Pacific McGeorge School of Law
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The Criminalization of Black and Latino Communities
No full textThis research examines how the black & Latino low income families are greatly affected by social barriers that interfere with their education, employment, and housing, as well as biased policing and racial profiling. The main focus of this research is on racism and socio-economic disadvantages. For example, higher rates of arrests, convictions, mass incarcerations, social disparities, and over-policing in low-income neighborhoods. According to Rios, Burkhardt, and Molina (2017), the criminal justice system often frames crime in ways that justify inequality and punishment instead of focusing on fairness and justice. We specifically discussed how the criminal justice system impacts the Black and Latino community. Our research will look at the past, the problems today, and how we can make things better for the future.
From a sociological perspective, we learn that power is not shared equally in society. According to conflict theory, the people in power create rules that help them stay in control (OpenStax, 2016). In the criminal justice system, this can be seen in how Black and Latino people are treated unfairly. They are more likely to be stopped by police, arrested, and punished more harshly than others. This shows how power is used to keep certain groups down instead of helping everyone equally.
There have been some changes, like Proposition 36, which helped reduce long prison sentences for people who committed nonviolent drug crimes, but problems like racial profiling (judging someone by the color of their skin) and biased policing are still happening.
This matters because no one should be imprisoned just because of their race. To make things better, we need new rules that stop unfair treatment and make sure everyone is treated fairly in the legal system.
If we don’t fix this, many communities will keep getting stuck in a cycle of poverty, being treated unfairly, and being watched too closely by the police, but if we make real changes, like fair laws, less punishment and more help, and more support for communities. We can build a justice system that works for everyone
Study of Binding of Triplex DNA with Flavone Derivatives Using Fluorescent Intercalator Displacement
No full textTargeting duplex DNA using a triplex-forming oligonucleotide (TFO) in a sequence-specific manner is an attractive approach for anti-gene strategy. A TFO binds into the major groove of duplex DNA via Hoogsteen H-bonding. The formed non-canonical triplex structure can serve as a padlock on duplex DNA to regulate gene expression and replication and induce DNA damage and genomic instability. However, the triplex formation is thermodynamically unstable and kinetically unfavorable due to the repulsions between three negatively charged DNA strands. Anti-gene enhancers are small molecules that bind to triplex DNA specifically while having little effect on duplex DNA. Our lab has recently discovered and developed several classes of triplex binding ligands based on the flavone scaffold. These molecules bind to triplex DNA with high affinities via intercalation. In the present work, we investigated the relative binding specificity of these ligands with triplex DNA using a fluorescent intercalator displacement (FID). When thiazole orange (TO) binds to DNA, it fluoresces significantly. Adding a ligand into the TO-DNA solution can displace TO out of DNA and subsequently reduce the fluorescence of bound TO. Comparing the fluorescence signals as a function of ligand concentrations allows us to determine the relative binding strength of ligands. In this presentation, we will discuss the experimental setup and FID results
The Effects of Racial/Ethnic Self-Identification on Impression Formation
No full textPeople form impressions of others based on the limited information available to them. When people categorize others to determine whether or not they belong to their ingroup, they may react negatively towards others that they may perceive as inaccurately claiming membership of their ingroup. This study explored the impressions that White U.S. Americans formed of Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) Americans. We hypothesized that White participants would form a more negative impression of a MENA confederate when the confederate identified as White rather than Middle Eastern. We also hypothesized that participants with higher preferences for assimilation would form more positive impressions of the MENA confederate when the confederate identified as White. Results supported these hypotheses. White participants perceived a MENA confederate to be more authentic when self-identifying as MENA compared to White, but participants with high assimilation preferences perceived the MENA confederate to be more authentic when the confederate self-identified as White. These findings demonstrate negative consequences that may result from social classifications that include individuals who ingroup members may view as distinct outsiders while also highlighting some individual differences among ingroup members that may affect their perceptions of these individuals
Es un asunto privado: Género y la mirada en El último verano de la boyita/ (In English) A Private Matter: Gender and the Gaze in \u27El ultimo verano de la boyita\u27
No full text(In English for Review Purposes. This oral presentation will be given in Spanish.)
