Middle Tennessee State University: Journals@MTSU
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Campbell, Jessica. The Brontës and the Fairy Tale. Ohio UP, 2024.
Full text linkDo people ever fully outgrow the fairy tales of their childhood? Jessica Campbell makes the case that, at least for the Brontës, the answer is a resounding no. While scholars have studied the impact that fairy tales had on their juvenilia for years, Campbell argues that fairy tales influenced the siblings beyond their childhood kingdoms and into the realist fiction of their adulthood. She demonstrates that fairy tales proved to be flexible models upon which they could base complex novels
Unintended Consequences: A Case Study of the Tennessee Third-Grade Retention Law’s Effects on Children and Families
Full text linkThis qualitative case study examined the impacts of Tennessee’s third-grade retention law on children, families, and educators through an action research framework. Using semi-structured interviews, social media content analysis, and document reviews, the study explored the lived experiences of parents, who are also educators, and whose children were impacted by the third grade retention law, to uncover the law\u27s broader implications. Findings revealed significant emotional stress on children, disruptions to family dynamics, and heightened teacher burnout, compounded by inconsistencies in communication across rural and suburban districts. The participatory nature of action research allowed stakeholders to collaboratively reflect on the challenges posed by the policy and propose actionable solutions. The study also highlighted opposition to the law, with participants advocating for earlier literacy interventions and systemicsupport over punitive retention measures.
By integrating action research principles, the study prioritized the voices of those directly affected and emphasized the importance of comprehensive support systems that address socioemotional and academic needs, particularly for students who faced foundational learning disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Implications include the need for transparent communication, equitable resources, and early interventions to mitigate the unintended consequences of retention policies. These findings contribute to the growing body of research on high-stakes educational policies and demonstrate the potential of action research to inform evidence-based reforms that prioritize student well-being and equity. 
Creating a Culture of Philanthropy at Your University Library
Full text linkAt William & Mary, raising funds for the university libraries is a team effort: Our goal is to create a culture of engagement and philanthropy amongst staff, faculty, students, alumni, and community members. To drive fundraising success, we invest in building relationships, creating connections, and telling stories about our value and impact.
In this article, we will share how we have leveraged our community to exceed previous fundraising benchmarks and earn one of the highest alumni giving rates of any national public university, at 21 percent. We will discuss our strategies for engaging current students, who are our future alumni donors, highlighting the importance of cultivating relationships early in a student’s academic career. We will explore managing a library fundraising board and creating community partnerships to engage local community members. Additionally, we will explore the significance of transparency in budgeting and fundraising, ensuring that librarians and staff understand the profound impact of philanthropy on library resources and services. Central to our discussion will be the concept of “fundraising is everyone’s job,” and we will provide insights into training techniques that enable librarians and staff to effectively advocate for W&M Libraries
Examining Processed Foods in Food Banks and the Presence of Chronic Diseases in Food Bank Clientele
Full text linkFood insecurity affects millions of Americans and puts them at an increased risk of developing chronic disease. Food banks are essential in improving food access for this population. However, previous studies have identified gaps in the nutritional quality of items donated to food banks, thus decreasing clients’ access to nutritionally adequate food. The first part of this study examines the presence of chronic disease in food bank clientele by distributing a survey to clients in the waiting room of a local food bank. The second part assesses the nutritional quality of donated items based on their level of processing using the NOVA Food Classification tool. The study found that the majority of food bank clients had been diagnosed with a diet-related chronic disease and that slightly over half of donations were ultra-processed foods. This information can be used to form collaborative approaches between food bank staff, their clientele, community leaders, and donors to help improve access to nutritious food for those facing food insecurity.
