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Skip the Grid: Restoring Light to the Navajo Nation
Get PDFSkip the Grid is an interdisciplinary service project through California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) where students and faculty partnered with sponsors including SOLV Energy and Goal Zero, and facilitation by Heart of America, an educational equity non-profit, to bring solar power to 27 families of school aged children in the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation is a historically disadvantaged community which lacks the infrastructure and financial capacity to provide electrical service to about a third of the families living on the reservation. Families in the Red Mesa and Chinle School Districts were the focus for this initiative in addressing their needs for light and electricity to support their educational needs. With plans for installing environmentally and socially equitable solar energy systems, all stakeholders involved were able to incorporate lessons learned based on prior implementations of this project from previous years. Although faced with several logistical challenges, the coordination of these interdisciplinary groups of students delivered the successful installation of solar panels to these 27 families in the reservation. These families’ lives have seen the tremendous positive impact in having access to clean, affordable off-grid electricity. This paper documents how pre-task planning and means and methods were developed, assessed, improved, and incorporated into the 2023 implementation of the Skip the Grid project, as well as recording lessons learned for future groups to reference
City Farm SLO Fencing Upgrade
Get PDFThis paper outlines the process of a fence upgrade that was built for a non-profit organization in San Luis Obispo, CA called City Farm SLO. The City Farm SLO is a non-profit organization that educates locals how to grow healthy and sustainable foods. This new fencing project spans a total of 422 feet with three new farm gates. The process that was approached for this project was to have it planned in three different phases. The first phase was the pre-construction phase, which consisted of meetings with the owner, creating a design, making a materials list, estimating the total cost of the project, and lastly getting funding. The second phase was the construction of the fence, and the third phase was the final clean up phase. This project had some weather complications along the way that delayed the construction phase by about three months. Those weather delays will then help the construction processes get done faster. This paper will show the process that was taken to construct the newly built fence line meant for securing the crops. The project had its ups and downs, but the owner of the farm was excited and happy for their new secure fence
Exploring Student Population and Factors Deciding Enrollment in Cal Poly SLO CM Program
Get PDFThis study addresses the research problem of understanding how students discover the Construction Management (CM) major at Cal Poly SLO and assessing the satisfaction level of current CM students. A qualitative survey was conducted among 31 anonymous CM students using a digital survey platform. The survey aimed to gather data on students\u27 experiences, perceptions, and overall satisfaction with the program. The analysis of the survey data revealed that students primarily discover the CM major through personal connections, academic advisors, and online resources. However, there is room for improvement regarding program visibility and accessibility. Effective marketing strategies are essential to attract talented individuals to the CM program continuously, providing future students with the opportunity to pursue their passion without having to dedicate time to a different major only to realize that CM was an option. The findings highlight the need for ongoing program improvements and support services to ensure student retention and program success. This study provides valuable insights for the CM program at Cal Poly SLO to refine its marketing efforts and enhance student experiences. By addressing the challenges in program discovery, the university can strengthen the CM major\u27s position as a top construction management program
#MeToo and Literary Studies: Reading, Writing, and Teaching about Sexual Violence and Rape Culture
Get PDFGenerative AI and Opportunities for Feminist Classroom Assignments
Get PDFHandwringing about ChatGPT and generative AI has penetrated teaching circles. Many educators are concerned it will disrupt education in negative ways. However, I introduce two approaches to assignments in which students work in tandem with AI to develop better understandings of reflexivity and feminist epistemology. I believe, if we are intentional in our teaching practice, our educational responses to generative AI can be in feminist directions
The Women of Justice: Narratives of Women Attorneys in California During the 1960s and 1990s
Get PDFThis thesis interviews two women attorneys who have not previously shared their stories to relate their experience of going to law school and entering the field after graduation. The study of women lawyers and their stories is not a new topic, however, there is a focus in the scholarship to only explore the tales of the women who reached the big firsts, such as first female lawyer or first female judge. By providing interviews of women who have not reached these big accomplishments, the field gains a more rounded understanding of the history of female lawyers. The two women interviewed were part of the same county and same firm, though one is now retired. Through connecting these women’s stories to the existing literature, we find several shifts in attitudes towards female lawyers. The 1960s seem to be the time in which women profited off of their previous gains into the field, but it was not until after the 1990s in which the perception towards female lawyers shifted in a positive manner. This thesis comes at a pivotal moment for the law in the United States, as women’s rights and attitudes towards women are regressing. Through learning the hardships women went through to enter a field previously dominated by men, we are able to gain an understanding how recent these gains were made and the barriers that still exist
