Academic Festival Schedule of Events

May 3, 2006

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Palamountain 200

“A View From the Other Side: Working in a Community-Based English Language Learners Program”

Faculty Sponsor: Lenora de la Luna, Education

Presenters: Julia Raufman ’06-Awarded the Sonja P. Karsen Prize in Spanish, Jessica Harris ’06, Emily Lessem ’06

This presentation will focus on the collection and analysis of life history narratives of Latino immigrants enrolled in the English Language Learners Program in Amsterdam, New York. We will present what we have learned, regarding the experiences we have had interning at an ESL program and tutoring Latino immigrants.

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Palamountain 303

“Three Approaches to Victorian Literature and Culture”

Faculty Sponsor: Catherine Golden, English

Presenters: Leah Langsam ’06, Melissa Rampelli ’06-Awarded the E. Beverly Field Women’s Study Prize, Molly Ryder ’06

This panel brings together three senior thesis presentations exploring different aspects of Victorian literature. Positing an original typology of space, Melissa Rampelli explores a woman’s search for viable physical and metaphorical space in the work of Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Kate Chopin, and Mary Wilkins Freeman. Molly Ryder contrasts George Eliot’s innovative creation of architectural spaces in Middlemarch to Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park and Charles Dickens’s Bleak House. And Leah Langsam explores the notions of raving madness and subtle nervousness in the work of Charlotte Brontë, arguing that Brontë’s work intuits the work of Freud and psychoanalytic theory at the end of the nineteenth century and informs a reading of Gilman’s and Woolf’s presentations of madness in “The Yellow Wall-Paper” and Mrs. Dalloway, respectively.

9:00 AM – 12:00 AM Ladd 206

Philosophy Senior Capstone Event

Faculty Sponsor: Philosophy Department

Presenters:

Nicholas Faso ’06 - “A Study in the Social Ontology of Jean-Paul Sartre”

My project focuses on Sartre’s theory of intersubjectivity as it is presented in “Being and Nothingness.” My project analyzes the validity of Sartre’s methodology and theory.

David Kahan ’06 - “Kierkegaard, Freedom, and Entelechy”

Soren Kierkegaard provides a Christian Existential structure of the self that is both derived from God and fundamentally rooted in two kinds of freedom. In order to exist authentically, the self must inwardly transform its freedom from a freedom of choice into an entelechy that seeks a return to God.

Zachary Dorfman ’06 - “Epistemelogy and Ontology in Mipham’s Yogacara-Madhyamaka: A Reexamination of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy”

My project is centered on Jamgon Mipham’s nineteenth commentary to Shantarakshita’s “Adornment of the Middle Way,” a seminal seventh-century philosophical text that expounded the Yogacara-Madhyamaka philosophical tradition. Yogacara-Madhyamaka attempts a synthesis between the two major schools of Indo-Tibetan philosophical thought. It describes appearances and the nature of knowledge and perception in terms of the Yogacara, or idealist school, and the ultimate nature of existence from the Madhyamaka, or Middle Way School. Yogacara-Madhyamaka has long been subordinated to other philosophical schools in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. I argue that Yogacara-Madhyamaka has important and convincing arguments vis-à-vis other Buddhist philosophical schools, and that it is an important addition to the growing discourse on Indo-Tibetan philosophy.

9:00 AM – 12:00 AM Dana 171

Environmental Studies Capstone Event

Opening Remarks: Environmental Studies and the Water Resources Initiative

Josh Gerritsen ’06, Adam Wallace’06 - “Natural and Human Influences on the Saratoga Lake Watershed: A Photographic Analysis”

This project used photography to explore the natural and human influences on the Saratoga Lake watershed. Starting at the headwaters of Kayaderosseras Creek and ending at the Saratoga Lake outflow at Fish Creek, this exhibition provides a visual context for understanding the competing interests that affect the surrounding watershed. 

Katie Bronson ’06, Cortlandt Toczylowski ’06

“Evaluating FEMA Flood Map Methodology and the Implications of Flooding and Land Use on Water Quality”

This project explored the methodology used to develop the 100 year FEMA flood map for the Saratoga Lake watershed and characterized land use patterns within this floodplain.  We also assessed the possible influences of land use in the floodplain on the water quality of Saratoga Lake.

Allison Gillum ’06, Allison Stafford ’06-Awarded the Joseph Garrison Parker Prize

“Channelization in the Saratoga Lake Watershed”

Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and field measurements, we determined the total length of streams in the Saratoga Lake watershed that have been channelized. While we found only approximately 5% to be channelized, primarily for transportation and industrial use, we discuss how these alterations could cause potential problems for the watershed.

Ted Cavan ’06, Christina Hanley ’06, Kate Sherman ’06

“Boating and Fishing on Saratoga Lake: Stakeholder’s Perceived Threats to Future Recreation”

Saratoga Lake is one of the top recreational destinations in the capital region.  Our study focused on analysis of 15 semi-structured interviews of residents with a stake in boating and fishing activities on the lake. Findings include shared concerns about threats to recreation despite the lack of communication among stakeholders.

Katie McClanahan, Christina Schull ’06

“Cultural Perceptions of Non-Native Species in Saratoga Lake”

We explored cultural perceptions of milfoil, water chestnuts, zebra mussels, and other pervading non-native species in Saratoga Lake and surrounding wetlands. We conducted open-ended, semi-structured interviews with 15 informed individuals. Respondents reported both support and opposition for non-native species. We report on patterns of management, recreation, water quality, and ecology.

Mary Dunham ’06, Emily Voldstad ’06, Leanna Westfall ’06

“Effect of Zebra Mussels (Dreissena Polymorpha) on Turbidity”

This study assessed how zebra mussels, an invasive species in Saratoga Lake, impact turbidity, which is a measure of water clarity. We also discuss interactions among zebra mussels and other invasive species and show how these relationships affect water quality in Saratoga Lake.

Elizabeth Brier-Rosenfield ’06, Elizabeth King ’06

“Impact of the New Water Pricing Structure Across Various Residential Economic Sectors in Saratoga Springs”

This study assessed the impact of Saratoga Springs’ new water pricing structure on water use in residences of varying household income. We found little change in water use habits and found that only residents from the highest economic bracket reported significant increases in their water bills.

Caroline Bergelin ’06, Jennifer Marks ’06

“Recreation, Economic Status, and Proximity to Saratoga Lake: Saratoga Springs Residents’ Views of Municipal Water Sources”

We used a survey to examine Saratoga Springs residents’ views of proposals to develop new municipal water sources. Analysis of survey data shows that recreational activities, household economics levels, and varying distances from Saratoga Lake influence how individuals value Saratoga Lake as a key aspect of environmental and social sustainability.

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM Dana 165

“Research and Analysis of Local Food Systems”

Faculty Sponsor: Robert Jones, Economics

Presenter: Michael Kramer ’06

Explore the abundance of “local” food resources at your fingertips via a student-created database of “local” farms in a 100 mile radius of Skidmore College. First and foremost, the database was created to be used for assessing the local availability of foods for Skidmore’s Dining Service. Second, we hope to make this research accessible to socially-responsible citizens who are eager to support the region’s local farmers.  

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Tisch Learning Ctr 201

Sociology Senior Research Presentations

Faculty Sponsor: Sociology Department

Gillian Connell ’06 - “Why is Everybody Picking On Me? A Study Exploring Factors Influencing Blacks’ Perceptions of Racial Discrimination”

This study examines factors that might influence perceptions black Americans have of racial discrimination: Income, Sex, and age. The findings of this study suggest that America’s future looks bright – blacks will perceive less racial discrimination as time progresses.

