When the Spring Flowers Bloom : Dorothy Fuldheim, The Kent State Killings, and Vietnam War Foreign Policy

Dorothy Fuldheim is a significant figure in American history. A local legend of news broadcasting in Cleveland, Ohio, Fuldheim wrote and broadcasted exceptional commentaries that demanded the attention of her audience. Her evolving style caught the attention of many across the United States, eventually making her a nationally recognized journalist. Little scholarship has been written on Fuldheim and her contributions to the fields of history, allowing this thesis to lead the way in analyzing her life and work. The primary purpose of this thesis is to use Dorothy Fuldheim as a window to contextualize the events at Kent State University and United States foreign policy related to the Vietnam War while prioritizing Fuldheim as a multifaceted individual that defies simple classification. Breaking through the gender barriers of the time, Fuldheim’s thought-provoking and controversial approach to her craft paved the way for other women in journalism to lead successful careers. Overall, this thesis seeks to establish a connection between Fuldheim’s contributions as a female American news media icon and her writings to the field of history

UTILIZING MACHINE LEARNING TECHNIQUES TO PREDICT CREDIT CARD PAYMENT DEFAULTS

The question of accurately predicting credit card defaulters has been explored in numerous studies in the past. In these studies, the researchers utilized various machine learning theories and techniques to make the determination the extent of defaults. Unfortunately, some constraints were encountered, and the limitations that existed from the previous works have been discussed. This project attempted to address these issues with special attention given to more recently available data. Specifically, in this project, we looked at data provided by one Kaggle user, which utilized the data from the American Express credit card competition, which ranges from late March 2018 to late October 2019, approximately 18 months. The extent of credit card defaulters was looked into using the data and used a machine learning technique, called Extremely Randomized Trees. Furthermore, a balancing technique, called Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique, also known as SMOTE, was used to ensure the classes that were explored and balanced. Finally, the findings from the current research were compared with that of previous findings. The outcome of this project was understanding and analyzing previous research utilizing the updated available data to predict credit card payment defaults more accurately

On the Duty of Uncivil Disobedience: Thoreau\u27s Action From Principle

This thesis explores the uncivil disobedience evident in some of Henry D. Thoreau’s work, which is often regarded as the birth and foundation of what is today known as “civil disobedience.” Using the nature of Thoreau’s subtle language and his philosophy of action from principle in his writings, including “Resistance to Civil Government” (1849), Walden (1854), “Life Without Principle” (1863), “A Plea for Captain John Brown (1859), and some of his real life actions, this thesis will examine the antagonistic and, perhaps, uncivil nature of Thoreau’s so-called “civil disobedience.” This thesis will also incorporate Sophocles’ play Antigone (441 BBC), Candice Delmas’ A Duty to Resist: When Disobedience Should be Uncivil (2018), and Larry J. Reynolds’ Righteous Violence: Revolution, Slavery, and the American Renaissance (2011) to better understand Antigone’s and Thoreau’s uncivil disobedience against a deeply unjust state and a civilized society controlled by self-interest and avarice. All of this will culminate in Thoreau’s ardent defense and exoneration of radical abolitionist, militant, and man of uncivil disobedience: John Brown. This thesis aims to describe the ways in which Thoreau uncivilly challenged a rapidly industrializing nineteenth-century America, where business and materialism dominated individuals’ daily lives and a corrupt and unprincipled government permitted the enslavement and oppression of an entire portion of the American population

Investigating How Generation 1.5 Students Notice and Understand Direct Written Corrective Feedback (WCF)

The following research focuses on an underrepresented and understudied population in academia, Generation 1.5. Generation 1.5 encompasses a group of individuals who neither fit the categories of first-generation nor second-generation students and often feel caught between two cultures, the American culture and their family’s native culture (Serventy and Allen 1; Goldschmidt and Miller 11). These individuals are neither fully proficient in their L1 or L2 and consequently, share characteristics of L1 and traditional L2 writers (Singhal 2; Ferris 311). This research study examines how university Generation 1.5 students notice and understand direct Written Corrective Feedback (WCF) on treatable and untreatable errors as measured per their responses in Reflection Essays. The researcher of the present study found that Generation 1.5 students struggled to demonstrate noticing and understanding of treatable and untreatable writing errors despite receiving direct WCF. The researcher of the present study hypothesizes that this occurrence can be linked to their lower proficiency in reading and Academic English. However, the students were more likely to demonstrate noticing and understanding of untreatable writing errors rather than treatable writing errors. The researcher of the present study theorizes that the students\u27 lack of noticing and understanding of treatable writing errors can be attributed to their lack of formal grammar training due to not being placed in specialized ESL classes in their K-12 education. Based on the findings, the researcher suggests that writing instructors that serve this population should consider administering their feedback by means of audio rather than writing due to their higher proficiency in listening. Lastly, the researcher of the present study adamantly argues for a more inclusive definition of Generation 1.5 as some of the most commonly accepted definitions place a criterion based on birthplace. Leaving provisions pertaining to birthplace would be detrimental as it would exclude individuals such as the ones represented in this study even though they demonstrate key characteristics of Generation 1.5 students such as being ear learners. Overall, the researcher of the present study argues for more research to be conducted pertaining to Generation 1.5 and the processing of WCF

