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Facial Recognition Technology: The Case for Comprehensive Federal Oversight
Get PDFThis article will argue that regulations for government agency use of FRT should be stringent and limit the exploitation of personal biodata in the private sector. Instead of creating a new agency, Congress could expand an existing agency’s responsibility by granting it regulatory power over facial recognition technology. First, this article will seek to delineate the contours of facial recognition technology and its contemporary application within the United States. Then, this article will analyze the intricacies of FRT in both the public and private sectors. Within the public domain, specific attention will be devoted to discussing the use of FRT by government law enforcement agencies. This article will also challenge a First Amendment defense proffered by major technology firms to justify their development and dissemination of facial recognition technology software in both sectors. This article will criticize the legal soundness of this argument by identifying its inherent strengths, and more so, its weaknesses when subjected to real-world legal challenges. Finally, the analysis will pivot toward discerning the necessary legal measures for regulating this technology. This will include a comprehensive exploration of the legal frameworks essential to prevent unchecked expansion and to safeguard against infringements upon public interests and individual rights. This article will outline the administrative steps which should be taken to ensure the proper regulation of FRT
Beyond the Suburban Ideal: Addressing Southern California’s Strained Affordable Housing Market Through Density Bonus Programs
Get PDFThis study examines how expanding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) could serve as an effective policy solution to address the housing affordability crisis. In San Diego, a Bonus Program has been implemented to incentivize the construction of affordable ADUs by relaxing burdensome regulations. A Differences-in-Differences approach using two-way fixed effects is employed to evaluate the program\u27s effectiveness in promoting ADU development, using city-level data from San Diego and Los Angeles counties. ADU permit applications serve as a key indicator of policy impact. The findings strongly suggest that the Bonus Program influenced increasing ADU permit applications in San Diego. Because the model violated the parallel trends assumption, causality cannot be inferred, only correlation.
Two policy alternatives considered alongside the Bonus Program are Community Land Trusts (CLTs) and maintaining the status quo. CLTs acquire land and property to ensure long-term affordable housing, primarily benefiting homeowners. However, because California has a high proportion of renters, CLTs must adapt to include rental properties to effectively support both low-income renters and owners. The status quo is inadequate and will likely become more costly the longer the housing crisis persists.
The ultimate recommendation is to continue evaluating the impacts of the San Diego Bonus Program and explore its potential for replication in similar cities. Additionally, integrating ADUs within Community Land Trust frameworks may offer a long-term solution that addresses the needs of both low-income renters and homeowners
Charisma and impulsivity in the venture pitch persuasion process
Get PDFEntrepreneurs depend on persuasive pitching to secure venture capital (VC) funding, yet the roles of charisma and investor impulsiveness in shaping those decisions remain underexplored. This dissertation addresses the gap by examining how entrepreneurial charisma and investor impulsiveness influence persuasion outcomes during the pitch process. Two pilot studies and two main experiments tested these dynamics. In Study 1, a trained actor delivered a pre-scripted pitch in high and low charisma formats. In Study 2, extended the investigation by adapting the pitch text into AI-generated text, offering a comparison between human and AI-authored pitches. Results from both studies revealed a mix of anticipated and unanticipated patterns, demonstrating that charisma, when perceived as originating from a human source, significantly influenced funding decisions. However, when charisma was perceived as AI-authored, an “AI penalty” emerged: persuasion effects were disrupted, attitude towards the pitch was negatively impacted, and likelihood of funding decreased. Ultimately, this research underscores the fickle nature of humans and their responsiveness to charisma, pitch delivery, and perceived authorship on investment outcomes. Findings suggest that while charismatic attributes can positively influence fundraising outcomes, its effectiveness diminishes when paired with AI-generated content perceived as inauthentic. For entrepreneurs, the message is clear: charisma is a powerful asset in venture fundraising, but only when it feels real
Civility and Inter-Cultural Dialogue: Negotiating Respect in the Law School Classroom and Beyond
Get PDFIncreasing polarization magnifies the importance of inter-cultural dialogue, which can be fruitful if the participants treat one another with civility. Civility manifests in various forms, and this Comment will focus on civility through the lens of Stephen L. Carter’s lauded book Civility: Manners, Morals, and the Etiquette of Democracy, applying lessons at the micro-level in the law school classroom. Part II explores various aspects of civility and the rules governing civility. Then, Part III focuses on civility in the legal profession and California’s new Continuing Learning Education (CLE) requirement. Next, Part IV briefly addresses views of civility from faith perspectives. Part V explains the links between bias and incivility, impeding inter-racial and inter-cultural dialogue. Lastly, Part VI concludes the Comment with concrete strategies for more effective civil dialogue in the law school classroom, which also extend to the broader world. This Comment presents a multi-pronged civility rule that applies broadly to our current circumstances: civility mandates resistance to wrongdoing, refraining from assuming or impugning motives, and acknowledging the validity of contending groups with sensitivity to marginalized individuals
Success Factors and Challenges Faced by First and Second-Year Undergraduate Female Students in Computer Science-Related Majors
