The Price of Mobility: The Border Industrial Complex and the Role of Private Industry in Enforcing Migration Restrictions

This research paper explores the origins of the border industrial complex, current American policies supported by private corporations regarding border infrastructure, and the impact of these policies on Central American asylum seekers. My investigation draws from critical border studies literature on the existence of borders as political tools as opposed to ‘neutral lines’ demarcating sovereignty, interrogating how border policies fuel the neoliberal economy. Given this background, I examine the commercialization of human mobility using border policies at the U.S.-Mexico border as a case study. The question at the core of my investigation is: to what extent does corporate investment in U.S-Mexico border militarization obstruct protection for Central American migrants seeking asylum in the United States? In response, I argue that the issue of corporate involvement in U.S. border policy is important to examine because of how it impedes the implementation of progressive immigration policy by centering the border security market, and decentering human rights. More specifically, I contend that border violence as funded by corporate investment in state bordering becomes a way of maintaining racial hierarchy through movement and citizenship restrictions against racialized migrants from the Global South

Retention of Underrepresented Minority Undergraduates in STEM: Applying Social Cognitive Theory and the SAFE Model

Far fewer undergraduate students pursue and complete STEM degrees compared to humanities degrees, despite high demand for STEM professionals. Among undergraduate STEM majors, individuals from underrepresented racial minority (URM) groups are far less likely to complete their degree than their White or Asian peers, presenting a serious obstacle to diversity within the STEM workforce. Drawing from Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, researchers have identified factors that affect the retention of URM students in STEM, though there is substantial evidence that such factors are moderated by environmental influences not traditionally included in the theory. In this paper, we argue that many environmental influences can be conceptually unified under the State Authenticity as Fit to Environment (SAFE) model. Further, we review literature suggesting that the constructs of both Social Cognitive Theory and the SAFE model interact extensively when considering retention of URM undergraduates, arguing that understanding the interactions between the two models will provide a more complete picture of how retention of URM students can be improved

English

Mistreatment of the body following a stigmatized death is a culturally relevant issue that disproportionately affects marginalized groups. Robert Southey’s “The Cross Roads” details the life and death of a young working class woman through a folkloric retelling of her murder. In this work, I curate a historical review of the period’s values regarding stigmatized death, including the religious attitudes regarding suicide and domestic homicide. The previous historical review is then put into dialogue with Southey’s work in order to fully contextualize his criticism of the crossroad burial practice. Moving forward, research may be applied to literary works outside of the 18th century graveyard movement in order to fully understand how and why working class bodies are mistreated in life and death

What makes transitional housing in Manitoba unsafe for transgender people?

Transgender people across Canada face high rates of housing insecurity and homelessness compared to people whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. Yet shelters and transitional housing meant to provide temporary places to stay do not always meet the needs of transgender people. This community-based study asked what can make transitional housing safer and more comfortable for transgender people, with a focus on the Westman region of Manitoba. In collaboration with YWCA Brandon, the first author interviewed nine service providers who work in housing organizations or in service provision for transgender people in Manitoba, to learn about good practices from their perspectives. In the process we learned about the factors that make transitional housing and shelters unsafe and unwelcoming for transgender people; these factors are the focus of this article. We highlight barriers to access to existing transitional housing, including the prevalence of faith-based shelters, gender segregation policies and practices, intake and referral procedures that create risks for transgender people, and insufficient training for organization leaders. These findings are relevant to shelter and transitional housing providers and to allies and advocates for the well-being of transgender people in Manitoba and beyond

Inspiring Repertoire for Enrichment: Edvard Grieg’s Lyric Pieces Opus 12 as a Pedagogical Tool

