17179 research outputs found
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Surprised by Hope: Possibilities of Spiritual Experience in Victorian Lyric Poetry
No full textThis article reconsiders literature’s capacity to express and evoke spiritual experiences by turning to William James’s The Varieties of Religious Experience, especially his discussion of mysticism and his suggestion that poetry can bring about such states. James’s ideas are especially promising given recent developments in postsecular and postcritical scholarship that problematize a religious/secular divide and call into question a hermeneutics of suspicion. Bringing James into conversation with Paul Ricoeur, I aim to show how receptivity to spiritual experiences in literature might generate expansive models of both poetics and hermeneutics. To pursue these possibilities, my study analyzes three examples of Victorian lyric poems that probe the edges of wonder: Thomas Hardy’s “The Darkling Thrush”, Gerard Manley Hopkins’s “Nondum” and Dollie Radford’s “A Dream of ‘Dreams’”. These case studies strategically select work by writers of various belief or unbelief positions, highlighting the dynamism of the late nineteenth-century moment from which James’s writings emerged. I argue that this poetry facilitates a re-imagination of hope, beyond a faith/doubt dichotomy, as well as a re-framing of revelation, from proclamation to invitation. Building on insights from both James and Ricoeur, my discussion concludes by making the case for cultivating an interpretive disposition that does not guard against but opens toward poetry’s latent potential to take readers by surprise.Englis
Oral history interview: Bradley Espinoza
No full textTranscript file (.pdf) and closed captioning available.Interview with Maggie Espinoza. Maggie shares the story of her son, his life, and the legacy he left
I Am Ready to Revolt: A Chicana Feminist's Primer Paso at Dismantling Gender-Based Violence in Secondary Schools
No full textAs a Chicana feminist and survivor of sexual assault, my personal and professional experiences informed my study, which critically examined the processes through which sexual assault and gender-based violence (SRGBV) were reported and addressed in schools by exploring the intersection of institutionalized misogyny and internalized sexism as experienced by Latinas in secondary school settings. Using critical collective autoethnography as the methodological framework, my research drew on the narratives of two Latina administrators, three Latina survivors of SRGBV, and my own lived experiences. Data was collected through testimonios and collective storytelling, methods chosen for their ability to authentically engage with deeply personal and culturally nuanced topics. The study sought to understand how patriarchal systems within both la cultura Latina and U.S. institutions shaped the responses of Latina administrators to cases of sexual violence reported by former Latina students. This perspective underscored the urgent need to reimagine the systems and processes used to handle such incidents, including the language and thought patterns that influenced Latina administradoras’ responses.
The key question that framed my research was:
What are the stories of Latina women and girls as they navigate school-related gender-based violence from their vantage points as administrators and students?
Ultimately, this research aimed to develop a framework for addressing SRGBV, one that disrupts misogyny and sexism while centering the lived realities of Latinas. This framework aimed to transcend policy by challenging and transforming the underlying ideologies, ensuring it is free from internalized misogyny and institutionalized sexism.Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psycholog
Utilization of Hemp Shives as an Internal Curing Agent in Cementitious Materials
No full textInternal curing (IC) can enhance concrete strength and durability. IC agents mitigate autogenous shrinkage and early-age cracking by providing additional moisture within the concrete. Additionally, internal curing enhances cement hydration, leading to improved strength and reduced permeability. In this study, hemp shives, known for their high water-absorption capacity, were investigated as a promising sustainable IC agent. This study examined the influence of hemp shives at 1%, 2% and 3% percentages by the volume of mixtures on the properties of normal strength cement mortars and concrete through extensive experimental lab tests. The water absorption and desorption properties of hemp shives were investigated, suggesting the material’s potential as an IC agent. The effects of hemp incorporation on both mechanical performance and durability were systematically evaluated through a series of tests, including fresh properties like slump or flow table, mechanical properties like compressive strength, flexural strength, dynamic modulus and splitting tensile strength, and durability property tests like shrinkage, abrasion, chloride permeability, freeze-thaw resistance etc. Notably, a customized ring test was conducted to assess the cracking potential of cementitious mortars under restrained drying conditions. Based on the results, excessive addition of hemp shives (e.g., 3%) can lead to reduced density, lower workability, and slight strength loss due to increased porosity of cementitious materials. Comparing all samples, the mixtures with 1% hemp shives offer the most significant benefits including improving mechanical strength, cracking resistance, and freeze-thaw resistance as well as reduced chloride ingression for mortar and concrete. Overall, this study bridged sustainable material innovations with practical engineering applications, contributing to the advancement of greener and more durable concrete materials.Engineerin
Examining Motivation and Retention Factors Among Texas Master Naturalist Volunteers in Science-Based Projects
No full textNo abstract prepared.Biolog
Oral history interview: Charles Centala
No full textEdited and unedited transcript files (.pdf) and edited and unedited video files available with closed captioning.Interview with Abigail Centala. Abigail speaks about her grandfather, Charles, and his life and service
Additively Manufactured Thin-Film Heater for Continuous-Flow Isothermal Amplification in Microfluidic Systems
No full textNo abstract prepared.Engineerin
Oral history interview: Larry Dollarhide
No full textEdited and unedited transcript files (.pdf) and edited and unedited video files available with closed captioning.Interview with Josefina Dollarhide. Josefina shares the story of her husband, Larry, and their journey together, as well as his life both in and out of the military
Examining the Influence of Level of Human Intervention, or Naturalness, on the Park Preference of Texas State University Students in San Marcos, Texas using an Image-Choice Survey
No full textThis research investigates the park preference of Texas State University students (n=159) using an image-choice survey containing photos from 9 parks in San Marcos, Texas. The mean scores for respondents’ park preference were analyzed using demographic data as well as data on students’ frequency of park visitation, year of degree plan (e.g. freshman, sophomore), reasons for visiting parks, and favorite park activities. This study found that age was the only factor which played a statistically significant role in shaping the park preference of Texas State University students. On par with previous park preference research, these results show a low mean score of 1.656 on a scale ranging from 1 to 3 among respondents, suggesting that students prefer parks with low human intervention, but not parks with zero intervention.Geography and Environmental Studie
Oral history interview: Paul Braden
No full textEdited and unedited transcript files (.pdf) and edited and unedited video files available with closed captioning.Interview with Dr. Paul Braden about his father, Colonel Paul David Braden. Dr. Braden remembers his father's life, service, and person