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Pandemic Pandemonium: The Interconnectedness of Environmental and Public Health Through the Lens of COVID-19
No full textIn 2020, the world was launched into a global pandemic it was completely unprepared to fight. This pandemic began in the midst of tragic environmental disasters, including the largest wildfire recorded in California history. Once the global lockdown began, many long-standing environmental problems began to remedy themselves due to the sudden halt of human interaction. However, there were major environmental setbacks in the healthcare industry as increased medical waste and single-use items became a necessity. This thesis addresses how the pandemic impacted the environment through a lens of sustainability and public health, and how healthcare industries can be more prepared to fight another pandemic. Chapter 1 discusses the pandemic’s positive ecological impacts due to quarantining and social distancing, such as the improvement of air quality and the reduction of noise pollution. It also discusses the negative consequences of COVID-19 on the environment, namely the proliferation of hazardous and pollutant medical waste and disposable masks. Chapter 2 delves into the past and present state of the healthcare industry\u27s preparedness and sustainability in dealing with pandemics like COVID-19, and how it has changed in the COVID world. Chapter 3 discusses pandemic-related economic costs in the healthcare sector to the industry and citizens, and the waste-management difficulty exacerbated by excessive medical waste. Chapter 4 discusses public policies implemented throughout the pandemic, and how they impacted the environment and public health. Chapter 5 discusses what we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and how we can create more sustainable practices in a healthcare setting while still preserving the abundance of caution necessary in the current state of medicine
Dollarization Dynamics in Ecuador and Argentina: Assessing its Viability and Success as a Remedy for Weak Latin American Economies
No full textThe history of currency reflects political histories, the shifting currents of the global market, and the enduring legacies of previous governments, offering a compelling narrative of a nation’s economic evolution deeply entwined with broader historical forces. Many contemporary nations are faced with the decision to replace their currencies with those of another country. In the face of economic and political instability, adopting another currency can influence the national wealth and its position in the global market. This thesis explores dollarization as an economic strategy, examining its viability and success, particularly in weak Latin American economies. The paper navigates Ecuador and Argentina, presenting them as compelling case studies. The imminent policy shift proposed by Argentina\u27s President, Javier Milei, adds contemporary relevance to the exploration. The analysis scrutinizes the benefits and shortcomings of dollarization, drawing on Ecuador\u27s experience and the current economic challenges faced by Argentina. This thesis argues that the ideal effects of a successful dollarization process should be lowered inflation, public support, increased business transactions, and decreased public debt. In the discussion and analysis section, Ecuador\u27s success in achieving low inflation and public support is juxtaposed with potential drawbacks such as social discontent and adverse effects on local businesses. Argentina\u27s economic challenges, including inflation, debt burdens, and a divided public opinion, contribute to the complexity of the potential adoption of dollarization. The analysis of advantages highlights immediate inflation control, enhanced public confidence, and increased foreign investment. However, potential disadvantages, such as long-term debt challenges and social unrest, present a nuanced perspective
From Revolution to Laïcité: How Anticlericalism Has Defined Modern France for Muslim Women
No full textThis paper explores the developing definition and approach to secularism, referred to in France more strictly as laïcité, and its disproportionate impact upon French Muslims, in particular, Muslim women. The French roots of anticlericalism and resulting Revolution provide necessary context as to why the French are so apprehensive about religion, which led to the establishment of a secular state in 1905. Exploring relevant literature on the topic of French secularism, with a particular focus on the development of the headscarf debate in France from 1905 to 2023, context is provided regarding why the French care so deeply about the wearing of religiously affiliated clothing in public spaces. Analyzing the 2023 abaya ban exemplifies how the history of Islamophobia in France has manifested today, and discusses how Muslim women in France are affected in by legislation that specifically targets them, from clothing laws to bans on the administering of ‘virginity tests.’ Finally, concluding with a perspective of the debate through the lens of anthropologist Gregory Bateson’s concept of schismogenesis
When the Fear Sinks In: The Politics of Paranoia in the Wake of COVID-19
No full textThis project begins in January 2021 – a period henceforth known as ‘post-pandemic’ – following the release of the first COVID-19 vaccines in Europe (AstraZeneca) and the United States (Pfizer). While the pandemic is still ongoing as of December 2023, the release of vaccines heralded a new era more reminiscent of a time before March 2020: less (or no) mask mandates, a reduced emphasis on social distancing, and a positive shift in social opinion towards prophylactic vaccination. During my time as an American studying international politics, I have observed a positive correlation between time passed since January 2021 and the rise of ultraconservative far-right politics across the globe. Through the use of case studies, literature review, and further synthesis, I hope to illustrate the evolving dynamic of these two variables, and the subsequent dangers waiting in the shadows of the future as a result
The Impact of Therapeutic Alliance and Perceived Respect on Recidivism in an Alternative to Incarceration Program
