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Optimism and pessimism: the duty and inevitability of the care professions as exhibited by Louisa May Alcott's Work: A story of experience
No full text[Lousia May Alcott is a renown author and the subject of much scholarship; however, the purpose of the following paper is to analyze how her publication Work: A Story of Experience interacts with the idea of care labor and the reality of care laborers. Throughout the novel, Alcott utilizes hearth imagery to catalog the mentality of her protagonist, a care laborer named Christie determined to achieve independence of her own accord and secure a legacy of which she can be proud. Though Alcott is traditionally analyzed through a more feminist lens, Christie’s narrative in alignment with the hearth catalog additionally serves as an example for the treatment of the laborers within care professions, as well as the characterizations of the professions themselves. Her example specifically allows for a reader to understand the manner in which boundaryless professions and professions based in care labor affect the mindset of a laborer. Over the course of the paper, optimism as a duty of care laborer will be proven as well as the existence of various forms of optimism and the slow descent of that optimism into a pessimism that is shown to be inevitable, given the conditions faced by the care laborer, demonstrated by Christie. Though this paper focuses its attention on the analysis of Christie as an example of the experiences of care laborers, it draws insight from beyond Alcott scholars, citing academics with focuses on optimism, pessimism, boundarylessness, and various studies on the care professions themselves. This scholarship works together to prove Christie’s shifting mindset, the catalog of hearth imagery, and the relevance of care labor both within and beyond the original literature.]M. A
My loved ones as landscapes
No full text“My Loved Ones as Landscapes” is a series of landscapes that draws inspiration from the impressionist and post-impressionist movements of art history. The primary goal of this body of work was to express my love for those I am closest to through metaphorical representations, imagery, movement, color, and emotion. Each landscape painting represents a different individual in my life, and I plan to give away the paintings to each of the individuals I have chosen to representationally depict. For each painting, I have put a lot of thought into making the piece an intentional, personal gift that pays homage to the individual I am depicting. This project is very meaningful to me because I have found a lot of joy and fulfillment in preparing to give these gifts to those I love. For my last studio project at Ball State University, I am excited to share this body of work that depicts the unique relationships I have with each of the people I am closest to, and to give these pieces of artwork to my biggest supporters.B. A.College of Ar
The space between
No full textPedestrian circulation is often treated as an afterthought in architecture. It is
something to be solved with stairwells, sidewalks, and skybridges rather than a
primary driver of spatial design. Too often, the focus remains on the destination
rather than the experience of the movement itself. This project challenges that
approach, repositioning circulation as an integral, experience-driven element of
the built environment.
This thesis explores the depth of circulation and argues that it should be a
fundamental design consideration, not a secondary concern. Movement through
space can be transformed into an experiential process through rhythmic planar
patterns, as well as environmental factors such as light, color, texture, material,
and topographical shifts. By bringing these elements to the forefront, circulation
becomes more than just a means of passage, but rather it becomes an essential
architectural experience.
By prioritizing pedestrian flow, architecture becomes more dynamic and
engaging. A mere corridor becomes a portal, moving a person through space
while keeping them engaged and active. This thesis proposes a system
where movement dictates spatial logic, shifting circulation from a code-driven
necessity to a celebrated and transformative architectural experience.Thesis (B. Arch.)College of Architecture and Plannin
Connected living: how transportation, public space, and housing can heal loneliness
No full textLoneliness and social isolation have been shown to cause a 26% increased
risk of death. In fact, the effects of loneliness on the body are almost equivalent
to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. This is becoming a larger and larger issue
as people between the ages of fifteen and twenty four have 70% less social
interaction with their friends today than they did two decades ago. What
can be done about this? Does the solution to the loneliness epidemic lie
strictly with individual choices, or can we build an environment where social
connection is as easy as walking out your front door. Through the careful design
of transportation, public space, and housing, we can create a neighborhood
with more opportunities for gathering, reflection and observation, and
interconnectivity in order to heal our loneliness epidemic.
This thesis applies these principles to a 350,000sq ft site located in LaPorte,
Indiana. A variety of transportation pathways were then placed to allow for
walking, biking, and driving. Next, public spaces were created. Finally, housing
was added, including townhouses, fourplexes, and courtyard apartments.
