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Stranded in Transit: Migrants\u27 Borderland Experiences En Route to Europe
Get PDFThis dissertation explores the lived experiences of migrants stranded in prolonged transit amid the intensifying securitization of the European border regime. While contemporary policy frameworks aim to deter unauthorized migration through externalized controls, digital surveillance, and restricted legal pathways, these measures have instead produced new forms of precarity, immobilization, and liminal existence. Focusing on Istanbul as a key site of transit and containment, the research examines how migrants navigate conditions of legal uncertainty, economic marginalization, and social isolation while resisting the structural constraints imposed upon them. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Istanbul—including semi-structured interviews and participant observation—this study adopts a qualitative, interpretivist methodology to foreground migrants’ voices and meaning-making processes. The research conceptualizes migrants not as passive victims of border regimes but as active agents who engage in creative forms of survival, resistance, and relationality. These include informal labor practices, knowledge-sharing networks, and the cultivation of mutual aid communities that together constitute what this dissertation refers to as “social excess”, exceeding and subverting state- imposed limits. At the center of this inquiry is the notion of prolonged liminality, a condition in which migrants remain suspended between departure and destination, caught in spaces of extended waiting and strategic uncertainty. While often framed as temporary, transit becomes an enduring reality with deep psychological, social, and spatial consequences. Migrants experience being “terminally stranded,” for they are neither able to move forward nor return, leading to evolving aspirations, altered identities, and reconfigured relationships to time and place. By analyzing how migrants rework the boundaries of state control and assert new forms of agency under duress, this dissertation contributes to key debates in migration studies, border politics, and critical urbanism. It challenges conventional migration models that assume clear trajectories from origin to destination. It also highlight resillience without normalizing systemic violence. In doing so, it brings attention to the enduring harm of deterrence-based policies, the psychological burden of prolonged uncertainty, and the geopolitical implications of externalized migration governance. Ultimately, this work calls for a fundamental rethinking of migration policy—one that acknowledges migrants’ rights to mobility and dignity, attends to the ignored and externalized consequences of border securitization, and fosters more just and sustainable frameworks of global cooperation. By situating Istanbul as a microcosm of broader dynamics, the dissertation illuminates the lived contradictions at the heart of contemporary migration governance, where human mobility is simultaneously managed, deferred, and made to endure
Body Size Trends of Late Devonian Dacryoconarid Tentaculitoids and Protocol Development for I/Ca analysis in corals by LA-ICP-MS
Get PDFPaleoclimatology provides context for understanding the timescales and animal responses to environmental change under modern climate change scenarios. The key drivers of climate variability are identified using proxies for environmental conditions. Biological archives are especially useful for linking changing conditions to ecosystem responses. This dissertation establishes the foundation for utilizing dacryoconarid microfossils as biostratigraphic indicators of environmental change in the Paleozoic. It also presents a protocol for measuring iodine-to-calcium (I/Ca) ratios—an established proxy for localized hypoxia—in coral skeletons using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Studying Paleozoic microfossils presents challenges due to the high degree of induration of ancient rocks, which makes it difficult to extract fragile microfossils intact. Retrieving calcareous fossils from limestone matrices is an especially demanding task. Chapter 1 details the methodology for extracting dacryoconarids from different rock types. It evaluates the potential of surfactants and freeze-thaw processing as alternative chemical and mechanical techniques for disaggregating the rock matrix, comparing their effectiveness to the traditional boiling method. Results indicate that matrix composition is a crucial factor when selecting surfactants, as certain surfactant types exhibit differing potential for effective disaggregation. The highest fossil yield across all rock types was achieved using sodium bicarbonate. Chapter 2 investigates the body size trends in dacryoconarids from the Appalachian Basin during the Late Devonian punctata carbon isotope perturbation. A nearly complete stratigraphic section spanning the late Givetian to middle Frasnian stages was sampled along Eighteen Mile Creek in western New York to assess temporal changes in dacryoconarid assemblage diversity and body size. To reconstruct regional environmental conditions and explore potential drivers of the observed size trends, published geochemical proxy datasets from nearby outcrops, drill cores, and global compilations were integrated. While short-term fluctuations in both adult and initial chamber volumes occur between sampling horizons—potentially reflecting preservational biases or variations in local nutrient availability—there is a long-term trend of decreasing adult volume throughout the interval. Evolutionary trajectory modeling indicates that the long-term reduction in adult volumes is unlikely to be the result of random processes. An analysis of taxonomic composition reveals that this shift is primarily driven by a general decrease in assemblage volume over time, rather than the selective loss of large-bodied taxa in response to local environmental stressors. Furthermore, a correlation with reconstructed regional temperature data, based on published conodont apatite δ¹⁸O records, suggests that long-term warming may have contributed to body size reductions, consistent with the Temperature–Size Rule. Chapter 3 focuses on the development of a protocol for measuring in situ I/Ca ratios in coral skeletons using LA-ICP-MS. Corals serve as time-resolved archives of seawater conditions, and the I/Ca ratio may be a useful proxy for hypoxia exposure. Laser ablation enables high-resolution analysis at a faster rate than traditional methods. However, no standard reference materials currently exist for iodine analysis in carbonates using this technique. Through experiments quantifying measurement precision, this study establishes the powdered Porites coral reference material, JCp-1, as a suitable standard compared to a synthetic standard MACS-3. Optimized instrumental and laser parameters for accurate I/Ca measurements were also established. Line scans across skeletal structures reveal significant spatial variation in I/Ca ratios, highlighting the need for careful sampling to avoid potential biases in proxy interpretation
