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Perspectives of SROs in Indiana on school safety and arming school personnel: a qualitative study
No full textSchool safety has become a critical issue in the United States, exacerbated by a growing
number of school shootings over the past two decades. Recent data indicates a significant rise in
school-related gun incidents, prompting debates over the most effective strategies to protect
students and staff. This qualitative study explores the perceptions of School Resource Officers
(SROs) in Indiana regarding the controversial topic of arming school personnel. While some
states have adopted measures to arm teachers, the efficacy and broader implications of such
policies remain unclear. The study investigates SROs' views on school safety, their attitudes
toward arming educators, and how these perspectives may vary across different school contexts
(urban, rural, and suburban).
The research draws on Weick’s (1988) theory of enacted sensemaking, which provides a
framework for understanding how individuals and organizations interpret and respond to crises,
such as school shootings. SROs, as trained law enforcement professionals working in school
environments, offer unique insights into both the potential benefits and challenges of arming
school personnel. The study highlights the importance of comprehensive safety planning that
integrates various stakeholders, including law enforcement, school administrators, and mental
health professionals, to ensure a secure and supportive learning environment. Additionally, it
emphasizes the need for preventative measures, such as mental health support and environmental
design, as critical components of a holistic approach to school safety. This research aims to
contribute to ongoing discussions about school safety policy by providing insights from those
directly involved in the day-to-day safety operations of schools. Findings from this study may
inform policymakers, educators, and community stakeholders as they consider the potential
impact of arming school personnel as part of broader school safety initiatives.D. Ed
Removal of perfluoroalkyl substances from water using paramagnetic ionic liquid-modified clay and polymer membranes
No full textPer- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are considered “forever” chemicals due to their persistence in the environment resulting in water contamination. The most common PFAS pollutants include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The carbon-fluorine bond is strong in PFAS and provides water and oil resistance. This enables the use of PFAS in polymers, surfactants, film-foams in fire extinguishers, textiles, and coatings. However, this widespread use and resistance of PFAS to degradability has resulted in accumulation in the environment. PFAS have been detected in ground water, surface water, ocean waters and even marine organisms. Their toxicological impact is a big concern to aquatic life and humans. This thesis describes the synthesis and characterization of paramagnetic ionic liquids (PILs) by direct
combination of various cation sources including trihexyltetradecyl phosphonium chloride (THP), trioctylmethylammonium chloride (Aliquat 336), 1,3-didecyl-2-methylimidazolium chloride (1,3- DIDMIM) paired with tetrachloroferrate (FeCl4-) anion. These PILs were evaluated for extraction of PFOS and PFOA using an optical method based on fluorescence quenching. The results indicated that these PILs have high extraction efficiency of over 98% for both PFOS and PFOA from water using an external magnet. These results inspired the use of these PILs for the development of composite materials based on clay and polymer membranes for improved sorption of PFAS. The composite materials consisting of PIL-modified clay or polymer membrane were characterized by various techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The PIL-modified membranes have the advantage of spontaneous chemical reaction for removal of
PFAS compared to other membrane methods that require applied pressure for separation. These PILs, PIL-modified clay and polymer membranes demonstrated reusability for multiple extraction cycles. In addition, this thesis describes toxicity evaluation of water after removal of PFAS using seed germination tests as bioindicators. The results indicated that the cleaned water after extraction of PFOS and PFOA had improved seed germination compared to water contaminated with these PFAS pollutants. The developed approach using PILs, PIL-modified clay and polymer membranes demonstrate potential for environmental remediation of PFAS contributing to access to clean water, improved health and quality of life.M. S
Correctional officers' mental health app
No full textCorrectional Officers (COs) work in intense environments. These individuals are
expected to be the safety net for incarcerated individuals, fellow COs, and themselves over
12-hour shifts. COs are expected to respond to a range of emergencies in the cell house,
including inmates harming themselves, fights, or worse, such as murder. After working these
long shifts, COs have to cope with their emotions. There are limited resources for COs to care
for their mental health, yet they are still expected to show up to work and address situations
wherein an inmate or staff member may have been injured or killed. After addressing these
traumatic situations, COs are expected to resume their regular duties as if nothing happened.
Existing mental health apps do not target the needs of COs; COs are experiencing trauma that
only other COs who work in corrections can understand. The existing apps only provide
resources for the general public and do not have resources that can benefit from traumatic
experiences in corrections.
