"Narrating the Unnarratable": The Portrayal of Trauma and its Effects in Hanya Yanagihara's A Little Life

Centered around a group of New York-based friends, Hanya Yanagihara’s 2015 novel A Little Life is a complex tale of intimacy, abuse and the persistence of trauma. As the novel focuses in on its eventual protagonist, Jude St. Francis, it begins to glide between descriptions of Jude’s life in the present and meticulous recounts of the horrific abuse he endured as a child. Yanagihara’s depiction of trauma and pain is intricate and extensive in detail, and the unrelenting nature of her work has afforded the novel a controversial reputation among critics. Given Yanagihara’s goal of demonstrating the pervasiveness and irreparability of trauma on its victims, a study of the novel’s features which considers these intentions can aid in a better understanding and determination of A Little Life’s merit. Analysis reveals how attributes like the novel’s narrative structure, match to trauma theory and profoundly formidable characterization contribute to extensive praise for Yanagihara’s work. Each of these features advance her message regarding trauma’s invasive nature and are heavily cited by fans and critics alike to showcase her literary genius. However, a deeper examination displays how Yanagihara’s unfounded critique of talk therapy, sensationalist tendencies and highly graphic descriptions ultimately harm the novel. These features make up the bulk of criticism of A Little Life and account for its controversial reception despite its positive qualities. While I argue the novel may still be worth reading to select audiences which are able to handle its extremism, it’s evident that the beauty and tenderness in A Little Life are ultimately overshadowed both by its commentary on psychology and graphic sensationalism.No embargoAcademic Major: EnglishAcademic Major: Psycholog

Novel Device for Intermediate Strain Rate (ISR) Testing

Due to the strain rate sensitivity of materials, it is necessary to have reliable dynamic data, in order to calibrate material models used in Computer Aided Engineering. The difficulty of testing intermediate strain rates (ISR) arises from the oscillations and ringing produced during testing, as inertia manifesting itself as reflected elastic waves negatively affects the quality of test data. Additionally, intermediate strain rates are too slow for traditional high rate dynamic testing apparatuses, such as the Split Hopkinson Bar (SHB), as the duration of the test is limited by the length of the transmitter bar. Current approaches to testing at ISRs utilize a modified SHB, consisting of a high speed hydraulic actuator, and a very long transmitter bar, in order to eliminate unwanted oscillations from the data. To address the impractical size and complexity of existing ISR testing devices, the need for a more accessible test device arises. The topic of this research will explore a solution to this shortcoming by presenting a new ISR testing configuration consisting of an in-line spring-viscous damper mechanical element, in order to eliminate the need for a long transmitter bar or data filter. The design of the element will be informed by analytical and numerical modeling and existing hardware will be modified to test the concept experimentally.College of EngineeringNo embargoAcademic Major: Aerospace Engineerin

Relationship of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression with Hair Cortisol and Cardiovascular Health in African American women dementia family Caregivers

Introduction: Being a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s disease/dementia can significantly increase physical and emotional stress, raising the risk of cardiovascular disease. This project investigated the relationship between hair cortisol, caregiver stress, cardiovascular health (systolic and diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure [MAP]), depression, and anxiety in African American women dementia caregivers. Methods: Baseline data were taken from a feasibility pilot randomized controlled trial of a mind-body intervention to reduce stress and cardiovascular risk factors for African American women dementia caregivers. Scalp hair samples were taken to measure the stress hormone cortisol. Stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale, anxiety with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, and depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Blood pressure was measured using Omron HEM-907XL monitors by trained research team members, and results were used to calculate the MAP, an indicator of cardiovascular health. Study visits were conducted in participants' homes or at Ohio State's College of Nursing. Results: Out of 28 participants, 15 provided hair samples. The average age of participants was 62.4 (standard deviation, 8.67) years, with 71.4% holding a bachelor's degree or higher. There were no significant correlations between hair cortisol and stress, anxiety, depression, blood pressure, or MAP. A significant correlation was found between stress and depression (r= 0.55, p= 0.05), stress and anxiety (r= 0.77, p < 0.01), and anxiety and depression (r= 0.70, p= 0.01). Conclusion: The results indicate significant correlations between stress, depression, and anxiety, but no correlations with hair cortisol or blood pressure and MAP. Future studies should include a larger sample size to examine further factors associated with dementia, caregiver stress, and cardiovascular health.No embargoAcademic Major: Nursin