Glorifying Fat: Body Size, Race, Gender, and Religion in the United States
No full textThis dissertation analyzes the importance of fat religions – an umbrella term for any traditions, communities, or practices with a religious interest in fat – as sources of feminist understanding and address of the racist, affective regimes that shape human-fat intimacies in the twenty-first century United States. Examining anti-Black misogyny, or misogynoir, through the lens of a religious interest in fat, this dissertation offers a new line of inquiry for the study of religion and body size that pushes for a wider consideration of not only the negative, but also positive relationship between fat/fatness and religious sensibilities. With attention to the shifting of racist configurations of Black, fat womanhood and the Black, fat feminine body, this dissertation unfolds as an exploration of a selection of fat religions in the U.S. from the 1800s to present-day. In highlighting the positive, as well as sometimes negative, religious interests in fat, I argue that fat religions, particularly those originating in Black women’s communities, can serve as disruptive sources of otherwise possibility that can reshape the antagonistic, misogynistic, and racist medico-moral frames that shape how American society relates to fat, fatness, and fat persons
Social Work Advocacy in Veterans Treatment Court
No full textVeterans Treatment Court provides a rehabilitative alternative to incarceration for justice-involved veterans by addressing the underlying causes of legal involvement. Social workers are key to this model, offering trauma-informed assessments, case management, and service coordination. By connecting veterans to mental health care, housing, employment support, and treatment programs, social workers promote stability and successful reintegration. The collaboration with legal professionals and community partners strengthens the Veterans Treatment Court\u27s capacity to reduce recidivism and support long-term well-being for veterans navigating the justice system
Increasing Access to Valuable Services for Veterans Treatment Court Participants
No full textThe Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic (VLC) at the Syracuse University College of Law is partnered with the New York Health Foundation (NYHF) to develop and implement an approach for expanding the services available to Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) participants across New York. VTCs offer an alternative to criminal court for many low-level offenses. The participants complete an intensive 18-month program of counseling, support groups, and recovery before graduating. A significant number of participants earned VA benefits through their service but are not receiving those benefits. Advocating for these veterans benefits reinforces that their service was valuable, something they may not be feeling as they are navigating the court system. By connecting the participants with student attorneys working for the VLC, more New York veterans can receive the benefits and support they earned through military service. Engagement with the VLC also opens the door to additional services these veterans may need, including housing, education, job training, and opportunities to engage more deeply in the community. Through this partnership, the VLC and NYHF are making these connections happen and publishing a field manual (i.e., a playbook) for other organizations to adopt and use in their communities. This program will serve as a national model for how communities embrace participants of VTCs and will increase the probability that the participants become active and productive in their local communities. The Syracuse Model for Veterans Treatment Courts will serve as the best-practice model for organizations across the country embracing it
Toys and Gems
No full textThis thesis presents an overview of the body of work I have developed during my time at Syracuse University, along with the concepts, motivations, and experiences that inform it. It examines how my education has shaped both my artistic voice and technical approach, tracing the influence of key mentors, historical and contemporary artists, and personal experiences. The document also provides detailed descriptions of my process, with particular attention to copperplate etching and the integration of commercial aesthetics into fine art practice. Finally, it outlines the future trajectory of my work through the lens of NeilMart LLC - my evolving platform that merges print production, exhibition, and retail into a singular creative enterprise
THE ACCESSIBILITY OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL FOOD BY THAIS IN SYRACUSE, NEW YORK
No full textAccess to traditional medicinal food can be a challenge for immigrants and refugee populations. This study looks at how and where Thai immigrants and refugees in Syracuse, New York access Thai medicinal food and the challenges if any, that they have when attempting to access Thai medicinal food. Although the definition of traditional medicinal food is not strongly established, in this study I proposed that traditional medicinal food refers to food shaped by the sum total of knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, can relieve hunger once consumed and, at the same time, have properties to maintain health and promote well-being, as well as prevent, diagnose, and improve or treat physical and mental illnesses. The data was collected using mixed qualitative methods, with main focus on in depth interviews. The other methods employed were online surveys conducted with Qualtrics and field observation. The Thai cultural food environment of Syracuse is concentrated in the Northside. Results demonstrate that Thais in Syracuse prefer to get food from physical stores than from online shopping platforms. Yet, interviews revealed difficulties in accessing the concentrated Thai food market without car transportation. Many people obtain small portions of their medicinal food ingredients non commercially from friends or home gardens. Obtaining food from a known social circle is a crucial part of Thai medicinal food access. There is a high demand for fresh plant based Thai Medicinal food; however, the items available in stores tend to be processed plant-based medicinal food. Strengthening the Thai community in Syracuse could contribute to an increase in the accessibility of Thai medicinal food
