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Breaking the Ice: China and Lawfare in the Arctic
Get PDFThis thesis examines China\u27s engagement with international legal frameworks in the Arctic through a lawfare lens, using a structured analytical framework to assess whether Chinese activities constitute lawfare. Focusing on two key cases—China\u27s involvement in submarine cable infrastructure and its navigation of the Northern Sea Route—the research applies Andrea Beck\u27s three-part definition of lawfare: (1) the misuse of the law in order to, (2) achieve a military objective, and (3) undermine the legal framework. The analysis reveals that China\u27s Arctic engagement does not fully constitute lawfare according to this definition. Rather than misusing legal frameworks, China operates within existing structures while advocating for interpretations that accommodate its interests. China\u27s activities are primarily driven by legitimate commercial objectives within its broader Belt and Road Initiative, with security considerations playing a secondary role. Instead of undermining legal frameworks, China adopts an evolutionary approach that seeks to shape them from within, reflecting its complex position as a non-Arctic state navigating a legal system historically dominated by Western powers. This suggests that concerns about Chinese Arctic activities should be addressed through strengthened multilateral governance and transparency requirements rather than through exclusionary policies based on security concerns alone
Master\u27s Degree Ceremony 2025. College of Liberal Arts
No full textDean of the College of Liberal Arts: Dr. Lee Cohe
Commencement Ceremony 2025. General Studies
No full textDean of the School of General Studies: Dr. Tony Ammete
A World Without Prison: The role of policy in prison abolition
Get PDFAs concerns about mass incarceration persist, prison abolition offers an innovative approach to safety and justice. The prison abolition movement has been active in the United States since the 1970s. Despite increasingly critical attitudes of the prison system, prison abolition is yet to be accepted in mainstream policy making. Instead, policymakers focus on reform, which problematically legitimizes and reinforces locking people away as criminals. One reason why reform takes precedent may be that prison abolition is often understood in negative terms, as a movement that only advocates ending incarceration. However, its essence is better captured in positive terms, such as programs and policies that we may enact to create a world without prisons. Chapters 2 and 3 explore the philosophical debate underlying punishment, positioning abolition as more favorable than retributivist and consequentialist approaches. The subsequent chapters explore and evaluate the negative and positive agendas. Drawing from the seminal abolitionist text Instead of Prisons: A Handbook for Abolitionists, this thesis explores avenues for policymakers to implement abolitionist agendas. The handbook offers the five step attrition model: moratorium, decarceration, excarceration, restraint of “the few”, and building a caring community. An analysis of these steps reveal a framework that can still be used today to guide policy making
An Evening with Steve Holland: Film and Conversation
No full textThis SouthTalk will bring together two of the Center’s favorite things: film and discussion. We invite former SouthDocs producer and current assistant professor of broadcast and digital journalism at Mississippi State University, Rex Jones, to screen his documentary Jesus Was a Democrat. The film follows funeral-home owner and Mississippi legislator Steve Holland as he approaches the end of his thirty-six-year tenure in office. After the film, Center director Katie McKee will engage in a conversation with Holland, a Southern Studies alum. They will discuss how Holland navigated his intersecting environments—politics, his work at the funeral home, and his decision later in life to pursue a Southern Studies degree
The NIL Ripple Effect: How Name, Image, and Likeness Reshapes Student-Athletes, Mental Health, and Fan Perception
Get PDFThe NIL Ripple Effect: How Name, Image, and Likeness Reshapes Student-Athletes, Mental Health, and Fan Perception examines the shifting dynamics of college athletics and how these changes affect student-athletes, fans, and institutions. The study explores the consequences of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and its effects on student-athletes\u27 mental health and fans’ perception. Through interviews with athletes and analysis of current policies, this research highlights the mental, financial, and competitive pressures that NIL places on student-athletes. While NIL provides financial opportunities, it also demands brand management, public visibility, and performance consistency, often leading to heightened stress. Additionally, this study examines the evolving relationship between fans and athletes, as NIL and the transfer portal shift the way supporters engage with their teams. With players increasingly seen as free agents, traditional loyalties are tested, and concerns over fairness, transparency, and program stability grow. As college sports transition into a business-driven model, this research highlights the need for stronger regulations, mental health support, and ethical policies to protect student-athletes. The findings contribute to the broader discussion on ensuring that progress in college athletics does not come at the expense of athlete well-being and the integrity of the game