Through the application of these three principles, the site has created a more
connected and less lonely way to live.Thesis (B. Arch.)College of Architecture and Plannin
The evolution of STEM identity and career decisions through secondary school programs with authentic stem experiences
No full textThis dissertation explores the evolution of STEM identity and college major and/or career identification among high school students in capstone programs with embedded authentic STEM experiences (ASEs). Using a basic interpretive design and guided by the Personality and Social Structure Model (PSSP), the study investigates how participation in these programs promotes the exploration of students’ interest, competence, performance, and recognition in STEM, as well as college major and career exploration. Semi-structured interviews with fourteen participants who had completed one of three unique capstone programs were conducted to gather qualitative data. The study found two primary themes: Programmatic "Fit" and Social Support, which emphasized the importance of aligning students’ interests with program offerings and the role of peer and mentor support in shaping STEM identity. Additionally, the findings supported the four-structure model of STEM identity, and extended previous work by providing insights for categorizing each of these factors. This research additionally extends existing studies by examining STEM identity development within secondary school capstone programs, offering insights into how these programs can increase equitable access to STEM career exploration and identity development.Ph. D
Dying with dignity
No full textEvery year hundreds of unhoused individuals die alone on the streets of
Indianapolis after being discharged from medical care (197 in 2022 according to
CHIP). Dying With Dignity is a first of its kind in midwest America. My project is
a free-standing hospice facility across the creek from the Indy Medical District
with the sole purpose of serving unhoused individuals with terminal conditions
downtown. The project reimagines the failed hospice typology through the lens
of biophilia and dignity of residents, their support system, and care providers.
Biophilic design enhances the experiences and quality of life for all three usergroups
in hospice through a dignity and humanistic approach.
The primary goal for my thesis is to provide a safe and welcoming place for
terminal unhoused individuals to peacefully pass surrounded by support,
comfort, and on their own terms, through provision of spaces that have
direct access to natural light, ventilation, and nature to achieve USGBC LEED
Platinum. This holistic approach, guided by evidence-based design, proves
possible to rethink how architecture manifests itself in spaces of dying;
therefore, my project is a springboard for future hospice models in urban areas,
with extreme weather and limited social safety nets, where homelessness is
prevalent.Thesis (B. Arch.)College of Architecture and Plannin
Puke in the popcorn bowl
No full textThis body of work explores my identity and artistic influences for my thesis. Influences include Louise Breslau, Alysianne, and the animation studio Studio Ghibli. The pieces of work incorporate a blend of the Impressionistic period, and the style of printmaking also influences me. This work centers around the personal experience of being a queer woman from a small town. I used lavender and violets, colors historically linked to queer women, to hopefully connect with others who might feel isolated. I chose oil pastel as a medium as I worked with it briefly before and wanted to explore something new. I want the viewer to get to know me visually through symbolism, have them connect with my small-town experience, and have other queer people from small towns feel seen. The thesis ultimately seeks to spark empathy and raise the visibility of people in similar situations. In the future, I would like to continue with a similar series of work to spread awareness, specifically in printmaking.B.F.A.School of Ar
Cardinal Core Metadata Template and Instructions for Application to Ball State University Libraries Digital Media Repository Collections - Version 6.1x /07-24-2025
No full textVersion 6.1x (07-24-2025)The Cardinal Core metadata template is a tool to facilitate standardization and consistency among data in various fields, Dublin Core elements, metadata records, and digital collections within the Ball State University Digital Media Repository and other digital library interfaces. The template will be used as a starting point for all collections and adjusted on an as-needed basis for each new collection. While fields may be added to the template, attempts should first be made to conform metadata to these set fields. The metadata template fields should never be overwritten or deleted
Overworked, overpriced, and overwhelmed: the effect of COVID-19 on the funeral industry
No full textThis project examines the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the funeral industry and the subsequent grieving process. Starting in the Colonial era, the events that led to the modern funeral, like the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln's Funeral Train, are explored to show how funeral traditions have changed and grown into the multi-billion-dollar industry it is today. In talking with four active funeral directors and one former director, this project unpacks the physical and emotional side of working in the funeral industry during the pandemic. The project further explores the family of the deceased’s side of the funeral industry through conversations with three women who lost their husbands to coronavirus and one woman who lost her parents and stepfather to the disease. The women told their stories about how COVID prolonged their grief journeys and how social media support groups changed their lives.M.A
Individuals and misinformation acceptance: machine learning
No full textA range of consequences underscores the importance of understanding why people accept misinformation, including adverse outcomes related to climate change, public health, and social equality. This research paper primarily aims to better understand the personal traits that may influence or explain why individuals accept misinformation. Recognizing these traits can help guide interventions, like warning tags. The study used machine learning methods, including Random Forest, Boosted Trees, and Classification and Regression Trees, to analyze data from an Italian sample of 1,196 people, made publicly available by Ceccarini et al. (2023). Various personal attributes were measured, including age, education, cognitive reflective thinking, political beliefs, magical ideation, conspiracy beliefs, and the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood, assessed by evaluating true or false political and COVID-19 news headlines. Machine learning algorithms are valuable for analyzing large datasets and diverse classifiers, providing insights into the accuracy of predictions and potential interactions among variables. Crossvalidation indicates that conspiracy beliefs, age, magical ideation, and news type all significantly influenced the ability to discern truth (R2 = .41). Among these, conspiracy beliefs were the strongest predictor across all analyses, suggesting that understanding the cognitive processes behind conspiracy beliefs could help combat misinformation. The study also indicates that education and political beliefs may not have a direct relationship with misinformation acceptance, and their connection to a person’s ability to discern truth is likely complex. Overall, the analysis provides valuable insights into the relationship between individual traits and the acceptance of misinformation.M.S