Category: Spring 2022

Scholar Lunch

After a two-and-a-half year hiatus, we are delighted to announce the return of Scholar Lunch!

Come to the Bucher Room at noon. If you’re one of the first to arrive, you can have free pizza. The meal’s entertainment consists of five minute talks by representatives from majors and minors across campus. Speakers will take a single idea they learned from their major or minor coursework, explain it, explain why it’s useful or beautiful, and explain why they personally love it. Scheduled speakers:

  • Cameron Binaley, History
  • Jamison Hanson, Accounting
  • Shijo John, Software Engineering
  • Eli Koons, Business
  • Yashu Lanki, Math
  • Jacob Lilley, Communication
  • Kalani Miller, Song Nai Rhee Honors College
  • Meagan Mollahan, Psychology
  • Peyton Ritchie, Spanish

Bucher Room (view livestream here)

Noon – 1 PM

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Jasmine Aguilar

Rising from Rags to Riches

Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” poem is a piece of literature that has continued to be loved and recited by many despite being written in 1978. Metaphor criticism will be used to study how Maya Angelou used metaphors to convey her message. The metaphors in her poem were put into groups, which are nature, history, violence against her person, and expansive descriptions of herself. Speaking to people who held racial hatred in their hearts, Maya Angelou used these metaphors to confront their vision of themselves being rich and powerful by describing herself as rich with the gifts from her ancestors. Keywords: Maya Angelou, metaphors, rhetorical criticism

COMM 441, Rhetorical Criticism

Doyle Srader

L203

10 AM – Noon

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Jasmine Aguilar

A Campaign Gone Global

Student interest in study abroad is on a continuous rise, however the number of participating Bushnell students have gone down. To resolve this, a public relations campaign plan was specifically designed for the Bushnell Global Programs. The planning model used in the campaign plan was the R.O.S.T.I.R model, which stands for research, objectives, strategies, implementation, and reporting. Research was conducted by using peer-reviewed articles, textbooks, and comparing other universities’ programs. This information gathered was put into the campaign plan to support decisions made. The campaign plan is to be used by the faculty advisor of Bushnell’s Global Programs and the student global ambassadors as a yearlong plan and tool to promote the program and increase participation rates. At the end of the campaign plan, the faculty advisor and student global ambassadors can reflect on whether objectives were met and can continue to utilize the plan in the following years. Keywords: global programs, study abroad, public relations, campaign plan

COMM 499, Senior Capstone

Doyle Srader and Kelsay Rychener

PFB 003

2:30 – 3 PM

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Lydia Batenhorst

Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss: Themes of Deception and Death in Women’s Stories in the Hebrew Bible

In my capstone, I will be studying five women from the Hebrew Bible: Eve, Rebekah, Jael, Delilah, and Jezebel. What a fascinating group of widely upsetting and despised women! My objective is to explore how we might be able to redeem these characters, focusing on their strengths and other interpretations to provide a perspective that is contrary or new to the typical reading of these characters. In order to do so, I narrowed the lens, concentrating on the destructive themes of deception and death in these stories. For the first theme, I have chosen to focus on three women whose stories reflect the tensions of deception: Rebekah, Jael, and Delilah. For the second, two of the most despised women in the Hebrew Bible – Eve and Jezebel – will be analyzed through this theme of death. I believe this exploration will be worthwhile and important because their characters are often used – whether explicitly or implicitly, whether intentionally or unintentionally – to define and limit perceptions of women. By recovering and renewing their stories and roles, we are recovering the more positive portrayals and perceptions of women while challenging the largely negative common beliefs of and standard narrative for women that has been laid upon us, justified in the “deceitful, seductive, weak-willed, unreliable, temptress” narrative, portrayal, and interpretation of women likes these five.