The Mother of All Living: Eve’s Redemptive Role in John Milton’s Paradise Lost*
Full text linkIn this essay I argue that in Paradise Lost, Milton reframes traditionally misogynistic narratives of Eve. Milton does this by portraying Eve as a growing, dynamic woman seeking to “find herself” after her secondary creation from and for Adam. In hubris, Milton’s Eve desires wisdom and the autonomy it would afford. She does not want to be attached to Adam forever and longs to work, at least for a time, in solitude, not because she does not love her husband but because she wants to develop her own selfhood to contribute to her marriage and to the Garden’s labor. But following Satan’s temptation to eat the “forbidden fruit,” Milton’s Eve is repulsed at the separation between the prelapsarian and postlapsarian worlds, which has disrupted her marital union, and in despondence and desperation, she shares the fruit with Adam to bring about inclusion. Adam’s readiness to share in her sin and die with Eve brings attention to the identity Eve has already had—as woman, wife, mother of nature—and gives her the strength and wisdom to save Adam from suicide and lead them both to repentance and redemption. Although she eats the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge and shares it with her husband Adam, Milton’s Eve experiences the stages of “growing up” attributed to her innate humanity in God’s Paradisal Eden.
*Winner of the Deans’ Distinguished Essay Awar
“A truly happy woman has, it is said, no history”: Relational Utopia in A Woman of To-Morrow: A Tale of the Twentieth Century
Full text linkBritish novelist and feminist essayist Alice Coralie Glyn is rarely mentioned in studies on Victorian feminism or speculative fiction, despite the distinctive nature of her literary work and biography. Alongside the feminist critical trend exploring the paradigm of the “lost,” “forgotten,” or “overlooked” female author,5 this paper argues that the hybridity of Glyn’s work may also have further contributed to her marginalization
Recreating Mary Shelley’s Canon: Creature as the Authentic Turkish Frankenstein
Full text linkReleased in October 2023 on Netflix, Cagan Irmak’s Creature is a miniseries that presents an unusual Turkish adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818). Set in late-nineteenth-century Istanbul, in the Ottoman Empire, the story follows Ziya, a young medical student driven to push the boundaries of science to revive the dead. After witnessing the death of his professor Ihsan, Ziya becomes obsessed with bringing him back to life. He ultimately succeeds, but not in the way he anticipates. The resurrection of Ihasan leads to the creation of a monster, marking a new and unexpected beginning
AI and Academic Integrity: Guiding Educators Through the Evolving Challenge of Student Plagiarism
Full text linkThe arrival of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education brings exciting opportunities and significant challenges. This article explores educators\u27 concerns about AI\u27s role in the classroom, particularly the potential for AI-assisted cheating. Based on personal experiences, conversations with educators, and professional research, we highlight the ethical issues posed by AI tools like ChatGPT, which students may misuse for assignments and exams. Surveys show a troubling trend: many students admit to using AI for schoolwork, raising questions about academic honesty and integrity. We discuss ways to reduce AI misuse, such as redesigning assessments, encouraging open discussions about ethics, and using AI detection tools. The article stresses the need for ongoing dialogue, adaptive policies, and collaborative efforts among educators to maintain academic integrity in the digital age, ensuring that AI supports rather than hinderseducational success
Classroom Calming Corners: Peaceful Spaces for Times of Transition
Full text linkIn a school environment, it is important to have a response strategy when students experience dysregulation of their emotions. Promoting social and emotional learning assists students in developing these skills. Mindfulness is one practice that helps students de-escalate when their emotions begin to elevate. One strategy, a classroom calming corner, is an area of the room equipped with soft furnishings and soothing materials to help students return to equilibrium so that they are able to remain in the learning environment. Data from the findings reveal that calming corners in one elementary school classroom and one middle school classrooms were successful and valuable for students returning to a state of equilibrium. Overall, students and teachers reported satisfaction with using the calming corners
Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: A Maligned Video Game Masterpiece
Full text linkWith innumerable adaptations, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) by Robert Louis Stevenson endures as a cornerstone of the Victorian Gothic literary canon. Adapting the complexities and nuances of Jekyll’s troubling scientific discovery and consequent double-life is no easy feat. While film and stage productions have historically functioned as popular and accessible vehicles for creative adaptation, the viewer is sorely limited by their role as a spectator. However, there exists one medium that encourages active participation from its audience— electronic video games. 1988’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, developed by Advanced Communication, Co. and published by Toho, is a rarity, being one of relatively few games inspired by the novella