Emily Mastellone-Snyd er ’06-Awarded The Everett V. Stonequist Award - “Who Thinks They Can Save the World? How Education, Race, and Class Affect Feelings of Environmental Empowerment”

This study analyzes how education, race, and class affect who feels they can “do something” about the environment. Education is the most important factor in environmental empowerment, and the data suggest the environmental justice movement still has a long way to go to empowering minority communities to take environmental action.

Katherine Largo ’06 –Awarded the Rautenberg Prize Sociology - “Love and Money: The Relationship Between Resources and Emotional Abuse”

This presentation will explore findings from my Senior Seminar in Sociology research project on how resources such as employment, salary, and education affect emotional abuse experienced in intimate partner relationships.

Tamara McEwan ’06 – “Active Citizenship: How Does Confidence in the United States Government Affect the Willingness of Americans to Participate Politically”

This study examines the relationship between confidence levels in the United States Government and the willingness of Americans to participate politically. Using data from the 2002 General Social Survey, this research attempts to discover if a decrease in confidence in the American government is partially to blame for the increasingly political apathy of modern Americans.

Aaron Tester ’06 – “The International Development Controversy: Can Ending Poverty Be a Bad Thing?”

I examine the relationship between foreign direct investment, GDP per capita growth and the ratio of women’s income to men’s income with three dependent variables: national poverty rates, international poverty rates and human development index scores. I hypothesize as GDP per capita growth goes up, poverty rates will decrease, and human development scores will increase. I also hypothesize that as rates of foreign direct investment go up, poverty rates increase, and human development index scores go down. Finally, I hypothesize that as women make more money relative to men, poverty rates will lessen, and human development index scores will increase. The first two hypotheses are confirmed, and the third is discomfirmed.

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM Tisch Learning Ctr 302

“Cross-Strait Relations: An Issue of Sovereignty”

Faculty Sponsor: Roy Ginsberg, Government

Presenter: Ken Olmstead ’06-Awarded the Henry T. Moore Prize in Government

Beginning in Fall of 2005, I have been writing an honors thesis for the Government Department on the conflict between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China on Taiwan. The thesis gives a history of the relationship between the two powers and a theoretical discussion of the ramifications the conflict has on international affairs. Finally, the last chapter of the paper is a scenarios-building exercise in which three likely possibilities for the direction of the conflict are described and discussed to help the reader further understand the various aspects of the conflict. The main thesis of the paper is that the current international system based on state sovereignty as a building block of international relations must be rethought to settle this issue peacefully. My presentation will summarize the findings of the paper and a discuss of the theoretical basis of my conclusion.

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Bolton 281

“Three French Students: A Panel”

Faculty Sponsor – Marc Andre Wiesman, French, Foreign Languages & Literature

Hope Newhouse ’06 –Awarded the Lynne L. Gelber French Award - “War’s Music in Giraudoux’s ‘No Second Troy’”

I analyze the theme of rhetoric and music in Jean Giraudoux's "La guerre de Troie n'aura pas lieu," "No second Troy." The play criticizes a particular type of speech and twisted logic that persuades human beings that war is inevitable and even good for them. Giraudoux discusses this dangerous patriotic discourse in terms of a music that invades consciousness and creates a "moral drunkenness," whereby extreme violence becomes acceptable. I also examine how the major translator of the play from French into English has dealt with the complexities of Giraudoux's language in the passages where music, rhetoric, and music appear. In this aspect of my discussion, I use my work on translation theory I undertook last semester to assess the merits and effectiveness of the English translation.

Faculty Sponsor: Hedi Jaouad, French, Foreign Languages & Literature

Rachel Demmond ’06 – “Transposition d’Art dans La Fille aux Yeux d’Or: Une Approche au Recit Balzacien par la Peinture Orientaliste de Delacroix”

This thesis project analyzes the ekphrastic qualities of Balzac's novel La Fille aux Yeux d'Or, which was dedicated to the romantic painter Delacroix. The work identifies two Orientalist paintings by the artist that are evoked in the narrative through the technique of scenes-tableaux: Femmes d'Alger dans leur appartement (Algerian women in their apartment), which was exhibited at the Salon the same year the novel was published, and La Mort de Sardanapale (The Death of Sardanapalus), which exemplifies many 19th Century preconceptions about Eastern cultures. In addition to scenes-tableaux, Balzac constructs extensive portraits of the two main characters, Henri De Marsay and Paquita Valdes, which recall elements of the paintings. Femmes d'Alger situates Paquita's role while La Mort de Sardanapale explains the exceptionality of Henri and the transformation he undergoes over the course of the narrative. Balzac ultimately exhibits more elements of the earlier painting, La Mort deSardanapale, which corresponds more precisely to the exotic and violent fantasy of the novel, evident in the extreme final scene of carnage.

Faculty Sponsor: Patty Han, French, Foreign Languages & Literature

Elisabeth Pierce ’06 – “Deconstructing Baudelaire’s Paradoxical Misogyny”

My thesis explores the poetry of Charles Baudelaire. Baudelaire is often criticized for the explicit misogyny that characterizes many of his poems. I have looked closely at several of these works to examine WHY he so brutally objectifies women and to show how the misogyny in his poems is actually used to reflect duality in a much larger sense. In the presentation of my thesis, I plan to deconstruct specific poems in which women are murdered or objectified and explore apparent and subtle contradictions which allude to the larger issues of good v. evil.

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Kettlewell Print Study Room, Tang Museum  

“African Body Arts at the Tang”

Faculty Sponsor: Lisa Aronson, Art & Art History

Presenters: Paul Adler ’07, David Baron ’06, Allison Condo ’06, Alyssa Crouse ’06, Gavet Douangvichit ’07, Heathr Gray ’06, Caitlin Hinz ’06-Awarded the S. Michael Eigen Prize, Kirstin Hoffman ’08, Jessica Horowitz ’07, Sabrina Mashburn ’06, Audrey Ngeow ’07, Blaise Niosi ’06, Cristina Tramutola ’06, Summer Wies ’07

The fourteen students in Professor Aronson's African Body Arts Seminar (AH375F) have been researching works of African art from the Tang Museum. The assignment asked that they research their particular piece(s), write a descriptive and contextualizing "museum" label that talks about they way(s) in which the piece(s) either enhance, represent, or support the body in some way. The end product will be a catalog or web-site to showcase their research. 

9:30 AM – 11:30 AM Sports Center 201

Exercise Science Senior Thesis Presentations

“Hungry AND Obese? An Investigation into the Impact of Federal Food Programs on Food Insecure Families Suffering From Obesity”

Faculty Sponsor: Jeffrey Segrave

Presenter: Hilary Keasling ’06

This thesis will present the causes and consequences of the hunger and obesity paradox and the role that Federal Food Programs play in this issue. Further discussion will include approaches that needed to solve and eventually end this problem.

“Tortoise or the Hare? Which is Better for Insulin Sensitivity, Glucose Tolerance and Inflammatory Cytokines?”

Faculty Sponsor: Paul Arciero

Presenters: Benjamin Clippinger ’06, Thomas Spinella ’06, Eryn Relyea ’06, Danielle Bonitatibus ’06

This study shows changes in blood sugar metabolism (glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity) and blood markers of blood vessel inflammation (cytokines) following an acute bout of endurance (E) exercise (45 minutes) and sprint interval (SI) exercise (five 30 second “bursts” for a total of 2-3 minutes of all-out cycling exercise).

