Willi Graf of the White Rose: Transformation of an Image (poster session)

My dissertation focuses on Willi Graf of the student resistance group called the White Rose. While the history of the White Rose is well known in Germany and possibly Europe in general, Willi Graf’s story and significant contribution to the group is relatively unknown, especially in the United States. The main reason is that the majority of primary sources are in German and there are no books or films specifically about Graf in the English language. Executed by the Nazis at age 25, it might also appear that there isn’t much to tell about this young medical student and his short life. In addition, Graf was the most reserved and mature member of the group and is often overshadowed by the more intriguing siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl. Unlike the other members however, Graf, a devout Catholic, played an integral role in the distribution of the group’s flyers and opposed Hitler and the National Socialists from the very beginning. I am interested in presenting at this conference to demonstrate just what made this ordinary German so extraordinary when it came to passive resistance and empathy for the victims of Nazi atrocities, both Jews and Gentiles

An Analysis of the Benefits of an MBA Degree as Reported by a Diverse Graduate Population of a Southwestern University

Although numerous studies have attempted to measure the value of a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, most of these studies have concentrated on the extrinsic benefits of the degree, such as compensation and career progression. Furthermore, the majority of these studies have focused on students at elite MBA programs, which have traditionally served a different class of individuals than most MBA programs throughout the country. In an effort to broaden the literature in this area, this study examined both the extrinsic and intrinsic benefits of an MBA degree as self-reported by 638 MBA graduates from the University of San Diego who received their degree between 1975 and 2002. Survey results suggest that this particular graduate population benefited more intrinsically from their degree than extrinsically. Specifically, the three ways that students benefited the most—personal development, increased self-confidence, and enhanced credibility—were all intrinsic benefits, while the top extrinsic benefit—gaining more career options—was a distant fourth among the sixteen benefits measured. In addition, the hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that demographic, program-related, and employment variables were all significant determinants of both intrinsic and extrinsic benefits, with program variables explaining the most variation in the set of dependent variables. In terms of the effects of individual variables, Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White MBA graduates, as well those who graduated with Marketing, Supply Chain Management, and Real Estate emphases or from the MBA/MSN program, were more likely to benefit from the degree, while graduates from the MBA/JD program, graduates with more work experience, and graduates now working in government or research and development were less likely to benefit. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the importance of measuring both the intrinsic and extrinsic benefits of an MBA degree in today\u27s business world. Recommendations for future research include expanding the set of independent variables to include interpersonal relationships in the workplace and at home, extending this work to other non-elite MBA-granting institutions, and finally, testing the robustness of these findings to different (and more favorable) economic climates

Social Class

Discussion of class structure in fifth-century Athens, historical constitution of theater audiences, and the changes in the comic representation of class antagonism from Aristophanes to Menander