ENG 499, Senior Capstone

James Watson

L203

2:30 – 3 PM

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Cameron Binaley

Preventable Catastrophe in Law Enforcement: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Siege Against the Branch Davidians and David Koresh

From February 28th to April 19th 1993, an event took place known as the Waco Siege. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) attempted to conduct a Siege and investigation into the religious cult known as the Branch Davidians and their fanatic leader David Koresh. This Siege ended with the death of four ATF Agents, Steve Willis, Robert Williams, Todd McKeehan, and Conway Charles LeBleu, and 76 Branch Davidians, 20 of which were children, 2 pregnant women, and their leader David Koresh. This event is often referred to as one of the biggest failures in recent law enforcement history, and rightfully so. However, I argue that the ATF did use Reasonable Force against the Branch Davidians on the basis of the Branch Davidians beliefs and illegal activity, the the information the ATF had on David Koresh and the Branch Davidian, and, Legal Aftermath of the Siege.

HIST 499, Senior Capstone

Melisa Ortiz Berry

P103

1 – 4 PM

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Taylor Bryant & Kylie Greenough

Engaging in Mindfulness During Conflict

This paper surveys literature pertaining to conflict and mindfulness as separate topics, as well as gives an overview of our study. This paper additionally includes preliminary results of the study that disproved our hypothesis stating that those who engage in the practice of interpersonal mindfulness will be more likely to achieve integrative outcomes during a conflict. The paper concludes by offering discussion for how these results are significant within the communications field and their application to our relationships. Furthermore, this paper is finalized by stating the limitations of this study and gives suggestions for how this study could be improved upon replication.

COMM 413, Advanced Interpersonal Communication

Doyle Srader

L203

10 AM – Noon

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Taylor Bryant, Chase Dean & Jacob Lilley

Loss Framed Persuasion in Registering for Classes

Through many experiences around Bushnell University’s campus a group of students sought to solve a problem that occurred. Many students weren’t registering for classes on time and this gave the Academic advisors some headache. So our collective team decided to step in and use different persuasion techniques to convince the student body that registering on time was important. The study that occurred was loss frame phrases and other means to see if this technique in this context would result in more students registering. Dean, Lilley and Bryant found that the data didn’t support this hypothesis.

COMM 450, Persuasion

L203

10 AM – Noon

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Faith Burgardt

Inattention in the classroom

Inattention in the classroom My presentation follows a first grade student at crew lane elementary. The student has trouble staying on task during independent work times. I looked at research related to this issue, which proposed multiple solutions to try. The research looked at check in check out systems, rewards systems, parent communication, and white noise. I was able to implement the check in check out and award systems, and proposed future research and implementation related to all areas the research suggested for solutions.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations and Management

Brian Kaelin

L203

10 AM – Noon

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Shay Coons

Applying Therapeutic Interventions to Build Resilience in Children from Homes At-risk for Abuse

Throughout history, with startling prevalence, children have faced maltreatment within family and home settings. Early intervention specialists have long emphasized the need to implement intervention programs highlighting the development of resilience, social-emotional skills, and improving the family dynamic. Therapeutic intervention strategies for children in homes at-risk for abuse may be effective in promoting resilience in children and predicting successful life outcomes. Thus, this presentation will review four research trends in therapeutic intervention strategies. First, resiliency is regarded as a protective factor for children at-risk for abuse. Next, researchers have highlighted the importance of developing social-emotional skills in children at-risk for abuse. Moreover, parental involvement in interventions for children in homes at-risk for abuse is of paramount importance. Finally, the impact of current interventions on children at-risk for abuse has shown promising outcomes. Children demonstrating features of resilience exhibited reduced perception of being threatened and lower states of anxiety. Intervention methods such as Child-Centered Play Therapy, focused on the development and improvement of social-emotional skills, have demonstrated a decline in externalizing negative behaviors. A holistic approach to intervention, involving parent education, is an important aspect of improving family dynamics in homes at-risk for abuse and preventing retraumatization. Current intervention strategies have demonstrated positive outcomes in promoting social-emotional skills and altering neural patterns for response inhibition among children at-risk for maltreatment. Future directions in research will be reviewed, including the need to explore developmental stage differences that could impact the effectiveness of particular interventions and ensure that they are developmentally appropriate.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

Bucher Room (view livestream here)

2:30 – 3 PM

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Chase Dean & Meagan Mollahan

The Effects of Willingness to Admit Wrongness on Romantic Partners’ Conflict Styles

Does humility and willingness to admit wrongness correlate with specific conflict styles between romantic partners? Researchers hypothesized that an individual’s high willingness to admit wrongness may have been correlated with the compromise, separation, and/or submission conflict styles. Researchers also hypothesized that an individual’s low willingness to admit wrongness may have been correlated with the domination, avoidance, and/or interactional reactivity conflict styles. The Norris Rotation was used to recruit participants. Participants were given the Willingness to Admit Wrongness scale, as well as the Romantic Partner Conflict Scale. Researchers found very weak correlations among admitting wrongness and each conflict style.

