Exploring Education Policy and Resources in Virginia Secondary Education

The study examines the intersection of federal special education policy within Virginia\u27s secondary schools, specifically focusing on teachers’ compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The study explores educators\u27 awareness and usage of the Virginia Department of Education\u27s hearing decisions index, which documents IDEA violations and due process decisions. Through analyzing federal education legislation, state implementation practices, and teacher perspectives, this study reveals critical gaps in educator preparation and resource awareness regarding special education policy compliance. The findings suggest that while the IDEA violations are being tracked and documented, there remains a significant disconnect between available resources and how they are used throughout the classroom. This research contributes to our understanding of how federalism impacts special education policy within the classroom and highlights areas for improving teacher preparation and resource awareness in Virginia\u27s secondary special education system

Gender Within 20th Century Lesbian Literature

This paper examines gender identities within what is historically categorized as lesbian literature, focusing from 1928 to 1993. In The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall, Orlando by Virginia Woolf, Nightwood by Djuna Barnes, and Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg, gender is portrayed in complex ways. In The Well of Loneliness, Stephen is labeled as an invert and often viewed as a masculine lesbian, but she also states that she loves women like a man loves women. For Orlando, the character of Orlando goes through a sex change and transitions from a man to a woman for Woolf to subtly write about same-sex attraction. Nightwood follows a love triangle between three women, one who is labeled as a masculine invert, and features a transmasculine character that further complicates gender in a text about lesbian sexuality. Lastly, Stone Butch Blues’s main character is a butch lesbian who takes testosterone, gets chest masculinization surgery, and passes as a man. Ultimately, it is impossible to analyze lesbian sexuality in these characters without also looking at gender because the two identities are intrinsically linked

Riding the Digital Wave: How Large Enterprises Are Embracing Disability Inclusion in the Digital Era

In today’s world, companies increasingly use disability inclusion within their branding and marketing strategies. This research examines whether these efforts represent authentic commitment or merely use the disability community for performative purposes. Using both a content analysis of social media campaigns and a quantitative survey of individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities, this study investigates perceptions of corporate disability narratives. Findings reveal that while some companies, such as Microsoft and Nike, are seen as making genuine connections with the disabled community, many others fall short, engaging only in surface-level inclusion without systemic change. The study highlights a persistent gap between visibility and authentic inclusion, calling on businesses to embed accessibility and genuine representation into their marketing strategies. These insights contribute to ongoing conversations around disability advocacy, corporate ethics, and the future of inclusive branding in the digital age

Excess Fructose in High-Fructose Corn Syrup Reduces Cell Viability & Promotes Nitric Oxide Release in RAW 264.7 Macrophages

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is an artificial sweetener that contains slightly higher concentrations of fructose compared to standard sucrose. It has been linked to an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver disease. While both HFCS and sucrose are widely used sweeteners, growing evidence suggests they may differ in their inflammatory potential. We sought to understand the effects of elevated fructose on RAW 264.7 macrophages. To investigate these effects, we treated the cells with either a sucrose solution or asolution designed to mimic high-fructose corn syrup. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation was used to model innate immune activation. We assessed cell viability, nitric oxide (NO) release, IκB protein expression, and TNFα secretion. Compared to sucrose, higher fructose elicited a stronger pro-inflammatory response across cell viability and NO release. Interestingly, no significance was found in regards to IκB and TNFα expression. These findings indicate that higher fructose may play a more active role in promoting macrophage-mediated inflammation. Our research aims to understand how the composition of dietary sugars can differentially influence innate immune pathways and supports a mechanistic link between excessive fructoseintake and the chronic inflammation underlying metabolic diseases

Gibble-Gabble: A Digital Literary Blog

Gibble-Gabble is a digital literary blog created as a sanctuary for readers who appreciate intellectually challenging literature. This project delivers diverse content through video essays, opinion pieces, listicles, book recommendations, and elements of photojournalism. It establishes a unique space in the online literary landscape by blending formal academic analysis with magazine-style journalism and personal essay elements, creating content more substantive than traditional blog content yet more palatable than scholarly writing. Through thoughtful literary engagement with classics and contemporary works of merit, Gibble-Gabble criticizes concerning trends in online literary spaces: the increasing prevalence of vapid romance novels, the promotion of unsustainable consumerism through book hauls on TikTok, and declining literary standards through self-publishing on social media. Gibble-Gabble\u27s distinct voice combines formal elements reflecting high-brow literary appreciation with conversational, snarky commentary that builds authenticity and credibility with readers. While initially conceived for English students and former academics longing for traditional pedagogical discussions, Gibble-Gabble has evolved into a more broadly accessible platform for anyone passionate about the artistic merit of literature. Gibble-Gabble\u27s content varies, from visual storytelling to video essays to curated book recommendations and visually engaging photojournalism, appealing to different interests and online engagement preferences. Future development plans include regular posting and expanding outreach through social media platforms to connect with more book lovers disillusioned with the current literary trends

