Talking about Politics on Social Media?: Opinions of Emerging Adults

News stories say the Internet is filled with increasingly polarizing, politically strident speech. Looking beyond the headlines, this study investigates experiences of non-activist, emerging adults at a small college, to see in what ways their everyday social media communications reflect these conflict-oriented, argumentative extremes, and/or if they have internalized a version of the “spiral of silence.” Regarding active media engagement, this project describes how social media is used by a selected group of emerging adults and investigates the reasons these people give when explaining the risks they perceive are related to political communication on social media. Fifteen structured interviews from 2016, fifteen from 2020 and twenty from 2024 are considered qualitatively, with research team reviewers clustering responses and highlighting themes, which collectively present a consistent pattern of media sensibilities. Explaining decisions regarding online engagement with political topics, participants suggest that rather than expressing strong opinions, they desire cautious speech and conflict avoidance. Some risks related to speaking up are also implied. For the studied emerging adults, fitting-in and maintaining family and community connection through communication are the preferred functions for social media

Evaluating a Rural Treatment Court

https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/tafs/1078/thumbnail.jp

University of Minnesota Morris 2025 Commencement

The University of Minnesota Morris\u27s sixty-second commencement, Saturday, May 10, 2024, 1:30 PM.https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/commencement/1062/thumbnail.jp

Advances in the Morris Observatory in Summer 2025

In Summer 2025, the Morris Observatory completed major upgrades to its Meade 16-inch telescope, improving both mechanical functionality and imaging workflows. Hardware enhancements included the installation of a precision focuser, providing finer and more stable focus control, and a flip mirror system, enabling rapid switching between eyepiece viewing and camera imaging without the need for realignment. Imaging and processing approaches were also refined, with systematic use of flats, darks, and lights to correct optical artifacts, sensor noise, and uneven field illumination. Computational methods, developed using Python and Astropy, automated calibration, stacking, and enhancement, increasing consistency and efficiency in image production. These collaborative efforts between faculty and students have significantly advanced the observatory’s imaging capabilities, creating new opportunities for research and community engagement

Student Honors and Awards Program

Recognizing students who demonstrate academic excellence and enrich campus lifehttps://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/honorsawards/1034/thumbnail.jp

Photographing the Bears of Brooks Falls

This summer, through support from both the Catalyst and Max Funds, I was given an experience that I will treasure for the rest of my life. The Catalyst fund is a University of Minnesota Morris grant that allows students the chance to have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and as an avid nature photographer, my dream was to photograph brown bears. After hearing about the fund, I decided to look into how this could be pursued. I landed on a week-long guided photography tour at Brooks Falls, located within Katmai National Park in Alaska. I was granted the funding, and embarked on my journey in June. The trip was beyond what I could have ever imagined and I am endlessly grateful for the generosity that made it possible. This presentation will showcase photography from the trip and inform other students how to take advantage of opportunities like this at Morris

Linda Krogsrud Interview, 2025

Linda Krogsrud discusses her childhood in the 1950s and \u2760s on a farm nine miles east of Ortonville, MN.https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/rural_youth_culture/1007/thumbnail.jp

Building the Playground: The Direction of Children’s Theatre with Junie B. Jones

An insight and analysis into the process of directing an engaging and meaningful production of children’s theatre through Alison Gregory’s Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook, adapted from Barbara Park’s vibrant stories. This examination considers how a thoughtful directorial approach can elevate a play beyond entertainment, using the unique power of children’s theatre to inspire joy, curiosity, and learning, not only to entertain, but also to enrich the minds of all who experience it. Through a careful study of the directorial process, this work explores how a well executed piece of children’s theatre can create an impactful experience for audiences of all ages, fostering a shared space of growth, learning, and fun