The Revolting Monster - A Consideration of Existentialist Themes in Mary Shelley\u27s Frankenstein Through a Comparison to Albert Camus\u27 The Stranger

This Master’s thesis is concerned with analyzing key themes and ideas in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein through an existentialist lens which is made possible through a comparison to themes and ideas in Albert Camus’ The Stranger. I aim to make a contribution to my field by fulfilling a comparison that has long been made since the late 1960s when conversations about British Romanticism and Existentialism were still common. The purpose of my first chapter is to elucidate a new argument about the relationship between these two novels. There is a discernable element of Camusian Revolt exhibited by the Creature in some of the most riveting passages of Frankenstein; this element is all the more clearer when placed in conversation with the actions of Meursault, the protagonist of The Stranger. Through more specific examples, and a large reliance on the historical context of both novels that this project is concerned with, I am able to draw connections that go further than thematic similarities and show the relevance of these ideas to readers in our time. The second chapter consists of historical context that sets up an understanding of the reception of Frankenstein and the ensuing consequences of this novel for ruling body interested in maintaining a permanent underclass within the population. The third chapter examines the species of Revolt within Frankenstein by comparing it to The Stranger in order to reach conclusions about the significance of these themes today. The final chapter is an observation about the behavior of revolt modeled by the authors discussed in this thesis. It proposes that the act of writing and creating art is in itself an act of revolt which is the true message the authors intended to convey. It also argues that the medium of the novel is the most effective method of expression for revolt because it taps into human experience in a way no other distinct work of art can

Political Rhetoric and Latino Public Opinion: A Study of Abortion in the U.S.

This thesis studies political rhetoric and Latino public opinion on abortion in the United States. Mainly, this thesis asks: Is political rhetoric on abortion shaping the Latino vote? This thesis conducted a content analysis of political rhetoric through speeches, interviews, debates, political advertisements, and social media accounts from Democratic and Republican gubernatorial candidates. The gubernatorial races studied in this thesis are those from California and Texas from 2010 to 2022. In the content analysis, this research accounted for words and phrases that referenced abortion and the type of arguments (reproductive rights-based and moral-based arguments) made in those references. Then, this study compared political rhetoric with the relative Democratic lean of the Latino vote. This thesis expected the relative Democratic lean of the Latino vote to decrease as the Republican Party increased its abortion references (H1) and moral-based arguments on abortion (H2). Ultimately, this study found support for H1 in only Texas while finding support for H2 in Texas and California. However, this study found that Texas Democrats politicized the issue more than their Republican counterparts. In other words, Republicans did not prioritize abortion as much as Democrats, and yet, the relative Democratic lean of the Latino vote has still decreased or, rather, has become less Democratic since 2010