This oral presentation deals with the relationship between gender expression and socioeconomic status, and explores how this dynamic is represented through an oscillating subjective and objective narrative gaze in Julia Solomonoff\u27s film, The Last Summer of La Boyita (2009). With this coming-of-age story, Julia Solomonoff not only reflects on her own youth to recount her personal journey with femininity, but also tells a fact-based story of an intersex boy in conflict with his gender expression and his own body. Because this story is outside the writer-director\u27s personal familiarity, the narrative approach of The Last Summer of La Boyita effectively fluctuates in its level of subjectivity and objectivity in the interest of respectfully representing a sensitive subject without imposing her narrative voice as an outsider to the intersex experience. In interviews, Julia Solomonoff talks about how The Last Summer of La Boyita is based on her personal experience in her father\u27s ranch when she was a child, and mentions that Mario\u27s story is based on one of her mother\u27s patients. Because of this, I identify The Last Summer of La Boyita as a semi-autobiographical film that also takes on the responsibility of sensitively representing the experience of a young intersex person.
An intersex person is someone born with anatomy that does not resemble what is normally found in a male or female body, and can take various body forms that are not necessarily obvious from birth. Intersex is not a third sex or gender, and an intersex person is not necessarily considered nonbinary. It is important to understand that intersex people have historically faced medical discrimination and informational suppression for the purpose of denying their existence. The Last Summer of La Boyita demonstrates how the gender binary poses a disruption in gender expression for pre-teens universally by shifting between the filmic approaches of a semi-autobiography and an observational documentary—through this mix of narrative form, the film blurs the lines between a fixed, definitive definition, ultimately reflecting its thematic argument about gender expression itself
Stockton Air Quality Dashboard
No full textProblem: Neighborhood‐scale heterogeneity in air quality—driven by shading, surface albedo, moisture, and land use—is masked by city-wide monitors, and community perceptions of pollution hotspots are underreported. Background: Capturing spatial and social heterogeneity is critical to designing equitable adaptation measures for urban heat and air quality . Methods: We integrated: EPA daily PM₂.₅ & O₃ data (Jan 2022–Nov 2024), Three Arduino/PurpleAir PM₂.₅ sensors (Aug 2024–present), Three “egg” O₃ devices measuring O₃, temperature, humidity (Aug 2024–present), Visual Crossing temperature feeds and GIS layers (canopy, albedo). Data flows into a Power BI dashboard with spatial maps, time-series views, and “what-if” mitigation modeling. A street-intercept survey (N = 60) captures hotspot perceptions. Status/Key Insights: Dashboard and data model are fully implemented. Early spatial mapping reveals elevated PM₂.₅ zones near industrial corridors; community surveys show strong alignment between perceived and measured hotspots. Implications: This hyperlocal dashboard empowers stakeholders to prioritize adaptation strategies where they’ll yield the greatest public-health benefit
Injury Risk & Prevention in Soccer Players
No full textProblem: Lower-extremity injuries (ACL tears, ankle sprains) bench soccer athletes for extended periods, affecting performance and career prospects. Background: Standard screening tools lack specificity for soccer’s rapid cutting, sprinting, and landing demands. Methods: We instrumented 25 collegiate players with thigh- and shank-mounted inertial sensors (100 Hz) during cutting, jump-landing, and deceleration drills. Key metrics—knee valgus angle, asymmetry indices—were extracted and visualized in a Tableau dashboard co-developed with coaching staff. Status/Preliminary Outcomes: Dashboard prototype and drill protocols are finalized; initial feedback from athletic trainers indicates the system’s promise for real-time movement correction. A formal intervention study is in planning. Implications: Wearable-sensor feedback integrated into warm-up routines may offer a scalable approach to reducing non-contact injury rates in soccer programs
Myuphoria Festival Design
No full textMy original concept behind the name was to combine the captivating presence and storytelling of the muses in Greek mythology and merge it with the feeling of euphoria. My branding also ties into folklore and the seductive nature of sirens. The siren’s call becomes my own design language, incorporating seafoam textures—playing on the idea of a siren’s passing—with a warm color palette intentionally meant to be unconventional for imagery surrounding sirens. My work is based on the themes of wayfinding, mythology, and immersive design. This festival branding was purposefully designed to create a space where people can lose themselves and rediscover something new. The names listed on the setlist are all fictional and are similar to names of alternative rock/alternative pop bands and artists in the 90s. Instead of going down the illustrative route, I decided to play around with photo manipulation and strong typographic hierarchy to guide the audience/crowd around the festival grounds seamlessly. Wayfinding and signage aren’t just practical tools for the audience, but they are also an extension of their experience. In my mobile app design for Myuphoria, I prioritized a functional map for the festival-goer to refer to throughout the festival. Functions on the app include directions to the nearest water stations, medical station, food vendors, stages, bathrooms, VIP areas, lost & found, and accessible resting areas. These are all essential for a variety of festival-goers to get the most optimal care and be aware of all the resources they need just on their phone
California’s Climate Superfund: How SB 1497 Seeks to Hold Large Fossil Fuel Polluters Accountable
No full textAbstract: Speechmaster – AI-Powered Public Speaking Platform
No full textIntroduction
Public speaking is a skill universally admired by employers and individuals alike, but it is one that many people dread. Whether it\u27s a work presentation or a class project, nerves, filler words, or just feeling unprepared can get in the way. Most practice still happens in person. Traditional training methods are essential but often too infrequent, constrained by physical location, and lacking real-time, expert, and personalized feedback especially over the long term.
