as a result of their authoritarian structures. The implications of this conclusion are important, as it suggests that
apostasy endures in Islamic states—and not throughout all predominantly Muslim polities—not because of too much
faith, but rather because of too little freedom.
Nicholas’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Jennifer Storozum
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
The Role of Language in Internatinal Business: English as a Lingua Franca
As a result of globalization, multinational corporations are struggling to combat the issue of language in international
business communication. This paper analyzes the role of language and language barriers in international business
communication, with a particular focus on English as an emerging lingua franca and its effects on multinational
management. After analyzing the language strategy of two multinational corporations where English was made the
official corporate language, KONE in Finland and Rakuten in Japan, this study suggests that implementing “Englishonly” corporate language policies is ineffective at improving transnational communication and makes recommendations
for alternative strategic language planning methods.
Jennifer’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Kathryn Sullivan
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor David Bosco, SIS: International Studies
"Passive Recipients vs. Active Participants"
Though local organizations are typically the first responders to a disaster and offer unique skills and knowledge to the
recovery process, they are often bypassed by larger international relief agencies. In 2005, the United Nations introduced
the Cluster System, a new mechanism to coordinate the actions of relief actors during emergencies. This paper seeks to
evaluate the impact of the Cluster System on coordination between local and international actors by focusing on suddenonset natural disasters in Indonesia before and after the implementation of the Cluster System—the 2004 Indian Ocean
Tsunami and the 2006 Yogyakarta Earthquake. Through the study of media reports during the disaster relief and
recovery periods and program evaluations issued afterward, this capstone compares the nature of the relationship
between international relief agencies and local governments, local nongovernmental organizations, communities, and
beneficiaries for the two disaster responses. The research finds that coordination between international relief agencies
and local actors was significantly stronger during the Yogyakarta relief effort, suggesting that the Cluster System has
helped to improve that coordination. There are, however, several other factors that may explain this relationship.
Additional case studies will therefore be required before the impact of the Cluster System on local-international relief
coordination can be assessed with any certainty.
Kathryn’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Tracy Tabib
University Honors in Biology
Capstone Advisor: Professor Kathleen DeCicco-Skinner, CAS: Biology
Adipocytes and Microenvironment: Effects on Multiple Myeloma Progression and Proliferation
Multiple myeloma is a malignancy of plasma cells (immune cells that express antibodies) and the second-most common
of the hematological malignancies. Obesity is a known risk factor for multiple myeloma, but the mechanisms underlying
the increased susceptibility to this cancer are unknown. To identify a potential mechanism, myeloma cells were cocultured in the presence of adipocytes (fat cells) from obese or lean patients and cell viability assays were subsequently
performed. Both types of adipocytes were found to increase multiple myeloma cell proliferation with adipocytes from
obese patients in particular exacerbating these effects. Moreover, orlistat, an anti-obesity drug and known inhibitor of
fatty acid synthase (FASN), was found to successfully suppress cancer cell proliferation. Through Western analysis,
orlistat was identified as increasing apoptotic genes while decreasing those related to proliferation. The implications of
this research thus demonstrate that orlistat could potentially be incorporated in drug therapy and that the role obesity
plays in multiple myeloma progression should be further investigated. As obesity reduces the efficacy of drug treatments
and promotes drug resistance, determining which of the factors secreted by obese adipocytes are significant is of vital
importance to the prognosis of patients.
Ryan Taylor
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Caron Martinez, CAS: Literature
Writing a Novel
This capstone’s abstract is unavailable at this time.
Jamie Tkach
University Honors in Mathematics and Economics
Capstone Advisor: Professor Paul Winters, CAS: Economics
Competitive Colleges and Graduation Rates in American Universities
The purpose of this paper was to find out whether acceptance rates at a college or university have an effect on the
graduation and retention rate of students at the institution. Every institution that receives federal money is required to
report its statistics, and thus the Department of Education has the data. This study performed a simple linear regression
with the independent variable of acceptance rate and dependent variable of graduation rates. It did so while controlling
for a variety of other school-specific variables that may have also had an effect on graduation rates. Across
approximately 1,750 American universities, there was a negative correlation between the acceptance rate and the
graduation rate. In addition, this study found that the percentage of in-state students and the percentage of minority
students were correlated with graduation rates. Based on these findings, this capstone makes recommendations to
universities about how to increase their retention, such as increasing the rigor of the application process.