No full textThe author shares the best practices that computer science programs should implement to both recruit and retain female college students. Additionally, there are implications for best practices in K-12 and the workforce by looking at the challenges and successes highlighted in the research
Increasing Socioeconomic Equity in Education Through the Leveraging of Generative AI
No full textThis research paper will be a meta-analysis on how higher education institutions and their faculty can use generative AI to decrease the achievement gap in education between students from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds and those from more privileged backgrounds. This research will primarily focus on the use of generative AI literacy and skill building in higher education to increase student access to historically gatekept knowledge, information, and opportunities
Stipulations of Law and Agency Independence
Get PDFThe Supreme Court granted certiorari in SEC v. Jarkesy to consider whether good-cause removal protections for SEC administrative law judges violate the Constitution, but ultimately left the question unanswered. The lower court holding that the removal protections are unconstitutional remains on the books for now, neither affirmed nor reversed. And a circuit split lives on. The removal power question is likely headed back to the Supreme Court before long. This Essay examines a key premise of the Jarkesy litigation and its leading precedent, the 2010 case Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Co. Accounting Oversight Board. In both cases, the parties assumed that the SEC is an independent agency. No court second-guessed them. In fact, the Supreme Court in Free Enterprise Fund and the lower court in Jarkesy relied on that assumption to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional. On closer examination, though, no statute actually makes the SEC Commissioners removable for cause. Indeed, the Securities Exchange Act’s legislative history evinces a baseline norm of at-will removal. SEC independence is a myth. This phenomenon raises larger questions of judicial power, getting to the heart of the case-resolution versus law-declaration models of Article III. It also raises questions about the reach of the adversarial system and party presentation. From a certain viewpoint, stipulating to the existence (or nonexistence) of a statute asks a court to rule on hypothetical law. And a ruling on hypothetical law might be an advisory opinion. As the removal power question again percolates through the lower courts, the judiciary would do well to reflect on the limits of its own power, as well as that of Congress and the President
The Effect of Beetroot Juice Supplementation Dose on Neuromuscular Performance During Resistance Exercise in Trained Males
No full textThe ergogenic effects of nitrate supplementation for enhancing resistance exercise performance, particularly in activities requiring high-power and high-velocity muscle contractions, remains unclear, and the optimal dose is unknown. PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate dose-dependent effects of nitrate on resistance exercise performance and descriptively explore potential interindividual variability in resistance-trained men. METHODS: Eighteen resistance-trained men participated in a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial involved four supplementation conditions: placebo (PL; negligible nitrate), low-dose nitrate-rich beetroot juice ( ~6.5 mmol nitrate), moderate-dose ( ~13 mmol nitrate), and high-dose (~26 mmol nitrate). Participants consumed supplements 2.5 hours before performing countermovement jumps (CMJ), back squat, and bench press exercises. Performance was measured using a linear transducer and force plate, assessed variables included power, velocity, and force. Individual performance changes were calculated as percentage differences from placebo and categorized into five color-coded groups ranging from highly positive (green) to highly negative (red) responses. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between supplementation conditions in peak power, velocity, jump height, or mean force during CMJ, back squats, or bench presses at either 50% or 75% of the one-rep maximum. (P\u3e0.05). However, substantial intra- and interindividual variability was observed, as certain participants experienced small-to-large performance improvements under specific nitrate conditions, while others showed no beneficial effects. CONCLUSION: Nitrate supplementation had no significant effects on dose-dependent ergogenic effects overall, yet considerable individual variability suggests future research should further investigate factors influenced responsiveness to nitrate supplementation
Improving methods and assessing the impacts of crayfish and crayfish trapping on unarmoured three-spine stickleback in San Francisquito Creek
No full textThis research investigated the impact and management of invasive red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) on the endangered unarmored threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus williamsoni) in San Francisquito Creek, California. Funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), this two-year study (2023-2025) employed a multifaceted approach, integrating crayfish trapping, biodiversity and water quality monitoring, laboratory and field-based experiments, and survivorship modeling. Trapping efforts tested various methods, revealing cage traps as particularly detrimental due to high bycatch, while mesh traps offered a more selective capture. Stream surveys documented population trends of target species, revealing fluctuations in stickleback and mosquitofish abundance, and provided baseline water quality data. Laboratory mesocosm experiments examined the direct and indirect effects of crayfish on stickleback and mosquitofish proxies, revealing species-specific responses to crayfish presence, though significant differences in mass change were not observed. Survival analysis during direct exposure to crayfish highlighted predation risks. Survivorship models (Weibull and Cox Proportional Hazards) aimed to forecast long-term impacts and inform management strategies. Findings are still in the preliminary stages of development but suggest a combined approach of targeted season-specific crayfish trapping, habitat management through restoration and protection. This research provides crucial data for the conservation of the endangered unarmored threespine sticklebacks and various other aquatic species currently threatened by crayfish in California