Reimagining Criminal Justice: The Lasting Effects of the 3 Strikes Law and Proposition 20

Despite many people calling for cuts to police budgets this year, police unions have contributed more than half of the nearly $4 million raised for Proposition 20’s campaign deemed the “Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act.” The proposition would erode the impact of Proposition 36 and 57 and expand the list of crimes for which early release is not an option. Proposition 20 wishes to define 51 crimes and sentence enhancements as violent. Listing them as violent will ensure they are excluded from the early release program Proposition 57 enacted in 2016

LGBTQ Youth Homelessness and Discrimination in the Child Welfare System

Despite the existence of LGBTQ anti-discrimination laws, LGBTQ youth are still being discriminated against within the foster care system. The primary cause of all youth homelessness is family conflict, and LGBTQ youth are more susceptible to family conflict when they come out to their parents. The Williams Institute surveyed 354 agencies throughout the United States who work with LGBTQ homeless populations and found that 68% of clients have experienced family rejection. The True Colors Fund notes that more than 1 in 4 LGBTQ teens are forced to leave their homes after coming out to their parents. LGBTQ youth also face more abuse and neglect than their heterosexual counterparts which are also major causes of their homelessness. 63% of young people who identify as LGBTQ have experienced physical, sexual or emotional abuse and 52% have reported neglect before becoming homeless. LGBTQ+ youth flee or are forced out of their homes because of who they are and unfortunately, that is only the beginning of a cycle of trauma and pain. Many youth are funneled into the welfare system which is meant to protect them but they are once again subjected to rejection, hostility, and/or lack of resources aimed at helping them. The ill-prepared child welfare system causes LGBTQ youth to believe they are better off homeless than in the system. Legislation that addresses sexual orientation and gender identity expression (SOGIE) on both a Federal and State level could end this cycle of trauma by transforming the child welfare system. Part I of this paper will explain the problems youth face in the child welfare system, Part II will analyze current legislation and Part III will propose recommendations for new legislation and amendments to current legislation. Part IV will conclude with the best mechanisms for enforcing anti-discrimination laws

Introducing Open Research Europe (ORE) – Q and A with Michael Markie

This week sees the launch of Open Research Europe (ORE), an open publishing platform developed by the European Commission for research funded by its Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe funding schemes. These funding programmes cover a significant volume of research in the social sciences and humanities, making ORE a notable development for academic publishing in these fields. In this Q&A, Michael Markie, publishing director for F1000, the technology underpinning ORE, discusses the new platform and what it means of Open Science publishing in the social sciences

The Differing Representations of Imperial Women by Plutarch and Tacitus

This research examines the different representations of imperial women by two ancient Roman historians, Plutarch and Tacitus. While both historians wrote during the period from 60-117 C.E., their different positions within Roman imperial life affected their views of the empire and its people. I will argue that their individual ideas about morality and the Roman Empire contributed to their divergent depictions and descriptions. By analyzing each historian’s own ideals, the historical context in which they wrote, and the varied scholarship regarding Roman imperial women, I hope to contribute a significant and original argument to this discussion. This comparative approach of two of Roman history’s most influential writers will be integral to understanding more about imperial women during the Roman Empire.B.A. (Bachelor of Arts

Taking Back the Industry: Understanding and Changing the Lack of Women’s Representation in Film

Film is one of the most popular art forms as it combines both visual and audio elements and tells a wide range of stories. From date nights to spending time with family and friends, people around the world are frequently consuming film in theaters and at home, and naturally attempt to relate or see themselves in characters and in the stories. Unfortunately, although there have been many attempts to inspire change, the film industry severely lacks representation and inclusivity in both on-screen and behind-the-scenes roles. This is a major issue, as diverse characters and stories bring a sense of belonging to audiences and help people to feel less alone about their identity and experiences. For my research, I try to get to the root of this problem and find answers as to why representation is still extremely low in behind-the-scenes roles in film, which directly affects the level of representation in on-screen aspects of film. I will use previous studies and industry history for the first half of my research, and then interview women in the industry for the second half in hopes of inspiring the start of lasting change

University of Montana Students and the Gardasil Vaccine

Gardasil® is a vaccine for human papilloma virus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus that can cause genital warts, cervical cancer, and other diseases. Males and females ages 9-26 are recommended to receive the Gardasil® vaccination. Most students attending the University of Montana (UM) are within the recommended age range for Gardasil® vaccination and would benefit from receiving it if they have not yet done so. Gardasil® is available at the Health Services Pharmacy on the UM campus and is often covered by insurance plans with no patient copay. In the fall semester of 2016, surveys were given to patients at the Health Services Pharmacy that inquired about the student’s Gardasil® vaccination status, barriers to vaccination they may encounter, their knowledge of HPV, and the student’s opinion of the Gardasil® vaccine. The results of the survey highlight a low vaccination rate in UM students, particularly in male students. Respondents were unaware of both the vaccine and its availability at the Health Services Pharmacy. In addition, a difference in knowledge about HPV was seen between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, with more vaccinated respondents correctly answering questions regarding Gardasil® and HPV. The results of this study suggest that a Gardasil® educational campaign should increase HPV awareness and vaccination rates in the student population at UM

IU Public Policy Institute and Center for Homeless Intervention and Prevention, 2011 Homeless Count

poster abstractSince 2007, the Indiana University Public Policy Institute (PPI) under contract from the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP) has conducted a count of the persons experiencing homelessness in Marion County. On January 27, 2011, a team coordinated by CHIP administered the annual point-in-time count of homeless individuals. Our research discusses the details and background of the count as well as findings and thoughts for policymakers concerned with improving services for the Indianapolis community homeless population. The street count was carried out by teams assigned to designated areas of the county. The teams consist of outreach workers and at least one Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) student. The shelter count was administered by employees of the facility or by a survey assistant, usually an IUPUI student. The IUPUI students volunteered as part of the course Do the Homeless Count in which part of their coursework is to observe and participate in the annual homeless count. The students from the class were trained by outreach workers and practiced interviews in preparation for the count. Four teams consisting of two officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, one IUPUI student, and one employee from CHIP, searched abandoned buildings and aided in areas outside the immediate downtown area