Jamie’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Ryan Travitz
Honors in Communication
Capstone Advisor: Professor Gemma Puglisi, SOC: Communication
Media Outreach Strategy for SoapBox Soaps
This capstone serves as a practical application of public communications skills through the creation of a media
placement strategy for the real-world client, SoapBox Soaps. First, it analyzes the strategic position of SoapBox Soaps,
and from this analysis it extrapolates a target audience and pitch strategy comprised of several storylines. Second, it uses
the strategic analysis alongside extensive client interviews to inform a feature piece about the client to be published in
relevant media outlets. Third, it uses the target audience to construct a media list of potential media outlets. Finally, it
uses the strategic analysis and storylines from the feature story to create pitch letters targeted toward the outlets found in
the media list. Through these methods, the capstone gains media placements and attention for the client company.
Ryan’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Mariya (Masha) Tsyglakova
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Joshua Lansky, CAS: Mathematics and Statistics
Transcendental Numbers and Infinites of Different Sizes
There are many different number systems used in mathematics, including natural, whole, algebraic, and real numbers.
Transcendental numbers (that is, non-algebraic real numbers) comprise a relatively new number system. Examples of
transcendental numbers include e and π. Joseph Liouville first proved the existence of transcendental numbers in 1844.
Although only a few transcendental numbers are well known, the set of these numbers is extremely large. In fact, there
exist more transcendental than algebraic numbers. This paper proves that there are infinitely many transcendental
numbers by showing that the set of real numbers is much larger than the set of algebraic numbers. Since both of these
sets are infinite, one infinity can be larger than another infinity.
Masha’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Paula Tulis
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Gemma Puglisi, SOC: Communication
The Flavor of Fair Trade: Divine Chocolate
In 2012, chocolate is no longer just something to physically chew on; rather, it has been increasingly part of the
discussion on humanitarian and social issues, providing intellectual food for thought as well. Fair Trade brands are
expanding their market share as more consumers realize that the working environments that their chocolate comes from
matter. This capstone looks at one brand that is pioneering the Fair Trade phenomenon: Divine Chocolate. The hope of
this capstone, which includes a market analysis and proposed public relations plan, is to give insight into Divine
Chocolate’s mission and how the brand is making great strides as a socially responsible enterprise while also creating a
really delicious product.
Paula’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Aaron Turk
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Pek Koon Heng-Blackburn, SIS: International Studies
The Emperor’s New Clothes: China’s Soft Power Foray into Southeast Asia
In recent years, China has employed various means to increase its soft power around the world, particularly in Southeast
Asia. Meanwhile, certain scholars have broadened the concept of China’s soft power to include other means (e.g., hard
power-based economic means) that do not strictly adhere to the original definition of soft power, aggrandizing their
perception of China’s soft power. According to those authors, China’s soft power appears (undeservedly) impressive. In
an attempt to improve the international community’s understanding of the extent and impact of China’s soft power, this
paper examines whether China’s attempts at exercising soft power have generally built trust among members of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), or whether these nations instead view their relationship with China
as utilitarian (i.e., based on economic opportunities). Based on the research conducted (using within-case analysis), this
project concludes that China’s attempts at exercising soft power have generally been unsuccessful in building trust with
ASEAN member states; rather, utilitarianism is prevalent among ASEAN member states in their relationships with
China. As a result, China’s exercise of soft power has thus far been unsuccessful in establishing significant influence over
ASEAN member states.
Aaron’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Bethany Turley
University Honors in Foreign Language and Communication Media
Capstone Advisor: Professor Kyle Brannon, SOC: Communication
Online Crowd-sourced Social Documentary
This capstone details the creation of an interactive website created to provide information about the Democratic
Republic of Congo. The website combines graphic design, research, and animation in order to draw in individuals who
are thus far unfamiliar with the issues within the county. In doing so, it invites them to participate in the conversation
about those issues. The project also illustrates techniques in branding and networking that were developed over the
course of the website’s development.
Devin Turner
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Victoria Keichel, SIS: International Studies
Public-Private Partnerships in Transportation
This report set out to examine the feasibility and potential structure for a public-private partnership between the
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA, and Philadelphia Business Improvement Districts, or
BIDs, for the improvement of subway-surface trolley stations in the Center City and University City neighborhoods in
Philadelphia. This report examined the current conditions and involved parties, laid out a potential implementation plan,
examined and evaluated local and domestic best practices for public transportation partnerships and station
improvements, conducted an analysis of applicable project strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and
presented project recommendations. This report proposed that with rational scaling and community buy-in, a station
improvement project could be very affordable and could offer significant benefits to communities in terms of security,
safety perceptions, and community marketing. Furthermore, this report suggested that the successful implementation of
this plan could have much broader implications for the future of the currently underfunded SEPTA public
transportation system, providing a new, more community-oriented method for SEPTA to maintain or improve service in
the face of increasing government cuts.