HABITAT EFFECTS ON SCORPION DENSITIES AND MICROHABITAT USE BY CENTRUROIDES VITTATUS AND VAEJOVIS WAUERI IN SOUTH TEXAS

Co-existence between Centruroides vittatus and Vaejovis waueri is influenced by environmental factors that shape their habitats. Differences in surface activity frequency between the two species suggest differential microhabitat use. The observed frequency of scorpions using microhabitats in the Martinez Ranch and La Union Ranch were not significantly different from the expected frequencies. Frequency of scorpions observed using microhabitats in La Union South was significantly different from the expected frequency (P\u3c0.001). Microhabitat use of catclaw was lower than expected and higher than expected for other vegetation. Conditional comparisons of microhabitats were significantly different among habitats (P\u3c0.001), size classes were significantly different among microhabitats (P\u3c0.001), and size classes were significantly different among habitats (P\u3c0.01). Microhabitat use by scorpions on the ground was higher among all habitats. Scorpion use of ground and grass were different among size classes. Size class I-II scorpions had a higher frequency than size class III. Scorpion density for C. vittatus was significantly different among habitats (P\u3c0.0001) and scorpion density for V. waueri was significantly different among habitats (P\u3c0.0001). Centruroides vittatus was significantly higher in the Martinez Ranch and in La Union South. Vaejovis waueri was significantly higher in La iv Union South. Associations between plant densities and scorpion size classes were tested. Plant densities had a significant association with C. vittatus size classes I and II in the Martinez Ranch. Association between plants had a significant correlation with C. vittatus size classes I and IV in La Union Ranch. Association between plants had a significant correlation with V. waueri’s total density. These associations may suggest plant densities may have a synergistic effect on scorpion densities. Soil type composition for the different habitats was hypothesized to influence scorpion densities. Maps for each site were created to show soil type compositions. Soil type findings suggest that La Union South had the soil types with the lowest soil strength. Vaejovis waueri was shown to have a higher density in La Union South where soils are sandier. Results indicate that co-existence between C. vittatus and V. waueri is possible because competition is low through minimal overlap in microhabitat use and intraguild predation avoidance

THREE ESSAYS ON NEW ISSUES IN CORPORATE FINANCE

This dissertation focuses on three new issues in corporate finance, each aiming at different aspects of a firm\u27s behavior. First, I propose a novel way to classify domestic manufacturing firms based on their level of financial constraint. Using the operating cash flow ratio as my new measure, I find that the behavior of constrained and unconstrained firms differ significantly, unlike existing constraint measures from the literature. My results indicate that constrained firms cannot engage in equity recycling, have a higher sensitivity to cash flow, use the proceeds from the sales of their fixed assets in R&D, and cannot change leverage quickly. Overall, my findings support using a cash flow-based constraint measure as it performs better at identifying constrained firms that indeed behave as if they are financially constrained. My second essay discusses factors that drive a firm\u27s financing choices and aims to evaluate competing capital structure theories. Six factors are identified as a reliable basis for explaining leverage changes from a comprehensive range of farm-specific and macroeconomic factors used in prior studies. The reliable impact of market-to book, Firm Size, and expected inflation factors observed in market-based leverage is not present when studying book leverage. However, median industry leverage, tangibility, and profitability are statistically significant. The pecking order theory offers an intuitive explanation for the observation that more profitable firms tend to have lower leverage. The trade-off theory can account for many factors, including industry leverage, firm size, tangibility, and market-to-book. In my third essay, I investigate whether firms behave differently based on the type of performance goal set for their CEOs. I find correlations between CEO performance-based grants and the utilization of accrual and real activities-based earnings management by examining a comprehensive dataset of CEO performance goals. I hope my findings could lead to recommendations for compensation committees and consultants to structure performance-pay contracts differently to reduce earnings management efforts

Finding the Why: Trauma\u27s Origins and Effects in Morrison\u27s The Bluest Eye

This thesis analyzes the effects of Toni Morrison’s first novel, The Bluest Eye, on its readers and the public discourse surrounding the central issue of systemic racism and incest. The central focus of the analysis is trauma in the novel: how Morrison captures that trauma in writing, how the reader encounters and interprets that trauma, and the effects of that trauma on the narrative and the reader. To construct this argument, I apply the lenses of reader response criticism, psychoanalysis, and trauma studies to the novel. Morrison expressed concern that readers would miss the crucial message of why the novel’s trauma occurs. However, a reader response analysis of reviews, applications of, and publications about the novel reveals that a majority of readers not only grasp the why but are moved, as Morrison intended, to personal change and social activism. Analyzing trauma in the novel with both traditional psychoanalysis and modern trauma studies approaches reveals that the personal traumas of the central characters are all connected to the larger social traumas of racism, sexism, and poverty that haunt the entire community. The conclusion combines the lenses of reader response and trauma studies to reveal the impact of the trauma in The Bluest Eye on its readers, underscores the novel’s true significance, and demonstrates why it is simultaneously a deeply devastating and an incredibly motivating literary work

I AM NOT AN ANGEL : CONTESTED IDENTITY IN CHARLOTTE BRONTE\u27S JANE EYRE

This thesis explores identity in Charlotte Brontë’s magnum opus, Jane Eyre (1847). Using specific moments in the main character’s life, this thesis will examine the importance of selfdefining truths and identity during a deeply restrictive time. This thesis will also incorporate Helene Cixous’ essay “The Laugh of the Medusa” (1975) to better understand the importance of Brontë writing a female character who avowed her own identity and challenged anyone who imposed their own perception on to her character. This thesis aims to delineate the ways Jane challenges those around her, and even the reader, as she remains loyal to her truth