Minnesota State University, Mankato
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From Pata Pata to Come Back, Africa: Miriam Makeba and Her Fight Against Apartheid, 1953-1990
No full textPerhaps one of the most notorious periods in African history was that of Apartheid – a system of racial, political, social, and economic discrimination placed upon the non-white majority of South Africa. Beginning in 1948 and lasting until the early 1990s, Apartheid marked a significant transformation in not only African liberation movements but also those happening across the globe, including the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. While the efforts to overcome Apartheid and empower the overall messages of African liberation and solidarity are well-documented, there are several methods of achieving these goals that have been unfortunately overlooked. Figures such as Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko have become synonymous with the fight against Apartheid in the political and judicial spheres, but one incredibly effective sphere has remained somewhat shrouded in the background: music. During Apartheid, a woman by the name of Miriam Makeba used her music to spread messages about black South African community and resilience while simultaneously reflecting on the struggles of black South Africans among the discrimination and oppression they were experiencing. This project’s purpose is to analyze and discuss Miriam Makeba’s role in the Anti-Apartheid Movement through the lens of her music and acting career, and it will cover the Anti-Apartheid Movement as a whole using a variety of sources, including films, journal articles, documentaries, and more
Environment Mapping and GPS-Based Trailer Parking Using Low-Cost Peripheral Sensors and Post-Processing Algorithms
No full textThis paper explores the merit of software data optimization through two practical examples: environment mapping & GPS navigation
Volume 61, Issue 1, 2025 Speaker & Gavel
No full textComplete digital issue (Volume 61, issue 1, 2025) of Speaker & Gavel
Volume 61, Issue 1, 2025 Speaker & Gavel Front Matter
No full textFront matter and table of contents for Volume 61, Issue 1, 2025 of Speaker & Gavel
“Look Good, Act Good”: Tipping, Emotional Labor and the Feminization of Restaurant Work
Get PDFRestaurant work is a sector of the labor market that many Americans interact with, whether through being a patron or an employee. Service work accounts for a large portion of economic activity in the US. Restaurant work specifically has been feminized, on account of women being seen as a cheaper workforce starting in the 20th century. This research analyzes the intersections of gender and labor in regards to restaurant work. I investigate how emotional labor and feminization play a role in how women service workers understand they must perform to receive tips. How does feminization play into work performance (based on the perception of workers)? Are feminine tipped workers expected to perform more emotional labor? I collected data using semi-structured interviews conducted over Zoom. My argument is that the feminization of restaurant work leads women servers to perform emotional labor and alter their appearance in order to secure higher tips. Themes discovered through data analysis were gender and tipping, sexual harassment and the feminization of emotional labor. Through this research, I hope to have brought visibility to service workers and their experiences
Exploring Academic Writing Development through Reflective Reading Response Journals: A Case Study of First-Year Composition Multilingual Students
No full textThe article explores how weekly reading-response journals (RRJs) as a self-reflective practice enhances first-year composition (FYC) multilingual students’ academic writing (AW) development. Using Bowen’s (2009) document analysis framework combining components of content analysis that include analyzing words and texts in documents (Bryman, 2003) and thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006), the case study examines 11 FYC multilingual students’ semester-long weekly RRJs along with three phases of reflections on those written artifacts. Additionally, the study analyzed a 5-minute-long individual in-person conference to provide further insights into the students\u27 experiences and learning processes throughout the semester. The findings indicate that the weekly RRJs in FYC class significantly contribute to enhancing foundational AW skills, specifically facilitating multilingual learners\u27 cognitive, metacognitive, linguistic, citation, and content knowledge and fostering reflective writing habits among them. Based on the findings, the study suggests providing enough space for actual reading instruction with a careful selection of reading texts addressing diverse learners’ backgrounds since it leverages critical evaluation of learners’ own thoughts and experiences, leading to more nuanced and insightful reflections. Additionally, it is recommended that students’ reflective writing practices be ascertained by offering constructive feedback to enhance reflection quality
Comparative Study of Robotic and Manual Welding in A Low Volume-High Mix Manufacturing Environment: Case Study of Lift Ring
Get PDFA comparative study of robotic and manual welding in a low volume high mix manufacturing environment focusing on a truck body part named the lift ring to see if there is a benefit of incorporating robotic welding into the production line. By utilizing predetermined time studies such as Methods Time Measurement 1(MTM-1) and Maynard’s Operation Sequence Technique (MOST) in conjunction with normal time and motion study to see which method of time study can be used to extrapolate the times of production for higher number of parts. MTM-1 and MOST were used for a detailed time and motion analysis which were then used to evaluate the efficiency and cost implications and feasibility of incorporating a co-bot welder to execute the tasks of an experienced human welder. Necessity to do the cost analysis and comparison of the co-bot is understanding of the additional cost related to robotic welding such as the fixture costs which include the design cost and fabrication cost, the programming costs, and the common welding costs. The MTM-1, MOST and normal time study was performed, and it was found that MTM-1 is closer to actual in the case of Manual welding, and MOST is closer to the actual time in case of Robotic welding. With the average welding process times used for the cost analysis, the robotic welding breaks even in less than 16 days with the daily working hours being 6. If the robotic welding process is optimized by 5%, the break-even will be in less than 10 days, and if it is optimized by 10% , the break-even will be less than a week
These Lyrics but it\u27s the opening of a Ted Talk - A Public Speaking Activity Inspired by TikTok
Get PDFThis activity encourages students to practice delivery skills in a fun and laid-back way that connects to social media. This activity can be used in-person or online and is intended for public speaking, oral/interpersonal communication, and introductory theatre classes. Based on content creator Madeleine Chalk’s “These lyrics but it’s the opening of a TED Talk” videos, students will deliver song lyrics as if they were giving a TED talk. In doing so, they will practice delivery skills such as eye contact, vocal variety, and body language. After the activity, students will debrief on the mechanics of delivery, audience engagement, and real-life applications
The Shelburne Line Allowed up to 200 Airmen to Get Back to England to Fly against Nazi Germany
Get PDFThe Shelburne Line, facilitated by Military Intelligence, Section 9, was something like the American Underground Railroad, but in this case, it was developed during the waning days of World War II to help evading or escaping aircrew to get back to fly against the Nazis. Wherever the airmen went down, they were first housed in Paris, then were accompanied to a small town in Brittany, where a BBC announcement would alert the helpers to start conducting the airmen to “la maison d’Alphonse” atop a Nazi patrolled promontory. From that house, they would have to descend a steep cliff, wait anxiously for oarmen in smaller vessels, and then get into a larger ship, and back to Dartmouth. In silence and in stealth and risking the lives of everyone concerned they escaped to fly again. This is their story