Devin’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Matthew Tweardy
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Jessica Uscinski, CAS: Physics
Optical Interferometry: New Potential for Clinical Dosimetry
This paper describes a method of highly-sensitive thermometry with the potential for instantaneous determination of
radiation dose delivered to cancer patients. Inspired by the necessity for a non-invasive method of measuring absorbed
dose from clinical radiation, the optical interferometer is shown, theoretically and experimentally, to be significantly
more sensitive and have higher resolution than existing ultrasonic interferometers. The optical interferometer exploits
the relationship between water temperature and optical wavelength to encode sub-millikelvin temperature signals in the
phase of a Michaelson interferometer. An experiment is devised to simultaneously compare optical and ultrasonic
interferometry methods. This experiment confirms theoretical predictions that optical interferometry is about a factor of
26 more sensitive than ultrasonic interferometry. The paper also discusses drawbacks of the optical interferometer,
namely its susceptibility to mechanical noise and the difficulty in expanding to more than one dimension. Optical
interferometry represents a possible method for clinical dosimetry, particularly as radiation therapy continues to increase
its efficiency, by lowering dose rates and subsequently demanding more of dosimetric technologies.
Christine Valentine
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Anthony Quainton, SIS: International Studies
The Political Implications of Palestinian Refugees: A Cross-national Case Study
Increasingly, Arab-Israeli peace talks envision a large role for Arab host countries to absorb Palestinian refugees. This
paper undertakes a cross-country case study of the three largest host countries: Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Through
examining the history, current living situations of refugees, and political concerns refugees pose for each country, this
paper examines the viability and willingness of each country to integrate Palestinian communities. Each community has
vastly different political implications. In Jordan, integration poses concerns for economic well-being and national
identity. In Syria, absorption threatens the ruling elite, and politicians are wary it may be seen as a concession to Israel
and the West. Finally, Palestinian integration in Lebanon poses a threat to the demographic makeup of the country and
the political system based on demographic composition. There is no overarching solution that can account for the
unique characteristics of these communities and countries. Each must be examined independently, keeping in mind the
rights of all parties involved.
Margot Van Loon
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor John Robert Kelley, SIS: International Studies
Wither Obshestvennaya Diplomatiya: Assessing U.S. Public Diplomacy in Post-Cold War Russia
Although a substantial amount of literature analyzes American public diplomacy in the Soviet Union, the level of
scholarly interest in the region appears to have fallen with the Iron Curtain. There exists no comprehensive account of
U.S. public diplomacy in Russia over the last twenty years, or any significant discussion of how these efforts have been
received by the Russian public. This study addresses the gap in the literature by reconstructing the efforts of the last
twenty years, providing a case study for scholars of public diplomacy and of U.S.-Russia relations. Twelve policy
officials, area experts, and public diplomats who had served in Moscow were interviewed to create a primary-source
account of events in the field from 1989 to 2012. The taxonomy of public diplomacy, originally defined by Dr. Nicholas
Cull, was then used to categorize each activity by primary purpose: listening, advocacy, cultural diplomacy, exchanges,
and international broadcasting. These accounts were contextualized against the major events of the U.S.-Russia bilateral
relationship in order to identify broad trends, successes, and failures. The resulting narrative illustrates that U.S. public
diplomacy in Russia suffers from a lack of top-down support from the U.S. government, from a restricted media
environment that limits the success of advocacy and international broadcasting, and from the incongruity of messaging
and actions that characterize the last two decades of the bilateral relationship. Other findings include that: 1) listening
among public diplomacy practitioners in Russia is improving; 2) cultural diplomacy and exchange programs have been
the elements of public diplomacy most immune to the kind of political fluctuations that have obstructed advocacy and
broadcasting efforts; and 3) an increased reliance on digital platforms is expanding U.S. public diplomacy practitioners’
ability to act as facilitators in Russia, but concern remains among practitioners that this will create an overreliance on
social media as the “silver bullet” to all problems.
Margot’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Huong Vu
University Honors in Business Administration
Capstone Advisor: Professor Richard Linowes, KSB: Management
Limited Brands - Building a Manufacturer in Vietnam
This capstone’s abstract is unavailable at this time.