Banking on Subscriptions? Think Again With Me

Business, Society, and International Relations: 1st Place (The Ohio State University Denman Undergraduate Research Forum)Your money tells a story; Huntington helps you read it. That journey begins with what our research unveiled as The Iceberg of Spending—the divide between flex and fixed transactions. Flex transactions are visible, representing conscious, day-to-day spending. Below the surface, fixed payments accumulate quietly, often unnoticed yet significantly shaping financial stability. Using a Research through Design approach that combined surveys, interviews, observations, iterative assessments, and external sources, we discovered a misalignment between consumer and business motivations—dark patterns and weaponized algorithms encourage spending while limiting control and fueling subscription fatigue. These fragmented services create financial uncertainty and make tracking payments difficult. If... you’re drowning in unexpected subscriptions, feeling overwhelmed by daily purchases, or worried about money slipping away unnoticed... then you’ll regain control with With Me, the app that centralizes subscriptions, predicts expenses, and rewards smart financial choices—all while turning money management into an engaging experience you can compare anonymously or share with friends. Our research shaped our design decisions from the features we included to how they are presented in the app. Customize your homepage to track flex and fixed payments in real-time. Group subscriptions with Huntington for one discounted price on a timeline you set. Predict utility peaks or grocery trips to plan ahead. Explore your personalized spending path, from environmental impact to caffeine intake, and track specific purchases to compare with peers to see how your spending patterns float in relation to others. Understand what’s visible, what’s hidden, and what it means for your financial journey. With Me is currently envisioned as an extension of the Huntington app for its users. Using existing transactional data, the platform gives clear, personalized insights as your story unfolds, breaking your iceberg of spending into manageable pieces to sail more confidently on unsteady waters, backed with a reward system to measure the distance you’ve traveled along the way. It's not about cutting down—it's about understanding your money journey and taking control, on your terms. No more uncertainty, just precise, actionable financial clarity. With Me, for you by Huntington.Huntington BankNo embargoAcademic Major: Industrial Desig

Hands That Heal, Hearts That Decide: Midwives as Medical and Legal Translators in Senegal

As I will show, the implementation of global health and reproductive policies can create “productive misunderstandings” (Livingston, 2016) where the individual health providers, in this case the midwife, act as the judiciary. “Productive misunderstandings” arise when a conflict or lack of definition between two entities creates room for new insights, ideas, or solutions. Because the two entities at play have different definitions or goals that don’t entirely incorporate each other, their interactions create a gap of misunderstandings. It is within this wiggle room where policy is not so strictly defined that we can understand how a midwife has the power to shape patient care experiences through their interpretation of that misunderstanding.No embargoAcademic Major: Medical Anthropolog

Emerging Adults' Perceptions of Mothers and Fathers

Emerging adulthood, defined as a period of distinct development from ages 18 to 25, is a period of developmentally appropriate instability that allows individuals to make key transitions in their lives and prepare for adulthood. Parents can either help or hinder this process depending upon how their interactions with their children are perceived. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate and compare emerging adults’ perceptions of their interactions and relationships with their mothers and fathers. The sample included 475 individuals aged 18-25 from The Ohio State University’s Psychology Department Research Experience Pool. Emerging adults completed a survey via Qualtrics software which measured their perceptions of overparenting, parental involvement, parenting behavior, digital interactions, and relationship satisfaction for each parent. A subsample of 45 participants completed a semi-structured interview and answered open-ended questions about their interactions and relationships with their mothers and fathers. Correlation analysis yielded several statistically significant results. When emerging adults reported greater maternal overparenting, they reported lower relationship satisfaction with both mothers and fathers and vice versa. However, paired t-tests indicated that overparenting, parental involvement, parenting behavior, digital interactions, and relationship satisfaction were higher for mothers than fathers. Parental involvement and relationship satisfaction were positively correlated but had a weaker correlation for mothers than fathers. A thematic analysis of the qualitative data indicated that emerging adults were more likely to seek out their mothers for emotional support whereas fathers were sought out for financial and career support. Even in half the cases where mothers were described as disciplinarians (i.e., more likely to set and apply rules), participants still described turning to their mothers for emotional support. In contrast, relationships with fathers were more frequently described as superficial with interactions centered around discussing routine topics. Furthermore, the transition to college was perceived as improving the mother-child relationship. Taken together, these findings suggest that emerging adults have differing expectations and perceptions of their relationships with mothers and fathers that align with traditional gender roles.Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP)No embargoAcademic Major: Psycholog

Completing the Coincidence Argument Against Metaethical Nonnaturalism

Bingham AwardPeople commonly express a worry that we only hold our particular moral beliefs because it is fitness-enhancing to do so. In this paper, I investigate a particular argument that has emerged from this worry, the Coincidence Argument. First, I present a neutral formulation, arguing that disagreement over this issue should be understood as disagreement over an important condition in the formulation, the Reliability Condition. Then, I evaluate existing candidates and present one of my own, ultimately concluding that none are perfect. I conclude that based on considerations in this paper, the modal condition sensitivity is the theoretically preferable candidate for the Reliability Condition.No embargoAcademic Major: Philosoph