“Acute Changes in Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Height in Response to Cycling and Running”

Faculty Sponsor: Patricia Fehling

Presenters: Hillary Goldfarb ’06, Adam Palombo ’06

Research has indicated that the spinal column shrinks over the course of a day. Studies measuring the pressure generated inside the intervertebral discs of the spine have shown that walking and cycling-like postures generate substantially more pressure than either sitting or standing alone. When the pressure inside these intervertebral discs is consistently high for extended periods of time, accelerated degeneration of the structure can take place and impair the function of the spine. One such example of this impairment is frequently referred to as low back pain and has one of many origins in the shock-absorbing spinal structure. Certain types of exercise may be detrimental to the shock-absorbing structure of the spine. The purpose of this study is to compare the acute changes in total spinal column height, specifically the lumbar spine, as a result of single bout of either; running, cycling, or weight lifting.  

“Impacts of Motivation on Physical Performance: How Being Primed to be Autonomous or Control Motivated Effects Anaerobic Performance”

Faculty Sponsor: Patricia Fehling

Presenter: Ian Connole ’06

This presentation provides a unique incorporation of physiological and psychological research with the goal of improving athletic performance. My study examined how different types of motivation affect individuals’ anaerobic performance and self-perceptions. It demonstrates how autonomous motivation improves anaerobic capacity (muscular power, endurance and many psychological factors).

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Tisch Learning Ctr 301

“Modern and Contemporary History Symposium”

Faculty Sponsor: Matthew Hockenos, History

Presenters: Amanda Ingram ’06, Katie Hallaran ’06, Patrick Casey ’06, Nick Roose ’06

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM Palamountain 301

“Presentation of a Senior Thesis on Jorge Luis Borges: The Argentine Writer and Argentina”

Faculty Sponsor: Regina Janes, English

Presenter: Jessica Harris ’06

My thesis is a reevaluation of the works of the Argentine author, Jorge Luis Borges. Borges represents two distinct traditions in his works: European and Argentine. This thesis, specifically, focuses on Borges’ restructuring of the Argentine literary tradition through his complex sense of nationality and his myth of his city – Buenos Aires.

“The ‘Changing Same’ in the Fugees’ ‘The Score’”

Faculty Sponsor: Mason Stokes, English

Presenter: Katie Sauer ’06

My senior thesis uses the rap group “The Fugees” album entitled “The Score” to examine the way that various forms of African American expression remain grounded in the black vernacular tradition while constantly evolving. I examine LeRoi Jones’ essay “The Changing Same” and use Jones’ concept to explore “The Score.”

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Palamountain 200

Education Department Senior Capstone Event

“Education Department Senior Capstone: The Efficacy of Family Literacy Programs”

Faculty Sponsor: Donna Brent

Presenter: Lisa Groat ’06

This presentation took a comprehensive look at family literacy in the United States. I researched its components, focusing on what family literacy programs look like and how they help participants. I discussed how a program in a more affluent community would differ from a community which is economically depressed. I then looked at three specific programs in the United States and compared them. I finally synthesized my research to combine the most successful components of family literacy programs to create my own program, which I could run for parents of students in grades K-2 in a community like Saratoga Springs.

“Behavioral Intervention Programs in Elementary Classrooms with Limited Resources: A Critical Examination of Past Research and Suggestions for Classroom Teachers”

Faculty Sponsor: Donna Brent

Presenter: Sara Wilkinson ’06

This project will present a senior thesis written for the Education Department, answering the following research question: What type of behavioral intervention program would be most effective for a general education student in a school district with limited resources? My poster session will include definitions of key terms, a brief critical analysis of prior research in this field, and conclusions about the most effective interventions based on research and analysis.

“Corporal Punishment in Schools: Culturally Sensitive Approach to Alternatives”

Faculty Sponsor: Donna Brent

Presenter: Zachary Rolf ’06

My Education Department thesis was inspired by a teaching experience in January 2006. My presentation looks at the effects of corporal punishment and suggests alternatives. I also examine different cultures and the role corporal punishment plays in schools.

“Morning Programs: A Comparison of School-Wide vs. Classroom Programs”

Faculty Sponsor: Donna Brent

Presenter: Lauren Henegan ’06

I examine classroom meetings and morning programs in the elementary school for their community building benefits as a forum for character education, their effectiveness in problem solving, and their associated pitfalls. I provide a suggested Morning Program curriculum, as well as student interviews on feelings towards both classroom meetings and morning programs.

10:00 AM – 12:00 AM Palamountain 202

Management & Business Capstone Event

Faculty Sponsor: The Department

10:00 – 10:30 Jennifer Ireland ’06

“Making Money in the Minors: Factors Affecting Attendance in Minor League Hockey”

10:30 – 11:00 Brendan Murray ’06

“Social Accountability and the Corner Office: An Empirical Investigation of the Relationship Between Corporate Social Performance and Corporate Governance Structures”

Although corporate boards of directors are responsible for overall corporate strategy, there is little academic research regarding the relationship, should one exist, between corporate boards of directors and corporate social performance. This study aims to determine if certain corporate governance structures are more conducive than others to positive corporate social performance.

11:00 – 11:30 Jamie Sands ’06

“Does it Pay to be a Family Friend? An Empirical Examination of the relationship Between Alternative Work Arrangements and Organizational Performance”

This research investigates the relationship between family-friendly benefits (FFBs) and organizational performance. In this study FFBs include telecommuting, flextime, job sharing and compressed workweeks. Thirty firms listed in the Business Review’s Best Places to Work list provided the sample for studying this relationship. Data on the existence of FFBs as well as return on assets and return on equity were gathered through telephone interviews with company representatives. Correlation analysis suggested that telecommuting had a correlation with both ROA and ROE. These findings fill a gap in the literature on a specific type of human resource benefits.

11:30 – 12:00 Althea Koburger ’06

“Crossing Borders: Issues Facing American Expatriates in Japan and Japanese Expatriates in the United States”

This thesis project studies the different adjustment issues facing expatriates from Japan and the United States. The purpose was to identify whether adjustment issues are affected by culture or whether they are universal. Taking Japan and the United States as culturally diverse nations, expatriates from these two countries were studies to evaluate this idea.  

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Dana South Corridor

“CH372 Capstone in Chemistry Student-Faculty Collaborative Research”

Presenter: Alyssa Bennett ’06

Faculty Sponsor: Steven T. Frey

“Kinetic Analysis of AAP Encapsulated in Synthetic LDH Clay Using 1-Leucine-p-nitroanilide”

Presenter: Jaclyn Boulais ’06-Awarded the Charlotte W. Fahey Prize

Faculty Sponsor: Michelle W. Frey

“Enzyme Purification of Vibrio fischeri Membrane Associated Metalloprotase”

Presenter: Cynthia Cheung ’06

Faculty Sponsor: Judith A. Halstead

“Single Microwave Digestion for Determination of Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorous in an Aqueous Environmental Sample”

Presenter: Erika Entinger ’06

Faculty Sponsor: Shannon Stitzel

“Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Metal Ion Sensing Application”

Presenter: Megan Gingrich’06

Faculty Sponsor: Michelle W. Frey

“Column Chromatography: Continuation of the Purification and Isolation of a Novel Metalloprotease from V.fischeri”

Presenter: Kristin Massingham ’06

Faculty Sponsor: Steven T. Frey

“Characterization of [Ru(typy)(bpy)dmso]2+ Exchanged Hectorite and Laponite Clays by Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy”

Presenter: Leanna Westfall ’06

Faculty Sponsor: Judith A. Halstead

“Determination of the Trophic State of the Kayaderosseras Creek”

10:45 AM – 11:30 AM Palamountain 303

“The Aesthetics and Limits of Language in T.S. Eliot’s ‘Four Quartets’”

Faculty Sponsor: Rajagopal Parthasarathy, English

Presenter: Christopher McVey ’06-Awarded the Sally Chapman Thompson Prize

This presentation will investigate the religious, musical, and textual sources of T.S. Eliot’s “Four Quartets,” as well as the evolution of its critical reception. The study argues that Eliot is a far more subversive writer than the critical establishment frames him to be, synthesizing the Western literary canon with Eastern Indic traditions. Eliot’s meditation on linguistic determinism anticipates and Derridean “difference” The presentation considers the various “gaps” and “margins” of the work which critics have thus far ignored, as well as how Eliot anticipates postmodern nostalgia for narrative structure.

