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Administering Authoritarianism: The Birth of the Free Market Model in Pinochet’s Chile.
No full textThis research paper aims to dissect the origins of the free-market in Chile and its institution through dictatorship. The purpose of this paper is to analyze privatization as an instrument of conservative governments– specifically the Pinochet regime (1973-1990). It outlines how the authoritarian government arose in the geopolitical context of the Cold War which led to a series of neoconservative fiscal policies inspired by Milton Friedman and the “Chicago Boys.” This paper goes on to analyze the structural transformation that drastically changed the economic output of the country. The case study highlighted is the Chilean Water Code and the privatization of water rights. This paper ends with a discussion and analysis of the free-market project’s success due to the regime\u27s effectiveness in disorganizing the opposition and the Constitution of 1980, which is compared to its socioeconomic effects on Chilean citizens
Echoes of Imperialism: The Philippines and America in the South China Sea
No full textThis paper provides an overview of the conflict between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea, Philippine history following its liberation from Spain to its independence from America, and the continuing impacts of American imperialism on the modern day Philippines. While it is argued that American military intervention on behalf of the Philippines is necessary in order to protect its territories in the South China Sea, this would only strengthen its legacy of imperialism on the Philippines. By analyzing case studies of sexual assaults perpetrated by US troops, such as the Jennifer Laude case and the Subic rape case, as well as the phenomenon of brain drain resulting from American recruitment efforts, the paper provides warnings of what may follow increased blurring between the Philippine and American militaries. Through a critical lens, it explores the complex dynamics of power, sovereignty, and dependency that underlie the relationship between the two nations
The Mediating Role of Sleep Quality and Quantity on Blue-Spectrum Light and Domains of Cognitive Functioning
No full textBlue light emitted from LED screens such as those found in smartphones, computer screens, and televisions, is increasingly ubiquitous in the modern world. This trend is notable given recent evidence suggesting blue light in particular may influence overnight sleep when individuals are exposed prior to bed. However, the effects of blue light on sleep among healthy young adults, and in turn the extent to which restricted sleep impacts cognitive abilities in this population, remains unclear. The present study used archival collected from 2018 to 2020, which included a final sample of 79 healthy young adults recruited from a private university in the northeastern United States. Participant enrollment in the study lasted two weeks, with in-person lab visits on the first and last day of the two-week period. Over the intervening span of time, participants wore a research-grade actigraphic watch that recorded both sleep and ambient light exposure. Participants also completing a battery of cognitive testing, which included measures of executive functioning (NIH-EXAMINER Battery), verbal memory (Modified Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test), and visual memory (Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Task). The study evaluated the mediating or indirect role of sleep on the relationship between blue light exposure in the hour prior to bed and cognitive functioning in the domains of executive functioning, verbal memory, and visual memory. Although this primary hypothesis was not supported, two significant findings emerged. Increased blue light exposure prior to bed was associated with reduced sleep fragmentation, and greater sleep fragmentation was associated with worse performance on a visual memory task. While reasons for the former are unclear, the latter adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting the importance of sleep quality
Inclusive Teaching: Comparing Afro-Latina/o and Non-Afro-Latina/o Educators
No full textThe purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Latina/o teachers in New York City. Using critical race theory and LatCrit theory as the theoretical framework, 15 participants engaged in semi-structured interviews, focusing on how their racial identities shape their educational and professional paths. Thematic analysis of their responses uncovered diverse perspectives. Participants revealed varied approaches to understanding their racial identities, with some prioritizing nationality or ethnicity over race. Educational environments played a significant role in shaping these perceptions, with experiences as both students and educators influencing their sense of self. Disparities emerged between White and Black Latina/o teachers, particularly in experiences of discrimination faced by Black Latina/o students. Microaggressions were prevalent in higher education for all participants, alongside encounters with colorism and racism within their families. While not all teachers\u27 racial identities directly impacted their career choices, many cited a desire to connect with students sharing similar backgrounds as a driving force. Interestingly, those with firm racial identities demonstrated a deeper integration of culturally responsive practices into their teaching methods, emphasizing the importance of discussing race and racial issues openly and appropriately with students. This study underscores the complexity of racial identity among Latina/o educators and highlights the critical role it plays in shaping educational approaches. By embracing their racial identities, teachers can effectively incorporate culturally relevant practices into their classrooms, fostering a more inclusive and enriching learning environment for all students
