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The Importance of Global Competence in the Performance of Multicultural Identities : Examining the Experiences of International Students, Educators, and Institutions Across Borders An Analytical Study
No full text90 p.In an interconnected world, nurturing multicultural identities is crucial to fostering inclusive education. Yet, global competence - the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to engage across cultural and linguistic differences, remains underdeveloped in many institutions. By drawing on personal experiences in the U.S., Spain and Costa Rica, this paper explores how global incompetence impacts identity formation and reinforces systemic inequities in education. The study defines and elaborates on key concepts such as identity, bilingualism, Eurocentrism, and systemic oppression in order to highlight their relationship to how social ills like racism, xenophobia, and other colonial institutional structures can negatively shape the open/unhindered performance/manifestation of multicultural identities, across different educational contexts. It critiques the lack of cultural competency training, Eurocentric biases in study abroad programs, and exclusionary practices that sustain linguistic and racial hierarchies. To address these issues, this research proposes decolonizing curricula, implementing cultural competency training, reforming several study-abroad program policies, and promoting linguistic equity. By tackling these systemic barriers, this study demonstrates the importance of and advocates for a more inclusive and equitable global learning environment
Antisemitism, Left-Populism, and the Evolution of Anti-Zionism in the Democratic Socialists of America
No full text94 p.This study has ultimately sought to answer the question of why the DSA went from an explicitly Zionist organization founded in part by the proud Jewish Socialist Irving Howe to an aggressively anti-Zionist organization riddled with antisemitism. In studying the organization’s history and its major anti-Zionist features, this study concludes that this change occurred because the DSA’s ideology changed. If the contemporary DSA had arrived at its anti-Zionism while being ideologically the same as it was founded as, this would be a fundamentally different project. However, the contemporary DSA was ideologically transformed by a wave of young populists who were then mentored and ideologically formed by cadres of radical left sectarians (Leninists, Maoists, and Trotskyists for example) that entered the organization to exploit its rapid growth. Taking the populist logic of its many young new members and combining it with the illiberal and radical views of the sectarians, the contemporary DSA’s ideology is not its original democratic and pluralistic socialism but an ideology of radical left-populism that is strongly committed to anti-Zionism. This study ultimately argues that the contemporary DSA has an antisemitism problem because this left-populist ideology is itself an antisemitic worldview
Growth Through Service : A Personal Reflection on My Summer Internship
No full text10 p.For my Senior Integrated Project, I did an experiential internship with El Concilio Kalamazoo. I first encountered El Concilio when I volunteered with the organization as part of my service-learning component in my Critical Ethnic Studies course. Working at El Concilio was the first time I was involved with the Kalamazoo Community and through it, I grew a passion for working with the community
Beyond the Gym: Communication, Teamwork, Problem Solving, and Intercultural Competency in a High-Performance Setting at Barwis Sports Performance Training
No full text12 p.During my six-week internship at Barwis Performance and Training, I had the unique opportunity to immerse myself in a high-performance environment that combined sports performance coaching and physical therapy. As someone with a background in high-level athletics and a passion for fitness, I expected to deepen my understanding of strength and conditioning. However, what I did not expect was the significant personal growth and invaluable lessons I would learn about leadership, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and intercultural competency. Each day brought new challenges, whether it was coaching athletes through grueling workouts, collaborating with physical therapists to provide seamless care, or navigating the complexities of working with diverse clients. This experience provided me with skills that extend far beyond the gym, offering insights into effective leadership and the importance of empathy and adaptability when working with others. Through my interactions with coaches, physical therapists, athletes, and clients, I learned that true success in this field requires more than technical knowledge—it demands a deep understanding of how to communicate, inspire, and foster an inclusive environment that empowers everyone to reach their full potential. Reflecting on these experiences, this project aims to highlight the skills I gained at Barwis and explore how they will shape my future, equipping me to take on new challenges with confidence
Locating and Predicting Ligand-Binding Epitope Regions on the Enterovirus Genus with Icosahedral Point Array Asymmetric Units
No full text14 p.Virus capsids are comprised of many copies of one or several different types of capsid protein subunits. Its function is to protect the viral genetic material located within, as well as provide aid to host cell attachment. Typically, virus capsid structure can be separated by having helical or icosahedral symmetry. Icosahedral capsids describe roughly 50% of virus families, their structure is described by 20 equilateral triangular faces, 30 edges, and 12 vertices. Viruses that pertain to this form of symmetry can be classified via Triangulation Number; a method that focuses on the arrangement of protein subunits that form the capsid. T-Number Classification leads to the use of point arrays, which provide specific geometric constraints on a viruses capsid and genetic material. This modified fitting method uses gauge points to determine the overall radial scaling, which are located on the symmetrical axes of asymmetric units. This method indicates geometric locations where viruses can be modified with care, and locations where modifications are relatively easy to perform. Antivirals and vaccines can use the information given through these point arrays to find target sites to inhibit viruses from infecting the host and fully maturing. By using the best fitting point arrays for native virus capsids, radially increasing the scaling of these PAs was hypothesized to be able to describe ligand-binding epitope regions on the capsid. Native capsids for the enterovirus genus were analyzed, then compared to their virus with its receptor bound complexed to it. The algorithms used for this method were able to locate these regions on pre-complexed viruses, verifying that point arrays are a valuable method for future research in this field
