Strengthening Community Ties: A Collaborative Weaving Experience

This action research study explores collaborative weaving as a method of community building in an urban middle school. Analyzing student work and community feedback revealed four key themes: inclusion, empowerment, mindfulness, and connection. The project challenged negative school perceptions by creating an inclusive environment that celebrated diversity, fostered cross-generational learning, and empowered students to redefine their community roles. Findings suggest that the student to teacher relationship is the strongest factor

Women’s Rights Across Borders: Challenges and Progress in Afghanistan, India and the United States

The Violation of women\u27s rights remains a significant issue worldwide, with women facing challenges with access to opportunities, inequality to their male counterparts, negative social norms, and lack of legal protections. According to the World Bank 2.4 billion women do not have the same economic rights as men, women still have only three-quarters of the legal rights afforded to men and one in three women globally has experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence. In countries such as Afghanistan, India, and the United States, women face severe restrictions under Taliban rule, gender discrimination, wage gap, gender discrimination, violence, and efficient access to reproductive healthcare. Although these countries have different cultural ideologies and development status, the issues surrounding the violation of women’s rights are a similar problem globally. Therefore this paper will examine the legal rights of women in these countries, by highlighting the evolution of women\u27s rights in these countries and exploring the challenges they face. This study will further compare how each of these countries addresses these issues and recommend efforts to improve conditions. Finally, this paper will advocate for policy changes and actions that can help support women’s rights globally

Coming Out and Inclusion into Society Based on Queer Individuals

Past literature found that family acceptance of gender identity and sexual orientation of their family members who were coming out affects their struggle in society, (Flores et al., 2020), which can be themed with Inclusion, Perceived Discrimination, and Public Attitude. Background research found that perceived acceptance by those close to queer individuals increased perceived acceptance by society around them (Golriz, 2021). The present study investigated how family acceptance affected religious community acceptance and the research question of how does an individual\u27s coming out experience affect their acceptance by others

Play-to-Win Tabletop Games

Alt Text: RodCon attendees playing Play-To-Win tabletop games with Friendly Meeple.https://scholarworks.uni.edu/rodcon2025_photos/1027/thumbnail.jp

From Disruption to Integration: Cryptocurrency Prices, Financial Fluctuations, and Macroeconomy

This paper examines cryptocurrency shock transmission to financial markets and the macroeconomy using a Bayesian structural VAR with Pandemic Priors from 2015 to 2024. By affecting overall risk appetite, cryptocurrency price shocks generate positive financial market spillovers, accounting for 18% of equity and 27% of commodity price fluctuations. Real economic effects are significant in driving investment but remain limited, contributing only 4% to unemployment and 6% to industrial production variance. However, cryptocurrency shocks explain 18% of price-level forecast error variance at long horizons. Narrative analysis reveals sentiment and technology as primary shock drivers. These findings demonstrate cryptocurrency\u27s deep financial system integration with important inflation implications for monetary policy

Figure 012. Leptuca subcylindrica

Alt Text: Composite photograph of the Leptuca subcylindrica fiddler crab which includes several black & white images of different views of the crab, a color photograph, and a distribution map. Composite Image Description: Figure 12. Leptuca subcylindrica (Stimpson, 1859). UNI 98. Collected: July 1995, USA, Texas, Kleberg Co., Kingsville, under US 77 bridge over Santa Gertrudis Creek (27.47677, -97.855088). Space Bar = 10mm. (A) Dorsal view. (B) Front view. (C) Inner cheliped. (D) Ocular view. (E) Ambulatory. (F) Color Photo. (G) Distribution Map (Finke 2024). Species Description: Moderate sized (width \u3c 25 mm). Carapace length 66% width (Fig. 12A). Frontal regions about 37% carapace width (Fig. 12A, D). Short eyestalks. Branchial region of carapace appears swollen. Carapace widest just posterior to antero-lateral angle. Antero-lateral margins strongly curved (Fig. 12A). Large cheliped with dactyl and propodus about same length as manus, gap large (Fig. 12B,C). Dactyl overhangs terminus of pollex. Pollex with prominent suture below dactyl articulation (Fig. 12B). Tubercles on dactyl and pollex large. Inner manus with no oblique ridge of tubercles (Fig. 12C). Line of tubercles extends from tip of pollex along gap up to the articulation junction. Walking legs with extremely numerous long setae(Fig. 12E). Merus width 40% length. Species restricted to sub-arid coastal areas of the Laguna Madre system between Refugio Co., Texas in USA and Altamira, Lomas del Real, Tamaulipas, Mexico (Fig. 12G).https://scholarworks.uni.edu/fiddlercrabs/1004/thumbnail.jp

Figure 010. Leptuca speciosa

Alt Text: Composite photograph of the Leptuca speciosa fiddler crab which includes several black & white images of different views of the crab, a color photograph, and a distribution map. Composite Image Description: Figure 10. Leptuca speciosa (Ives, 1891). UNI-93. Collected: 4 September 1976, Mexico, Yucatan, Harbor, West of Progresso (21.277956, -89.703382). Scale Bar = 10mm. (A) Dorsal view. (B) Front view. (C) Inner cheliped. (D) Ocular view. (E) Ambulatory. (F) Color Photo. (G) Distribution Map (Finke 2024). Species Description: Small species (\u3c 16 mm). Carapace length 69% width; frontal region about 37% of carapace width (Fig. 10A,D). Eyestalks short. Carapace widest at antero-lateral angle (Fig. 10A). Anterolateral angles pointed forward. Anterior lateral margins straight and parallel. Carapace surface often smooth but may have W-shape arrangement of pubescence on posterior carapace (Fig. 10A). Dactyl and pollex much longer than manus (Fig. 10 B,C). Gape wide. Dactyl overlaps distal pollex with few tubercles lining dactyl and pollex. Distal pollex pointed (Fig. 10C). On inner manus, tuberculated, oblique ridge prominent (Fig. 10C). Walking legs with some setae (Fig. 10E). For walking legs, thick pile on dorsal surface of dactyl and propodus. Merus width 34% length; female 30%, male 36%. Inhabiting coast of Mississippi, Florida, Bahamas Cuba and the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico (Fig. 10G).https://scholarworks.uni.edu/fiddlercrabs/1003/thumbnail.jp

Community Engagement Newsletter, September 2025

Contents: --- Fall Volunteer Fair --- The Cedar Valley Collaboration Forum --- Community Engagement Hours --- Events --- Engagement Opportunity --- National Credentialhttps://scholarworks.uni.edu/com_engagement_news/1035/thumbnail.jp

2024-25 Faculty Tenure Report

Statistical report showing the number of faculty at the University of Northern Iowa, University of Iowa, and Iowa State University that are tenured, on the tenure track, or not on the tenure track, broken down by college, department, gender, minority status, and if full or part time