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The (Quorum) Call is Coming from Inside the House: Incongruity Between the Current Interpretation of the Quorum Clause and the Supreme Court’s First Congress Canon
No full textSince the start of the twenty-first century, Congress members have faced more threats to their safety than at any other point in American history. Up to this point, none of the attacks have been successful in killing a majority of the members. However, such a prospect comes with the possibility of a reality where all Congressional action is stalled until replacement elections are held and new members are seated. In order to address this fear, Congress has changed its interpretation of the Quorum Clause to define the majority needed to conduct business as the majority of the members who are chosen, sworn, and living–rather than requiring the majority of members compared to the total number of seats in each house. But, as the Supreme Court continues to provide opinions deferring to the intentions of the drafters and the First Congress, will this modern reading of the clause survive judicial review? This Note explains why Congress’ position on the Quorum Clause is an unreliable attempt to safeguard our nation’s legislative body during a continuity of government crisis, and why changes need to be made to the modern meaning of quorum
On “Self” Care
No full textThe dominant answer to popular calls for self care in everyday discourse is a thriving eleven billion dollar industry. The self care economy encompasses workplace wellness programs, consumer goods and services, and entrepreneurship. This infrastructure revolves around commercial consumers and providers and advances through conceptions of health and well-being centered on individuals.
Despite their prevalence, the concept and provision of self care have gone underexamined in legal critiques of societal underinvestment in care. This Article fills this gap by exploring the social construction of the dominant contemporary conception of self care in the United States, one that continues to be construed within a solely individualized framework. Within this model, individuals’ encounters with care appear to arise in a vacuum— both in how care needs emerge and how care needs are addressed.
This Article focuses on self care ideology’s intersection with work. The workplace has come to play an important role in shaping and producing the dominant paradigm of self care. Workplaces commonly offer what are intended as self care supports to workers. The economic sector also includes workplaces constituting the “care” industry supporting self care. When focused on work, we see that care needs individuals experience do not arise uniquely in reference to the self but arise substantially from relational dynamics. Conversely, care provision for the self relies on a range of relationships. Importantly, relationships driving self care need and provision are shaped by power dynamics rooted in racial, gender, and economic inequality.
These insights point toward legal and policy reform that more directly addresses the underlying care needs of workers (both those who work in “care” industries and those who do not), instead of relying on ideology and practices focused solely on individuals engaging in “self” remedy. Mainstreamed concepts of self care serve as a paradigm example of a societal tendency to place responsibility of care on the individual. The discourse of self care transforms the labor and responsibility of addressing society-wide risk into an act of individual nurture. When focused on the workplace, we see the role that the predominant model of self care plays in perpetuating workplace and workforce inequalities and rendering invisible racial, gender, and economic inequalities. A better way to help workers would be to support their needs directly, by addressing relational dynamics in the workplace and providing broader supports for worker care
Mechanistic Investigation of Ring-Opening Polymerization of Polycaprolactone Using Tin(II) Catalysts: Ligand Effects and Biomedical Applications
No full textThis research explores the mechanistic aspects of ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (CL) to produce polycaprolactone (PCL), a biodegradable polymer widely used in biomedical applications. The study investigates how light exposure and catalyst concentration influence polymerization efficiency, using tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate [Sn(Oct)₂] as the catalyst in a non-polar toluene solvent at 90 °C. Reactions were conducted under either ambient light or black light bulb (BLB) illumination, with monomer-to-catalyst ratios of 1:1 and 200:1.
Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy was used to analyze conversion efficiency by tracking the disappearance of monomer signals and appearance of characteristic PCL peaks. Results revealed that near-complete conversion was achieved after 22 hours under both lighting conditions, with little difference observed between BLB and ambient light. However, reactions at shorter time points (5–10 hours) showed incomplete conversion, suggesting that time is a significant factor in achieving high yields. Catalyst concentration also played a major role; reactions with a 1:1 monomer-to-catalyst ratio reached completion more efficiently than those at 200:1.
