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The Rise of American Autocracy: The Effect of Far-Right Policies on America\u27s Democracy
Get PDFFar-right ideologies and authoritarian insurgents rise to power through democratic backsliding. The reelection of Donald Trump has caused concern among many Americans because of his autocratic behavior, which is reflected in the policies he is attempting to implement, such as harsh immigration laws, tariffs, and ending birthright citizenship. This study analyzes how Trump’s behavior and policies reflect autocratic tendencies, discussing the severity of the far-right threat he poses to America. The analysis will occur by establishing a definition of democratic backsliding to compare Trump’s actions to understand how his behavior correlates to other authoritarians in the modern world. The criteria of the assessment of Trump’s administration will be done by measuring the severity of his attacks on governmental branches and agencies, consolidation of power, and limitations of civil liberties. This study contributes to the conversation of endangered democracy, investigating the integrity of American democracy under Trump’s presidency.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1006/thumbnail.jp
Undercredited Women Contributors: How Men Uphold the Narrative
Get PDFThe relationship between women and literature has largely been undermined by the narratives of men dominating the field. Binghamton University’s copy of More English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs exemplifies instances where women contributors have received sexist backlash while being denied proper credit and publicity for their contributions. The project begins with the Guild of Women Binders. The Guild combined leadership by an exploitative man, Frank Karslake, degrading comments toward the young women workers, and lack of credit for their works. Next, the project looks at Mary Landon Baker whose bookplate appears on the front pastedown. The story of her romances dominated the news while her relationship to books took a backseat. Finally, many of the works within More English Fairy Tales come from women sources, but were modified by Jacobs. Ultimately, this project discovers the tangible value of old books in uncovering the hidden histories of women contributors.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1008/thumbnail.jp
Fascism on the Homefront: Remembering the Nazi Youth Camps of 1930s New Jersey
Get PDFWhen people think of Nazism in the 1930s, they typically picture Hitler’s rise to power in Germany. However, most are unaware of the Nazi ideology purveyed by the German-American Bund, a pro-fascist group in the United States. Before World War II, the German-American Bund established numerous summer camps for children across the country, hoping to indoctrinate America’s youth into their cause. Scholars have focused on the existence and ideology of the camps, but have failed to identify the impact on surrounding local communities. This podcast focuses on the three camps in New Jersey, exploring how public perceptions of the camps changed while they were in operation, and tracing how surrounding communities forgot or remembered the camps over time. Drawing on original oral histories, as well as historic newspapers, photographs, and government archives, this project explores the lingering effects of Nazism in New Jersey.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1011/thumbnail.jp
Reimagining Resistance: An Evaluation of Coalition Building in Contemporary Authoritarian Contexts
Get PDFAs a wave of democratic backsliding sweeps across the globe and contemporary anthropological and technological trends bolster illiberal regimes, it is evident that new methods for resisting authoritarianism must be standardized. This research aims to contribute to a comprehensive framework for civilian resistance movements, focusing on establishing stable organizational structures from the ground up to enhance the effectiveness of these campaigns. Through an analysis of scholarly literature on contemporary dissent campaigns, such as the Arab Spring uprisings, this exploration will propose strategies for resisting Trumpism within the United States. The findings underscore the importance of building ethnically and socio-economically diverse coalitions while consistently upholding democratic ideals to overthrow authoritarian regimes and achieve long-term democratization. As scholars continue to develop theories of resistance to modern authoritarianism, movements will gain a deeper understanding of the tactics and approaches best suited to combat the alarming global trend of authoritarian encroachment.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1012/thumbnail.jp
From Fear to Fondness: How Empathy for Flawed Foes on Screen Falters in the Real World for Teens and Young Adults
Get PDFDamon Salvatore, Chuck Bass, Loki. Across much of today’s favorite teen and young adult television, viewers seem to favor villains or anti-heroes over typical protagonists. Paradoxically, unsavory characters offer a depth, inviting a great human curiosity and thereby empathy. Viewers often identify with villains in their darkness, whether intentionally or not. This research contextualizes this phenomenon within broader discussions of social media due to the encouragement of digital over face-to-face interactions. Over time, society has become desensitized to crises ranging from personal relationships to global matters with the rise of social media usage, which disconnects individuals from tangible consequences. Therefore, empathy has grown increasingly scarce among teens and young adults of this generation. Drawing from historical literature turned to film as well as contemporary shows, this project explores how extending empathy for fictional characters correlates with empirical data, suggesting a decrease in connection with real-world people, relationships, and pressing issues.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1019/thumbnail.jp
