New Jersey History (NJH - E-Journal)
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Too Nice
No full textShannon Moran’s Too Nice is a powerful and raw poetic exploration of how kindness is often weaponized against them in a culture that blames victims of sexual assault and coercion. The poem deconstructs the insidious narrative that being “too nice” invites abuse, pushing back against societal tendencies to question the victim’s behavior rather than the perpetrator’s. Through vivid, emotionally charged language, Moran gives voice to the often-silenced experiences of coercion, emotional manipulation, and victim-blaming. The poem underscores the no-win reality many survivors face and challenges deeply ingrained myths about consent, strength, and survival
Limb and Love: A Narrative Shaped By and Against its Protagonist in Service of Ladies
No full textIsaiah R. Dillon offers a critical literary analysis of Ulrich von Liechtenstein’s Service of Ladies, focusing on how the protagonist’s identity as a courtly lover and knight is constructed, contested, and ultimately deconstructed through bodily sacrifice and class masquerade. Dillon argues that Ulrich’s narrative subverts traditional medieval romance tropes by centering love as the primary force rather than a peripheral motivator. Through detailed textual analysis, the essay highlights the motif of limb loss as symbolic of the protagonist’s yearning for legitimacy within an aristocratic tradition that ultimately rejects him. The piece interrogates the interplay between love, violence, and identity, suggesting that Ulrich’s transformation is both self-fashioned and self-destructive in pursuit of an inaccessible ideal
Introductory Poem: Acknowledging Your Resilience
No full textIn “Acknowledging Your Resilience,” S.N. Taylor delivers an inspiring poetic tribute to the students of Rutgers University–Camden, celebrating their adaptability, perseverance, and strength in the face of unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The poem acknowledges the transformation of everyday life and academic practices, emphasizing how students have embraced virtual learning, navigated uncertainty, and embodied resilience. With affirming language and a motivational tone, Taylor offers both recognition and encouragement, framing student resilience as a beacon of hope for the future
The Never-Ending Revolt: The Hong Kong Protests on Reddit
No full textSean Bray explores the role of Reddit in documenting and amplifying the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests. The article situates the digital resistance within a historical context, beginning with the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and tracing the political evolution of Hong Kong under Chinese Communist Party rule. Bray details how Reddit’s r/HongKong subreddit transformed from a local interest group to a hub of pro-democracy activism, emphasizing memes, linguistic identity, censorship resistance, and international solidarity. Drawing on Vaclav Havel’s theory of “living in truth,” the piece argues that online spaces like r/HongKong become vital acts of revolt in authoritarian regimes—offering visibility, moral resistance, and connection in the face of systemic repression
Global Supply Chain Disruptions
No full textThis article dissects the severe disruptions in international shipping and logistics during the pandemic and how overreliance on Chinese manufacturing worsened the crisis
Ericoid mycorrhizae influence nitrogen acquisition by Vaccinium macrocarpon (American cranberry)
No full textThis study examines the role of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (ERM) in facilitating nitrogen uptake in Vaccinium macrocarpon (American cranberry), a crop of both agricultural and ecological importance in New Jersey. By using isotopic nitrogen (¹⁵N) tracers and controlled inoculation of ERM, the authors assessed whether cranberry plants prefer nitrogen from organic sources provided by mycorrhizal associations over inorganic fertilizer. Results showed that while ERM presence significantly increased total nitrogen uptake, the plants still favored inorganic nitrogen sources, contrary to initial hypotheses. The findings support the benefits of ERM in nutrient acquisition but suggest further research is needed to quantify their specific contribution to organic nitrogen cycling in cranberry agroecosystems
Blood and Soil: Right-Wing Terrorism Poses an Existential Threat to the United States
No full textBenjamin Simonds Nixon delivers a powerful and meticulously researched analysis of right-wing terrorism (RWT) in the United States, arguing that it constitutes the most severe threat to American democracy today. Tracing its lineage from historical white supremacy to contemporary movements like the alt-right and ecofascism, Nixon examines how ideologies of racial purity and anti-government sentiment have evolved into decentralized, digitally-savvy networks. These groups use coded language, internet memes, and conspiracy theories to radicalize disaffected white Americans while infiltrating government agencies and law enforcement as “ghost skins.” Through historical context and case studies, including references to The Turner Diaries, Nixon shows how RWT seeks not only disruption but the complete dismantling of democratic institutions in favor of white ethnostates. The article calls for urgent attention by security services and the public to confront and dismantle the deep structural racism that enables these movements
Examining the Visions and Voices of Joan d’Arc
No full textThis paper explores the mystique surrounding Joan of Arc’s divine visions and voices, interrogating whether her experiences were spiritual revelations, political strategy, or symptoms of neurological or psychological conditions. Drawing from historical texts, trial records, religious doctrine, and modern psychiatric scholarship, Samuels presents a multifaceted analysis of Joan’s piety, influence, and legacy. The essay weighs theological interpretations against medical explanations—such as epilepsy—while examining how Joan has been represented in literature, film, and art. Ultimately, it reflects on the enduring complexity of Joan’s narrative and her role as both saint and symbol
The Utilization of Bite-mark Evidence in Concert with Cognitive Bias in the Wrongful Convictions of Ray Krone
No full textDiana Melissaratos provides a critical examination of the wrongful convictions of Ray Krone, focusing on the flawed use of bite-mark evidence and the role of cognitive bias in forensic analysis and legal proceedings. The essay traces the chronology of Krone’s two trials, both of which hinged on the testimony of a forensic odontologist despite a lack of supporting physical evidence and DNA exoneration. Melissaratos contextualizes the case within broader critiques of forensic odontology, citing alarming error rates and systemic issues of prosecutorial tunnel vision and confirmation bias. The article draws on scientific studies, legal records, and investigative journalism to underscore how unreliable forensic methods, amplified by institutional bias, can destroy lives and obstruct justice. The case of Ray Krone is presented not only as a tragic error, but as a call for reform in forensic standards and the ethical responsibilities of legal and scientific professionals
Virtuosity and Ethics in Medicine: Pellegrino’s Taxonomy as a Temporal Metric for Lobotomy
No full textBenjamin Nixon presents a compelling ethical analysis of the medical practice of lobotomy, applying Edmund Pellegrino’s “Taxonomy” of medical virtue—law, ethical duty, and virtue—as a critical framework. The essay examines how lobotomies were once considered medically and legally acceptable despite their disproportionate use on marginalized populations, particularly the poor, mentally ill, and incarcerated. Nixon traces how the legal and ethical justifications for lobotomy reflect broader failures in medical virtue and criminal justice, arguing that Pellegrino’s framework, while theoretically robust, is vulnerable to corruption when wielded within unethical systems. The article offers a cautionary exploration of how medicine, ethics, and law intersect to enable both healing and harm