COMM 413, Advanced Interpersonal Communication

Doyle Srader

L203

10 AM – Noon

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Zach Fuller

Combatting Technology in the Classroom

What are some concrete strategies to help alleviate technology use in the classroom? I looked at this because in my practicum placement, I noticed a lot of students distracted on technology. I wanted to research techniques and strategies that helped alleviate any sort of distraction. I found two concrete strategies that can work. One is a prevention and the other a during strategy. I know this is a constant problem in our world, especially as we become technology reliant.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations and Management

Brian Kaelin

L203

10 AM – Noon

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Miriam Gutierrez, Bethany LaFon, Kilano Loyd, Alvaro Molina, Peyton Ritchie & Hannah Scott

Contemporary Latin America: Critical Issues

Events and movements in the 21st Century have replaced the stereotypes commonly associated with Latin America: revolutions and coups, slums and poverty, burros and llamas.  Instead, the two-hundred year long experiment with democracy in the global marketplace has resulted in dramatic changes in politics, economics, religion, social relations, education, and the arts and literature. A panel of students will update significant changes and discuss the critical issues facing the region.

HIST 440, Latin American Civilization

Ron Palmer

P103

10:30 – 11:30 AM

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Carina Haas

How can we be more connected within the church?

The student was interested in creating an event on how people can feel more connected within the church. An event was created at One Love Church where people can learn more about communication and have a time of getting to know one another and connect with one another.

COMM 499, Senior Capstone

Doyle Srader

PFB 003

2 – 2:30 PM

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Carina Haas & Bethany Taylor

Are Mindful People More Loving and Kind?

Is mindfulness correlated with loving-kindness and compassion? Researchers used the Norris Rotation to recruit participants. Participants used the Loving-Kindness Compassion Scale and Mindfulness Scale. The researchers discovered that there is a moderately positive correlation between the two factors.

COMM 413, Advanced Interpersonal Communication

Doyle Srader

L203

10 AM – Noon

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Jamison Hanson

Why did a Christian college in Eugene build a hospital in the 1920’s?

Bushnell University (Eugene, Oregon) was first founded as a “divinity school” in 1895 and strategically adjacent to the University of Oregon. The founder and first president of the Eugene Divinity School, Eugene Sanderson, conceived of the concept that Christians and churches should utilize the best aspects of a state school to supplement and support Christian education. The Eugene Divinity School, founded in part by Sanderson, would undergo its own history with name changes, mergers, and financial survival in the early 1930s to become Northwest Christian College, Northwest Christian University, and now Bushnell University. The establishment of the Divinity School is linked to a larger Christian movement often called the “Restoration Movement” that developed its own denominational heritages, namely, the Disciples of Christ and Church of Christ.  This research project was funded by the Council of Independent College (CIC) in a program called: Humanities for the Public Good. The purpose of this research is to see the coordination of benevolence and healing in this specific community from various Christian organizations and histories. From this purpose, various questions surfaced that helped to drive the research. This project is based upon the following questions: Why did the Christian college in Eugene Oregon, build a hospital in the 1920s?  What was the context, its motivation, and goals? What was the result?  Why and how was the hospital sold in 1936? To answer these questions, the researchers:

1)    Searched archives at both Bushnell University and at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene, Oregon

2)    Surveyed existing secondary literature about Bushnell University and Sacred Heart Hospital

3)    Gathered of primary materials from these archives including catalogs, Board of Trustees Notes/minutes, interviews, letters, notes, and photographs.