“William Blake and Eye”

Faculty Sponsor: Sarah Goodwin, English

Presenter: Anna Raup-Kounovsky ’06

The eye is everywhere is William Blake’s poetry. This visual and textual presentation will follow the eye’s shift from closed faculty to visionary instrument. We will begin with an eye that is closed off from the world, and end with a type of unexpected sight that permeates the body.

10:45 AM – 11:30 AM Tisch Learning Ctr 302

“What’s The Matter With Ohio?”

Faculty Sponsor: Ron Seyb, Government

Presenter: Emily Martin ’06

Ohio politics is not dominated with the three G’s – God, guns, and gays. Moral values do not trump economic interests. The Democrats did not lose in Ohio because of gay mariiage. The Democrats lost because of their decentralized party structure and lack of unity – a struggle that has plagued the party for decades. There is hope in Ohio, and a Democratic realignment is not entirely out of the question.

“Why the Democrats Swept the Republicans In Saratoga”

Faculty Sponsor: Bob Turner, Government

Presenter: Eric Hyers ’06

Through a post-election survey of random voters and interviews with candidates, campaign workers, and party officials from both parties, I will show that not only do campaigns matter in local, low-information elections, but that in 2005, the Democrats swept City Hall because they ran better campaigns than the Republicans.

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Bolton 281

“From Trash Talk to Sexing the Brain: Approaches to Political Thought, Sports, and Science”

Faculty Sponsor: Adrienne Zuerner, Women’s Studies

Presenters: Sarah Berheide ’06, Sarah Kunz ’06, Graham Daley ’06, Molly Greenberg ’06

This interdisciplinary panel features the work of four seniors whose research incorporates feminist methods and perspectives to examine how gender operates in various fields of inquiry. Studying key texts of Hobbs and Locke, Kunz offers a critical reading of foundational concepts such as individualism and consent. Bringing politics forward to the contemporary period, Greenberg looks at the implications for public health policy of the unfolding debates over reproductive rights. Drawing upon participant-observer, Berheide analyzes the ways in which female intercollegiate athletes perform femininity on and off the field. Finally, Daley reviews the state of current neuroscientific research on gender, taking up the controversy sparked by Larry Summer’s infamous comments about women’s abilities in math and science.

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM Bolton 282

“Altar of Art, Science, and the Enlightenment: The Eighteenth Century Toilette”

Faculty Sponsor: MaryJill Hellman, Art & Art History

Presenter: Michael Kramer ’06, Alyssa Crouse ’06 (Model)

Come smell the scents that once perfumed the royal courts of Europe. Watch as scented powder, recreated from 18th-century recipes, flies though the air upon the head of a lady at her toilette. “La toilette”, as the dressing ritual was called, was a major part of every aristocratic man and woman in the 18th Century, thus combining science, art, technology, medicine, and etiquette in startling ways. If you are interested in the history of the Enlightenment, fashion, makeup, or medicine, this presentation is a must-see.

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM Tisch Learning Ctr 208

“I Have to Come Well Dress’: Refashioning Cholita Identity in Cochabamba”

Faculty Sponsor: Michael Ennis-McMillan, Anthropology

Presenter: Alexis Shenfil Smart ’06

My research is based on intensive interviews with seven chola women “Chola” is a term used in Bolivia to describe women who wear a pollers (layered skirt), a symbol of their mixed indigenous heritage. I examine how chola women, who have migrated to the city of Cochabamba, are reinforcing their indigenous identity through the use of fashion. In doing so, they challenge existing stigmas. “Lla chola” women redefine themselves as both indigenous and modern. 

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM Pohndorff Room, Scribner Library

“Stepping Back Into Victorian Life”

Faculty Sponsor: Catherine Golden, English

Presenters: Nicolette Brody ’08, Hayley Brown ’08, Brooke Cohen ’09, Adam Epstein ’08, Ashley Grossman ’08, Ondriona Monty ’07, Heather Moore ’08, Elisabeth Pierce ’06, Jessica Samph ’06, David Steinberger ’09

This semester, the LS2H course “The Victorian Illustrated Novel” installed a display in the Lucy Scribner Library cases on Victorian life. Each case represents a significant facet of life as Victorians knew it. The installation showcases Victorian dress, food and drink, leisure activities, and the role of religion and death in Victorian society. We used images from the Skidmore rare book collection, as well as various ornaments and artifacts, each having its own caption or description, to demonstrate the ways in which Victorians shaped their identity and social roles.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Palamountain 301

“Anthology: A Class-Inflected Inquiry”

Faculty Sponsor: Janet Casey, English

Presenters: Justin Coyne ’06-Awarded the Edwin M. Moseley Prize, Caitlin Hinz ’06, Kate Marantz ’06, Gloria Fortun-Menor ’06, Michael Levine ’07 Awarded the Denise Marcil Prize, Jayme Quinn ’06

Inspired by an innovative final project/assignment in Janet Casey’s class Literature, Class and Culture, our project is centered on a belief in the importance of class-inflected cultural inquiry. We will explore the complexity of issues (commercial, critical, etc.) surrounding the creation of anthologies through both theoretical discussion and the presentation of our own anthology proposals.

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM Dana 165

“Deformation of Impact Craters on Terra Cimmeria: Looking at Evidence for the Origin of Magnetic Lineaments on Mars”

Faculty Sponsor: A. Matias, Geosciences

Presenter: Doug Herbst ’06

Interest in Mars piqued in the 17 th-Century, and since then the study of impact craters on Mars has helped scientists understand the composition and geologic history of the planet. I have analyzed impact craters as possible indicators of tectonic and/or volcanic activity related to the origin of magnetic lineaments on Mars.

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM Sports Center 201

“Obesity in America”

Faculty Sponsor: Patricia Fehling, Exercise Science

Presenter: Jonathan Brestoff ’08

To health authorities, obesity is an epidemic in America. Industry lobbyists, however, are aggressively countering that claim and have caused some confusion as to the health implications of obesity. This presentation seeks to clarify the obesity debate and reveal some important conclusions from leading researchers in the health field.

11:45 AM – 12:30 PM Tisch Learning Ctr 301

“The Third Crusade and Historical Relativism”

Faculty Sponsor: Erica Bastress-Dukehart, History

Presenters: Karden Rabin ’06, Eben Miller ’06

This is a presentation of two senior theses that examine the dramatic events of the Third Crusade. One focuses on the application of anachronistic concepts to Richard the Lionheart and their historical consequences. The other analyzes how meaning is applied to these events by medieval and modern writers. The purpose of this presentation is to reveal how this narrative has evolved throughout time as a result of historical and cultural changes.