The Disclosure Decision-Making Process of Borderline Personality Disorder in Romantic Relationships
No full textBorderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe psychiatric condition associated with significant stigmas. Unlike stigmatized physical health conditions, BPD is invisible in social interactions. Subsequently, individuals with BPD face the challenging task of deciding if they should conceal or share their diagnosis. The examination of health information disclosure has been overall limited to physical health conditions. This qualitative study sought to address this gap in the literature by exploring how individuals with a BPD diagnosis navigate through disclosure decisions in romantic relationships. The purposive sample consisted of 14 participants between the ages of 21 and 37 (M = 29.29, SD = 5.39). The study employed the phenomenological methodology for data collection and analysis. Twelve interrelated themes offered an in-depth account of the complexity of considerations behind a disclosure decision: (a) disclosure barrier: the fear of stigmatization, (b) disclosure barrier and motivation: the preparation of a BPD diagnosis, (c) disclosure motivation: the perceived prognosis of BPD, (d) disclosure motivation: the manifestation and interpersonal relevance of BPD, (e) disclosure motivation: the positive relational quality, (f) disclosure barrier and motivation: the anticipated disclosure reaction, (g) disclosure motivation: disclosure efficacy, (h) disclosure barrier: the worry of being pigeonholed by BPD, (i) disclosure motivation: BPD as a critical part of the self, (j) neither a motivation nor a barrier: the COVID-19 pandemic, (k) the ultimate disclosure motivation, and (l) facilitating disclosure decision-making: the role of mental health professionals. Findings from the current study have implications for future research and clinical practices
Enhancing SDG Text Classification Through Combinatorial Fusion Analysis
No full textThe goal of this master’s thesis is to address the challenges of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) text classification using Combinatorial Fusion Analysis (CFA). CFA provides methods and workflow of combining multiple scoring systems. It characterizes each scoring system using a rank-score function and measures the diversity between two scoring systems. Human experts are subjective and no single machine learning algorithm can always correctly identify labels for documents. SDGs have many overlapping areas, which makes classification process challenging. CFA is thus used to combine three computational models each with different methodologies. We use CFA to develop a metric in arranging documents into three categories and SDGs into three groups. Finally, we compare the results of CFA with those of human experts to enhance SDG classification process
Liptzin, Benjamin Ben
No full textBen Liptzin grew up in the Bronx on 168th Street between the Grand Concourse and Sheridan Avenue in a four-room apartment above a laundromat. His parents were Polish Jewish immigrants, and his father worked as a presser in the garment industry. Liptzin attended a yeshiva until 5th grade, after which he entered the public school system. He later attended the Bronx High School of Science, Columbia University, and medical school in Rochester. Liptzin became a geriatric psychiatrist and taught at institutions including the University of Massachusetts and Mount Sinai. He later served as Chair of Psychiatry at Baystate Medical Center in Massachusetts and helped develop programs in geriatric mental health.
Liptzin reflected on growing up in a dense, vibrant Jewish community and spending time at local institutions like the Allerton Library and Yankee Stadium. He described the ethnic and racial dynamics of the neighborhood, his family’s immigrant experience, and his education in both religious and secular settings. He discussed his lifelong connection to Jewish values and memory, including his family’s experiences with anti-Semitism and the legacy of the Holocaust. Liptzin also spoke about how the Bronx changed over the years, particularly in the 1960s, and his eventual move to Riverdale. He retains deep appreciation for the Bronx’s communal energy, which shaped his personal and professional life
Anonymous 1
No full textSummarizer: Sophia Maier
“Anonymous 1” grew up in the Amalgamated Houses. Born in the 1940s, her grandparents had come over from Russia around 1910 and settled on the Lower East Side, and her parents grew up in the United States. Her father made ladies’ coats, and her mother was a stay-at-home mom until she became a bookkeeper. Anonymous 1 describes Amalgamated as almost entirely Jewish, with many Holocaust survivors, religious Jews, and Socialist Jews. Her father was among the anti-religious group, deciding to wash his car in casual clothing on the High Holidays. Anonymous 1 herself is still not religious but heavily interested in Yiddish culture.