To address the gap, I created a mobile prototype to provide essential mental health
resources tailored for COs based on their experiences during an average shift. With a literature
review, I was able to understand the work of COs and their mental health struggles. Both a
competitive analysis and the literature review provided insights on mental health resource
designs. The competitive analysis specifically explored existing mental health and
first-responder apps to identify key features that each offers. These key features were journaling,
listening to music, reading, and monitoring emotions. The application prototype focuses on a
simple, accessible interface to provide support to users so that they feel understood. This
prototype provides one potential avenue for COs to do their best work and maintain their mental
health, with resources that give COs the chance to give their mind a break from work or begin to
unpack the emotions they experience on and off the job.M. A
Rebuilding hope: a biophilic design approach for a women's shelter for domestic violence survivors
No full textArchitecture can play a pivotal role in the recovery of women who have
experienced domestic violence by providing a supportive healing environment,
safety, and rehabilitation. This thesis explores how mixed-use transitional
housing in Fort Wayne, Indiana, can incorporate biophilic design, nature-based
interventions (NBIs), and evidence-based health design (EBHD) to create
supportive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative environments for women during their
recovery journey. This mixed-use facility integrates natural light, water, greenery,
and organic materials while promoting emotional and physical well-being, along
with a sense of stability and independence.
This mixed-use approach to transitional housing supports survivors by
providing essential resources such as transportation, healthcare, therapy,
education, and community services. The surrounding facilities include a post
office, grocery store, salon, and both indoor and outdoor activity spaces that
foster independence and stability. By integrating biophilic and evidence-based
strategies, this women’s shelter highlights how architecture aids rehabilitation.
This women’s shelter empowers survivors, offering a secure, supportive
environment that promotes healing and self-sufficiency as they rebuild their
lives.Thesis (B. Arch.)College of Architecture and Plannin
Between the cracks
No full textDue to varying societal and social differences between those assigned male or female at birth, many neurodivergent women and femme presenting people are often overlooked or misdiagnosed. Overlooking paired with a lack of understanding and an overall negative stigma surrounding neurological disabilities in the Black community, can lead to those present at the points of intersection between communities to slip like sand through the fingers of society.
Between the Cracks shows audiences how the author navigated their day to day life as an undiagnosed adolescent, and the growth and self reflection she’s landed upon as a recently diagnosed adult. With dream-like color palettes similar to Takashi Murakami, careful yet confident, dynamic line art reminiscent of Trenton Doyle Hancock, and cut paper collage pieces in a similar vein to Faith Ringgold, these works aim incorporate the voices of underrepresented people into the growing conversation surrounding those who are neurodivergent. This collection of works aim to bridge the disparities between the black community and discussions of mental illness and disorders. The author discusses the inclusion of symbolism throughout various design elements and what her plans are past college.B.F.A.School of Ar
Creating a collective vision for future-ready education: integrating 21st-century skills and deeper learning principles within the portrait of a graduate framework
No full textThis qualitative case study explored the perceptions of district administrators, school leaders, teachers, and community stakeholders regarding the development and implementation of a Portrait of a Graduate framework in a PreK–8 public school district. The study aimed to investigate how a shared vision for future-ready learning is operationalized through leadership strategies, organizational learning structures, and community involvement.
Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews and document analysis, and they were analyzed using a thematic coding approach that integrated both inductive and deductive methods.
Thematic analysis revealed several key findings. First, the Portrait of a Graduate initiative significantly shifted instructional priorities towards deeper, more meaningful learning experiences. However, the degree of integration varied across roles and schools, largely due to inconsistent expectations and initiative fatigue. Additionally, while leadership coherence and professional development were essential, their implementation was often uneven. Engaging broad stakeholders proved to be challenging, particularly among underrepresented groups. Importantly, the framework's implementation also increased student agency and ownership of their learning, which emerged as a promising outcome. These findings align with Senge's (1990) theory of organizational learning, Fullan's (2001) emphasis on coherent leadership, and Eckert's (2023) call for collective capacity-building through distributed leadership. These perspectives underscore the need for systemic alignment, relational trust, and adaptive structures to support sustainable educational transformation. This study contributes to the existing literature by offering a replicable model for district leaders who wish to integrate a Portrait of a Graduate framework into instructional practices, foster inclusive community partnerships, and prepare all students for a rapidly changing world
Determining the role of DHX36 overexpression in C9ORF720linked frontotemporal dementia