Experiences with the language barrier in healthcare and the expressions of this in works of art that focus on the refugee community in Germany
No full text41 p.The author presents her experiences at Erlangen University Hospital where she encountered the problems faced by non-German speaking migrants. Included is research into the issues and laws dealing with language barriers in healthcare and analysis of three works of art. The first of these is the film Almanya: Willkommen in Deutschland, a comedy-drama that focuses on a Turkish family and how they deal with their identities through multiple generations in Germany. The second work is the novel Ohrfeige (Slap in the Face) by Abbas Khider, in which a refugee seeks asylum in Germany in order to be able to finance an important surgery. The final work is a short film, Zahnschmerzen (Toothache), which shows the difficulties of a young asylum seeker in Germany when he finds out about his deportation. These works not only share similar themes, but also help reach a German audience with the voices of people currently sitting in hospitals without adequate language interpretation. Bringing these experiences to the forefront is an important step towards changing the law
Orange Juice : Fresh Squeezed A Personal Essay
No full textviii, 32p.I wanted to be able to tell a story with layers. This SIP is not just an account of my internship, my breakup, or my depression. It is a story of all of it at once, including moments of joy and happiness because those could not be overlooked. Crafting a non-fiction story with layers that does not explicitly explain the layers was harder than I expected. The key I found, through the help of Dr. Heinritz and Sylvia Plath, is to show and not tell. Show emotion, show conversations and how they made me feel. The research that I did for this SIP was not the conventional kind of research I have done in the past for a history paper or an English essay. This project included a personal experience methodology and more stylistic research when deciding how to structure and write the paper. I used Plath and several personal essays from the New York Times as inspiration for style. I also experimented with different voices when I was in the beginning stages of writing. I wanted the essay to sound professional, but I did not want it to sound academic since it is from my point of view, and I do not often think in academic language. I decided the best way to go about writing was exactly how I thought. I put my thoughts and ideas on the page and made some poetic anecdotes, but I can say with absolute certainty that the way this SIP is written is exactly how my head and voice sound
Situational Desecration
No full textiv, 48 p.How we generalize canonical terms and ideas needs to be challenged because they are not universal in every context; the idea of desecration falls within this canon. Within Genesis 9 and Judges 19, sexual desecrations are carried out on Noah and the Concubine. They are handled very differently and establish that desecration is defined situationally because power, gender, and the body are all on different levels of power and authority. Gendered bodies endure Hospitality, agency, and consequences differently. Thus, we need to dismantle generalizations that situations of desecration are handled the same. Desecration is dealt with with an additional concern or level of importance in each case, illuminating how hegemonic definitions shift because of systems of power that have been institutionalized within this text. Understanding the differences of desecration on gendered bodies can shift ways of thinking on assumptions that may be present in regard to sexual desecration within religious practice today
My Banking Experience
No full text11 p.This internship paper reflects my experiences and insights gained during my tenure as a Summer Member Experience Representative I at Kalsee Credit Union. Throughout the course of my internship, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the day-to-day operations of the credit union, where I engaged with members, promoted financial products, and enhanced my understanding of the financial services industry. The primary objective of this internship was to not only apply theoretical knowledge from my studies but also to gain practical skills that would prepare me for a career in finance, or business. I was fortunate to work alongside a dedicated team that provided invaluable mentorship and support, allowing me to develop my abilities in customer service, communication, and sales techniques. This paper is structured to provide an overview of my responsibilities, the challenges I faced, and the strategies I implemented to contribute to the credit union's mission of serving its members. I aim to reflect on the lessons learned during this experience and how they will shape my future career in the financial sector
Exploring the Metabolism of Plants When Stressed with Drought:
No full textiii, 15 p.Drought stress is the product of a natural environment drier than normal, exacerbated by climate change. When plants don’t have access to sufficient water to maintain their essential processes, they begin to undergo biochemical and physiological adaptations in pursuit of survival. Many of these adaptations are mediated by changes in the abundance of chemicals called metabolites, signaling that the plant is drought-stressed. This literature review explores the roles of metabolites, particularly of the amino acid tryptophan and its derivatives, in plants’ response to drought stress, thereby identifying potential new strategies for mitigating drought stress effects on plant growth and agriculture. As climate change begins to persist, these new targets for drought tolerance carry the potential to future-proof cultivated crops. The findings of this review highlight the gaps in our current understanding of metabolic regulations under drought stress. Based on current and future studies, we can develop a better fundamental understanding of metabolic adaptation to drought stress, and identify possible targets for genetic engineering and metabolite-based treatments to combat drought stress in agriculture.