Jonelle Walker
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Javier Rivera, CAS: Performing Arts
Naomi Iizuka’s “Polaroid Stories” (In Production)
“Polaroid Stories” presents a new artistic avenue for the Rude Mechanicals, American University’s student-run
Shakespeare theatre troupe. This play is contemporary, lyrical, and urban, and it confronts subject matters that
Shakespearean and Classical texts do not, like drugs, homelessness, and street crime. While these distinctly contemporary
issues would be new material for the troupe, the play is deeply embedded in the stories and characters of Ovid’s
Metamorphoses, familiar territory that will be the artistic anchor of this production. The goal of this production is to tell
the stories of people who are often forgotten and ignored, elevating their pathos by aligning them with the lasting tales
of ancient immortals, like Zeus and Dionysus, and mythological figures like Eurydice and Orpheus. The play offers a
way to portray the heartwrenching but viscerally human lives of drug addicts, runaways, and thugs while maintaining the
integrity of Ovid’s Greek source stories. These characters are not kids who happen to resemble gods; they are gods
living in the contemporary underworld.
This play has a unique ability to turn contemporary jargon, slang, and profanity into stunning verse that matches its
Classical source in beauty, and for that reason, it fits perfectly into the Rude Mechanicals season and overall mission.
“Polaroid Stories” is a contemporary play with the spirit and artistry of a classic. The play’s use of vernacular veils an
artfully faithful adaptation of Ovid, which might attract audience members to Metamorphoses who may not have otherwise
been interested. Further, the subject matter of this play lends itself well to opportunities to reach out to the Washington,
D.C., community, raising awareness and, perhaps, donations for homeless and at-risk youth.
This show’s aesthetic is handmade and dreamlike. Each character will be dressed in contemporary ragged but colorful
clothing and will have a costume aspect evocative of their myth. Philomel will put on a bathrobe with her defiant speech
from Ovid written all over it. Persephone will wear a hoodie and a flower in her hair. Orpheus will carry a busted and
broken guitar. SKINHEADgirl will have string wrapped around both of her forearms. D will wear androgynous clothing
and makeup. G will dress opulently with lightning bolt accents. Narcissus will always carry a hand mirror. Eurydice will
wear a handmade flower chain wreath. Echo will carry around a toy echo microphone. SKINHEADboy will always
have a knife. The lighting and set will be dark and dreamy. The only major set piece will be a panel of chain-link fence.
Above the scene, there may be colorful Christmas lights. The music will be heavy bass, dubstep and mash-up music. The
aim is to create an atmosphere that reminds the audience of finding one’s way through a major city at night, maybe a
little drunk.
Jonelle’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Julie Warner
University Honors in Mathematics
Capstone Advisor: Professor Michael Robinson, CAS: Mathematics and Statistics
Acoustics: Reflection Coefficents and Mapping
Every physical material has a specific acoustic reflection coefficient, which is what determines the strength of the
reflection of a sound wave striking the material. This coefficient can be determined with a combination of simulation
and experimental techniques. The experimental element of this project consists of transmitting and receiving sound
waves in a certain environment. The environment is mapped, and then a transmitter emits a sound wave of a specified
frequency into the environment. The reflection of the sound wave off of boundaries such as the floor and the walls of
the environment is then recorded with a receiver. This process creates an acoustic map of the environment. The data
gathered from this experimental portion is then compared to a computer simulation of the experiment. The simulation,
which is based on the Helmholtz wave equations, uses the boundary conditions of the environment and the parameters
of the sound wave to produce a model of the wave reflections. If the appropriate reflection coefficient is used in the
simulation, it will produce results that match the experimental data. Thus, by matching the simulation to the data, the
reflection coefficient of the materials of an environment can be determined.
Julie’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Erik Weiderpass
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Celeste Wallander, SIS: International Studies
Communicating in a Cold Climate: Moving Toward U.S.-Russia Cooperation on Missile Defense
This paper assesses United States efforts to convince the Russian government that U.S. ballistic missile defense plans in
Europe do not pose threats to Russia’s nuclear deterrent or to strategic stability. It also attempts to offer alternative
strategies of engagement. Interviews were conducted with a number of current and former government officials, as well
as non-governmental experts in both the U.S. and Russia. The paper begins by charting the history of U.S. missile
defense policy and strategic thought, followed by a description of the current composition of U.S. missile defense plans
in Europe and an analysis of the benefits of missile defense cooperation. It then places the discussion in the context of
current U.S. priorities in the areas of strategic arms control and bilateral relations with the Russian Federation. Next, it
analyzes the issue of missile defense from a Russian perspective, with an emphasis on the differing threat perceptions of
ballistic missile proliferation and the technical basis (or lack thereof) for Russian concerns regarding U.S. missile
defenses in Europe. Finally, the paper uses the organizing concept of strategic communication to identify problems in
the U.S. government’s communication strategy thus far. It offers recommendations to improve engagement with the
goal of assuaging Russian concerns, unblocking the path toward U.S.-Russia missile defense cooperation, and furthering
strategic arms reductions.