12:15 PM – 12:45 PM Sport Center Lobby

“Changes in Hemostatic and Inflammatory Responses with Exercise in the Heat in Normally Trained and Highly Trained Men”

Faculty Sponsor: Denise Smith, Exercise Science

Presenters: Mikayla Nemes ’06-Awarded the Paulding Prize (Exercise Science), Alexandra Harding ’06, Anne Ledyard ’06, Melanie Cyr ’06

Our senior thesis in exercise science, which was completed in the fall semester, this project is an extensive investigation of the effect of exercise in the heat on several hemostatic (blood clot formation and breakdown) and inflammatory markers, which involved all aspects of the research experience (from subject recruitment, testing and data collection, to data analysis, a written thesis, and an oral presentation).

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM Dana South Corridor

“Chemistry in the News: CH106H Chemical Principles II Honors Poster Presentation”

Faculty Sposnor: Michelle Frey, Chemistry

Presenters: Carolyn Chapp ’08, Lauren Chen ’09, Alicea Cock-Esteb ’09, Robert Hill ’09, Sabrina Kliman ’09, Kristin Knopf ’09, Jessada Mahatthananchai ’09, Caitlin McDonold ’09, Benjamin Rauch ’09, Brian Taggart ’08

The posters in this presentation are researched and designed by the Honors Chemistry students in the Chemical Principles II Honors course and will cover a range of topics of current interest in Chemistry and Biochemistry. Topics include PFOA, fireworks, recycling of styrofoam by bacteria, and synthesis of novel inorganic complexes.

12:30 PM – 1:00 PM Bolton 282

“Identifying Micrococcus Luteus Using Methods of Staining, Microscopy, and the Evolutionary Conservation and Alteration of Genes and Expression”

Faculty Sponsor: Sue Van Hook, Biology

Presenter: Jonathan Betz ’09

This poster presentation demonstrates the process of unknown bacterial species identification using common laboratory techniques in molecular biology. Throughout the course of several weeks, many relatively simple experiences were conducted, the results of which culminated in the ultimate identification of the bacterial species as Micrococcus luteus.

12:30 PM – 1:00 PM Davis Auditorium

“A Spectrum of Student Films”

Faculty Sponsors: Tom Lewis, English,

Donna Brent, Education

Presenter: Dave Brown ’07

Since taking Tom Lewis’ EN105 documentary class my freshman year, I have been filming, editing, and producing documentary films every semester. I am now the EN205 documentary film tutor. The films I have made so far have all been shorter than 15 minutes and range significantly in topic. The titles of the four films are “Sweat the Drops: The Skidmore Cycling Story – Still Fighting Again – Through the Slipstream”, “ S.A.V.E” “23mm”; “Skidmore in Antigua”  

12:30 PM – 1:00 PM Dana Atrium

“Effects of the Zoo Environment on Behavior of Captive Golden Lion Tamarins (Leotopithecus rosalia)

Faculty Sponsor: Monica Raveret-Richter, Environmental Studies

Presenter: Emily Voldstad ’06

Behavior of captive Golden Lion Tamarins, or Leontopithecus rosalia, may be influenced by exhibit size, access to the outdoors, quantity of foliage, visitor traffic, and the social composition of the group. Environmental enrichment of zoo exhibits can enhance the health and wellbeing of captive tamarins and prepare individuals for re-introduction into wild populations.

12:30 PM – 1:00 PM Dana 165

“’Turbid’ Waters of the Kayaderosseras: Human Caused or Glacially Influenced?’

Faculty Sponsor: Kyle Nichols, Geosciences

Presenter: Erin Black ’06-Awarded the Roy T. Abbott III Memorial (Geology)

In order to determine whether residential and commercial development has a significant impact on turbidity in the Kayaderosseras Creek Watershed, we measured stream discharge and turbidity at eight locations during the fall of 2005. Results showed that development does not have a significant effect, whereas the percentage of cultivated land does.

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM Gannett Auditorium

“Safaris, Slaves and Spice: A Multimedia Presentation”

Faculty Sponsor: Gerald Erchak, Christopher Whann, Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, Government/UWW

Presenters: Kibuchi Banfield ’08, Hayley Brown ’08, Allison Clark ’08, Mai-leen Colon ’06, Asja Culpepper ’07, Licelot Eralte-Mercer ’06, DeniseFernandez ’06, Julia Giguere ’06, Sergio Gonzalez ’06, Jonathan Greene ’07, Sarah Grime ’08, Eliza Hatch ’06, Sarah Ingerman ’08, Bari Kessler ’06, Robin Lehman ’06, Lori Lerman ’06, Emily Martin ’06, Megan McDermott ’08, Mary Randolph Norton ’07, Karina Perez ’07, Carlos Serrano ’06, Cortlandt Toczylowski ’06, Adam Wallace ’06

A multimedia presentation on twenty students’ spring break in Tanzania, and the flavors and smells of East Africa. The educational safaris included the Ngorongoro Crater, the Rift Valley, Olduvai Gorge, a coffee estate, the spice island of Zanzibar, and the metropolis of Dae es Salaam. Building on the tremendous success of last year’s presentation about the Skidmore trip to Ghana, a group of students who went to Tanzania and three other students in the classroom course will share music, photographs, and objects of art, as well as personal reiniscences and reflections about their educational experiences in the classroom and on “safari.”

12:45 PM – 1:30 PM Tisch Learning Center 302

“Leo Strauss’ Revival of Natural Right”

Faculty Sponsor: Tim Burns, Government

Presenters: Kelly Carr ’07, Sarah Kunz ’06, Petria Fleming ’06

The three of us will deliver our final papers that have come out of a semester-long independent study with Professor Tim Burns. Through the work of Leo Strauss, we have examined the presence of natural right in the social and political world. These final papers will be a culmination of our studies and discussions.

12:45 PM – 1:15 PM Filene 207

“A Hard Day’s Night: Diegetic, Nondiegetic, and Transdiegetic Music in a Pop Classic”

Faculty Sponsor: Gordon Thompson, Music

Presenter: Jessica Neilson ’07

Many people take film music for granted, not realizing the plethora of methods used to incorporate this music into films. The focu of this project is to explain and provide examples of diegetic, nondiegetic, and transdiegetic music in the Beatles’ first feature film, A Hard Day’s Night.

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM Bolton 282

“Invasive Burning Bush (Euonymus Alatus) in Skidmore’s North Woods”

Faculty Sponsor: Josh Ness, Biology

Presenter: Christina Schull ’06

Burning bush (Euonymus alatus), a species native to Asia, forms dense patches in the northeastern United States and is invading Skidmore’s North Woods. We focus on the distribution, reproduction, and vulnerability of E. alatus to natural enemies. We examine the shrub’s effects on native flora and suggest control measures.

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM Dana 165

“’In Depth’ Knowledge (Based on 378 Well Logs) of Kayaderosseras Creek Surficial Sediments”

Faculty Sponsor: Kyle Nichols, Geosciences

Presenter: K. Michael Cleveland ’06

Reinterpretation of 378 well logs provides a three-dimensional understanding of the surficial sediments in the Kayaderosseras Watershed in New York. We utilized GIS to produce a depth to bedrock map and isovel maps displaying depth to groundwater and water availability. We also defined aquifer morphology and location and identified thickness of surficial sediment.

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Harder 203

“”LZW: The Blind Compression Algorithm”

Faculty Sponsor: Mark Huibregtse, Mathematics & Computer Science

Presenters: Will Bastian ’06, Tim Gildea ’06

We will address the Lempel-Ziv-Welch compression algorithm from a coding theory standpoint. That is, we will address the process under which the dictionary is created and furthermore examine the entropy of the compressed string. We will also address the history and applications of LZW.

“Check Digits”

Faculty Sponsor: Mark Huibregtse, Mathematics & Computer Science

Presenters: Samuel Patt ’07, Howie Austin ’06

We will discuss the history and development of check digits be examining ISBN, UPC, Luhn’s Algorithm, and CRCs. We will describe the algorithms used and how they are used. We will explain what types of errors they can detect and correct.