Anonymous 1 attended PS 95 and the High School of Music and Art, eventually becoming a Yiddish folk singer after a few years at City College. She says she hated school, particularly having to get up early, despite being a good student. She also describes the difference between PS 95, walking to school in a complete Jewish environment, to Music and Art, taking a bus and a train to school in an integrated environment with people from around the city. Though “integrated,” Anonymous 1 shared that most people stuck with their “groups” in social settings. During elementary school, she attended Yiddish school at the Workmen’s Circle, and there she first became interested in Yiddish folk music. She also participated in free clubs and activities through the Amalgamated cooperative, including summer camp and concerts, and that is how she became a singer.
Anonymous 1 now lives on the Upper West Side and says it was the goal of everyone who grew up in the Bronx to move to Manhattan. She achieved that dream briefly after college and permanently starting in her 30s. While Amalgamated was a great place to grow up and she feels a lasting connection with people who lived there, Anonymous 1 witnessed the changes happening in other parts of the Bronx that eventually also came to the cooperative. She does not go back since her mother passed away in 2017 but remains connected with people through Facebook groups and small reunions, feeling like those are her relatives when she’s with them.
Keywords: Amalgamated Houses, cooperative, the Holocaust, Socialism, anti-religion, folk music, Yiddish folk music, Yiddish, PS 95, High School of Music and Art, City College, race, Workmen’s Circle, Grand Concourse, Co-op City, white flight, East Bronx, communit
Kazembe Balagun - Part 1
No full textSummary by Eliza Anderson.
Kazembe Balagun is a Harlem-born and Bronx-based leftist intellectual leader, community organizer, and current executive director of the Maysles Documentary Center.
Balagun was born Keith Alexander Mitchell, in 1976, to parents who had moved to New York City from South Carolina during the Great Migration in 1961. They were one of the first families to move into the Polo Grounds, the Harlem public housing development, before making the move to Co-op City in 1994. Balagun describes a “mythic” quality to Co-op City as a symbol of the Black middle class. In the interview, he recalls the shifting demographics of Co-op City in the 90s and 2000s, highlighting differences in Southern, West Indian, and West African Black communities living in the development.
Important to Balagun’s political actualization was his parents’ consciousness, and he recalls the pragmatic approach of his mother’s everyday activism and his father’s frank expression of political opinion as he was growing up. By age 16, Balagun was a self-identified Communist, and his peers at Cardinal Hayes called him ‘village.’ He talks about the importance of community institutions in Co-op City like the Building Association, and the enduring relevance of the Black church as a center for organizing.
As a current resident of Co-op City and in his new position at Maysles, Balagun discusses his commitment to uptown-centered activism and reflects on the political power of the third cinema. He expresses fears about the impact of gentrification, specifically the expansion of the Metro-North, on the affordability of Co-op City for its current residents. On the necessity of recording Black histories for the archive, Balagun says that “the importance of these types of projects is that I don’t want Black people to forget.
Gender Equity and Coffee Agroforestry: The Environmental and Social Impacts of Commodity Production in Latin America
No full textThis paper addresses the environmental and social implications of coffee growth and production in Latin America. Women contribute significantly to the ownership of coffee farms and labor of coffee production; however, there is a lack of resources and financial compensation for their work. Chapter One provides both quantitative and qualitative data on the environmental impacts of coffee plantations compared to agroforestry methods of coffee production in Latin America. This chapter defines basic terms, differentiates coffee species and mode of production, and explains the ecosystem services of biodiverse, tropical farms. Chapter Two highlights the patriarchal nature of Latin American agriculture systems that perpetuate male-dominated hierarchies. This chapter addresses important subsects of environmental ethics, including ecofeminism and care ethics. Chapter Three attempts to differentiate between Fair Trade, Organic, and Rainforest Alliance coffee certification meanings and how full-cost pricing can be implemented into the selling of Latin American-produced coffee in the Global North. This chapter also entails first-hand interviews with coffee farmers in Veracruz, Mexico. Chapter Four deals with international policy and regulations regarding the production and value chain of coffee, specifically relating to the Global North’s exploitation of Latin American labor. Furthermore, it seeks to break down the effects of globalization and capitalism on women living and working in the Global South. Lastly, Chapter Five suggests multilateral solutions to unsustainable farming practices and gender inequity along the coffee production supply chain to ensure an ethical cup of coffee