Breaking the Chains: Challenging Antiblackness In Social Work Education and Practice: a Qualitative Study

This dissertation critically examines the pervasive effects of anti-Blackness within social work education, focusing on how these experiences influence the development of Black identity among social work faculty. Situated within a historical context of systemic exclusion, marginalization, and racial discrimination, the study investigates the strategies employed by Black social work educators to navigate and construct their professional identities. The central research question explores how anti-Blackness within social work members. The study\u27s findings are organized into five key themes: recognition of systemic racism, challenging dominant narratives, amplifying counter-narratives, intersectionality and complex identities, and advocacy for systemic change. These themes highlight the deep-rooted nature of racism in social work education, including challenges such as curricula that neglect Black communities and the resistance encountered when addressing race and privilege. The research also emphasizes the role of intersectionality in complicating the navigation of personal identity, with Black faculty members often facing microaggressions and societal pressure to conform, which undermines their sense of belonging. In addition, the dissertation advocates for significant institutional changes, including curriculum reform, increased diversity among faculty, and the integration of antiracism training into professional development. The findings suggest that such changes are crucial for creating a more inclusive and supportive academic environment for Black educators and students. Ultimately, this dissertation contributes to a deeper understanding of the barriers faced by Black individuals in social work education and offers practical strategies for promoting an academic culture that fosters equity, inclusion, and systemic transformation

Drug Treatment Courts: Choosing Between Rehabilitation and Recidivism

The presentation discusses the use of drug treatment courts to serve justice to those whose offenses are related to their struggle with illicit drug use. Drug treatment courts are described and its benefits are outlined. These courts are compared to treatment of drug offenders within the normal justice system, and the drawbacks of drug treatment courts are discussed. This informs the future of drug treatment courts int he United States

Poetry Camera

This project aims to develop a camera that prints AI-written poems about photos taken. The system features a custom-designed 3D-printed case with a battery pack for mobility, a five-inch touch screen to allow the user to see what they are taking a picture of, and a high-quality Raspberry Pi camera for adjustable photos. To allow for different styles of poems, a web application using Flask was created. The Python program utilizes OpenAI and Replicate to analyze the photo taken, create a descriptive caption, and create a poem. The different poem styles include Limerick, Haiku, Standard, Dream-Like, Future, Sonnet, and Acrostic. Once the user selects the poem style, a live stream of the camera can be seen on the five-inch display. The program then waits till the user presses the shutter button to close the live stream and then prints the poem. The system resets once the poem is printed so that a different poem style can be selected. This camera overcomes previous limitations by allowing the user to see what they are taking a picture of. Overall, this abstract seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the development of an AI-driven poetry camera

Spartina alterniflora Resilience and Warming Impacts on Long Island Sound Marshes

Abstract: Coastal marshes along the Long Island Sound play a clinical role in reducing erosion, mitigating climate change impacts, and sequestering carbon. This study investigates the resilience of Spartina species, crucial to marsh stabilization, by comparing northern, southern, and mixed-source plants under environmental stressors like temperature fluctuations, sea level rise, and nutrient variations. Field experiments have assessed differences in plant height, shoot density, and flowering frequency among these sources. Results have shown that northern plants performed better than southern and mixed populations in key traits relevant to marsh resilience. Northern populations have shown a significantly higher shoot density than both mixed and southern plant sources (ANOVA, p \u3c .001), this proposes a greater capacity for vegetative spread and stabilization. Further, flowering frequency was significantly lower in southern sources compared to both mixed and northern sources (Kruskal–Wallis, p \u3c .001), which shows potential reproductive disadvantages in southern populations at this site. Experimental warming treatments were performed, although no significant effects on flowering or growth were observed in either northern or mixed-source plants, which reinforces the importance of plant source over warming effects. These findings have shown that northern Spartina populations are better adapted to conditions at this site, exhibiting superior growth and flowering patterns that may strengthen marsh stability and resilience. This study emphasizes the importance of selecting suitable plant sources for restoration projects, which provides a framework for incorporating ecological adaptability into coastal conservation strategies in the face of climate change

Reducing Surgical Site Infections: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Preoperative Baths

A significant contributor to readmission rates, extended hospital stays, and mortality, surgical site infections (SSIs) continue to be a major concern in postoperative care, affecting over 4% of surgical patients. In contrast to routine hospital procedures, this study examines the effectiveness of preoperative chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) showers in reducing the risk of surgical site infections. The study uses a PICO framework to assess two main studies: a 2022 quasi-experimental study that examined the impact of 4% CHG baths at Universitas Sumatera Utara Hospital, and a 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis that compared chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine. The use of CHG dramatically decreased the incidence of SSIs and the presence of bacteria, according to both studies. Although the systematic review indicated that chlorhexidine was more effective due to its antibacterial and fast-drying qualities, the 2022 study discovered that the CHG intervention group had 0% SSIs, while the control group had 8.3%. The nurse\u27s role in promoting CHG use and educating patients is to improve surgical outcomes and promote infection control

Using Discussion-Based Techniques to Elicit Student Perspectives

This presentation explores the use of discussion-based techniques to elicit student perspectives in educational settings. These techniques not only create a dynamic learning environment but encourage students to share details and perspectives unique to their culture and identities

Spectrum, Volume 54, Issue 2

Highlights include: SHU Professor Aims to Tackle Global Education Crisis, Students Accepted into Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, SCMA Professor Receives Global Service Award, The Suite Life on Campus: Housing Selection for 2025-2026, Take Care of Your Body and Mind with Move To Heal, Cozy Cafes: The Best Spots to Warm Up Near Campus, Three Consecutive Wins for Men’s Volleyball, The Double-Edged Sword of Social Media: The Impact on Teen

Pioneer Times, Volume 1, Number 12

Highlights include: Professor and keynote speaker Brandon Frame embraces King’s ideas as a roadmap for the future, Pursuit of Master of Public Health Reflects Commitment to Community Wellness, How a Master of Arts Degree in Strategic Communication Can Translate Across Diverse Industries, Faculty Spotlight: Fellowship Brings Manufacturing Trends to SHU Classes, Upcoming Event