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The Role of Forgiveness: Spirituality, Loneliness, and Depression in a Christian University
No full textFor university students, loneliness has harmful effects, like depression, but choosing to forgive and embracing spirituality can lead to better mental health. Yet, limited studies have examined these constructs among students enrolled in long-distance learning (LDL) courses. This is important because an increase in loneliness continues, and more students are taking LDL classes. Still, there is a paucity of work on mental health among students in Christian universities. Thus, this quantitative research study examined context-specific or transgression-specific forgiveness (state forgiveness) while considering the role of personality traits (i.e., trait forgiveness) related to forgiveness to investigate its impact on loneliness and its relationship with spirituality. More specifically, examining students’ forgiveness and loneliness levels and the moderating role of spirituality while controlling for depression and trait forgiveness to analyze the unique role of forgiveness on loneliness and how forgiveness interacts with spirituality among LDL students at a Christian University are the goals in this study. A total of N = 149 participants from a large Christian university in Central Virginia completed self-report measuring instruments. The study highlights that most LDL students were in the process of a transgression-specific forgiveness: state forgiveness. Findings show that participants with higher spirituality do not predict a stronger negative relationship between state forgiveness and loneliness in students enrolled in LDL courses at a Christian university, compared to students with lower spirituality, while accounting for the controlled variables of trait forgiveness and depression
The Implementation of the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions Model to Influence a Decrease in Students’ Maladaptive Behaviors in K-12 School Settings in the United States: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study
No full textThe purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of implementing the CPS model to reduce students’ maladaptive behaviors for teachers and providers in K-12 school settings in the United States. Bandura’s social learning theory (SLT) was the theoretical framework on which this study has been based. The central research question was: What are teachers\u27 and providers\u27 experiences implementing the CPS model, and what is the perceived influence on decreasing students’ maladaptive behaviors? A transcendental phenomenological study was conducted, comprising a sample size of 10 teachers and providers from the Northeast Region of the United States who have utilized the CPS model with at least 2 students in a K-12 educational setting. The data collection methods included the long interview, focus groups, and one journal prompt. The process of horizontalization was utilized to analyze the data collected. This study revealed three overarching themes: experiences of teachers and providers transitioning to the CPS method, the criteria for effectively implementing the CPS model in K-12 educational settings, and the challenges teachers and providers faced in implementing the CPS model. The data indicated that teachers and providers must make a paradigm shift—from punitive, authoritarian mindsets to a collaborative approach grounded in understanding students’ perspectives. The data also highlighted the importance of administrative support and flexibility in order to adhere to model-aligned practices, and the value of employing unconventional strategies to cultivate student relationships rooted in trust and mutual collaboration
The Lived Experiences of Nontraditional Students and the Innovative Strategies Higher Education Leaders Can Implement to Support Their Success: A Phenomenological Study
No full textThe purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the experiences and strategies employed by nontraditional college students to achieve academic success at public universities in Massachusetts. Nontraditional student experiences were generally defined as the ways in which adult learners, part-time students, and those balancing work and family responsibilities navigated challenges, used support systems, and developed strategies to persist in higher education. The central research questions this study was: How do innovative strategies and support systems contribute to the lived experiences of nontraditional students’ success in Massachusetts’s higher education institutions? I employed Ryan and Deci’s (2017) self-determination theory to address how nontraditional students describe their experiences and strategies for success in higher education. The study’s qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological design involved interviews with 15 participants selected through purposeful sampling. I collected data through individual online interviews and used thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes related to student motivation, barriers, and effective institutional support and programming. Findings from this research provide insights for educational leaders and policymakers to implement targeted strategies that enhance retention and create an inclusive learning environment for nontraditional students
Coordinated Management of Meaning in U.S.-Russia Relations: How Meanings Shaped Communication Surrounding the Potential Invasion of Ukraine
No full textThis qualitative discourse analysis applies the coordinated management of meaning theory to examine the diplomatic interactions between the United States and Russia from November 2021 to February 2022, the critical negotiation period preceding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Systematically applying the theory’s hierarchy of meanings model to the official discourse resulted in the segmentation of 1,428 official texts for analysis. Comparative coding of the data exposes how worldviews and recursive feedback patterns shape adversarial postures, perpetuate negotiation impasses, and prevent the emergence of co-constructed meaning. This research illuminates how national meanings are actively constructed and maintained through discursive interaction, reinforcing enduring patterns that limit diplomatic flexibility. The findings provide an actionable theoretical framework for diagnosing international communication failures, highlighting pathways for reconstructing meanings to encourage more productive discursive communication. These insights offer a reconsideration of prevailing power-based paradigms in statecraft, proposing a robust alternative grounded in meaning-making and communicative reflexivity
Striking the Right Chord: Reframing Music Copyright Through the Lens of the First Amendment
No full textMusic, as both artistic expression and a commercial product, occupies a unique space at the intersection of copyright law and the First Amendment. While copyright law aims to promote creativity by protecting original works, its current application to music often undermines the very innovation it seeks to encourage. Courts have recognized that some musical elements are not copyrightable because they are so inherent to music that the idea merges with its expression. However, with advancements in technology such as music streaming services and AI-created music, courts increasingly face difficulties in distinguishing between protectable musical expression and the unprotectable building blocks of music—such as rhythm, harmony, and melody.
