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The Philosophy of Self-Defense: Tupac Shakur’s Concept of “Thug Life” and the Ideology Behind the Black Panther Party
Get PDFBeyond his fame as a hip-hop artist, Tupac Shakur became a well-known political figure who sought to reduce gang violence, opposed police brutality, and advocated for self-defense—values that have been compared to those of the Black Panther Party. In 1992, Tupac established a set of “criminal” guidelines known as the “Code of Thug Life” to protect bystanders from needless engagement in gang disputes and bring more order in the streets while ensuring self-defense against opposing gangs or other threats. This project reframes discussions about the “Code” by analyzing it through the lens of Panther theorist Eldridge Cleaver’s controversial adaptation of the concept of the “lumpenproletariat,” which, contrary to Marxist orthodoxy, saw structurally uneducated and unemployed Black communities as a vanguard for revolutionary politics. Responding to historians such as Chris Booker, this video essay reconsiders Tupac’s “Code of Thug Life” as a continued theory and praxis of “lumpen” politics and fight for black empowerment.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1103/thumbnail.jp
Uncovering Seed-Handling and Nest Benefits in an Eastern North American Ant-Plant Seed Dispersal Mutualism
Get PDFIn eastern North American forests, Aphaenogaster ants and understory plants are part of a widespread and prominent seed dispersal mutualism. In this mutualism, plants produce seeds with a fatty-acid-rich package that attracts and provides ants with nutrition and the plants experience lower competition. Aphaenogaster ants disperse seeds by moving them from the parent plant into the soil-based ant nest where the ants remove the elaiosome and feed it to their brood. Seeds without elaiosomes are then discarded, sometimes in the nest, and sometimes outside of the nest. Seed deposition locations may provide benefits to germination and establishment between ant species. Between two Aphaenogaster species, A. rudis handles more seeds and processes them faster than A. picea, but further benefits remain unknown. Increased germination rates of seeds that were handled were found. To understand what caused differences in germination rates, soil character from natural and experimental Aphaenogaster nests is being investigated.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1111/thumbnail.jp
From Stagflation to Compensation: Did Economic Crisis Make a Case for Basic Income?
Get PDFResearchers believe that economic booms and recessions appear to influence perceptions of guaranteed income. However, it is difficult to explain why any particular crisis leads to a fall or rise in public support for basic income. This paper explores various qualitative and quantitative sources before and after the stagflationary period of the 1970s and ’80s to investigate how economic circumstances affected public views on guaranteed income. This research examines demographic data on basic income support over several periods, firsthand accounts from special interest groups affected by these downturns, and political commentary on politicians proposing various forms of basic income like George McGovern and Richard Nixon. By incorporating this data, along with scholarly analyses and statistical evidence, this project aims to determine whether this period of a negative supply shock in the United States led the public to view basic income more favorably and what that can tell us about modern basic income implementations.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1151/thumbnail.jp
Weaponization of Words: A Rhetorical Analysis of Donald Trump
Get PDFHistorically, totalitarian regimes have derived control from violence, but today’s authoritarians utilize the weaponization of rhetoric. The new era of authoritarianism demonstrates that an aspiring authoritarian can verbally manufacture polarization, and create the crisis necessary for their ascendancy. This research focuses on U.S. President Donald Trump’s rhetoric, specifically how his language has furthered American political polarization, allowing him to unite his supporter base, while alienating the political left. The research is centered around analyzing Trump’s 2024 speeches, and existing literature on his rhetorical strategies in 2016. In these sources, Trump is widely defined as a populist demagogue due to his ability to capitalize on his supporters’ distrust in government and inherent hatred towards certain groups. Many Americans denounce the argument that Trump can erode America’s democratic institutions due to his political inexperience, but his strategic rhetoric proves that he is aware of the exploitable weaknesses of American democracy.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1161/thumbnail.jp
Industrial Zoning Regulations: Impact on Air Pollution and Residential Welfare
Get PDFIndustrial zoning plays an important role in shaping cities and towns — it\u27s the blueprint that dictates where industries can be developed, ensuring its impact on the environment and communities is carefully managed. This study examines the impact of industrial zoning regulations on air pollution levels and residential welfare in urban areas. The methods of research include analyzing air quality measurements before and after zoning changes in several urban areas, alongside residential factors such as traffic congestion. Traffic volume, vehicle emissions, and pollution concentrations (NOx and particulate matter) are compared to determine how shifts in industrial zoning affect environmental outcomes. Addressing these questions will help determine if industrial zoning regulations positively or negatively impact residential air pollution levels and welfare. Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing zoning policies that balance industrial growth with public health and environmental sustainability.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1163/thumbnail.jp