“The Life and Work of Claude Shannon”

Faculty Sponsor: Mark Huibregtse, Mathematics & Computer Science

Presenters: Katie Lerch ’06, Megan Schoellhamer ’06

Our presentation focuses on the major achievement of Claude Shannon and the revolutionary contributions Shannon made to the field of information theory and digital communication. Shannon created the foundation for modern technology; the internet, for example, would not be around without him.

“Image Compression”

Faculty Sponsor: Mark Huibregtse, Mathematics & Computer Science

Presenters: Brandy Wilson ’06, Lucy Burns ’06

We will explore the useful principles behind image compression, presenting an overview of three types of image compression: Fractals, wavelets, and JPEG. We will explain the basic mathematical principles behind each compression process. We will also provide insight into the advantages and disadvantages of each type.

“The Life Works of R.W. Hamming”

Faculty Sponsor: Mark Huibregtse, Mathematics & Computer Science

Presenters: Hillary Price ’06, Kristin Retenski ’06

We will be discussing Richard Hamming’s life, including his work in coding theory, specifically error detection and correction. We will discuss Hamming distance and weights and their applications. We will explain Hamming codes, including the Hamming (7,4) Code and the Hamming Window.  

“Morse Code”

Faculty Sponsor: Mark Huibregtse, Mathematics & Computer Science

Presenters: Nicholas Wiater ’06, Shinsuke Tanaka ’06

Samuel F.B. Morse revolutionized the art of transmitting information when he developed the Morse Code. We will explain how the code was developed so as to maximize efficiency while minimizing the error rate during translation. Applications of Morse Code and its relation to more common codes will also be examined.

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Tisch Learning Center

First Floor

“Psychology Thesis Session”

Katharine Clark ’06-Awarded the Amy Eisenberg Memorial Award
“The role of perfectionism, worry, parental criticism and parental expectations in the development of anxiety”.
Ian Connole ’06
“Impacts of motivation on physical performance: How being primed to be autonomous or control motivated effects anaerobic performance”
Alexis Covey’06
Attitudes toward hook-up culture in college.
Clio Dobyns ’06 and Alissa Mun ’06
Hooking up at Skidmore College. Motivations and emotions surrounding the hook-up culture.
Jeffrey Foy ’06
Narrative Processing: Incorporating information from narrative into worldview
Brian Gaudino ’06- Awarded the Michele Kelly Memorial Award, and Brian Prue ’06
Third person navigation
Allison Gillum ’06
An examination of how taking an introductory environmental class changes an individual’s environmental motivation.
Rachel Gordon ’06
The effects of ownership on children’s memory for collaborative exchanges.
Kelsey Hendrickson ’06
We get by with a little help from our friends: The effects of close relationships on the subtle reminders of death.
Anneliese Kranz ’06
Personality and OCD classification schemes
Jocelyn Levitan ’06
To what extent do reminders of death elicit dissociative responses
Kerry Purtell ’06
Assessing the valence-based hypothesis of emotional processing using a face-word Stroop analog task.
Anne Rhatigan ’06
The effects of mortality salience on anxiety sensitivity.
Amanda Russo ’06-Awarded the Caren Lane Sass Psychology Prize
What is the relation between trauma history, PTSD and trichotillomania symptoms?
Caitlin Shepherd ’06
Gender differences in the relationship between body dissatisfaction, coping styles and negative affect.
Sara Shiffman ’06-Awarded the Krawiec Scholar Award
Motivation, emotion regulation and responses to self-relevent feedback.
Aaron Zigelbaum ’06 -Awarded the Hartnett Award in Neuroscience
Examination and application of slow stroop effects to assess hemispheric asymmetries of emotion processing

1:15 PM – 1:45 PM Bolton 281

Title TBA

Faculty Sponsor: Hedi Jaouad, International Affairs

Presenter: Joshua Kessler-Reynolds ’06

Presentation of my paper about Maquiladoras (or American factories that have relocated to Mexico to reduce operational costs) and the environmental situation they have caused. The paper examines incentives behind relocation, the resulting impact, Mexico’s governmental infrastructure, the country’s reaction, and how it has fared; all in environmental terms.

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM Bolton 282

“The Far-Reaching Impacts of Factory Farming”

Faculty Sponsor: Monica Raveret-Richter, Biology

Presenter: Erin Kennedy ’07

Animals that were once raised on small-scale pastoral farms are increasingly being reared on much larger factory farming operations. As the animals’ living conditions continue to deviate from their natural state, it is not only the animals that are affected, but also the environment and consumers.

1:30 PM – 3:30 PM Palamountain 202

Management and Business Capstone Event

Faculty Sponsors: The Department

Presenters:

1:30 – 2:00 Alison Rosenblatt ’06-Awarded the Gail Moran Morton Prize

“A New Paradigm: A Study on the Relationship between Ecovillages and Participatory Research”

This study examined the relationship between ecovillages and participatory research, a unique form of research where the subjects play a role in the research process. It sought to examine the extent to which philosophy or participatory research is incorporated into ecovillages and the challenges that arise as a result of its presence.

2:00 – 2:30 John Byers ’06-Awarded the Huff Prize

“ Putnam Street Market Place: A Case Study”

This case examines the first five years of what is now Putnam Market. The focus is placed on the entrepreneurial process from idea to finish and leaves the reader with a decision to be made as to whether the business should move from Putnam Street to Broadway.

2:30 – 3:00 Jessica Samph ’06

“Serving the Millennial Generation: How Differing Advertising Appeals Affect Consumer Attitudes Toward Services”

The purpose of this study was to test the reactions of young American consumers to ad appeals designed for different types of services. To address this objective, we tested three types o appeals (Individualistic, collectivist, and functional) that were designed for different product type categories used in the FCB grid (informative, feeling, habit-forming, and self-satisfaction goods) with a convenience sample of young Americans. The results of the study show that their responses to ads do not depend on the appeal type but rather on the service type that is presented in the ad. Implications of this study and future research suggestions are discussed in the paper.

3:00 – 3:30 Lucy Baumrind ’06

“Can TV Save Your Life?: How Character Involvement Impacts Drunk Driving Attitudes and Behaviors”

This study examined the influence of message involvement on changes in attitudes and behaviors toward drunk driving among an undergraduate student sample. A relationship was found between participants’ identification with the character and attitude change and character believability and behavior change. 

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Davis Auditorium

“The Labyrinth as a Social Work Resource”

Faculty Sponsor: Crystal Moore, Sociology, Anthropology & Social Work

Presenter: Adam Epstein ’08

This engaging documentary shows the connection between labyrinth-walking meditations and modern Social Work practice, drawing on interviews with Labyrinth professionals and walkers. Not precisely a maze, the ancient labyrinth figure has only one path that is folded in on itself in a series of circles, ending in a center.

1:30 PM – 2:15 PM Dana Atrium

“Multivariate Statistical Analysis of the Primary Controls on Extratropical North Atlantic Hurricane Activity 1974-2004”

Faculty Sponsor: Katherine Cartwright, Geoscience

Presenter: Aaron Kamholtz ’06

Recent patterns in hurricane activity in the North Atlantic indicate that cyclones move beyond the tropics into higher latitudes, increasing the threat to coastlines along the Northeast. This research uses multivariate statistical analyses to reveal the primary control on extra-tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic Basin north of thirty-eight degrees.  