These findings demonstrate that Sn(Oct)₂ is an effective ROP catalyst across a range of light exposures and concentrations, with catalyst loading and reaction duration being the most critical factors. This work contributes to the growing body of knowledge on biodegradable polymer synthesis, providing insights that can improve the scalability and consistency of PCL production for biomedical applications, where precise control of degradation rate and polymer characteristics is essential
Latitudinal Gradients in Arctic Willows and Their Effects on Stream-Riparian Systems
No full textExtreme warming in the Arctic due to climate change presents the opportunity to study rapid changes to ecosystems and their potential resilience. Willow (Salix) shrubs form the base of many Arctic riparian ecosystems, and they have increased in height and range as temperatures have warmed. The effects of warming on willows could alter riparian ecosystems and neighboring streams, so understanding how climate change will affect willows is integral to understanding how the stream-riparian meta-ecosystem might change. I used data from the EvoME Institute to compare willow canopy cover above Arctic streams along a latitudinal transect and investigate how changes in above-stream canopy cover and stream characteristics affect benthic primary production. Above-stream canopy cover increased at higher latitudes, but relationships between benthic chlorophyll a and canopy cover, latitude, or stream characteristics were not significant. These results suggest that increasing temperatures may decrease willow canopy cover above streams despite increased willow heights. Changes in willow height and shading above streams will likely have bottom-up effects on riparian and stream ecosystems, as well as altering the trophic subsidies between the two, although further study is needed to understand the effects of changing canopy cover on stream primary production
Awareness of Parental Trauma History and Intergenerational Trauma in Second Generation Trauma Survivors
No full textThe relationship between awareness of intergenerational trauma and engagement in preventive health screenings for pre-diabetes, diabetes, and hypertension among second and third-generation Cambodian, Lao, and Vietnamese trauma survivors was explored through survey using Chi-Squared and Fisher Exact tests. The analysis aimed to determine whether trauma awareness influences participation in health screenings. Primary analyses revealed no statistically significant association between trauma awareness and preventive health behaviors. However, secondary analyses highlighted the importance of parental health status, the quality of the parent-child relationship, and generational status in shaping health behaviors. Individuals aware of their parents\u27 health conditions were more likely to engage in screening, regardless of their trauma awareness. Additionally, generational differences were observed, with later generations exhibiting varied screening behaviors based on their trauma awareness. Third-generation individuals showed higher rates of diabetes screening, and hypertension screening was significantly linked to generational status in those not aware of trauma. These findings suggest that familial relationships and generational influences play a more prominent role in preventive health behaviors than intergenerational trauma awareness alone. The study underscores the need for trauma-informed health education and public health interventions that incorporate family health and trauma history and relational dynamics to promote preventive care in at-risk populations
Assessing Leadership in Business: A Critical Investigation of Jeff Bezos
No full textUnderstanding what makes a good leader is a topic of ongoing interest in the practice of business. Research to-date has distinguished between being a manager and being a leader and also has established a set of principles to consider in assessing leadership. In this thesis, I draw upon principles of leadership, including emotional intelligence; vision creation; inspiring others; leading in good and difficult times; fostering, developing, and recognizing others; and creating a winning culture to offer a critical assessment of Jeff Bezos as a leader within the business arena
Students on the Move: Assessing Intercultural Competence of American Study Abroad Sojourners in Japan and Korea
No full textFirst Amendment Protection Under Connecticut’s Free Speech Statute: Inconsistent Interpretations and Disappointing Results
No full textConnecticut has taken unique strides in safeguarding employees’ constitutional rights by granting private employees the same First Amendment protections offered to public employees. However, the definition of “discipline” adopted by most courts permits employers to punish employees for exercising their free speech through non-affirmative acts like retracting promised promotions and bonuses. The absence of a clear, universal definition of “discipline” creates uncertainty for employees and employers, undermining the protective purpose of Connecticut’s free speech statute. This Comment argues that if or when the Connecticut Appellate Court takes up the issue of defining “discipline” under Connecticut General Statutes Section 31-51q, the state’s free speech statute, the court should adopt the minority middle-ground interpretation to balance the interests of employees and employers as the statute intends