No full textThe rise in the number of individuals involved in the legal system being diagnosed with mental illness has led to higher recidivism rates, overcrowding and higher costs. In order to address these issues and offer more appropriate treatment for these individuals, alternative to incarceration (ATI) programs were created. One of the most important goals of these programs is to reduce recidivism rates as this impacts both society at large and individuals involved in the legal system. Some prior research has shown that ATI programs are effective in reducing recidivism. In particular ATI program completion is an important negative predictor of recidivism. Yet, it is still unclear what specific factors of the client, case manager, and setting lead to lower rates of program non-completion and recidivism. Research within psychotherapy settings has shown that therapeutic alliance, the quality of the relationship between the patient and therapist, is an important predictor of treatment outcomes. One component of therapeutic alliance that has been hypothesized to be particularly important in forensic settings is perceived respect. However, this construct has rarely been studied in relation to tangible treatment outcomes. The current study examined the influence of therapeutic alliance and perceived respect on ATI program non-completion and recidivism amongst 71 ATI clients who had been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Therapeutic alliance was rated by both the case managers and ATI clients, using the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI). Perceived respect was only rated by ATI clients with a newly developed measure for respect. It was hypothesized that both therapeutic alliance and perceived respect would be negatively associated with program non-completion and recidivism. Most of the findings indicated there was no significant relationship between therapeutic alliance and negative treatment outcomes, after controlling for relevant covariates. Yet, case manager-rated mutual agreement on tasks was associated with lower recidivism rates. Unexpectedly, self-reported therapeutic alliance was associated with higher program non-completion and mutual agreement on tasks was associated with higher recidivism rates. Perceived respect was not significantly associated with program non-completion or recidivism. Clinical and theoretical implications of the findings are discussed, as well as suggestions for future research
Exploring the Impacts of Network Improvement Communities During Times of Crisis
No full textThe Sullivan County School District, a pseudonym, is a specialized district in NYC catering to newcomers and students at risk for high school dropout. In the 2022–2023 school year, there was a significant increase in enrollment of asylum–seeking students living in shelters. Using an improvement science approach, the aim of this study was to support principals in developing high–level learning experiences for asylum–seeking students. Two primary drivers included increasing (a) collaborative work among 10 principals in a networked improvement community and (b) educational support by building capacity among teachers, guidance counselors, and social workers. The goal of the first Plan–Do–Study–Act cycle was to collaborate in winning $1 million in grant funding. Between October 2023 and January 2024, NIC principals began intervisitations aimed at (a) learning from each other about supporting teachers working with special populations, (b) observing how school leaders addressed the identified problem of practice in real–time, and (c) sharing current experiences of students, teachers, and leaders. The researcher also examined his own leadership actions and organizational change through two frameworks: adaptive leadership theory and communities of practice. Four leadership themes emerged: the value in making mistakes, the importance of building trust and fostering vulnerability, and learning when to let go. The most valuable lesson was the acceleration of learning that occurs when a group of individuals, each bringing unique expertise and experiences, are willing to trust and be vulnerable with one another for the greater cause of supporting students
Harnell, Alice
No full textAlice Harnell was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1930, coinciding with the Great Depression. Harnell\u27s father was born in Russia and emigrated with his family to New York City during the pogrom of the early 1900s. Once arriving in the United States they settled on the Lower East Side, joining a community of other Jewish immigrant families. Harnell\u27s mother was the first American-born in her German family. Harnell\u27s father and mother moved to Detroit for her father\u27s job as a pharmacist. However, at the age of 5 the family moved back to New York City and settled in the West Bronx.
During her early childhood at 911 Walton Avenue, Harnell remembers the vibrancy of her neighborhood including the park she would frequent, Joyce Kilmer Park. The neighborhood, she recalls was primarily Jewish, middle-class, and not particularly religious. As a child Harnell loved reading, listening to music, and visiting the theater with her friends.
At the age of 12 Harnell\u27s parents divorced. Her father moved back to detroit while her mother stayed in the Bronx. However, her mother married a doctor who enlisted in WWII. As a result, the entire family moved to where he was stationed in San Francisco. While Harnell loves the life she has had in California, she thinks very fondly of New York City
Gilbert, Jeff
No full textSummarizer: Sophia Maier
Jeff Gilbert, born 1951, grew up on Walton Avenue nearby Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Both of his parents were born in New York, with his great-grandparents and grandparents immigrating from Hungary, Austria, and Poland. Gilbert describes the neighborhood at the time as 99% Jewish, and he lived next door to the Congregation Hope of Israel, despite being educated at and attending Tremont Temple. Among the amenities in the “self-contained neighborhood for shopping” were bakeries, movie theaters, grocery stores, and butchers. Gilbert remembers most Val’s Luncheonette for the delicious food, famous athletes, and the money he made as a delivery boy.
With his friends Gilbert would bike around the Bronx and play sports. He loved Yankee Stadium, working there from the time he was 14 years old. His father, who served in World War Two after high school, worked as a forklift operator, and his mother, who had a nursing degree, was a stay at home mother for most of Gilbert’s childhood. Gilbert himself attended PS 31, JHS 22, and Taft High School, where he has many fond memories and made lifelong friends. He says he got a good education in the Bronx, especially continuing to Lehman College and Einstein Medical School.