“Deltaic Systems of the Mississippi and Nile Rivers: A Comparative Analysis of the Geologic Evolution and impacts on Socio-economic Development”

Faculty Sponsor: Katharine Cartwright, Geosciences

Presenter: Lauren Marder ’06

This project compares two analogous deltaic regions by identifying the different ways in which humans have developed these geologically delicate areas. Through comparative analysis of deposition of sediment in each delta basin, the research considers the effects of human interaction with the natural deltaic cycles. The conclusion of this research project emphasizes how socio-economic and political demands impact, and are impacted by, the Mississippi Delta and the Nile Delta. 

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Dana 276

“Molecules That Matter: A Scientific and Cultural Exploration of DNA, Prozac, DDT, and Isooctane”

Faculty Sponsor: Raymond Giguere, Chemistry

Presenters: Alyssa Bennett ’06, Lillian Torrey ’07

This panel focuses on several substances whose discoveries profoundly shaped life in the twentieth century and is closely related to the upcoming Tang exhibition entitled “Molecules That Matter”. MTM will enhance the public understanding of science by exploring how developments in organic compounds have profoundly changed the character and texture of modern life. Our presentation focuses on the discovery and impact of the title molecules.

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM Tisch Learning Ctr 301

“What Does it Mean to Respect the Original Meaning of Our Constitution?”

Faculty Sponsor: Tim Burns, Government

Presenter: Curtis Stiles ’06

The project is a thesis in legal philosophy. The focus is on ‘Originalism’ as a method of constitutional interpretation. Specifically, what can we learn about ‘Originalism’ from its application to the infamous Brown v. Board ruling in 1954? What does Originalism teach about constitutional interpretation on the whole?

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Dance Theater

“Women of Spirit: Contributions to Dance and Music”

Faculty Sponsor: Mary DiSanto-Rose, Dance

Presenters: Olivia Owen ’08, Kayleigh Anton ’09, Rose Anderson-Gips ’09, Amira Streeter ’09

“Women of Spirit” is a dance composition that questions gender relationships within the context of musical and dance art forms. Women have traditionally been excluded from the creation of music in many cultures, since this activity is often dominated by the patriarchy of society, so this presentation strives to connect women back to music by expressing gender unity and inequalities through movement.

“ Road Narrows”

Faculty Sponsor: Debra Fernandez, Dance

Presenter: Alissa Alter ’06-Awarded the Paulding Prize (Dance)

This piece is heavily inspired by Charles Schulz’s “Peanuts” comic strips and is accompanied by the music of Vince Guaraldi performed live, with variation, by three Skidmore students. It explores the transitions experienced by children and adults throughout every stage of life through the brother-sister relationship of Linus and Lucy.

“Humor Us”

Faculty Sponsor: Debra Fernandez, Dance

Presenter: Amanda Kwolyk ’06

Using Balanchine’s symbolic movement technique, Charlie Chaplin’s emotional development, and a study on the ancient Greek temperaments, I crafted my own four temperaments, including: Hopeful, Malicious, Supine – the root of awkwardness, and Shame. Five dancers are clown/robots that go through a process of being characterized as a certain temperament. As the temperaments develop, each character becomes less shallow and more complicated, revealing many more facets about him or himself and humanity.

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM Filene 207

“Synthesisizing Sound”

Faculty Sponsors: Anthony Holland, Jill Linz, Music

Presenter: Paul Depoian ’06

My senior capstone is an attempt to recreate the sound of an acoustic instrument (a clarinet) using several different synthesis techniques. Sound synthesis is the method of electronic sound generation from a piece of hardware or software. The three techniques I will employ are additive, subtractive, and frequency modulation synthesis.

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM Emerson Auditorium

“Selected Films from EN105H and EN205H Students”

Faculty Sponsor: Tom Lewis, English

Presenters and Titles: TBA

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM Bolton 281

“Beyond Words: Manipulating Formalities and Gender Talks”

Faculty Sponsor: Margaret Pearson, Asian Studies

Presenter: Patricia Slattery ’06, Althea Koburger ’06

This is a combined presentation of two senior projects on Japanese language. It is aa entertaining and interactive look at how the formal Japanese language can be used to manipulate individuals and situations to the speaker’s advantage, and how the Japanese language reflects gender and gender roles.

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Gannett Lobby

“Artistic Interpretations of Classical Myths”

Faculty Sponsor: Leslie Mechem, Classics

Presenters: Alexandra Cummings ’07, Kaitlin Mahoney ’09, Kelly Genois ’08, Ally Cohan ’09, Ethan Weiss ’09

In The CL220 Classical Myhtology class students had the option of producing a creative project instead of writing a final research paper. All of the projects drew from knowledge gained over the course of the semester about Greek mythology but also reinterpreted various deities or myths and indicated that the students had not only learned the “facts” and stories but had also learned how to interpret that information.

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM Tisch Learning Ctr 201

“Measuring Prevalence and Perceptions of Student Drinking and Driving at Skidmore College”

Faculty Sponsor: Crystal Moore, Social Work

Presenter: Elizabeth Heckel ’06

Only Skidmore students were involved in the quantitative research that measured students’ attitudes and behaviors regarding drinking and driving while at Skidmore College. Community stakeholders involved in qualitative interviews were Skidmore student parents, Skidmore faculty members and administrators, and local bar owners and employees. The domains of inquiry covered were stakeholder attitudes toward college student drinking and perceptions of and feelings about the development of a safe ride program at Skidmore College. The purpose of this research was to provide both the Skidmore College and Saratoga Springs communities with a more accurate and useful concept of the reality of Skidmore student drinking and driving.

2:15 PM – 2:45 PM Dana 165

“GIS Analysis of the Metasequoia”

Faculty Sponsor: Margo Mensing, Interdisciplinary

Matthew Belsky ’06

The Dawn Redwood is a rare and ancient coniferous tree, related to the massive Redwoods in California. It was presumed extinct until found in China in 1944. This project was a cartographic and climatic analysis of the tree in the USA today. The presentation features a variety of maps and charts.

The final product is featured on my website:

hudson2.skidmore.edu/~m_belsky/Metasequoia.htm

I have been working on this study for approximately a year. I gathered all my data through e-mail, and my research includes an analysis of over 330 trees from 44 different institutions, Vermont to California, and Washington to Georgia. My website will be linked to/from a variety of arboretum's websites.

This project was in part inspired by Margo Mensing's site-specific installation at the University of Pennsylvania's Morris Arboretum. It is entitled “'meta/Metasequoia”

2:30 PM – 3:15 PM Tisch Learning Ctr 301

“Three American Studies Senior Honors Thesis Presentation”

Faculty Sponsor: Gregory Pfitzer, American Studies

Presenters: Caitlin Bannon ’06, Jacquelyn Clark ’06-Awarded the American Studies Faculty Award, Jeff Field ’06

This session will involve three senior American Studies majors commenting on the challenges of doing historical research and preserving cultural memory in the context of honors thesis work. Presenting in three widely different areas of historical investigation, Caitlin Bannon (the criminalization of abortion), Jacky Clark (the trial of Andersonville Prison commandant, Henry Wirz), and Jeff Field (The Duluth, Minnesota Ten Commandments Monument Case) will discuss the common methodological challenges they faced in researching the past and will analyze the consistent patterns of interpretation they employed in investigating the place of historical memory in the American consciousness.