CIC Research Grant

Brian Mills

Bucher Room (view livestream here)

10:30 – 11 AM

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Brosnan Johnson

Periodontal Disease and Periodontistry

The primary cause of tooth loss is periodontitis. Close to 50% of the adult population has a form of periodontitis or swelling of the gums due to bacteria lying just beneath the surface of the gums. Oral health is important to the general health of a person and it is the first line of defense against diseases and other bacteria entering the body. Dental caries can lead to adverse health effects and can even be the cause of death. Dental disease can also cause and be caused by stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. Periodontistry is a field that has been around for a long time to help combat this. Periodontists can do a myriad of procedures in order to help prevent gum recession and bone loss as well as other signs of periodontistry. Hygienists can also help prevent periodontitis by performing procedures such as scaling and root planing. Periodontistry is a vital role in keeping the mouth healthy and also the body overall.

BIOL 499, Senior Capstone

Paul Allee

L203

2:30 – 3 PM

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Priscilla Kennedy & Anthony Wurst

Start The Day In Prayer

TBA – pending team conference. Sketchbook:

If you have been to a Tuesday Chapel Service, chances are you saw our team making an announcement encouraging the student body to start the day in prayer. If not that, hopefully you saw some of our signs on the bulletin boards around campus. This was an engineered & measured persuasive campaign. In our presentation, we will be sharing the results of the campaign, what we wished we could have done differently and what we thought went well. Please stop by our booth to find out about the social science theories we employed in executing this campaign and discuss the campaign with us. We hope that you were encouraged in your faith by our campaign!

COMM 450, Persuasion

Doyle Srader

L203

10 AM – Noon

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Jordan Kuykendall

Relationship between Genetics and Personalities

Genetics and personalities, two very interesting topics that could very possibly have correlations and a relationship with each other. Understanding how genetics plays into personality disorders is another aspect that does not go deep into detail mainly because there is not enough research around the subject. The biggest aspect of genetics that plays into one’s personalities is the nature versus nurture aspect. The environment that someone is surrounded by during the developmental stages of their lives play the biggest role in the idea of genetics and personality disorders. There are ten different personality disorders that are typically related to the environmental aspects of genetics. However, not enough information has been discovered to determine if there is actually a correlation between genetics and personalities, but it is currently being looked into and further studied and maybe in future years the idea of genes correlating with personality and personality disorders will probably be deeper in understanding and further the knowledge of the possibilities.

BIOL 499, Senior Capstone

Paul Allee

L203

2:30 – 3 PM

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Grace Larkin

Strategies to reduce off-task behavior

When a student(s) is constantly moving around in their seat due to not being able to sit down for long periods of time, and can only sit still for about five to ten minutes before switching into a new seating position. As a teacher, you would want to be able to find effective tools/strategies that can reduce off-task distractions. As I was in my practicum I observed one student that would be constantly moving after five to ten minutes. This not only caused a distraction to their learning as well as for the students around them. As I gathered all the information that I needed, I decided to research what are some effective tools/strategies that could help reduce these off-task distractions. As for my presentation, I will be incldiung the following: the problem statement, research, the proposed strategies, the results, and how I would implement them in my future classroom. I will also be including a little background information as well.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations and Management

Brian Kaelin

L203

10 AM – Noon

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Hannah Lemly

Chronic Absence in Oregons Secondary Education Classrooms

How can we decrease chronic absences in Secondary education classrooms? I was in South Eugene High School this last term for my practicum. During this time, many students were absent most of the time, and this was a reoccurring issue in the whole school. In all of our classes. The question I asked myself is why are these chronic absences happening? I found that this has been a long-standing issue with Oregon. The research shows us most of the time this is due to systemic oppression issues. Some ways to decrease this issue are resource referrals for state services and trauma-informed teaching.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations and Management

Brian Kaelin

L203

10 AM – Noon

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Alex Locati

The Danger of Difference and How Teachers Can Cultivate Success

Teaching is historically a profession dominated by white, middle-class, women from rural towns. As the diversity of the United States population continues to increase, so does the need for teachers and educators to respond to and accommodate the learners of these different cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds that appear in their classrooms. Currently, there is a gap in academic performance between different groups of students, and it is important that we address this issue. White, Black, Hispanic, boys, and girls should all have an equal opportunity for a quality education that prepares them for their future. Ignorance and avoidance of differences between teachers and students can cause issues and create a hindering learning environment where students are not able to receive the help they need. In the context of a student-centered learning environment, this research focuses on how teachers can use culturally responsive pedagogy to understand how to address the needs of all students in their classrooms, and in Oregon specifically. Through the culturally responsive practices of differentiation, meaningful relationship, and continuing education and training, teachers can learn how to best approach their student’s learning and consequently, serve the achievement gap in Oregon.