Gilbert’s family moved to Yonkers in 1969 because of safety concerns. Yet, Gilbert himself returned to the Bronx for medical school in 1972 and stayed there until 1986. Even after he moved out of the Bronx, Gilbert continued to work as a doctor serving the Bronx community until 2013, when he retired. During that time, he witnessed how the AIDS crisis “decimated” the Bronx. He says that despite new construction, the city government neglects the Bronx as a place for new arrivals and the very poor. Gilbert himself returns for Yankee games and even befriended a homeless artist outside the stadium who he helped through the COVID pandemic. The people of the Bronx, Gilbert explains, shaped him into who he has become.
Keywords: Holocaust, Walton Avenue, Yankee Stadium, Grand Concourse, Congregation Hope of Israel, Tremont Temple, Val’s Luncheonette, sports, New York Yankees, PS 31, integration, teachers, JHS 22, Taft High School, education, library, Lehman College, Einstein Medical School, polio, Lake Mohegan, antisemitism, Bronx Lebanon Hospital, Montefiore Hospital, AIDS, homelessnes
Schaechter Viswanath, Gitl
No full textGitl Schaechter Viswanath was born into a Yiddish-speaking family. Her father came from Romania to the United States in 1951, becoming a renowned Yiddish linguist and Columbia professor. He and his wife wanted to raise their children speaking Yiddish within a Yiddish community, and so they created this community with two other families living near one another on Bainbridge Avenue in the north-central Bronx, the Fishmans and the Gottesmans. The families were primarily secular but focused on Jewish culture and tradition.
Schaechter Viswanath attended PS 56 and describes the school and area as primarily Jewish. After school, she went to Sholem Aleichem School 21, a Yiddish school right across the street on Bainbridge Avenue. During the summers, she went to Camp Hemshekh, a Yiddish camp. Schaechter Viswanath discusses attending Yiddish school and camp with her sister, despite her sister being older. They did a lot together, including attending Evander Childs High School, though by the time Schaechter Viswanath was there, they no longer had honors classes, and the demographics had started to change. As a result, she graduated high school early and started at Barnard with her sister.
By age 12, her father hired her to help document Yiddish words for the Comprehensive English-Yiddish Dictionary, which she herself worked to complete after his death. After graduating from Sholem Aleichem, Schaechter Viswanath also attend Yiddish high school, mitlshul, and the Jewish Teachers Seminary, a Yiddish college that closed upon her graduation. She was also a member of Yugntruf (Youth for Yiddish) and is the long time organizer of the Yidish-Vokh summer program, where she met her husband. Despite her continued love for Yiddish, including writing Yiddish poetry, chairing the board of the League for Yiddish, and singing in a Yiddish choir, Schaechter Viswanath decided to pursue a career in the nursing and retired after 35 years in the industry.
Schaechter Viswanath raised her children speaking Yiddish, as did her siblings, and they all continue pursuing their passion for Yiddish in some way. The Sholem Aleichem School has become a cultural center, still holding events in Yiddish. Schaechter Viswanath herself became more religious, eventually modern Orthodox. She remembers her childhood in the Bronx positively, within a structured, bilingual community.
Keywords: Yiddish, Bainbridge Avenue, religion, Orthodox, Sholem Aleichem School, PS 56, JHS 80, Evander Childs High School, Camp Hemshekh, Jewish Teachers Seminary, education, Yidish-Vokh, League for Yiddish, Yugntruf, antisemitism, Holocaust, World War II, Teachers Strikes 1967-1968, crime, gende
Silver. Jerry and Irene
No full textJerry Silver grew up in the Bronx after moving from Brooklyn in the mid-1930s. His family rented an apartment on Kruger Avenue before buying a home on Holland Avenue during the Depression. Jerry attended PS 96 and PS 76 before graduating early from Christopher Columbus High School and later earning his undergraduate and law degrees from NYU. He fondly remembers playing in the street, working part-time jobs, and being passionate about baseball, often attending games. He served in the military from 1952 to 1954, started a small law practice in the Bronx, and worked extensively with the Legal Aid Society. Most of his clients were from the Bronx, and his practice reflected the borough’s ethnic diversity. Jerry noted changes in the legal profession, the demographics of the Bronx, and the shifting dynamics of urban life throughout the decades.
Irene Silver described the expectations placed on women during her youth, noting that college attendance for women was rare and professional fields like law or medicine were largely inaccessible. She became a teacher and later attended law school, working alongside her husband in the Bronx. She reflected on how daily life, community dynamics, and gender roles have changed, including the rising cost of living and evolving attitudes toward work and family. The couple discussed the changes in their Bronx neighborhood, including the impact of developments like Co-Op City and the Cross Bronx Expressway, which they believe significantly altered the community. They also shared memories of vibrant shopping areas, kosher food stores, and simpler ways of life. Both remembered the effects of wartime rationing, the rise of television, and their experiences of antisemitism and racial segregation. They emphasized the strong sense of community that once characterized the Bronx and noted how much urban life and culture have shifted over time