 One of the enduring challenges for piano teachers is selecting appropriate repertoire to enrich a student’s piano education, which has foundations in leveled books. A response to the challenge is to select a collection from a composer’s works to immerse the student in the style and technical demands of that specific composer. In this study, Edvard Grieg’s Lyric Pieces Opus 12 were investigated for their effectiveness as pedagogical tools for intermediate piano students. The analysis included: (1) contextualizing the collectionhistorically through related literature; (2) identifying primary technical elements to determine an effective pedagogical approach for introducing the specific elements to students; and (3) identifying stylistic features and Norwegian cultural connections to provide meaningful insights for students’ interpretation of the pieces and lead to a set of guiding questions to pose to students. Historically, Grieg’s Lyric Pieces capture the Norwegian spirit by incorporating folkloric elements into classical compositions, and his intention in the compositions was to supply his music school with short, digestible instructional material. The Lyric Pieces are accessible piano pieces that allow students to discover complex technical elements such as melodic nature, varied approaches to the keys (touch), complex rhythms, and ornamentation. They also provide opportunities for students to grow their understanding of stylistic features through the titles and descriptive phrases, as well as connections to Norwegian culture, which allow them to develop their interpretation of the pieces. This study contributes to the professional learning of studio piano teachers and the application of Grieg’s Lyric Pieces in teaching intermediate students

Reconsidering Treaty 8 Negotiations: The Canadian Government’s Purposeful Exploitation of a Disadvantaged Population

Treaty 8 was signed on June 21, 1899, between the Government of Canada and Indigenous Peoples living in the northern Alberta, northeastern British Columbia, southwestern Northwest Territories, and northwestern Saskatchewan region. Calls for the treaty began in the 1870s, but negotiations only began one day before the treaty was signed, raising questions about the fairness and professionalism of the negotiation process.1 Issues involving the mistreatment of Indigenous Peoples, both historically and contemporarily, have been on the front pages of media increasingly since the discovery of unmarked graves at a Kamloops formerresidential school in 2021. Each case of the Canadian government’s mistreatment of Indigenous Peoples, or enabling of it, is different and needs to be examined individually with consideration of the different sources relevant to each event or case. This research sought to uncover if injustice or mistreatment of Indigenous groups occurred during the Treaty 8 negotiations, and if so, how. The research reveals that the government took advantage of the poor economic conditions affecting Indigenous Peoples in Northern Alberta and created Treaty 8 to unfairly benefit itself on the premise that Indigenous Peoples are less worthy of respect from the government. Negotiations were unfair and Indigenous Peoples were mocked and exploited, calling into question the ethics of Treaty 8 and the need to not only reconcile, but to completely re-examine Treaty 8 and other historical treaties and laws concerning Indigenous groups

Supporting Indigenous youth to live with continued resilience, meaning and hope

Indigenous Life Promotion and strengths-based approaches to mental wellness and suicide prevention are important strategies that promote sovereignty, holistic wellness, and healing at the individual, family, and community levels. As part of the Patient and Community Engagement Research (PaCER) program, our team facilitated three focus groups with Indigenous young people in Alberta to better understand how they wish to be supported to live life with continued resilience, meaning and hope. Our team conducted a thematic analysis on the focus group transcripts and derived five key themes from their contents: 1. Accessible, meaningful, and ongoing supports; 2. Indigenous-centered, culturally meaningful and safe supports; 3. Fostering meaningful connections and relationships; 4. Surviving/ ‘Existing’; and 5. Thriving; living with purpose and meaning beyond surviving. Based on these themes, six recommendations for better supporting the wellbeing of Indigenous youth were developed: 1. Indigenous-centred resources; 2. Accountability; 3. Person-centred support; 4. Enhancing empowerment in children & youth; 5. Holistic health liaison/navigators; 6. Increased funding. Attending to the voices of Indigenous youth in planning and enhancing supports will continue to bolster their inherent resilience and contribute to the process of reconciliation in Alberta and Canada

Understanding Political Integration Among Syrian Refugees in Calgary

Newcomers to Canada are essential for the nation\u27s cultural and economic vitality. However, research has primarily focused on immigrant integration, overlooking refugees. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the political integration of Syrian refugees in Calgary, Alberta, based on 21 semi-structured interviews. Specifically, it seeks to answer two main questions. First, what factors facilitate the attitudinal and behavioural political integration of Syrian refugees in Calgary? Second, what is the role of social capital in facilitating the attitudinal and behavioural political integration of refugees? Utilizing deductive thematic analysis, the study uncovers a need for enhanced political education. It also identifies the impact of individual variables like news consumption and political interest. A sense of belonging to Canadian society also emerged as an influential factor in political integration. Moreover, social capital, exemplified through membership in organizations, increased political participation and a sense of belonging. These findings suggest the need for new theories specifically focused on refugee political integration.             Key words: political integration, syrian refugees, social capital, sense of belonging, canad