IDS 499, Senior Capstone

Brian Mills

L203

3 – 3:30 PM

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Eric Marbley Jr.

The Impact of Retirement on Athletes’ Mental Health

American adults nearing retirement may experience mental health struggles. Specifically, in professional and collegiate sports many athletes are not prepared for the mental health challenges they will encounter when it is time to step away from their sports. Athletes who are near retirement may experience poor mental health surrounding diverse factors. Thus, this presentation will review four research trends regarding the impact retirement has on athletes’ mental health. First, many factors contribute to the mental health struggles of athletes in retirement. Next, athletic injuries play a substantial role in retired athletes’ mental health. Moreover, when athletes retire from their respective sports a loss of identity may take place. Lastly, athletes may be reluctant to seek help due to the stigma surrounding mental health in the sports setting. These variables may exist because of the lack of preparation not solely by the athlete but by the athlete’s support system as well.  Collegiate athletes have extremely full schedules with schoolwork and game preparation. Researchers have found that retired athletes reported greater depressive symptoms than active players. This may be due to the fact that retired athletes are more open to sharing their mental health status and thus, mental health professionals are more aware of the retired athletes’ mental health challenges. Future directions in research will be reviewed, including the need to further explore the impact that mental health may have on athletes’ ability to perform while playing their sports, and to have a clearer understanding of how to care for athletes in retirement.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

Bucher Room (view livestream here)

2 – 2:30 PM

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Taylor Matychuck

How can schools support ELL students in the general education classroom

My research question is how can schools help ELL students in their general classroom. I focused mainly on the math subject and explained how students are disengaged in their learning and are struggling more their the other peers. I did some research to find how we can support those students. That includes developing and accomindating our lessons to better the students. I found solutions, but I was not able to implement my solutions because the school already had them in place!

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations and Management

Brian Kaelin

L203

10 AM – Noon

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Emily McDonald

Inattention In The Classroom

In this presentation, I will be discussing the research and implementation behind assisting students who display off task and inattentive behavior during class time. I will focus specifically on a student that I observed who struggled mostly during independent work time. With the research, I view the topics of positive reinforcement, implementation of token economy, utilizing more active learning and creating a sense of pet therapy. Each of these solutions worked well with the student and improved their attention to their work in a positive way. The results from the research are something that I will use in my future classroom as well.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations and Management

Brian Kaelin

L203

10 AM – Noon

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Kalani Miller

A Law of Love: The Use of ἐντολή in the New Testament

I will present a basic word study of the use of ἐντολή in the New Testament. Then, I will break down the Old and New Testament separately to analyze where it is most used in each and what that can teach us. Finally, I will conclude with some theological and practical applications.

GRK 302, Advanced Elementary Greek

Dennis Lindsay

Bucher Room (view livestream here)

10 – 10:30 AM

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Kalani Miller

Rewriting History: Spiritual Beauty in the Modern Church

I will give a brief explanation of the spiritual discipline “Visio Divina” and how it was used throughout history in the church. Then I will apply this discipline to the modern church, and I will conclude with how this can benefit the health of the church.