NextPath: Evolving Digital Financial Planning with Personalized Self-Service

Huntington Bank, known for its exceptional in-person service, wants to move beyond traditional banking to better serve today's customers. However, as more customers start digitally, building and maintaining relationships with them has become a challenge especially since Huntington lacks a digital financial planning solution for their Personal Bank clients. To address this gap, I explored customer service through a new lens by studying Nordstrom, a retailer renowned for blending personalization with efficiency. Through surveys and interviews with Nordstrom employees, I examined how their 5-Point Selling Standard enables adaptive yet efficient service. These insights informed NextPath, a digital financial planning tool designed in Figma to provide structured guidance while preserving user independence and personalization. Integrated into Huntington’s mobile app, NextPath bridges self-service and expert guidance. Each financial topic starts with a structured learning course that dynamically adapts over time. Sliding the bar on the right of the screen reveals the A.S.K. feature, mimicking an advisor by allowing users to ask questions and personalize their plan. As users engage, the tool refines their course for a more tailored experience. Upon completion, they receive a customized financial success plan. Users can choose between charts, graphs, or a to-do list and adjust notifications to stay accountable and informed. Self-service tools often sacrifice guidance for automation, but NextPath proves digital financial planning can be both intuitive and supportive. NextPath can help Huntington strengthen relationships with their digitally-originated customers, making financial planning more accessible while ensuring users feel confident and in control.No embargoAcademic Major: Industrial Desig

Precise Horse Re-identification from a UAV Perspective

For non-specialists, distinguishing similar animals can be challenging due to their subtle differences. This thesis evaluates machine learning’s ability to re-identify animals using UAV videos from rural settings. Videos were segmented to extract individual animal sequences, which formed the basis for feature extraction and re-identification. We used a pre-trained DINOv2 model to extract per-second features, which were aggregated and compared via similarity matrices computed with methods such as Average, Top20, and Maximum. Bipartite matching was applied to visualize identification performance and establish a baseline. Building on this, we fine-tuned the DINOv2 model with data augmentation strategies including random flipping and resizing. The fine-tuned model achieved perfect matching results in the baseline task. This work offers valuable insights for wildlife monitoring, animal behavior studies, and precision agriculture by enabling more accurate animal recognition. Future work will incorporate temporal dynamics and further refine the model to broaden its applicability across species and real-world scenarios.No embargoAcademic Major: Computer Science and Engineerin

SideQuest: A Fantasy-Focused Adventure Game

Received an award from Columbus Society of Communicating Arts (CSCA)Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impairments in attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. If left untreated or undiagnosed, individuals with ADHD face a heightened risk of engaging in hazardous behaviors such as car accidents, dropping out of educational institutions, and developing substance addictions. Currently, treatment options for ADHD exhibit varying degrees of efficacy. However, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) stands out as one of the most promising approaches. The primary objective was to conceptualize an experience that could be utilized by individuals with ADHD and those without, ensuring its universal appeal, akin to highly rated video games. My research methodology involved a comprehensive literature review, encompassing articles published by esteemed organizations such as the National Institute of Health, ADHD Centre UK, EndeavourOTC, and others. Through this research, I found a pattern. Video games possess the inherent ability to provide interactive entertainment and be memorable. The majority of video game experiences specifically target cognitive functions that are disproportionately affected by ADHD. This suggests that video games possess the potential to serve as a viable treatment option, provided that it is implemented carefully and with appropriate limitations. It is important to acknowledge that individuals with ADHD often exhibit hyper fixation and, in some cases, develop addictive tendencies towards activities such as video games. Another research methodology employed was the creation of user personas, which played a pivotal role in transforming the gathered information into distinct user profiles that guided the development of specific game functions and mechanics for SideQuest. Additionally, media scans and competitive analyses were conducted using various programs over defined timeframes to assess their potential integration into the user’s daily routine. The culmination of this research resulted in a prototype of a user-friendly video game called SideQuest. This game incorporates real-life task management techniques very similar to those found in standard “reminders” applications. However, it distinguishes itself by recording and rewarding users for completing tasks throughout the day. These rewards manifest in the form of tangible items, weapons, unique gear, and occasionally unlocking hidden abilities that facilitate progression through the game’s video game component. Users have the option to engage in solo gameplay or collaborate with friends. Future goals and research include conducting further usability testing and, ideally, prototyping a functional version of the game.No embargoAcademic Major: Visual Communication Desig