When faced with this dilemma, however, judges and juries have returned inconsistent results that only compound the uncertainty in this area, leading artists to cede their intellectual property rights prematurely. These ambiguities, combined with the subjectivity of the “substantial similarity” analysis and potential for subconscious copying claims, have opened the door to increased litigation against artists and created a chilling effect on musical expression, which the U.S. Supreme Court has expressly held to constitute speech. Thus, the existing framework for determining infringement in music copyright cases inadequately protects First Amendment interests and fails to provide clear guidance.
The solution requires striking a careful balance between competing interests to prevent music copyright law from treading into First Amendment territory. On the one hand, the solution must allow for the unique nature of music as speech and expression. On the other hand, it must still encourage innovation. This Comment proposes a new framework to assist courts in applying the standard of substantial similarity to music. Under this Comment’s proposal, the substantial similarity standard should require multiple shared musical elements, rather than a single shared component, unless willful copying is proven. This Comment also critiques other proposed solutions—such as applying constitutional scrutiny or increasing courtroom expertise—as too destabilizing or insufficient to address the current uncertainty in music copyright. By aligning copyright law with the realities of music theory and the demands of the First Amendment, this framework seeks to safeguard both creative expression and innovation in the modern musical landscape
Armed and Impaired: Balancing Second Amendment Protections with Contemporary Societal Concerns
No full textThis Note examines the evolving interpretation of the Second Amendment in light of recent Supreme Court precedent, with a particular focus on the constitutionality of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3) under the test set forth in New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen. The Court has had relatively limited occasion to undertake a comprehensive interpretation of the Amendment; of the four major decisions to date, three have been issued within the past two decades. In United States v. Miller, the Court anchored its analysis in the context of militia service, establishing a precedent that would go largely unchallenged for nearly seventy years. That changed in 2008 with District of Columbia v. Heller, in which the Court explicitly recognized an individual right to bear arms. The Heller decision faced significant criticism for its departure from established precedent. Notably, while Heller affirmed the individual right, it concurrently endorsed a sweeping exception: legislatures could bar firearm possession by certain categories of persons, such as felons or the mentally ill, without offering any discernible limiting principle for such disqualifications.
In 2010, McDonald v. City of Chicago reaffirmed Heller and deemed the right to bear arms so fundamental as to warrant incorporation of the Amendment against the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. However, McDonald failed to clarify the significant caveat articulated in Heller. Between 2008 and 2022, lower courts applied a patchwork of meansend scrutiny that evaluated firearm regulations by balancing the degree of burden imposed on the core Second Amendment right against the government’s asserted interests. In 2022, the Supreme Court revisited the issue in Bruen, once again reaffirming Heller and McDonald, while rejecting means-end scrutiny in favor of a new test: (1) whether the regulated conduct falls within the Second Amendment’s scope, and (2) whether the regulation is consistent with the Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation through the use of regulatory historical analogues.
Since Bruen, few courts have meaningfully delineated the contours of what qualifies as a valid “historical analogue.” In 2024, the Eighth Circuit in United States v. Veasley addressed the constitutionality of § 922(g)(3), which prohibits firearm possession by individuals who are unlawful users of or addicted to controlled substances. Applying Bruen, the court upheld the statute, concluding that it comported with the Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation. Specifically, the court analogized § 922(g)(3) to prohibitions on possession of firearms by the mentally ill and to early affray laws—both of which, in the court’s view, reflected a permissible tradition of disarming those deemed dangerous or irresponsible.
