Urban Illusions

Urban Illusions is an immersive and interactive documentary experience that curates moments of reality in virtual environments to educate and expose viewers to a string of social and political issues that have been exposed in Baton Rouge. These moments also reflect a transformative time across the United States. The research and exhibition experiments with 360-degree videos and virtual reality to document issues occurring from racial tension stemming from prejudicial police violence and residual segregation that is still present in Baton Rouge. The intent of this work is to establish a methodology benefiting from modern technology in order to document real life through virtual space to inform the viewer about social problems in the everyday experience of disadvantaged groups across America. The methodology framework used for Urban Illusions has the potential to be utilized by other digital artists and collaborators to engage and educate the viewers about a multitude of contemporary concepts

Intensive Archeological Survey for Proposed Wastewater Improvements City of Anton, Hockley County, Texas

In October 2015, an intensive archeological survey was completed in order to inventory and evaluate archeological resources within a parcel of land where wastewater improvements are planned for the City of Anton, Hockley County, Texas. The planned improvements include a new wastewater plant/pump station, facultative lagoon, holding pond, and effluent application area. The archeological area of potential effects (APE) is a triangular parcel of land that measures approximately 0.45 by 0.47 by 0.62 miles (0.72 by 0.76 by 1.0 kilometers) and covers approximately 72 acres (29 hectares). The APE is on a level upland adjacent to Yellowhouse Draw. The work was carried out under Texas Antiquities Permit 7442 by Virginia Hatfield of Cox|McLain Environmental Consulting, Inc. (CMEC), a subcontractor to Parkhill, Smith and Cooper, Inc. (PSC). Ground surfaces within the APE were highly visible (100 percent across the entire APE) as the parcel of land has been utilized for agricultural activities, most recently hay. Six shovel tests were excavated, with a focus on southern edge due to the proximity of Yellowhouse Draw. All shovel tests were negative and revealed relatively shallow soils with the B horizon occurring at around 30 to 35 centimeters below the surface (cmbs). All materials (notes, photographs, administrative documents, and other project data) generated from this work will be housed at the Center for Archaeological Studies (CAS) at Texas State University, where they will be made permanently available to future researchers per 13 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 26.16-17. If any unanticipated cultural materials or deposits are found at any stage of clearing, preparation, or construction, the work should cease and Texas Historical Commission (THC) personnel should be notified immediately. The Texas Historical Commission (THC) concurred with the findings and recommendations of this report on November 30, 2015 (see Appendix A)

SB04-22/23: Resolution Authorizing Approval of Staff Senate Signature of Bear Necessities Statement to University Administration

Passed during May 10, 2023 Staff Senate meeting. Documents from the May 10, 2023 meeting of the University of Montana S by University of Montana--Missoula. Staff Senate (umt.edu) Resolution authorizing approval of Staff Senate to sign support to the ASUM Bear Necessities statement to the University of Montana Administration. Resolution Authored by Kat Cowley. Additional Authors, including Cowley, listed for letter. Letter discusses concerns regarding the status of marginalized and vulnerable student populations and offers suggestions on some ways the University of Montana can support students at a basic human level. These include continued advocacy for increase support from the State of Montana, increased housing availability, meal plan affordability, open education resources, campus accessibility, and addressing staffing issues

Confronting Whiteness through Virtual Humans: A Review of 20 Years of Research in Prejudice and Racial Bias Using Virtual Environments

This project includes supplementary files associated with the manuscript entitled Confronting Whiteness through Virtual Humans: A Review of 20 Years of Research in Prejudice and Racial Bias Using Virtual Environment