Tag: Political Science

From the Ground Up: Connections and Contradictions Within the United States Housing Movement

Presenter: Anna Nguyen – Economics, Political Science

Faculty Mentor(s): Alison Gash

Session: (In-Person) Oral Panel—Connection and Community

The repercussions of the housing crisis today are immense, to say the least. Accelerating trends of deregulation, financialization, and globalization produce conditions that are ripe for real estate investment. Neoliberal policies make affordable housing inaccessible by design. The idea of housing— as a lived and social space, a necessary form of shelter, and a universal basic need—has been stripped away for purposes of profit generation. With these deteriorating conditions in mind, this much is clear: the housing crisis is a colossal problem and will not be resolved overnight. Tenant and unhoused organizers who understand this reality are motivated by it and have acted accordingly to respond to the crisis at its worst. Evaluating the scope of eviction and its root causes necessitates a deeper understanding of housing insecurity and the traumatic displacement of tenants on a political, economic, and spatial level. Because working class tenants and their unhoused neighbors are subject to experiences of housing precarity in their daily lives, they have a lot to gain from establishing solidarity with each other. The goal of this thesis is to investigate how tenant and unhoused groups navigate these collaborative relationships tensions as they respond to the housing crisis on a local and national scale.

Do waste management firms in Oregon disproportionately affect low-income minorities?

Presenter: David Lopez-Aparicio − Political Science

Session: (In-Person) Oral Panel—Diversity and Analysis, Poster Presentation

History has shown us that low-income minorities often bear the brunt end of the stick for health, income-mobility, and education. Though in recent times these disparities are narrowing, there is still much to be done. Past research in other states has demonstrated that low-income minorities are disproportionately affected by environmental racism through pollution cause by firms. These quiet literal dirty economies have directly resulted in lower-quality healthcare, lower education rates, and lack of socio-economic mobility for minorities. With the ongoing exacerbating effects of the pandemic, it is crucial to analyze how these marginalized people are being effected to implement protective policy. Currently, there exists no data examining if there is a relationship between Oregon waste management firms and the communities they’re surrounded by. We will be utilizing economic regression models to examine past data regarding income, health, and education rates around the communities waste management firms in Oregon reside. This will assist us in determining the potential adverse effects they face as a result—higher health defects, lower income and graduation rates. If previous investigations are any indicator, we should expect to find there is a negative relationship for communities geographically close to these firms. These findings will add to the national conversation surrounding environmental racism and reaffirm past exploration.

The Progression of Juvenile Justice Policy in Oregon

Presenter: Semeredin Kundin − Planning, Public Policy and Management, Political Science

Session: (In-Person) Oral Panel—Rights of Humans, Poster Presentation

The criminal justice system is incredibly vast and carries an intricate process within it. The overall system itself is meant to uphold public safety within our collective society by providing judgment on individuals, and determining consequences. Over time, it has been gradually acknowledged that the structures of our criminal justice systems aren’t meeting the needs or expectations of our evolving society. It’s being recognized that there are existing social and racial disparities within incarceration, a rise in recidivism rates, and the differing priorities of most State governments are why the concept of criminal justice reform came to fruition. However, there is no discussion of criminal justice reform without the consideration of the Juvenile Justice system. It’s been identified that youth interaction with the law, and the varying consequences they may receive can potentially alter the entire course of their life and growth. This research project reviews the impacts of public safety and criminal justice policy reform on the Juvenile Justice System in Oregon and compares it to national studies and priorities towards Juvenile Justice. By using both primary and secondary sources it was possible to identify the progression of policy reform in Oregon in comparison to the country as a whole. Due to the extensive research done, it’s simpler to comprehend that contemporary Juvenile Justice policy reform will be producing positive results for the criminal justice system.

The Policy Implications of the Biology of Trauma

Presenter: Rose Kordahl − Political Science

Faculty Mentor(s): Daniel Tichenor

Session: (In-Person) Poster Presentation

Modern research has revealed one of the greatest public health crises in the United States: the epidemic of toxic stress in childhood. Physicians have found that significant exposure to toxic stress through Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) increases the risk of seven out of the ten leading causes of death in the US. As a public health crisis, policy is uniquely equipped to prevent toxic stress and ACEs before they occur and create support services for those affected. However, a disconnect remains between scientific research and policy. Through a survey of existing literature on toxic stress and U.S. policy, I aim to identify the implications of medical research on creating trauma-informed policy responses to the toxic stress epidemic in the U.S. By identifying specific areas of policy that should be utilizing research on toxic stress, this project intends to demonstrate how science can help inform modern policy.

Queering the Way: Investigating the Relationship between U.S. LGBT+ Advocacy and Policy Advancement

Presenter: Matthew Hampton − Planning, Public Policy and Management, Political Science

Faculty Mentor(s): Dyana Mason, Alison Gash

Session: (In-Person) Oral Panel—The More You Know (in depth looks and prevention)

The modern LGBT+ rights movement in the United States has pushed political and social advancement since the mid-twentieth century, continuing the fight for equal treatment even as hundreds of anti- LGBT+ bills are being proposed and passed in states across the country. This study analyzes the specific tactics used by LGBT activists and nonprofits from the mid-twentieth century to present day, framing them using Political Opportunity Theory to try to explain how they make campaigns or movements successful. The study will be conducted using interviews of LGBT+ activists and aligned policy makers, either archived or original. Ultimately the study seeks to answer the question: In the LGBT+ rights movement (specifically the fight for equal employment), what advocacy strategies have worked to create political and social change, and how can their success be replicated for current and future rights battles? Do political and social change require both grassroots and policymaker support? Using theories, previous scholarly literature, and activist interviews, many factors were found to contribute to the overall success of an advocacy campaign: access to resources, ability to mobilize populations, clear goals and strategy, and strong relationships between outsider activists and political insiders. The goal of this report is to increase knowledge for creating effective policy and social change both inside and outside of policy arenas to further promote LGBT+ equality and understanding.