BTM 407, Special Topics: Spiritual Formation

Joshua Little

Bucher Room (view livestream here)

1 – 1:30 PM

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Meagan Mollahan

US College Student Vulnerability to Suicidality

American college students are experiencing increasing mental health challenges. Specifically, suicide is the second leading cause of death amidst college students. Multiple factors impact the mental health of college students and may lead to their increased vulnerability to suicidality. Therefore, this presentation will review four research trends concerning factors that escalate college students’ suicidal ideation. First, depression and sense of burden are prominent in contributing to risk of suicidality. Equally important, fear of rejection and lack of belonging perpetuate desires to isolate and withdraw from society and life altogether. Moreover, minority students face greater stress and vulnerability to suicidal ideation than their Caucasian or heterosexual counterparts. Lastly, negative coping strategies escalate suicidality, while positive coping strategies have the potential to encourage resilience. Regardless of whether the perception is true, students with depression are more likely than non-depressed students to perceive other people as viewing them as a burden, better off dead. The more an individual avoids their emotions, and isolates themself, the greater their sensitivity to being rejected. They feel unwanted and alone. Minority students face even greater emotional distress and may feel unsafe in college solely because of who they are, leading to higher suicidality risk. In an attempt to escape overwhelming emotions, students commonly turn to alcohol and other substances; but for many, these practices only increase distress and suicidal ideation. Future directions in research will be reviewed, including the need to explore ways to reduce the stigma of suicide and mental health struggles in men.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

Bucher Room (view livestream here)

1:30 – 2 PM

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Rebecca Potts

What Do You Do When a Student Wants to be Your Best Friend?

What Do You Do When a Student Wants to be Your Best Friend? In this research project, I will explain specific strategies on how to eliminate the behavior of one student who is perpetually chatty and asking questions that have nothing to do with instruction. This student has also faced trauma, so the aim is to find strategies that are trauma-informed and based on research. Strategies that will be included are effective classroom management, one-on-one conversations to eliminate problem behaviors, and the use of check-in check-out systems.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations and Management

Brian Kaelin

L203

10 AM – Noon

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Taylor Quirk

The Impact of Trauma on Emotion Development in Childhood

Throughout history, children have been subjected to diverse traumas in their homes by their parents, caregivers, and “trusted” adults. Experiencing these traumas can hinder a growing child’s development in their emotion regulation, their attachment styles, and their mental health. Experiencing trauma may impede emotion development in children and adolescents. Thus, this presentation will review four research trends in childhood emotion development impeded by trauma. First, children may be subjected to betrayal trauma in their own households, most often by their mothers. Next, domestic violence trauma in childhood predicts concurrent co-morbid mental health disorders. Moreover, children experiencing sexual abuse trauma have been linked to developing insecure or disorganized attachment styles. Finally, experiencing trauma in childhood is negatively linked with children’s emotion regulation development. Maternal betrayal trauma and negative parenting styles are revealed in the psychological and emotional distress which these children experience at home. Early exposure to household violence and intimate partner violence is likely to derail children’s emotional well-being. Children experiencing sexual abuse have been associated with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, along with psychological challenges and distress. Emotion regulation is a common concern found among children experiencing diverse traumas. Future directions in research will be reviewed, including the need to explore parent education regarding building a healthy and nurturing environment for children so they may be provided with safe and encouraging emotional growth in the face of life’s challenges.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

Bucher Room (view livestream here)

3 – 3:30 PM

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Benjamin Randol

Martin Luther: The Political Reformer

Most people know Martin Luther as the instigator of the Reformation whose ideas forever changed Christian theology and practice. However, few people realize the magnitude of influence that Luther’s ideas had on contemporary Western European politics, specifically, Luther’s doctrine of “Two Kingdoms”. In fact, Luther’s “Two Kingdoms” was the most politically revolutionary doctrine during the Reformation for a few reasons. First, Luther’s “Two Kingdoms” directly challenged the authority of the papacy, the leading governmental and religious body in all of Western Europe at the time. Second, Luther’s “Two Kingdoms” also challenged many sacramental laws instituted by the Roman Catholic Church. Lastly, Luther’s “Two Kingdoms” doctrine was one of the first to advocate for the distancing between religion and politics that eventually led to the political practice of separation between church and state.