No full textFrontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a rare and progressive neurodegenerative disorder that causes dramatic changes in personality, behavior, and language, leading to early death. Both familial FTD and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are predominantly caused by a guanine-rich, GGGGCC-repeat expansion mutation to C9orf72 (C9 FTD/ALS) that promotes the formation of aberrant G quadraplexes (G4s). G4s are non-canonical “knot-like” structures of DNA or RNA that drive C9 FTD/ALS pathogenesis via C9orf72 haploinsufficiency, toxic RNA foci, and the accumulation of dipeptide protein repeats (DPRs) in neurons. Dhx36 is a major G4 helicase enzyme capable of unwinding aberrant G4s linked to FTD/ALS pathology. Others have shown that Dhx36 is upregulated 2-fold in the postmortem central nervous system tissues of C9 ALS patients, but it remains unclear if elevated levels of Dhx36 worsen FTD/ALS. The purpose of this study is to determine if overexpressing DHX36 exacerbates C9 FTD. We have developed a novel Cre mouse line that harbors a representative repeat expansion mutation (GGGGCC)450 to C9orf72 that also overexpresses DHX36 in mouse forebrain tissues. We hypothesized that the novel mouse line will exhibit progressive neuromuscular dysfunction, cognition decline, and dysregulate the anxiety response, as well as increased the three key C9 FTD pathological hallmarks in forebrain compared to our controls. In summary, we may have successfully developed and validated novel Dhx36 overexpression-C9+ mouse line capable of investigating this hypothesis, and observed that no changes in neuromuscular function, cognition, or anxiety over 5 months. We also demonstrated that Dhx36 overexpression may increase the expression of WT C9orf72 and repeat containing C9orf72. Next, we plan to increase the validity of our findings by increasing samples size and will assess the abundance of DPRs and RNA foci to deduce a causal relationship between Dhx36 and exacerbated C9 FTD disease.M. S
The architect as a developer in a densely populated urban environment
No full textThis thesis focuses on the architect as developer business model and aims to
investigate the very complex and closely related problems that both an architect
and developer would encounter while working on a project. This project sits
in the downtown area of Chicago, IL and the building type being investigated
is a high-rise mixed-use residential building. The key challenge of working as
an architect and developer on a project is understanding how certain design
decisions directly impact cost and the financial viability of a building while
simultaneously forming a design that is cohesive and aesthetically well-rounded.
The focus of this project is to create a mixed-use residential building capable
of generating revenue for the owner (me). This project attempts to do that by
working through the lens of both a real estate developer and architect. The
developer aspect of this project includes various things like site selection and
land acquisition, along with generating financial projections for the building’s
potential return on investment through standard developer strategies like
assessing comparable properties and developing a proforma. The design
aspect includes generating an architectural language, through a series of form
finding and iterative design, that maximizes the building’s value and enhances
Chicago’s cityscape.Thesis (B. Arch.)College of Architecture and Plannin
Chaucer's Man of Law's Tale and the Post‐9/11 CrusadeMentality: Unearthing Historical Echoes in ModernContext
No full textN/AThis article offers a transtemporal reading of Geoffrey Chaucer's Man of Law's Tale, situating the text within the ideological framework of crusading discourse in late 14th-century England while tracing its symbolic afterlife into post-9/11 political rhetoric. Drawing on Kathleen Davis's critique of periodization and Geraldine Heng's theory of the romance as a historical actant, the essay argues that Chaucer's narrative participates in a cultural logic of Manichean dualism that casts religious difference as metaphysical opposition. Through close readings of the tale's zoomorphic metaphors—especially the lamb, serpent, and scorpion—and the moral polarization between Custance and the Sultaness, the article demonstrates how the tale encodes a crusade mentality that continues to inform modern representations of Islam and Muslims. By placing Chaucer in dialog with figures such as George W. Bush, Bernard Lewis, and Samuel Huntington, as well as with contemporary critiques by Kwame Anthony Appiah and Riz Ahmed, the essay reveals the ideological durability of medieval allegory in justifying war, surveillance, and civilizational hierarchies. Ultimately, the article argues for a nonlinear understanding of medievalism as a rhetorical toolkit whose logics endure beyond the historical Middle Ages, challenging scholars to read across time in order to confront the persistent structures of racialized and religious exclusion.N/
Converging creativity
No full textThe opportunity to be creative without restraint is rare, yet making and
experiencing art is an important part of the human experience. In classrooms,
work environments, and daily life, practicality often overrides creativity, leaving
little room for artistic exploration. While arts establishments are abundant in the
United States, participation in these programs commonly involves some type of
payment, membership, or enrollment, separating the art world from the general
population. This project examines how public arts spaces can be designed to
encourage creativity and social connectivity among all local community groups
in Muncie, Indiana.
This thesis investigation proposes spaces where programs spill into each
other, facilitating interactions between community members, local artists, and
students. The design explores the use of permeable thresholds and interactive
architectural elements to allow the spillage of activities, sights, and sounds
between spaces of public artistic expression. The design ensures that visitors
will become passively or actively involved in the activities of art making. Through
this, the sharing of art and experiences between strangers becomes possible
and the doors to the world of art are opened.Thesis (B. Arch.)College of Architecture and Plannin