That’s where Speechmaster comes in: a simple, web-based platform that enables users to practice anytime, anywhere. Users receive quality feedback, track long-term growth through quantifiable metrics instead of subjective opinions, and harness the latest advances in AI to gain critical insights into how to improve their public speaking.
Method
Speechmaster is a platform that connects users through online video meetings using matchmaking. Once connected, the possibilities for what metrics can be measured and what insights can be derived from their interactions are endless.
Currently, Speechmaster uses a mix of smart tools to make learning smooth and effective. It relies on OpenAI Whisper to accurately transcribe recorded speeches, and Deepgram for live transcription when users want instant results. Once a speech is transcribed, AI models like GPT-4 analyze it—flagging filler words, rating fluency, assessing word variety, identifying tone, offering tailored suggestions, and more. Users receive clear reports showing how they’re doing and what to work on next.
The tech stack behind the scenes includes Node.js and PostgreSQL on the backend, and a frontend built with Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and TypeScript. Authentication and session handling are managed with Clerk to keep everything secure and user-friendly.
Expected Results
We expect users to walk away with real, data-backed insights into how they speak - insights they might not notice on their own. Users can gauge their progress using quantifiable metrics, replacing the mostly subjective and qualitative feedback of traditional methods. These metrics allow users to track growth over time, stay motivated, and pinpoint persistent weaknesses.
The AI feedback is fast, personal, and consistent, making high-quality feedback easy to obtain. Over time, the system will collect enough data to detect subtle patterns and deliver even more
personalized guidance. Plus, with a clean design and built-in progress tracking that feels more like a game than a chore, we believe users will stick with it—and even enjoy the process.
Conclusion
Speechmaster is about using modern tech to solve an age-old problem. Challenges like ensuring AI accuracy, handling user data responsibly, and managing costs are real - but common across platforms and solvable.
Currently, most public speaking training takes place in person, making it limited by location and offering few reliable ways to gather performance metrics. Our goal is simple: bring public speaking practice online, use the latest tech to measure performance, then deliver high-quality, tailored AI feedback from that data. Ultimately, this platform can help users improve their public speaking and feel more confident in their careers and personal lives
Password Analyzing Chrome Extension
No full textPassword security in the modern world is misunderstood by many despite it having a massive impact in our personal and professional lives. A study conducted by Forbes Advisor stated that “78% of individuals use the same password for more than one account. 52% use it for at least three accounts, and 4% use it on at least 11”. This means that if the password you are using is weak or happens to be found in a data breach, the consequences could be disastrous. One breached password could mean any number of other accounts you possess with similar information are vulnerable to being maliciously hijacked.
In order to help inform users of all backgrounds to the dangers of data breaches, I created a password analyzation tool that addresses the critical need for stronger password security. This was accomplished by developing a Chrome extension that evaluates password strength in real time and checks against known data breaches using the Have I Been Pwned (HIBP) API. Unlike basic password meters, this tool provides actionable feedback by combining complexity analysis with breach verification, while prioritizing user privacy utilizing Chrome\u27s Manifest V.3. The lightweight design and privacy-focused approach are meant to allow access to everyday users while adhering to enterprise-level security standards