Henry David Thoreau in Context

Well known for his contrarian and solitary posture, Henry David Thoreau was nonetheless deeply responsive to the world around him. Tracing a wide range of geographic, intellectual, cultural, political, and scientific contexts, this volume brings together leading scholars of Thoreau and nineteenth-century American literature and culture who provide original research, valuable synthesis of historical and scholarly sources, and innovative readings of Thoreau’s texts. The thirty-four chapters contained herein reveal a Thoreau deeply concerned with and shaped by diverse landscapes, intellectual and literary traditions, social issues, and modes of scientific practice. Essays also illuminate important posthumous contexts and consider the specific challenges of contextualizing Thoreau. A resource for students, teachers, general readers, and scholars, the volume provides a rich understanding of Thoreau and nineteenth-century literature, political activism, and environmentalist thinking

"The Land of Liberty": Henry Bibb's Free Soil Geographies

This essay situates "The Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, An American Slave" within the political context of the antislavery Free Soil movement, arguing that Bibb's representations of land and labor reflect the concerns of Free Soil. In particular, it argues that Bibb's narrative simultaneously critiques Free Soil ideology for its lack of a full-throated call for immediate abolition and its privileging of the white working class over both free and enslaved Black people. In addition, these aspects of Bibb’s Free Soil critique— both in condemning slavery and in reflexively challenging elements of Free Soil ideology—are more ecological than established Free Soil discourse, reflecting a deeper, more sensitive, and more radical understanding of material interconnection in regards to bodies, means of production, and topographies

"Who Are We? Where Are We?": Contact and Literary Navigation in The Maine Woods

This essay argues that Thoreau witnesses a series of clashes across the three essays collected in "The Maine Woods" and that Thoreau positions himself with a variety of contact zones, enabling him both to navigate the landscapes of northern Maine and recount his experiences to his audiences

Dunks and Drunks: Depictions of Drug and Alcohol Use Among High School Athletes in Film

Mediated portrayals of student-athletes can provide strong role models for realworld student-athletes. This research explored the images of student-athletes in sportrelated films regarding depictions of drug and alcohol use. A content analysis of six sport-related films released between 1994 and 2000 was conducted 1) to address whether such films accurately depicted drug and alcohol use among student-athletes and 2) to consider how these presentations might impact viewers who are, themselves, high school student-athletes. Results suggested that the films reinforced the notion that student-athletes are supposed to experiment with drugs and alcohol as a part of the social role relative to sport participation. Further, films suggested experimentation could take place with little or no consequence. Thus, sport films likely counteract progress made through educational initiatives aimed at curbing drug and alcohol use among student-athletes

Dunks and Drunks: Depictions of Drug and Alcohol Use Among High School Athletes in Film

Mediated portrayals of student-athletes can provide strong role models for realworld student-athletes. This research explored the images of student-athletes in sportrelated films regarding depictions of drug and alcohol use. A content analysis of six sport-related films released between 1994 and 2000 was conducted 1) to address whether such films accurately depicted drug and alcohol use among student-athletes and 2) to consider how these presentations might impact viewers who are, themselves, high school student-athletes. Results suggested that the films reinforced the notion that student-athletes are supposed to experiment with drugs and alcohol as a part of the social role relative to sport participation. Further, films suggested experimentation could take place with little or no consequence. Thus, sport films likely counteract progress made through educational initiatives aimed at curbing drug and alcohol use among student-athletes

RICO and the Courts: An Enterprising Attempt to Reach Racketeering Activites

Nearly ten years ago Congress enacted the controversial Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. Its purpose was the “eradication of organized crime in the United States.” The proponents of the statute asserted that strong measures were necessary to battle a force which had “penetrated into the very roots of American life and society” resulting in a “stranglehold of our citizens.” Although the opponents generally favored such legislation, many, like the American Civil Liberties Union, believed that the Act went beyond the goal of destroying the power of organized crime and made “drastic incursions on the civil liberties of everyone.” The Act was further attacked as running “counter to the letter and spirit of the Constitution” and containing “the seeds of official repression.” The concerns expressed by the opponents have perhaps survived only as they relate to title IX of the OCCA. Title IX is entitled “Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations.” RICO prohibits the operation or acquisition of, or the acquisition of an interest in, through a pattern of racketeering activity, any enterprise engaged in interstate commerce. Provisions are made for criminal sanctions as well as civil damages, and violators are subject to civil orders of divestment and dissolution. Since prosecutors began bringing charges under RICO, the courts have consistently rejected challenges to its constitutionality. Not only have the courts upheld RICO as valid legislation but they have been willing to construe its provisions liberally in accordance with section 904(a). One such construction has particularly been at issue in the courts. Of the six circuits to interpret section 1962 of RICO, five have held that the section not only prohibits the infiltration of legitimate enterprises through a pattern of racketeering activity, but also prohibits racketeering activity regardless of any involvement with a legitimate enterprise. This conclusion is based upon reading the section 1961(4) definition of “enterprise” to include illegal as well as legal entities. The result is a prohibition of operating a racketeering “organization” through a pattern of racketeering

Title IX and Booster Club Management: Experts’ Suggestions for Managing Challenging Scenarios

Title IX law prohibits discrimination at academic institutions that receive federal funding. Athletic programs fall under the purview of the law. As booster clubs, and the money they raise, become more important to successful sport programs, athletic directors must work diligently to ensure that their contributions do not cause inequity between the boys’ and girls’ programs. A number of challenges are presented by boosters who earmark giving to a single sport, booster clubs that represent only one sport and outperform those representing other sports, and in the process of transferring money from booster activities to the sports programs. This essay presents the suggestions of six leading Title IX experts to assist coaches, athletic directors, and all school administrators in successfully managing these challenges

Urban Identity and Transitional Politics: The Transformation Of Political Allegiance Inside Amiens Before And After The City\u27s 1594 Capitulation To Henry IV

Examines the reasons for the rise and fall of the Catholic League in Amiens, France, between 1588 and 1594. The league was a powerful group of wealthy lawyers, merchants, and churchmen opposed to the king concerned over the loss of urban privileges, regional loyalties, and the presence of the king\u27s clients within the city. In 1594 the city capitulated to Henry IV, marking the beginning of the league\u27s decline