Erik’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Brian Weinstein
University Honors in Physics
Capstone Advisor: Professor Nathan Harshman, CAS: Physics
Symmetries of Four Harmonically-Trapped Particles in One Dimension
This capstone presents a method for solving interacting, four-body systems in a one-dimensional harmonic
trap. By expressing the particle coordinates in Jacobi cartesian coordinates, this project discovers the underlying Oh
symmetry, i.e., tetrahedral (Td) symmetry, with parity inversion. This symmetry provides an alternate method for
describing particle configurations and clustering, and it simplifies numerical calculations of the energy eigenstates of the
system for tunable interactions.
Brian’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Bridget Weisenreder
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Mohammed Abu-Nimer, SIS: International Studies
Interfaith Dialogue: An Evaluation of Practices in American and French Contexts
This capstone analyzes interfaith dialogue activities in the United States and France. It explores the need for improved
communications and interfaith perceptions in American and French settings. This project also analyzes the Dialogue
Development Group “Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Hate?” at American University. The
research concludes with an in-depth analysis of France, determining that the relationship between French politics,
religion, and society encompasses various stages of Bennett’s model of intercultural sensitivity and that Parisian
metropolitan dialogue organizations are at least minimally addressing the resulting issues. The study concludes that
political adjustment is required for full engagement of the issues and that further advocacy efforts are necessary.
Ross Weistroffer
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Mary Giandrea, CAS: History
Ethnic Cleansing in the City of Density: Vectors of Violence and Factors of Restraint in the Case of the
Tacoma Expulsion
This thesis investigates the 1885 Tacoma Expulsion of its Chinese residents through the lens of ethnic cleansing,
analyzing primary source accounts and documents to expose the causes of the Expulsion. In doing so, it places the
Expulsion in the context of the Pai Hua, or “Driving Out,” of Chinese in settlements across the American West, using
modern theories of mass violence to probe the roots of this case study. The work finds these modern theories to be
cross-applicable to the Tacoma Expulsion, arguing that a systemic series of failures in the structures regulating violence
enabled the organization and execution of the plan to cleanse Tacoma of its Chinese.
Ross’ capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Helen West
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Noah Getz, CAS: Performing Arts
Expressions of Life: A Senior Recital
Contemporary classical saxophonist Helen Tuilene West’s senior recital explores the concept of life through music,
sound, and film. The recital features two premieres. The first is a composition by Pittsburgh University Ph.D. candidate
Aaron Brooks. The American University Saxophone Quartet, comprised of West, Charley Fogel, Vincent Guerrero, and
David Komorowski, performs this piece. Vocalist Carley DeFranco, percussionist Kevin Eikenberg, and cellist Ellen
Rice join West for the premiere of “Kusnakoo,” an avant-garde pictorial notation piece for ensemble and electronics
composed by West. West is also joined by Matthew Vanhoose, a local pianist and organist for the Washington Nationals,
for William Albright’s Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano, Alfred Descenclos’ “Prelude, Cadence et Finale,” and
Karel Husa’s “Elégie et rondeau.”
Helen’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Megan Westman
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Cara Gabriel
I Know Things Now: A Senior Recital and Honors Capstone
This capstone’s abstract is unavailable at this time.
Julia White
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Abdul Aziz Said, SIS: International Studies
Peacebuilding Tools for Restoring Justice at the Local Level
In a world ridden with conflict of varying degrees, this capstone investigates some of the more effective techniques and
tools that have been utilized to resolve tensions and restore communal harmony at the local level. Two peacemaking
tools employed by the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC), an organization devoted to localizing peace in
Washington, D.C., are explored to consider constructive elements of restorative justice processes. This study found that
Community Conferencing and Peacemaking Circles promoted empathy, dialogue, and mutual understanding. These
outcomes support understanding of “the other” in an effort to rebuild trust and transform relationships of the parties
involved in a conflict, thereby creating an open environment for resolving the conflict at hand. To test the success of the
components of LAYC peacebuilding programs, this study gave consideration to their application to an external
community conflict in the northern suburbs of Chicago. This capstone then determined that utilizing these techniques
should lead to better peacebuilding outcomes. Through the understanding that peace is a journey rather than a
destination, restorative justice focusing on the healing of communities and the rebuilding of broken relationships is
found to be most effective in creating and sustaining peace in torn societies.