Beyond the Didactic: The Morally Edifying Impact of Pure Aesthetic Experience

During the late nineteenth century, British artists and writers sought to create a new kind of beauty to combat the growing tedium and materiality of industrialization. This movement became known as Aestheticism, and those who practiced its tradition believed art should be created with the sole intention of eliciting aesthetic pleasure. According to the Aesthetes, art is amoral by nature and any attempt to infuse social commentary into an artwork is fundamentally wrong, adhering to the concept of “Art for Art’s Sake.” This research argues that despite the artists and writers of the Aesthetic Movement claiming that their works exist devoid of any moral value, there is still a morally edifying quality to the aesthetic experience which can be seen through the development of Modernism. The Aesthetic Movement anticipated many of the stylistic practices prominent in modern aesthetics, namely the focus on formal qualities over subject matter and early development of abstraction, which became highly moralized by artists in the early twentieth century. Through an investigation of the different philosophical approaches to morality in art and survey of moral depictions in British art history, this study will contextualize Aestheticism within the realm of moral education

Projecting The Loss of Shark Tooth Island from Sea Level Rise and Land Subsidence

Shark Tooth Island, a popular recreational location on the Virginia side of the lower Potomac River, is disappearing. The causes include sea level rise, groundwater withdrawal, and isostatic adjustment. Given the island’s popularity, this presents a unique opportunity to educate the public about real impacts of climate change in a region with climate change denialism

Called for Jury Duty

This project presents the process of rehearsing, analyzing, and performing as Juror 2 in UMW Theatre’s 2024 production of Twelve Angry Jurors. The website includes my character analysis, research, daily rehearsal and performance journals, as well final reflection on my experience in this production and my time with UMW Theatre

The Relationship Between Sleepiness, Dopamine, and Food Impulsivity

This research investigates the role of sleepiness and dopamine function (measured by spontaneous eye blink rate; sEBR), in impulsive action toward food stimuli. Analysis of Go/NoGo performance suggests that participants were more impulsive toward food stimuli compared to non-food stimuli. In addition, there was a curvilinear relationship between sleepiness and high calorie NoGo accuracy, where those who were moderately sleepy tended to be most impulsive. sEBR did not correlate to either sleepiness or Go/NoGo performance

Dekonstruktion der AfD: Eine Analyse der rechtspopulistischen deutschen Partei der„Alternative für Deutschland”

Die Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) ist eine rechtsextreme populistische Partei, die innerhalb eines Jahrzehnts rasch an Macht gewonnen hat, insbesondere in den ostdeutschen Bundesländern, aufgrund ihrer Betonung der Nationalisierung, ihrer populistischen Rhetorik und ihrer Anziehungskraft auf Wähler, die Ängste vor Einwanderung und kulturellem Wandel hegen. Die AfD hat es innerhalb von fünf Jahren geschafft, eine starke Wählerschaft zu mobilisieren, 2017 Sitze im Bundestag zu erringen und gilt nun als wichtigste Oppositionspartei zu den etablierten Parteien. Die AfD ist die erste rechte Partei seit 1945, die aufgrund des Aufstiegs rechtspolitischer Ideologien bedeutende Wahlerfolge erzielen konnte. Aufgrund des reaktionären Pendelschwungs nach dem Nationalsozialismus verbietet das Strafgesetzbuch Hassreden und nationalsozialistische Ideologie ausdrücklich. Die Partei hat jedoch überlebt, indem sie einen schmalen Grat zwischen Neonazismus und ultrakonservativer Meinungsfreiheit beschreitet. Neben den hetzerischen Äußerungen von AfD-Politikern und rechten Persönlichkeiten haben die Medien ihre Aufmerksamkeit auf die politische Polarisierung gerichtet, die durch die Verbreitung explosiver Propaganda entstanden ist. Während die AfD weiter an Einfluss gewinnt und Verbindungen zu anderen polarisierten und extremistischen Gruppierungen knüpft, leidet die Koalitionsregierung unter einer zunehmenden Fragmentierung, wie sie auch in den Vereinigten Staaten und anderen europäischen Ländern zu beobachten ist