This Note contends that the Eighth Circuit misapplied the Bruen test and that, although Bruen does not demand a historical analogue to be an exact twin, it demands more than generalized resemblances or abstract analogical reasoning. This Note asserts that courts ought to prioritize the subject matter, or essential conduct, of historical laws rather than their purported overarching purposes. Once this foundational similarity is established, the Bruen test operates with greater doctrinal coherence. Moreover, this Note argues that § 922(g)(3) represents the first federal attempt to disarm individuals based on drug use, and given that drug abuse has historically been addressed through materially distinct legal mechanisms, § 922(g)(3) should have failed the Bruen test even under existing jurisprudential standards. Finally, this Note argues that although § 922(g)(3) should be unconstitutional under the Second Amendment, it nonetheless reflects biblical principles concerning sobriety, responsibility, and the moral use of weapons, and is thus a morally appropriate law
The Second American Republic: America\u27s Near Century of Reckoning with a Remade Constitution (1869-1953)
No full textThe United States of America celebrates the writing of the Declaration of Independence, the country’s statement of sovereignty from her former colonizer, Great Britain, every fourth of July. France, nearly four-thousand eight hundred miles away, celebrates their own form of Independence Day, Bastille Day, every July fourteenth. Since July fourth, 1776, the United States has boasted a proud history of unity and continuity that was only interrupted by four bloody years, the American Civil War (1861-1865). However, France is unable to make such claims. Having five separate Republics, an Empire, and a Reich define their history since that fateful day on July fourteenth, 1789, the French continue to celebrate their united fight sparking the French Revolution. Each time the French Republic was remade a new Constitution was created, marking the beginning of their new government. The United States, as mentioned earlier, is spoke of as a continuous Republic that has lasted the test of time since its inception. What if, perhaps, this was not the case? Between the Gilded Age and the Civil Rights Era, nearly a century, the United States underwent a series of changes that saw the Republic transform. Transitioning from its First Republic to her Second Republic. Resulting from the remade Constitution of Reconstruction, the United States was forced to reckon with issues of equality within its Republic, evidently leading to the adoption of several progressive principles by both citizens and government leaders. Ultimately, the result was a country evolved. From a limited government made of well-educated individuals chosen by a select few within society, to a popular Republic remade by a constitution whose ideals focused on equality, the United States entered into its Second Republic
Trauma-Informed Practices (TIPS) And Burnout, Job Satisfaction, And PTSD In First Responders
No full textFirst responders are the frontline defense of society and consist of people that push back against chaos to keep our communities civilized and in functioning order. This study aimed to ensure that first responders’ mental health is adequate for home life as well as daily job functions, and to assess which Trauma Informed Practices (TIPs) can lead to positive outcomes in reducing first responder’s feelings of burnout, increasing their job satisfaction, and suppressing frequency of PTSD symptoms. TIPs are different intervention techniques that are designed to assist the individual with a variety of emotions such as anxiety, stress, burnout, and PTSD. These can come in the form of formal professional clinical counseling, training and education, or more informal peer support groups. However, TIPs and any potential associations with PTSD, burnout, and job satisfaction are still unknown. This research utilized a cross-sectional quantitative survey design with between-subjects to evaluate these possible findings with two stratifications of years of service and geographical location. The results indicated that training and education usage was associated with high job satisfaction, and professional counseling use was linked to higher PTSD scores. Additionally, late career first responders showed resiliency against PTSD and burnout when compared to early and mid-career first responders respectively. These findings show that TIPs can make a meaningful difference, and experience certainly plays a role to this end. These findings should be utilized by future researchers to build upon longitudinal or qualitative research and potential implications to policymakers and leaders are numerous
Vocal Strain in General Music Educators: Choral vs. Instrumental Training
No full textElementary general music educators are at high risk for vocal strain due to the continuous demands of speaking, singing, and classroom management throughout the school day. Prolonged vocal strain can result in voice loss, vocal cord damage, and hoarseness. While the issue of vocal health in educators is widely acknowledged, limited research examined the specific factors contributing to vocal strain among general music educators, particularly in relation to their training backgrounds. This quantitative, causal-comparative study investigated the difference in vocal strain between choral-trained and instrumental-trained music educators teaching elementary general music. Participants included elementary general music educators (N = 12) from a public school district in Georgia; six instrumental-trained (n = 6) and six choral-trained (n = 6). Data collection involved participants wearing a vocal dosimeter over two instruction days to assess vocal load during general music instruction, with a maximum of six 45-minute class periods per day. A closed-ended questionnaire captured additional variables including, class size, collegiate vocal training, primary and secondary instruments, and years of teaching experience. An independent sample t-test analyzed differences in vocal load between the two groups. Results aim to inform whether a statistically significant difference in vocal strain exists between choral and instrumental-trained participants. Results contribute to the growing body of research on vocal health in music education and offer practical implications for teacher preparation programs, vocal hygiene training, and professional development designed to support the long-term vocal well-being of music educators and their vocal care practices
A Qualitative Exploration of Global Remote Leadership
No full textLeaders of organizations have faced many changes with respect to remote work. As face-to-face interactions decrease, the opportunities and challenges of technological and digital advancement further the complexity of remote work. Leaders serve as prominent figures who use remote technology to communicate and interact with employees that report to them. The relationship between remote work and the development of meaningful social interactions remains largely unexplored (Clark et al., 2018). This phenomenological study explored the described experiences of remote leaders, the role that identity development plays in the success of leadership remote work, how their identity development impacts their well-being and ways that remote work can be improved. Ten team leaders selected from a multinational organization enrolled in the study. The interviews took place online, recorded (audio and video) through Zoom, and transcribed using the Zoom AI software. Data was analyzed, codes were established, and themes were identified. This study identified several key themes regarding the experiences of global remote leaders. The conclusion of this research was that successful remote leadership is grounded in both technological competence and the intentional fostering of social relationships. These findings suggest that organizations should provide targeted support for remote leaders, including training on cross-cultural interactions within distributed teams