Reconstructing Identity: Carlton Burgan, Patient Zero in the Development of Plastic Surgery, Civil War through World War I
Get PDFPlastic surgery has played an integral role in helping people achieve societal expectations of appropriate physical appearance since its inception. Through the story of Carlton Burgan, a Union soldier during the American Civil War, who suffered severe facial trauma by mercury poisoning, this thesis hopes to reconstruct the conversation around plastic surgery’s origins as it is influenced by societal standards of the day. Specifically, this thesis argues that the seminal moments leading to plastic surgery being seen as a worthwhile medical specialty was during the Civil War, not World War I as so many scholars have put forth. Violent acts to the body as a method to advance plastic surgery techniques is explored in relation to acceptable physical appearance. Societal beauty standards on the time are posited to be the force behind the development of plastic surgery techniques, not plastic surgeons themselves. Plastic surgery evolved as the United States grew and began to embrace the Second Industrial Revolution’s influence on attitudes about beauty, leading to changes in societal beliefs about what is suitable in terms of appearance. This thesis argues that the new science of psychology that emerged in parallel to the Second Industrial Revolution is the main strategy for plastic surgery to be reconstructed as a worthwhile medical specialty. The exploration of plastic surgery procedures of the nose, face and genitalia are discussed due to their importance in constructing societal appearance standards. The thesis concludes with a return to the story of Carlton Burgan and his role as a change agent in medicine
Improvement Of Rotation Capacity Of Composite Beam-To-HSS Column Connections Using External Horizontal Stiffeners
Get PDFImprovement of Rotation Capacity of Composite Beam-to-HSS Column Connections Using External Horizontal Stiffeners
Mahdi Afshar Arjmand
This thesis focuses on the analysis of out-of-plane deformation (OOP) in column flange located in the panel zone of composite beam-to-column steel connection, as a critical aspect of steel structural engineering. This type of connection is an integral component of steel structures, and understanding their behavior is essential for ensuring safety and performance. The investigation involves examining the causes, factors influencing, and potential mitigation strategies for out-of-plane deformation of HSS flange column in these connections. Beam-to-column connections play a vital role in transferring loads and maintaining structural stability. Out-of-plane deformation, where the flange displaces from its primary plane, can compromise the connection\u27s performance. This study aims to shed light on the mechanisms causing out-of-plane deformation and explore techniques to minimize its effects. Out-of-plane deformation of column flange connections can result from various factors, including eccentric loading, bending moments, torsion, and material properties. Understanding these causes is crucial for accurate analysis and design. Analytical methods and numerical simulations, such as finite element analysis (FEA), are employed to predict and quantify out-of-plane deformation. Models are created to represent real-world connections, enabling the exploration of their behavior under different loads and conditions. The study investigates strategies to mitigate out-of-plane deformation, such as adding horizontal stiffeners, or vertical stiffeners. These approaches aim to enhance the column flange’s resistance to out-of-plane displacements and improve overall structural performance. Real-world case studies of steel beam to-column connections are analyzed to demonstrate the effects of out-of-plane deformation and the efficacy of mitigation strategies. The results highlight the importance of accurate analysis and design to ensure connection integrity. Based on the findings, the study proposes design guidelines for flange-column connections to minimize out-of-plane deformation. These guidelines provide engineers with insights into optimizing connection design and ensuring stability under varying loads.
The unique characteristic of beam-to-HSS column connections is the out-of-plane deformation of the HSS column flange at the beam web-to-column flange interface which can reduce contribution of the connection web to the overall resistance of the connection. To explore effect of the column flange OOP deformation, performance of three connection types, namely composite beam-to-HSS column connection, composite beam-to-HSS column connection with slab-column gap, and bare beam-to-HSS column connections are evaluated using pre-validated 3D finite element (FE) simulations. FE models can simulate low-cycle fatigue and post-rupture behavior of the connection. Comprehensive global and local responses are presented and discussed. It is found that column compactness, i.e., column’s width-to-thickness ratio, has considerable effect on maximum moment capacity, rotation capacity, post rupture residual capacity and energy dissipation capability of the connection. On the other hand, external horizontal stiffeners can significantly increase the rotation capacity of the connection. External horizontal stiffeners in steel beam-to-column connections are crucial for boosting structural efficiency and load-bearing capacity. Carefully designed, accurately placed, and securely attached, they ensure a reliable and safe system capable of withstanding diverse loads and environmental conditions, contributing to the long-term safety and stability of the entire steel structure