University of Southern Mississippi
Aquila Digital Community (University of Southern Mississippi, USM)Not a member yet
11361 research outputs found
Sort by
The Shape of Things
No full textThe Shape of Things is a collection of stories that investigates girlhood and womanhood through women’s bodies, particularly as the body affects their roles in families and relationships and leads to higher risks of becoming victims of violence. These stories show characters navigating through pregnancy, motherhood, sexuality, family, friendship, grief, and loneliness. As a collection, The Shape of Things looks at women in “parts,” showing the experience of young girls and women as they live in varying levels of scrutiny due to their sex
The Psychology of Fake News: Accepting, Sharing, and Correcting Misinformation
No full texthttps://aquila.usm.edu/katrinagulfcoast_photos/1066/thumbnail.jp
Truth, Errors, and Lies: Politics and Economics in a Volatile World
No full texthttps://aquila.usm.edu/katrinagulfcoast_photos/1078/thumbnail.jp
Searching for Trust: Blockchain Technology in an Age of Disinformation
No full texthttps://aquila.usm.edu/katrinagulfcoast_photos/1083/thumbnail.jp
Should medical assisted suicide be legalised worldwide? A critical examination of ethical justifications and challenges in contemporary healthcare
Get PDFThe legalisation of medical assisted suicide (MAS) is a complex ethical issue at the intersection of autonomy, non-maleficence, and justice. This paper critically examines whether MAS should be legalised worldwide, evaluating ethical justifications, regulatory challenges, and societal risks. A primary argument in favour of MAS is patient autonomy, allowing individuals to make informed end-of-life decisions, particularly in cases of terminal illness and intractable suffering. MAS is also framed as a harm-reduction strategy, preventing patients from resorting to unsafe methods of suicide.
However, ethical concerns regarding coercion, socioeconomic disparities, and the slippery slope effect present significant opposition. Case studies from jurisdictions where MAS is legal reveal both the effectiveness of safeguardsand trends in eligibility expansion beyond initial frameworks, raising concerns about long-term regulatory integrity. This paper critically examines these issues and proposes a structured legalisation model incorporating strict eligibility criteria, mandatory psychological evaluations, and continuous oversight mechanisms.
Findings suggest that MAS can be ethically and legally integrated into healthcare systems if accompanied by three key safeguards: 1) robust regulatory oversight, 2) guaranteed palliative care access, and 3) continuous ethical reassessment. Legalisation should ensure that MAS remains a genuine choice rather than a response to inadequate healthcare access. A balanced framework—one that upholds patient rights while preventing systemic risks—is necessary for the ethical implementation of MAS
Looking Ahead: Evolving Technology and Service in Mississippi Public Libraries
Get PDFOver the past two decades, Mississippi public libraries have experienced a significant shift in how patrons access technology and information. Once central to bridging the digital divide, public computers and in-person reference services are now in decline, reflecting broader trends in digital access and self-service information seeking. Between 2013 and 2023, computer use sessions in Mississippi libraries dropped by 75%, while reference transactions decreased by over 50% from 2003-2023. This article explores the evolution of library technology services in Mississippi public libraries and offers a forward-thinking vision for the future. It argues that adaptability, innovation, and strategic partnerships are key to sustaining relevance. How? By embracing emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, increasing digital inclusion, and redefining service models based around digital equity
Judgement and Doom: Apocalyptic Anxiety and Rhetoric in Anglo-Saxon England
Get PDFComparable to the “Y2K” phenomenon at the turn of the twentieth century, many historians posit that there was a similar concern a thousand years prior at the turn of the first millennium. This rested on the belief that Christ would return and initiate the world’s end—the apocalypse. In ninth and tenth-century England, Vikings raids were instilling terror into the hearts and minds of those who experienced them, and the clergy often observed these calamities in an apocalyptic light. This thesis will examine the rhetorical and theological expressions of apocalyptic concern in Anglo-Saxon writing from the ninth century into the tenth and eleventh
Bad Advice: Or Why Celebrities, Politicians, and Activists Aren\u27t Your Best Source of Health Information
No full texthttps://aquila.usm.edu/katrinagulfcoast_photos/1097/thumbnail.jp