2:30 PM -3:00 PM Palamountain 201

“Exploring Modern Arabic Poetry of Exile Through Language and Clay”

Faculty Sponsor: Carolyn Forche, English, Leslie Ferst, Studio Art

Presenter: Alexis Sherman ’06

2:45 PM – 3:15 PM Davis Auditorium

“Bolivian Rural Adolescence: A Brief Video Look at Two Lives”

Faculty Sponsor: Catherine Berheide, Sociology

Presenter: Aaron Tester ’06

In the spring/summer of 2005, I studied abroad in Bolivia on a program with SIT. In April over the course of about three weeks, I lived with a rural host-family and created a short ethnographic documentary studying the lives of two peasant youth. In my video I follow them throughout their days, asking questions when I can and receiving responses infrequent. The film humorously depicts a day in the life of these two charismatic, clever, and joyful individuals.

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Palamountain 201

“Islamic Jurisprudent and Legalities”

Faculty Sponsor: Laury Silvers, Religion

Presenters: Hager Youssef ’08, Tunnazina Ahmed ’07, Alexis Sherman ’06, Ashley Higgins ’06

Have you ever wondered how ancient Muslim jurists formulated laws and legislation? Well, wonder no more! This wikipeida (interactive website) will outline and detail the framework that dictates the legal sciences in Islam: including a breakdown of Hadith science, Quran science, Islamic and Western scholarship, and a critique analysis of various Quran translations. In addition, we will explore the historical and political periods that influenced (and still influence) the various developments of these sciences.

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Gannett Auditorium

“Psychobiography of a Mortal: The Mind, Work, and Life of Sheldon Solomon”

Faculty Sponsor: Sheldon Solomon, Psychology

Presenter: Dave Roush ’07

Psychobiography is the psychodynamic study of individual lives. This semester, David Roush conducted a psychobiographical study of Professor Sheldon Solomon. Roush will lecture on psychobiography and his own study, concluding with a presentation of his psychobiographical documentary entitled “A Lizard or a Potato: the Life and Mind of Sheldon Solomon.”

3:00 PM – 3:45 PM Dana Atrium

“Topics in Number Theory – A Poster Session”

Faculty Sponsor: Gove Effinger, Math & Computer Science

Presenters: Jared Akerstrom ’09, Howard Austin ’06, Thomas Chapin ’08, Regina Circosta ’07, Lauren Ciuffreda ’08, Laurie Graham ’09, Oliver Layton ’09, Jennifer Letourneau ’06, Nicholas Moran ’08, Samantha Morrison ’08, Laila Moussa ’06, Sean Muron ’09, Jessica Reynolds ’09, Claire Rupprecht ’08, Herbert Stitson ’09, Tavish Zausner-Mannes ’07

The sixteen members of MA214 (Number Theory) will present eight posters on topics of their choice from the area of Number Theory. Topics will include Unbreakable Codes, Euler’s Phi Function and Sums of Divisors, Squares Mod a Prime, Sums of Two Squares, Square-Triangular Numbers, Diophantine Approximations, and Binomial Coefficients and Pascal’s Triangle.

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM Dana 165

“Getting to the Bottom of It: Holocene Climate Change in Keuka Lake Based On Sediment Cores”

Faculty Sponsor: Kyle Nichols, Geosciences

Presenter: Davin Lyons ’06

“Getting to the Bottom of It” is the result of almost a year of study and research in the Finger Lakes Region looking into climate change. My research focuses on the past 14,000 years of climate change and is based on sediment cores. The data from the research have shown four climate shifts in the last 14,000 years.

3:15 PM – 3:45 PM Bolton 282

EN378 Research Seminar: Ulysses

Faculty Sponsor: Tom Lewis, English

Presenters:Emily Clark ’06, Juistin Coyne ’06, Matthew Domino ’07, Gordon Fournier ’06, Anushka Hosain ’06, Peter Loring ’06, Christopher McVey ’06, Kristin Nelson ’06, Jocelyn Polen ’06, Aaron Zigelbaum ’06, Peter Zogas ’07

Presentation: TBA

3:15 PM – 3:45 PM Emerson Auditorium

“Female Circumcision: Is it a Mutilation?”

Faculty Sponsor: Mary’Beth O’Brien, International Affairs

Presenter: Joseph Kaifala ’08

The documentary presents the practice of female circumcision as a cultural practice that exceeds the excision of the female genitalia. It examines the origin of the practice of excision and the other cultural or religious practices that are associated with the ceremony. Other filmmakers have successfully presented how much pain is inflicted on the female genitalia through the process of mutilation, but most have failed to give an unbiased presentation of the real motivations accompanying such adherence to customary tradition despite the bodily injury. The study offers an objective view on the society of circumcision without the judgments of an activist.

3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Palamountain 202

“Saratoga-Skidmore Entrepreneurial Partnership”

Faculty Sponsor: Roy Rotheim, Economics

Presenters: Billie Taft ’08, Adam Cohen ’06, Michael Higgins ’06, Alexander Kantor ’06

Each of us will be presenting our semester’s achievements in regard to our internships.

3:45 PM – 4:15 PM Dana 165

“Buffers on the Battenkill: Mapping Riparian Zones using GIS”

Faculty Sponsor: Kyle Nichols, Geoscience

Presenter: Megan Chadwick ’06

We used Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to map the current distribution of buffers along the Battenkill River and its tributaries and to locate most viable locations for buffer restoration projects on behalf of the Battenkill Conservancy. This research provides Skidmore with a GIS database of accurate information for future use.

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM Palamountain 201

"Śrī or devotee? Radha's Role in Jayadeva's Gītagovinda"

  Faculty Sponsor: Joel Smith, Philosophy and Religion/Asian Studies

Presenter: Adam Epstein ’08-Awarded the Joseph C. Palamountain Jr. Prose Award

Jayadeva’s Gītagovinda, a Hindu devotional poem written during the twelfth century C.E., beautifully narrates the erotic love play of Rādhā and Krishna in stunning detail. Based on a Palamountain Prose Award-winning essay, this presentation explores Rādhā’s dual role as a Krishna devotee and a goddess in Gītagovinda, a work  which remains popular in India today.

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM Emerson Auditorium

“ Italy, Fascism and the Jews: The Movie”

Faculty Sponsor: Shirley Smith, Foreign Languages & Literature

Presenters: Jonathan Dorn ’09, Nicolas Misani ’09, David Folman ’09, Jamie Falzone ’09, Jessica Butler ’09, Steven Mastanduno ’09, Hannah Scott-Lawson ’09

Students from SSP100.039 chose topic of interest from the course, wrote a script, and prepared a documentary. Four will be presented. A student also designed the DVD’s cover.

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Percussion Room

Sports Center

“Lets’ Play”

Faculty Sponsor: Yakub Addy, Music

Presenters: Dana Levin ’06, Michael Kaplan ’09

An introduction to the traditional rhythms and communal teaching methods of West African master drummers taught by two white Jewish kids. As members of Pulse, we have worked closely with Yacub Addy to understand the African rhythmic culture and to translate it to contemporary American performance. This will be a central part of the presentation, and all who attend will have the chance to experience the joy of community through rhythm.

4:45 PM – 5:30 PM Palamountain 202

“Saratoga-Skidmore Entrepreneurial Partnership: Business for Artists”

Faculty Sponsor: Roy Rotheim, Economics

Presenters: Sarah Lawrence ’06, Ewa Garbos ’06, Lucy Stratton ’06, Tyler McMartin ’07

This project, the development of a curriculum for studio artists to get started in business, began with students who had affiliations with both disciplines. We are delivering our curriculum to Studio Art majors over the next five weeks in hopes of continuing this program, a course taught by Skidmore students to Skidmore students. In future years, we all hope to see the curriculum offered to the general public of Saratoga Springs through the Saratoga Arts Council and the Beekman Street Arts District.

Skidmore College
815 North Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
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hf@skidmore.edu

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