Julia’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Jonathan Williams
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Daniel Fong, CAS: Biology
Honors Capstone: Exploring the Basic Biology of the Freshwater Amphipod Stygobromus tenuis
potomacus
This study employed the Schnabel and Schumacher‐Eschmeyer (S‐E) methods to estimate the population size of the
freshwater amphipod Stygobromus tenuis potomacus at each of two seepages springs (seeps B and C) draining
hypotelminorheic habitats near Washington, D.C. The study collected data with a multiple mark‐multiple recapture
design over two sample periods of different sampling intervals. The first period involved weekly sampling for eight
weeks. The second period involved daily sampling for four days. The study also collected data on the temperature of the
seeps and other physical aspects. Ovigerous females were kept in captivity and the head length of each was noted, along
with the size of her brood. For seep B, the Schnabel analysis of the weekly sampling data produced a population
estimate of 9207, with a 95 percent confidence interval of 4545 to 45021 individuals. The same data produced an S‐E
estimate of 14533, with an undefined 95 percent confidence interval. The Schnabel population estimate obtained from
the daily sampling data was 5498 individuals, with a 95 percent confidence interval of 3002 to 14728 individuals. The S‐
E estimate obtained from the same data was 6367 individuals, with an undefined 95 percent confidence interval. Low
recapture rates made population estimates for seep C impossible. Brood size was found to be positively dependent on
female head length, with an R2 value of 0.26, significant at the 0.001 level. This study represents the first attempt to use
mark‐recapture methods to estimate S. t. potomacus population sizes, as well as the first in vivo analysis of this amphipod’s
fecundity.
Jonathan’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Haylee Wilson
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Kimberly Sims, CAS: History
Changes in National Media’s Treatment of Math Education from 1970-1989
The debate over STEM education, STEM graduates, and highly-skilled STEM immigrants captured the media’s attention
in 2012 because of its involvement in the United States’ position in a world that is continuing to become more centered
on technology. “STEM” stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and it represents the subjects that
require technical degrees in those subject areas. As technology becomes more important to a country’s position, the
amount of individuals trained in technical fields becomes of greater importance. Reasons for that importance range from
concerns about commercial manufacturing and production to homeland security, but Americans are falling behind in
attracting women to those fields, especially mathematics. Many authors place the blame on the lack of encouragement
for young women on a study conducted by Camilla Persson Benbow and Julian C. Stanley claiming that women are
genetically inferior to men in terms of inherent ability in mathematics. The publicity of this study increased the frequency
of the topic of mathematics education in the news media, created the theory of the “math gene” because of the assumed
validity of the theory after its initial introduction and assessment period, caused concern for the implications it would
create for young girls exploring interests and women in the field, and gradually transformed the reporting of test scores
in mathematics to include both grade level and gender. Scientists have studied the immediate and lingering effects of the
myth of the “math gene” as disseminated in this study, but the initial analysis in the news media provides the
information given to a wider American public than provided in Science magazine. Furthermore, initial reports in national
publications tended to proliferate the effects of the study despite the fact that their analysis frequently questioned its
validity.
Haylee’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Raquel Winchester
University Honors in Graphic Design
Capstone Advisor: Professor Yana Sakellion, CAS: Art
Flashback DC iPhone App Prototype
This Graphic Design capstone is an exploration of the way today’s mobile technology has transformed photography and
its historical and cultural roles. Since its introduction in 2007, the iPhone has been constantly revolutionizing technology
and user experience. Experimenting with these technological advances, this project focuses on the prototype of
Flashback DC, a conceptual iPhone app with a vintage scrapbook aesthetic. Flashback DC draws on the human
need or desire to capture memories while visiting new places. It encourages the user to take a photo of a Washington,
D.C., landmark (be it monument or memorial), and then uses image recognition technology to identify it. The app uses
this information to display a timeline of photographs of the landmark throughout time, thus serving as a tour guide or
educational history tool. Drawing on the current trend in mobile photography to create retro photos that evoke
nostalgia, Flashback DC gives users the option of creating a “time travel” souvenir, where they can merge a past photo
with their present one, and add a photographic filter to give it a vintage effect. These photos can be immediately shared
with friends and family through social media. Flashback DC thus serves basic photography, educational, and novelty
purposes. The video prototype is accompanied by a paper that discusses the evolution of photography since its
introduction in 1839. It focuses on the role iPhone technology has played in this, and how this technology has been
applied to Flashback DC.
Raquel’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it. Click here to read the process.
Maddi Winkler
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Colin Saldanha, CAS: Biology
Peripheral Injection of Lipopolysacchiride Increases Neural Aromatase in Zebra Finches
Inflammation is the body’s response to injury or invasion of a pathogen. Pro-inflammatory cytokines can modify brain
activity to help fight infection and manage injury. However, chronic high levels of cytokines can be detrimental.