Watching the Watchers: Redefining Privacy and Human Rights in Correctional Surveillance
Get PDFIncarcerated individuals exist in a space where security and privacy constantly clash. This study examines how surveillance technologies—biometric monitoring, video surveillance, and electronic tracking— in correctional settings impact the privacy rights of those incarcerated. Through a review of peer-reviewed literature, and insights from informal conversations with incarcerated individuals at Broome County Jail, this research examines the ethical, legal, and social implications of surveillance in carceral facilities, focusing on how constant monitoring impacts privacy, relationships, and mental well-being. Expanding beyond jails, the study considers surveillance in state and federal prisons, evaluating its implications under the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This research aims to inform policy, advocating for equitable surveillance practices that balance security with human rights. Ultimately, it raises critical questions about the broader societal impact of surveillance in heavily monitored environments.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1024/thumbnail.jp
Blockchain-Powered UBI: Reinventing UBI with Decentralized Solutions
Get PDFUniversal Basic Income (UBI) is proposed as a solution to financial insecurity and poverty, but most models rely on traditional banking systems plagued with inefficiencies, high costs, and lack of transparency. This research explores how blockchain technology can enhance UBI through decentralized UBI (dUBI), offering automated distribution, security against fraud, and global accessibility. The challenge of dUBI lies in its scalability and sustainability: can blockchain support large-scale income distribution without problematic inefficiencies? Examining transaction data and smart contract mechanisms from the blockchain-based UBI projects Circles and GoodDollar, as well as theoretical works on UBI and decentralization, this project evaluates the feasibility of dUBI. By analyzing blockchain transaction records, smart contract mechanisms, and economic models, this study bridges blockchain technology and social welfare. As a result, this research demonstrates how dUBI can create a more transparent, efficient, and equitable income distribution system while addressing the limitations of traditional UBI programs.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1029/thumbnail.jp
Like a Natural Woman: Why We Still Need Ecofeminism
Get PDFIn the last half-century, ecofeminism has emerged and expanded as a radical theory examining the connection between the oppression of women and the destruction of the environment. This theory denounces the shared patriarchal exploitation of women and nature by promoting holism and interdependence among all living things. Overtime, however, ecofeminist thought splintered into two distinct variants: cultural and radical. Cultural ecofeminism in particular, which embraces the biological and spiritual tie between women and nature as opposed to rejecting it, has faced many critiques about its apolitical, essentialist, and mystical philosophical approach. This project attempts to reinterpret and defend cultural ecofeminism by critically reexamining Mary Daly’s Gyn/Ecology (1978), a foundational ecofeminist text which identifies patriarchy as destructively exploitative and death-obsessed. It contends that the persistent necrophilic culture of patriarchy warrants an ecofeminist philosophy that is necessarily transcendental and spiritual.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1033/thumbnail.jp
Effects of Caffeine and Marijuana Consumption on Academic Performance
Get PDFCollege students often rely on stimulants to stay focused, while others use marijuana for stress relief. This study explores commonly used substances that influence academic performance, exposing potential drawbacks. A total of 238 young adults (18-29) and 11 mature adults (30+) completed an anonymous online survey administered through Google Forms and distributed via multiple social media platforms. The survey included basic questions about demographics, academic standing, and caffeine and marijuana consumption. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 28.0 and Pearson\u27s Correlation Coefficient. Results showed a negative correlation between individuals who consumed caffeine frequently and GPA (p\u3c0.05) and individuals who consumed cannabis more frequently and GPA (p\u3c0.05). Substance use impacts academic performance potentially through the modulation of neurochemistry.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1042/thumbnail.jp
Politics vs Climate Change
Get PDFThis study examines the evolution of the partisan divide on climate change in the U.S. since the 1990s, exploring its emergence as a polarizing issue between Democrats and Republicans. Using a mixed-methods approach, it combines quantitative analysis of congressional voting records (1990s–2024) with qualitative reviews of key debates and policy discussions. Building on existing literature, the research addresses gaps by analyzing long-term polarization trends and factors influencing political positions. Data from congressional votes (via congress.gov and govtrack.us) will quantify party polarization, while qualitative analysis adds context to these findings. The study acknowledges limitations like vote selection bias and simplified political stances and mitigates them through qualitative context. It aims to illustrate how climate change shifted from a bipartisan concern to a divisive issue, shedding light on drivers of this shift and implications for future policy development.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1043/thumbnail.jp