CORRELATES OF SCHOOL ABSENTEEISM: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE DON’T
No full textSchool absenteeism has been referred to as a hidden educational crisis by the United States Department of Education. National data show that chronic absenteeism has doubled since pre-pandemic rates, increasing from about 16% of school students to nearly 30% during the 2021-22 school year. To understand this widespread issue, I conducted a systematic review of the available literature on potential risk factors or correlates associated with school absenteeism. A total of 106 studies published between 2000 and 2023 were included in this review. Coding was completed by me and advanced research assistants to determine how school absenteeism has been defined in the literature, the demographic characteristics of the literature base (e.g., grade levels, publication field), and what correlates or risk factors were examined in relation to school absenteeism, taking note of significant findings. As the first systematic review to examine this area of the literature to date, this review aimed to expand our knowledge of this phenomenon, as well as inform future research and practice. Results revealed that although this area of the literature is underdeveloped, some risk factors appear consistent across the literature (e.g., health status, SES, housing, food insecurity, substance use), as well as protective factors, particularly related to school climate. Implications for future research and practice are discussed. Keywords: school absenteeism, educational practices, systematic revie
Beyond the Head and the Hand: A Rhetorical Analysis of Material Ethos in The Craftsman (1901-1905) and Make: (2005-2010) Magazines.
No full textThis dissertation rhetorically analyzes appeals to material ethos in The Craftsman and Make: magazines in order to identify two historical considerations of craftwork and craftsperson identities. I argue that these case studies represent two approaches towards craft at historical moments when automation and industrialization were disrupting what it meant to be a craftsperson or maker. While ethos has traditionally been thought of as a rhetorical relationship among rhetors and audiences, within these magazines ethos is treated as a relationship between craftspeople and nonhuman materials. Drawing upon posthuman and new materialist feminist theorists, I consider how writing and rhetoric scholars might better understand digital writing at our own present historical moment in ways that account for a materialist ethos as well. Given that AI and LLMs are changing what it means to be a writer, rhetor, and composer, this dissertation reconsiders how we approach the craft of writing from a materialist rhetoric perspective
Dynamic Resource Allocation for Wireless Networks and Radar Systems via Deep Reinforcement Learning
No full textThe rapid advancement of wireless communication technologies and the proliferation of smart devices have led to increasingly complex and dynamic network environments. These developments have posed significant challenges to traditional radio resource management (RRM) techniques, which often struggle with scalability, adaptability, and real-time decision-making. In response to these limitations, this dissertation explores the application of advanced machine learning, particularly deep reinforcement learning (DRL), to develop intelligent, adaptive, and data-efficient solutions for resource management in wireless networks and radar systems. We begin by addressing joint channel access and power control in wireless interference networks using centralized, distributed, and federated multi-agent DRL frameworks. These methods demonstrate strong adaptability and performance with limited information exchange. To tackle the data inefficiency and generalization limitations of conventional DRL, we introduce meta-reinforcement learning strategies using Model-Agnostic Meta-Learning (MAML) for dynamic channel access, power control, and UAV trajectory design. These frameworks enable rapid adaptation to new environments with minimal retraining, making them well-suited for real-world deployments. Expanding into radar systems, we investigate adaptive radar resource management for multi-target tracking. We develop a constrained deep reinforcement learning (CDRL) approach that optimally allocates time under budget constraints. To address data scarcity in radar environments, we propose hybrid learning frameworks combining offline and online CDRL. This work is extended to track-while-scan radar systems and integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) platforms, highlighting the trade-offs between sensing and communication tasks. Multi-objective reinforcement learning techniques, implemented with soft actor-critic (SAC), are also employed to find Pareto-optimal policies in radar scanning and tracking tasks. Finally, recognizing the importance of interpretability in AI systems, we introduce a novel explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) framework—Deep learning assisted local interpretable modal-agnostic explanations (DL-LIME)—which enhances the traditional LIME method by incorporating deep learning into the sampling process. This approach improves both fidelity and task performance, providing greater transparency in neural network decision-making. Overall, this dissertation contributes a suite of innovative learning-based frameworks for efficient, robust, and interpretable resource management across wireless communication and radar systems. The proposed methodologies pave the way for the development of next-generation intelligent networks, capable of operating effectively in highly dynamic and data-constrained environments