Reestablishing homeostasis is essential for preventing excessive neurodegeneration. In songbirds, there is evidence that
estrogen is a mediator of neuroinflammation. Aromatase, the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of androgens to
estrogens, is expressed in astrocytes of songbirds following brain injury and exposure to an inflammatory agent. This
suggests that inflammation may be an inducer of aromatase expression. However, the exact mechanism is unknown. The
goal of this experiment was to see whether systemic inflammation is sufficient to upregulate aromatase expression in the
brain of zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Adult females were given either a peripheral injection of the endotoxin
lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (n=9) or saline control (n=9). An observer blind to the treatment recorded behavior 30
minutes before and 2 hours after injection. Resting behavior was significantly higher in the LPS group. Birds were
sacrificed either 2 hours (n=8) or 24 hours (n=10) later, and cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) and aromatase mRNA
were measured. IL-1B was significantly higher in the LPS-treated group at 2 hours. Aromatase expression in the LPStreated group was twice as high as the control group at 24 hours. This study concludes that systemic inflammatory
signals as a result of LPS challenge are sufficient to increase neural aromatase in zebra finches. Further studies will
examine the cellular mechanism and time course for this effect.
Robyn Winz
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Karen Knee, CAS: Environmental Science
Tracing Groundwater Inputs into Anacostia Seep Habitats Using Radon
Shallow subterranean, or hypotelminorheic, habitats are prevalent in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. These
persistent wet spots or small pools can be classified as either groundwater-fed seepage springs or surface water-fed
vernal pools. Unique fauna, including blind, depigmented arthropod species similar to those found in caves, live in
seepage springs and may be threatened by urbanization and development in the surrounding area. This study used radon
as a tracer of groundwater input into shallow freshwater pools in the Anacostia watershed in Southeast and Northeast
D.C. A high radon concentration in a pool indicated recent groundwater input into the habitat.
Robyn’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Kate Wiznitzer
Capstone Advisor: Professor Javier Rivera, CAS: Performing Arts
The Importance of Arts Education in Academic Success and Personal Development
This paper examines the benefits of arts education on the psychological and academic development of children and
teens from preschool years through high school. Existing research on the success of arts-based programs, combined
with a firsthand account of working with a class of second grade students on a production of The Wizard of Oz, shows
that participation in drama, music, and dance programs is very helpful to the success of students, both in school and in
their personal growth. Benefits include a higher likelihood of graduating high school, as well as the development of
important skills and personal tools, such as self-esteem and decision-making.
Kate’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Bryan Yannantuono
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Quansheng Zhao, SIS: International Studies
NGO Fundraising Strategies in 21st Century China: Implications for the Development of a Nascent Civil
Society and Philanthropic Culture
Since Reform and Opening, which scaled back direct involvement of the state in social affairs, the number of
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in China has skyrocketed, leading some scholars to speculate on the
development of an independent civil society. However, since NGOs occupy an ambiguous position in China’s statesociety dynamic, they are rife with contradictions: the government praises the role of NGOs in providing social services,
but also sees them as potential sources of instability; many groups have strong ties to the state, though technically illegal
grassroots NGOs are often tolerated; they are subject to cumbersome regulations, yet enjoy the benefits of discretionary
enforcement. Despite the importance of these groups to the literature on civil society and philanthropic culture, there
has been a dearth of research on the fundraising strategies of Chinese NGOs. This article seeks to fill that gap by
examining the ways organizations attract funding in order to sustain their operations. By utilizing a case study approach
of several types of NGOs, this paper provides insight on this sorely ignored topic from the service providers themselves.
After constructing a typology of different fundraising strategies, this article ultimately argues that although China’s
NGOs are less reliant on the government for financial support, there are still numerous legal and cultural obstacles to
the formation of a liberal civil society.
Andrea Yarosh
University Honors in International Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor David Martin-McCormick, SIS: International Studies
China’s Contribution to the Breakdown of Transnational Security
This paper argues that the People’s Republic of China does not play the part of a concerned international leader. Instead,
it undermines international order and creates instability by refusing to adhere to rules and norms set by the international
community. This report aims to demonstrate China’s contribution to global insecurity in three areas: China’s compliance
with the World Trade Organization (WTO), its investment in Africa, and its dealings with rogue states. Throughout the
report, China’s actions in each of these areas are examined by content analysis of various primary and secondary sources
to provide evidence of the country’s contribution to creating transnational security challenges. The results indicate that if
the United States wishes for a peaceful resolution of these problems, it must craft a cooperative solution that will not
only include the Chinese but be sensitive to their cultural norms and standards. In this way, China will no longer be an
antagonist in global affairs but a partner in generating solutions to pressing world issues.
