Pardon for Good and Sufficient Reasons

The preamble to an executive grant of clemency from the Presi- dent of the United States implies that pardons are granted on the basis of premises,... good and sufficient reasons. Yet, pardons have not always been regarded as the sort of acts that need to be justified by argument. In fact, most presidential pardons are issued without any statement of justification beyond the assurance that good reasons do exist. As a result, the issue of what constitutes good and sufficient reasons for a presidential pardon is seldom addressed and still unresolved

Recovering ancient ritual and the theatre of the Apache: a journey through the false consciousness of Western theatre history

This dissertation examines past cultural influences that have shaped theatre historians\u27 perception of ancient Greek and contemporary Native American performance. It suggests that through a recognition of these influences, which have long tempered the Western narrative of theatre, ancient and Indigenous performance can be reviewed as similar forms of a lived exchange. The study tracks the formation of certain beliefs and assumptions within performance history through Roman, early Christian and Renaissance cultural identities. It notes the misrepresentation of oral and popular theatre within theatrical scholarship through its reliance upon the written remains of the ruling classes and confronts the notion of high and low forms of art as class-based within the theatre canon. Through an historical methodology the chapters attempt to disclose and refute long held assumptions within the discipline of theatre history. It explores ancient Athenian theatre as a sacred tribal ritual and an Apache puberty ritual as similar theatrical performances. The chapters also note the similar paths of ancient popular theatre and ritual performance of the Native American within Western theatre history. In conclusion the dissertation argues that Western definitions and ideology cannot be placed upon another separate and distinct culture and produce anything more than a distorted and fictionalized interpretation. It summarizes the impact of ancient social structures upon our view of Indigenous performance today and argues that without these religious and cultural biases from antiquity, the Apache ritual and fifth century B.C.E. theatre can be seen simultaneously as dramatic and sacred forms of equal importance with their own parallel history within the Western theatrical narrative. In conclusion the study offers an alternative historiography of both cultures through their performances

Family, property, and negotiations of authority: Francoise Brulart and the estate management of noble women in early modern Burgundy

There is no question that early modern France was a patriarchal society. In fact, during this period, there was an increase in legislation further subordinating women under the authority of their fathers and then of their husbands. The legal identities of women as daughters and wives was officially negligible. However, this dissertation argues that in practice, family needs trumped the constricting legal prescriptions placed upon women. In examining the estate accounts, contracts, and family papers of the Saulx-Tavanes, Brulart, Le Goux, Joly, Marmier, and Baissey families, it is abundantly clear that women of both the noblesse de robe and noblesse d\u27épée were actively engaged in estate management which required negotiations of the legal hurdles placed in front of them. At least unofficially noblemen expected their wives to enter marriage armed with a cadre of managerial skills to be employed for the good of the family during their marriage and if necessary after. Furthermore, noble husbands, many of whom were legists themselves, seemed to have fully embraced women\u27s negotiations of familial authority as commonplace. ^ Françoise Brulart was a member of the noblesse de robe in Burgundy, albeit of the highest echelon, who married a prominent member of the noblesse d\u27épée, Claude de Saulx-Tavanes. From the onset of their marriage, Françoise and Claude worked together in a sort of collaborative partnership, one in which he clearly depended on her to take an active role in co-managing the estate and family economy. Upon his death, rather than naming a male relative as the trustee over his properties, he left Françoise in charge. In her viduity, she increased her assiduous estate administration while successfully continuing to promote and defend the family rights and assets. Françoise\u27s experiences and agency were far from singular. Through the analysis of documents involving not only Françoise Brulart, but also those of Louise Joly, Anne de Marmier and Anne de Baissey, it is clear that both in marriage and in widowhood, family success and advancement relied on the ability of noble women to administer the estates frugally, and to sustain, and if possible to grow, the family assets

Examining the Role of the Catholic Environment in Students’ Search for Meaning

Emerging research illustrates that undergraduate students are searching for meaning in their lives, yet postsecondary institutions generally do little to support them in exploring such issues (Astin et al., 2005b). We speculated that religiously affiliated institutions might offer guidance on supporting students’ spiritual development, and thus examined students in the context of Catholic postsecondary environments, focusing on whether the students’ religious affiliations and perceptions of their institution as supporting their spiritual development affected their search for meaning. Further, we examined the aspects of the environment that strengthened students’ perceptions of their college environment as closely aligned with the Catholic mission, and thus supportive of their spiritual development. We discuss implications for secular and religious institutions

Black-footed ferret areas of activity during late summer and fall at Meeteetse, Wyoming

Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes; hereafter, ferret) were formerly widespread in central North America. Their populations decreased throughout the last century to near extinction by the late 1970s as a result of extermination of prairie dogs (their main prey) and the spread of disease (Biggins and Godbey 1995; Biggins et al. 1998). In 1973 the ferret was the least known endangered mammal in the United States because of its nocturnal, semifossorial habits and the few known populations (Erickson 1973). In 1981 a small population was discovered in a complex of white-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys leucurus) colonies near Meeteetse, Wyoming. During 1983 and 1984 we used radiotelemetry to collect information on areas of activity for ferrets in this population. Our overall objective was to develop data on ferret activity and spatial use among sex and age groups. The Meeteetse population of ferrets was decimated by canine distemper (Morbillivirus) and plague (Yersinia pestis) in 1985 (Forrest et al. 1988), and 18 individuals were brought into captivity, forming the foundation for a captive-breeding program. We present data on sequential areas of activity (using minimum convex polygons) during 1983–1984 for Meeteetse ferrets monitored intensively for short periods of time between August and December. We compare the sizes of activity areas and shifts in centers of activity for male and female and adult and juvenile ferrets

AT THE BASE OF THE BRIDGE: A CASE STUDY OF BOUNDARY SPANNING BY MEMBERS OF A UNIVERSITY'S PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

This study examined the extent to which presidential leadership teams in institutions of higher education realize their goal of helping college and university presidents with decision making. The literatures on leadership teams in higher education and in other contexts suggest that these teams have promise for helping presidents manage complex internal and external demands. However, empirical research on these teams has been limited. This dissertation addresses that research gap with an in-depth qualitative case study of one presidential leadership team. I drew on management and organizational behavior literature to conceptualize team members as boundary spanners who operated between the president and the rest of the university and the university's external environment. This literature suggested team members would help manage both information and political relationships. I then used concepts from the new institutionalism in sociology to help me identify those conditions that might help or hinder team members' boundary-spanning activities. My primary data sources were interviews, extensive observations, and document analysis. I found that the university president in this case intended for his team to operate as boundary spanners who would manage information and political relationships, but that team members' engagement in these intended activities varied. I found that most team members helped with information management only occasionally and focused their efforts primarily on political activities outside of the institution. However, a core group frequently engaged in these activities. The variation in participation seemed to depend on whether individuals came with the capacity and orientation to engage in these roles. The team setting itself did not provide basic structures or resources to encourage these forms of participation among all members. This study suggests the need to apply additional frameworks and methods to illuminate other dimensions of teamwork in presidential leadership teams. In practice, this study shows that in order for individuals to fulfill boundary-spanning functions, the team setting may need to foster particular dynamics and provide certain structures that enable information management. These structures range from the provision of basic meeting agendas and facilitation to models of how to engage in information and political management activities

Fit Into College: A Program to Improve Physical Activity and Dietary Intake Lifestyles Among College Students

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a 10-week program could improve physical activity, physical fitness, body weight, dietary intake, and perceptions of exercise and diet among college 30 healthy college freshmen. Outcomes were measured at baseline, and following the 10-week program. The weekly sessions incorporated constructs of the Transtheoretical Model of Health Behavior Change and were administered by fitness interns who were junior or senior college students enrolled in health-related majors. The participants presented with low physical activity, physical fitness, and poor dietary intake, and 50% were overweight/obese (BMI \u3e 25). Participants demonstrated gains in their physical fitness and their perceived benefits to engaging in exercise and decreased their perceived barriers to engaging in exercise and a healthy diet. College freshmen presented with low levels of physical activity, poor dietary intake, and excess body weight. A peer-administered program can improve these measures and favorably change perceptions of exercise and diet

Applying the Principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in the College Classroom

Universities are charged with educating students from diverse backgrounds, including ELL students, nontraditional students, military students, first generation college students, and students with disabilities. In order to meet the wide variety of learning needs and abilities in the college classroom, teachers must find innovative methods for reaching this diverse population of students. One potential solution is Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Through instructional and assessment strategies that address the “why”, how”, and “what” of learning, the UDL approach ensures that all students can learn. The research regarding the concept of using UDL in the college classroom is minimal, but shows promise in meeting the needs of all students and the federal laws focusing on UDL. This article provides faculty with background information on UDL as well as ways to incorporate these strategies into their current courses

Insurer and Employer Views on Pediatric Obesity Treatment: a Qualitative Study

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Hampl, S.E., Davis, A.M., Sampilo, M.L., Stephens, K.L. and Dean, K. (2013), Insurer and employer views on pediatric obesity treatment: A qualitative study. Obesity, 21: 795–799. doi:10.1002/oby.20112, which has been published in final form at http://doi.org/10.1002/oby.20112. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.OBJECTIVE The effectiveness of group-based comprehensive, multidisciplinary (stage 3) pediatric weight management programs is backed by a growing body of literature, yet insurance coverage of these programs is scarce to nonexistent, limiting their reach and long-term survival. The objective of this study was to better understand the perspectives of insurers and large employers on the issue of group-based treatment coverage. DESIGN AND METHODS The authors performed a qualitative study utilizing structured interviews with these stakeholders, following accepted techniques. RESULTS Six major themes emerged: cost, program effectiveness, corporate social responsibility, secondary parental (employee) benefits, coverage options and new benefit determination. CONCLUSION Future efforts to secure payment for group-based pediatric weight management programs should address these key themes