The Tragic Myth of America’s 2021 “March on Rome”

The parallels between the January 6th, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and the so-called “March on Rome” of October 1922, are unmistakable, from Donald Trump and Benito Mussolini’s leadership styles to their non-participation in the actual coup attempts to the unwavering commitment of their most zealous followers to the respective causes. Indeed, comparisons between these two figures and events have led scholars to refer to the events on January 6th as a “Half-Baked March on Rome” or an “abortive March on Rome,” among other similar references. While historically convenient and rhetorically appealing, however, these associations risk downplaying the requisite conditions that allowed the March on Rome to result in a successful coup but which never manifested in the buildup to January 6th or its actualization. Moreover, referring to January 6th within the context of the March on Rome minimizes the distinct possibility that the former was but the precursor to an eventual triumphant American iteration of the March on Rome. By using the March on Rome as a conduit through which to examine the January 6th, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, this paper seeks to properly place the latter within the context of significant revolutionary events of the past and thereby explore its role in the broader arc of American democracy\u27s future

Autistics, Myths, and Robots: Artistic Resistance to Dominant Disability Discourse

Abstract Despite growing awareness, misconceptions about autism (also known as autism spectrum disorder or ASD) persist within science, academia, and popular culture. These misconceptions perpetuate harmful stereotypes that contribute to the ongoing stigma, exclusion, and isolation experienced by autistic individuals. A significant barrier to overcoming these challenges is the underrepresentation of autistic voices across multiple fields and disciplines, making it difficult to effectively challenge and transform prevailing social norms and attitudes about disabilities and neurological differences. While efforts are being made by advocates to improve representation through community-based participatory research and coproduction models, the arts remain a particularly powerful yet underutilized tool for disrupting problematic discourse. Through creative expression, the arts offer a unique avenue to subvert reductionistic pathologies, dehumanizing language, and unfavorable depictions of autism that have been deeply engrained in both academic and cultural discourse. This poem critically engages with widespread stereotypes, using sarcasm and humor to reclaim and reshape existing depictions of autism. By doing so, it aims to empower fellow autistic individuals to challenge these narratives and express their own experiences through whatever creative mediums resonate with them, ultimately offering a more nuanced and representative understanding of autism in the process. Keywords: Arts, neurodiversity, critical autism studies, representation, stereotypes, subversion Author’s Note As an autistic scholar and artist, I rely on a combination of lived experience, community involvement, and research training within this creative piece. A significant source of inspiration comes from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, particularly their powerful reclamation of terms like “queer” that were once used as weapons of marginalization and exclusion. By embracing and redefining these terms, this community has subverted their original pejorative meanings, transforming them into symbols of identity, pride, and resistance. This act of linguistic reclamation not only disrupts the power dynamics of hate and oppression but also fosters a sense of solidarity. In a similar vein, my work seeks to challenge and overturn the derogatory labels and misconceptions that have been imposed upon autistic individuals, using creative expression as a means to redefine our realities. Historically, academic and societal discourses have often dehumanized autistic people through harmful and reductive descriptions, perpetuating what I refer to in this piece as “myths” about autism. Through this work, I critically deconstruct these demeaning representations, employing a sardonic lens to counter these narratives and expose their absurdity. Incorporating examples from my experiences as an autism and neurodevelopmental researcher, I seek to highlight and dismantle these entrenched misconceptions, including deficit-based models, problematic pathologies, and stigmatizing descriptions of autistic individuals. As someone who experiences echolalia (i.e., the repetition of words, phrases, and sentences) and who frequently incorporates pop culture references when communicating with others, this piece also serves as a homage to the songs, films, and television shows that resonate with me and my special interests. To ensure clarity and accessibility for readers, I have included detailed endnotes that explain both the research references and the various pop culture elements, providing a comprehensive overview of the content and its meaning