Global Climate Governance: The Roles of the UNFCCC in Shaping International Relations
Get PDFIn 1992 the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted as a result of scientific evidence revealing the detrimental effects of climate change to the world. Although the Convention was held more than 20 years ago, there is a lack of effective global climate governance while climate change continues to destroy our environment. By analyzing the three main agreements established through the UNFCCC and examples of international interactions which resulted from climate change - such as providing humanitarian assistance, redrawing national borders, and compensating for historical injustices - this paper seeks to argue for a solution through the implementation of global law. Furthermore, by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each of the agreements, the paper identifies the key criteria necessary for effective implementation.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1178/thumbnail.jp
Dodo Birds and Horse Guts: An Exploration of The Natural History Collection of the Royal Society
Get PDFIn 1681, the Royal Society commissioned Nehemiah Grew to create The Natural History Collection, a database of scholarly descriptions and engravings of specimens owned by the society as well as his own research of comparative guts. Binghamton University’s copy has multiple pages where individual words have been handwritten over in brown ink. A bookseller’s note on the inside cover hints that the corrections are Grew’s own, yet a mystery still prevails. Every known copy, spanning over thirteen years of editions, have these same marks. This paper investigates the difficulties of producing scientific literature in the late 17th century as well as what is valued by the author, commissioner, and audience. It compares Binghamton’s copy with other institutions\u27 copies, tracing the provenance through bookplates, and referencing Royal Society documents surrounding the imprimatur. Ultimately, these resources are utilized to trace how materiality reflects the value of scientific accuracy.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1183/thumbnail.jp
Environmental Injustice and New York City Waste Management
Get PDFHow does environmental injustice play out in New York City Waste Management? It can be expected that areas that face poverty and environmental injustice will have the most Waste Management facilities. Lower-income communities struggle with health and quality of life, partly because of environmental injustice. Maps of redlined areas, impoverished areas, and where waste management facilities are located will be utilized, and the areas with the most waste management facilities will be highlighted. Statistics will be provided to help demonstrate why environmental injustice matters. Analysis of the effect waste management systems have on lower-income communities will also be presented.
The additional file for this poster includes an accessible word document.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1193/thumbnail.jp
Impact of Communication Disability on Student Engagement
Get PDFStudent engagement supports learning, development, and persistence, but students with communication disabilities may struggle due to inadequate accommodations. Their engagement strategies remain under-researched. This study aims to understand whether the engagement strategies employed by students with communication disabilities (CD) vary from those in the general population (GP) in navigating the college campus environment. Data from the 2021 National Survey of Student Engagement Administration, which included students with CD (n = 367) and GP (n = 125,955), were analyzed to examine differences across four constructs of Student Engagement. Significant differences with small effect sizes were found in Student-Faculty Interaction, Quality of Interaction, and Collaborative Learning. No significant difference was found in Discussions with Diverse Others. There is a need for targeted support to enhance the college experience of students with CD.
The additional file for this poster includes an accessible word document.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1194/thumbnail.jp
Dunbar’s Number in Motion: Agent-Based Simulations of Friendship Formation
Get PDFBy contrasting Lévy flight and random walk strategies in simulated agents, we discern the effect of movement behavior on the total duration of social interactions. Our agent-based simulation results approximate empirically observed Dunbar social circle formation using simple behavioral rules of interaction and compatibility to mimic exogenous attribute-based friendship formation. We simulate the complexities of social interactions among agents with unique attributes and a time budget for social engagement over a one-year period. Two distinct simulations were conducted to evaluate the behavioral contributions of Lévy flight and random walk movement patterns on cumulative interaction duration and the formation of Dunbar circles. We test the hypothesis that Lévy Flight movement patterns would result in more total interaction time among agents, based on the premise that the unpredictable long-range moves would increase the chances of encountering a diverse range of individuals. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, simulation results show that random walk rules of motion resulted in greater total interaction and time spent among agents compared to Lévy flight