HIST 332, History of Christianity

Melisa Ortiz Berry

P103

1 – 3 PM

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Benjamin Randol

The Greek Historian and the Persian King

Herodotus was one of the first and most famous historians in all of human history. His nine-book series, “The Histories” goes over a vast span of Near Eastern history. Specifically, Herodotus’s accounts detail the history of Ancient Greece and the Persian Empire, as well as the subsequent Greco-Persian Wars. Herodotus also discusses influential figures and leaders during these times. One figure, in particular, is Persian King Xerxes I. However, The Histories’ veracity is questionable considering that Herodotus drew most of his historical accounts from interviewing witnesses or descendants of witnesses, all of whom have their own opinions about history. In actuality, Herodotus’ portrayal of King Xerxes in “The Histories” is inaccurate and unreliable for many reasons. First, Herodotus’ account of Xerxes is heavily biased as Herodotus was Greek and despised the Persians who invaded his homeland on multiple occasions. Second, contemporary accounts such as Thucydides’ historical accounts and the Book of Esther disprove Herodotus’ claims about Xerxes and question his methods of research. Lastly, historical and archaeological evidence further contradicts Herodotus’ claims about Xerxes.

HIST 370, Ancient Near East

Melisa Ortiz Berry

P103

1 – 3 PM

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Samantha Silver

Concerns Facing Mental Health Awareness for Student-Athletes

Mental health awareness for student-athletes stood out to me for my capstone because of the hopelessness I heard from other athletes and the frustrations that were voiced by athletic directors and athletes alike. This catapulted me into the creation of my capstone which focused on the importance of mental health awareness in our student-athletes at Bushnell University. Many students had voiced that they felt pressure to perform so much so that it caused crippling anxiety and fear that if they made a mistake they would instantly be pulled from their sport. This carried over into their lives and made it so they felt as if they were not allowed to show weakness, or voice that they were struggling with something happening in their lives. When faced with depression, anxiety, or other issues that presented themselves instead of getting help the student-athletes would try to ignore it and push the issue to the back of their minds. To the athlete, this was easier than taking on the fear of being seen as weak or feeling the pressure to be perfect. The way I designed this project was based on interactions with some of the teams on campus. I met with these teams three times over the course of this semester. The focus of the meetings was to ensure that they were aware of the many mental health support networks that we had on campus and what they thought could be improved. From these meetings I was able to learn that there are more stereotypes surrounding different teams than most people realize. Having these come to light and be addressed would be a huge stepping stone in helping some of these athletes take the next step in receiving help for their mental health struggles. Some of the teams were difficult to get in contact with or they did not respond because of their busy schedules. In the future, I would like to have a powerful hand like the athletic director possibly step in and have all the coaches and teams participate. The hope would be to have all teams from Bushnell University cooperate. This would make it so that bigger steps could be taken in the future and the topic of mental health awareness among student-athletes be taken more seriously.

COMM 499, Senior Capstone

Doyle Srader

Bucher Room (view livestream here)

11 – 11:30 AM

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Aspen Slifka

How Can Teachers Reduce Hallway Distractions in Elementary School?

This project introduces the problem behavior that takes place in hallways in elementary schools. I will discuss possible solutions to reduce noise levels and unwanted behaviors while walking through hallways. My focus is in second grade while opening up solutions to elementary grades grades through a Timely Transition Game, guided practice, and reteaching methods.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations and Management

Brian Kaelin

L203

10 AM – Noon

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Harmony Stevens

Limiting Browser Distractions

This research project looks at the study of a student who was consistently off task with their computer when they were supposed to be on academic sites. This project looked at ways to prevent behaviors like this from happening and how I went about solving this problem in my own classroom. The research consisted of many peer reviewed strategies and evidence to back up my thinking.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations and Management

Brian Kaelin

L203

10 AM – Noon

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Jordan Strehlow

A Lesson Learned

Kyle Martin delivered his valedictorian address, titled “The 16th Second,” during the King’s Academy Graduation on May 30th, 2019. His statement was brutally honest and had such a powerful impact on the audience that it went viral across multiple social media platforms. Using Herbert A. Wicheln’s Neo-Aristotelian criticism to examine Kyle Martin’s speech, it was revealed that the speech was effective because of how canons were presented in his speech, as well as his audience, who place great importance on their accomplishments rather than their relationships.