Andrea’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Jaclyn Yeary
University Honors
and Taryn Stansbury
Honors ’14
Capstone Advisors: Professor Rodger Streitmatter, SOC: Communication;
Professor Sandra Cannon-Brown, SOC: Communication;
and Professor Declan Fahy, SOC: Communication
Harbor Heroes
On October 29, 2012, Superstorm Sandy rocked the east coast of the United States, leaving an estimated 8 million
people without power and causing over $50 billion in damages. New York City was bombarded by 25 foot waves that
flooded the city. Sandy’s aftermath caused many to ask questions about the effects of climate change and to seek
solutions for protecting our cities from future storms. “Harbor Heroes,” a documentary produced by Jaclyn Yeary and
Taryn Stansbury, outlines how some New York City residents are turning to oysters not only to create a natural wave
barrier against future storms, but also to restore the health of the waters in New York’s harbor. The solution is deepseated in New York’s maritime history, and it has the potential to restore what was once the largest oyster population in
the world. The documentary features interviews with everyday community members who care for the future of their
environment, as well as leaders in the ocean conservation community such as Philippe Cousteau, grandson of the world‐
renowned ocean explorer, Jacques Cousteau. These individuals speak to oyster restoration as a multi‐faceted solution: if
completed properly, it will have positive impacts in a variety of areas, including environmental health, local economy,
and education. These little oysters have a mighty role to play in “The Big Apple.”
Jaclyn’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Neslihan Yildirim
University Honors in Environmental Studies
Capstone Advisor: Professor Stephen MacAvoy, CAS: Environmental Science
Senior Capstone in Environmental Studies
Over the last two centuries, industrial activities, deforestation, and the burning of fossil fuels have released high
concentrations of heat-trapping agents called greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. While a certain amount of
greenhouse gas is important to keep our climate warm and livable, these higher concentrations are warming the Earth’s
surface to temperatures that threaten life on our planet. Carbon dioxide and methane are two greenhouse gases that have
increased dramatically due to human activity. With the challenges faced as a result of global warming, the world is faced
with the threat of energy demand. The purpose of this capstone is to encourage the use of renewable energy resources in
order to best meet those challenges by providing detailed information on the scientific, economic, and political
backgrounds of two types of renewable energy resources: hydro-electric and tidal energy. The paper addresses several
key topics, including how the renewable energy functions, its advantages and disadvantages, environmental effects,
economic feasibility, current electric power output and capacity, and future projections. This study used various research
tools, including energy reports published by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The research has indicated
that tidal and hydroelectric energy have their advantages and disadvantages in terms of economic feasibility. Although
both technologies can provide enough energy to sustain societies, they alone cannot address the energy demands of the
world. In order to sustain human lives on a global scale, a multifaceted approach needs to be taken to combine these
energy resources with other renewables. Hydro-electric and wind energy should be used accordingly to best suit a
country’s geographical location, since each nation has its unique natural resources to offer for total electricity output.
Neslihan’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it.
Emily Yox
University Honors
Capstone Advisor: Professor Thespina Yamanis, SIS: International Studies
Reproductive Health in North Africa: Social Determinants of Persistent Problems
Reproductive health in North Africa is met with unique challenges directly related to the religion and culture of the
region. In a region that is predominately Islamic, public health providers must take religious determinants into
consideration when suggesting program recommendations. They must also be able to recognize the difference between
the religious and cultural determinants of reproductive health issues within the region. Islam’s impact on sexuality, a lack
of governmental priority, and cultural norms of patriarchy and gender inequalities have all had an effect on reproductive
health. This paper seeks to identify the reproductive health problems within the North African countries of Morocco,
Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, and Sudan and provide insight on why these problems persist in the region. After
providing insight into the problems that exist, this paper will then provide recommendations for potential program
solutions for North Africa based on these problems’ unique relationship with the religion and culture of the region. This
paper will conclude with a suggested program outline to approach the reproductive health problems in the region. The
program outline takes into account the relationship between reproductive health issues and the cultural and religious
attitudes of North Africa. This program suggestion will be paired with a corresponding logic model to provide a visual
representation of the program and to predict the potential outcomes of its successful implementation. While the region
is diverse and each country must deal with their respective problems individually, there is room for a general program
focused on the problems of reproductive health in North Africa which then can then be personalized to each individual
country. Therefore, the purpose of this program suggestion is to provide a basic skeleton for successful, personalized,
country-based interventions in reproductive health.
Emily’s capstone is available in our digital archive. Click here to read it. Click here to view the logic model.