COMM 441, Rhetorical Criticism

Doyle Srader

L203

10 AM – Noon

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Jordan Strehlow

Exploring Christian Couples’ Marriages

A great deal of research has been conducted regarding the effect of religion on marriages and satisfaction in marriages. However, little research has been done to analyze the effect that reading the Bible has on a marriage. Based on previous research on religion and marriage satisfaction, I hypothesized that participants who read the Bible more times a week will be more satisfied with their marriage. The study’s findings revealed that there was a weak correlation between reading the Bible more times a week and marriage satisfaction.

COMM 499, Senior Capstone

Doyle Srader

PFB 003

3 – 3:30 PM

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Melissa Swick

Homelessness and Opioid Addiction

An opioid epidemic is raging in America, a crisis that has steadily increased since 2000. At the same time, the number of people experiencing homelessness and opioid addiction has also increased. Individuals with a history of homelessness are at increased risk for opioid addiction. Thus, this presentation will review four research trends that examine opioid abuse and being homeless in America. First, there is a critical relationship between homelessness and opioid use disorder (OUD). Second, chronic pain contributes significantly to OUD in people who experience homelessness. Third, treatment programs for OUD in people experiencing homelessness vary in their success rates. Fourth, there are many barriers to successful treatment of OUD for people experiencing homelessness. The rates of opioid abuse in people who experience homelessness are almost three times higher than for those who are housed. Researchers have discovered that people who experience homelessness are at increased risk of OUD because they have higher rates of chronic pain than people in the general population. Managed opioid programs may result in improvements in the health and social well-being of people who experience homelessness. There are numerous barriers, however, to treatment adherence for people who experience homelessness. Future directions in research will be discussed, including the need to explore the impact of the opioid epidemic on individuals who live in small towns or rural areas and experience homelessness.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

Bucher Room (view livestream here)

3:30 – 4 PM

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Bethany Taylor

Chef Doesn’t Love You Back

As an ideological critic, I found that the 2004 commercial created By Chef Boyardee titled “Rolling Can”  was used by the company of Chef Boyardee to convince young girls that one must eat high-calorie ravioli to avoid experiencing loneliness.

COMM 441, Rhetorical Criticism

Doyle Srader

L203

10 AM – Noon

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Jenae Usselman

How does a teacher engage secondary education students in the classroom that don’t want to participate?

During student teaching I have addressed a classroom management problem that has been occurring. In the high school class that I observed there was a massive engagement issue. I observed the antecedent of the lack of engagement and the consequence of the behavior. I took this data and did research on how to engage students in the classroom. My presentation will follow what the problem is, proposed strategies and the implementation of those strategies.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations and Management

Brian Kaelin

L203

10 AM – Noon

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Anthony Wurst

Death Penalty Appeals

Have you ever wondered what death row inmates can do to appeal their sentences? Have you ever wondered what it is like for a death row inmate to go through the process of appeals? Are you curious about the process by which death row inmates appeal their sentence in Oregon state? If so this would be a good talk for you. Using the  one of teh most heinous current inmates as a backdrop, we discuss the situational, organizational and environmental context of death row appeals. We will discuss two particular appeals in some depth. We identify and offer a solution for the most significant problem currently associated with death row appeals. The entire talk is designed to facilitate discussion, so it would be great to have your input. Please come and bring your questions. This might be fun 🙂

CJ 210, Introduction to Criminal Justice

Brian Humphreys

P103

3 – 3:30 PM

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Anthony Wurst

Enuma Elish v Genesis: A Lesson From The Maori & Alutiiq

It has been asserted by some that Genesis owes compositional influence to the Mesopotamian creation epic, Enuma Elish. This talk will argue that the unbiased interpreter of evidence would be more convinced that the two creation epics are divergent editions of a shared memory. In support, we explore the historical & logical grounds for the assertion of inter-influence as well as expert opinion on the issue. This essay culminates in an exemplary model of recording a shared memory from indigenous peoples of the Pacific Rim. Taking these together reveals bias in the trend of modern scholarship on the issue.

HIST 370, Ancient Near Eastern & Mediterranean Civilizations

Melisa Ortiz Berry

P103

1 – 3 PM

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