Data “Counterstory:” Academic Text Accessibility and Open Educational Resources

Presenter: Matthew Hampton − Planning, Public Policy and Management, Political Science

Co-Presenter(s): Grace Trammell

Faculty Mentor(s): Emily Simnitt

Session: (In-Person) Data Stories—The Languages of Data

Textbooks are an essential aspect of learning in higher education curriculum. In many cases professors will require students to purchase one or multiple textbooks, creating an additional financial burden for students. When this happens, students are left with few options: find a lower- cost alternative, or drop the class. Thus, textbooks are a means of creating a literacy and education gap within higher education, with low-income students most impacted by it. However, Open Educational Resources (OERs) are a means to reduce this gap by providing equitable literature to all students within higher education. In recent years, (OERs), free academic texts, have in-part filled the gap by providing public knowledge to students and other groups. With the use of OERs openly accessible on the internet or in libraries, community members not affiliated with universities also have the opportunities to learn about various subjects they may not have had before. While working on an in-house University of Oregon OER, the Talking Stories website, we discovered that putting together a well-researched OER had as much to do with compiling credible academic information as presenting it in a way that anybody, regardless of education level, can understand. Based on this, we will share our experience and knowledge gained during this project to creating change and expanding community literacy. We will speak to how broadening academic text accessibility through OERs can increase community literacy.

Year of the Paper Tiger: The US Military’s Pursuit of Missile Defense and New Cold War with China

Presenter(s): Taylor Ginieczki — Global Studies,Political Science

Faculty Mentor(s): Jane Cramer

Session: (Virtual) Poster Presentation

The last two decades have seen China become one of the biggest perceived threats to US national security. Fingers point to China’s economic rise, regional power-seeking, human rights abuses, and evolving nuclear capabilities as grounds for increased threat—with the latter meriting an “aggressive” US nuclear response. Yet seldom is it asked, “What is the cause of the deteriorating nuclear relationship between the United States and China?” Using defensive realist theory and process- tracing methodology, this thesis answers this question: American nuclear policy, specifically national missile defense (NMD). Part I begins by detailing the dire threat inflation present in American media, public opinion, and government rhetoric, where China is the unilaterally culpable “paper tiger.” Part I analyzes both states’ nuclear policies, revealing the astronomical discrepancy between rhetoric and reality. China’s “No First Use” posture is contrasted with the US’s rejection of nuclear deterrence, discarded in favor of nuclear war-fighting and This section then reviews the violated theory and nonsensical technology behind American NMD, ending with a US missile defense timeline that predates the current crisis with China—absolving China to instead implicate the US. Finally, Part II offers prescriptions from defensive realism: minimal nuclear deterrence, a no-first-use policy (ironically, like China’s), eliminated NMD, and increased transparency in Sino-American relations.

Lesbian Periodicals: Radical Politics and Community Building

Presenter(s): Maya Feldman-Dragich — Political Science

Co-Presenter(s): Kye Martin, Emily Kavanagh

Faculty Mentor(s): Judith Raiskin

Session: (In-Person) Poster Presentation

Beginning in the 1970s second wave feminism, largely facilitated by lesbian activists, swept through the United States and world at large. A large part of their reach came from their printed media. This era broke away from the grip of mainstream publishers and a network of magazines, newspapers, and newsletters for lesbian feminists was created worldwide. Within these pages were passionate political writings and ideas. The periodicals continued through the AIDs crisis and into the 1990s and were a continuous place for lesbians to share a range of visual and written media, both creative writing and nonfiction. Without this crucial turning point of direct action, the community and visibility lesbians attained in that era would not be possible. Through the Feminist and Lesbian Periodical collection in the Special Collections and University Archives in Knight Library, we each researched a facet of the how the periodicals affected society. Many of the ideas expressed within those pages were still strikingly relevant, though few people are aware of their very existence. For the LGBTQ community and beyond, raising awareness about their impact is essential.

How can the University of Oregon make PE & Rec more inclusive to minority students?

Presenter: Taylor Chambers − Political Science

Co-Presenter(s): Jules Aviles

Faculty Mentor(s): Chantelle Russell

(Virtual) Poster Presentation

The goal of our research was to evaluate and synthesize actions the University of Oregon could take to make its Student Recreation Center more inclusive to minority students. In addition to online analysis, we acquired information related to this topic by interviewing highly respected faculty and staff across campus. This included a professor of Indigenous, Race and Ethnic Studies with special knowledge of the interactions between sporting culture and race as well as a member of the REC’s own Inclusion Change Team . All aspects of our research suggest advocacy for BIPOC students at the employee level and advertising that depicts students of colors enjoying the space are the first steps the university can take to create an environment of equity and inclusion in the gym. More specifically this can include facilitating diversity/tolerance training for existing staff, hiring diversely qualified students with work study authorization, and using color in social media outreach.

Social Media Use: Worsening Anxiety and Depression

Presenter: Brooke Beaton − Political Science

Faculty Mentor(s): Corbett Upton

(In-Person) Oral Panel—Sex, Drugs, & Music

Mobile devices, along with social media and the Internet, have become a dominant presence in today’s world, especially among younger generations. Most of us rely on them to function in our daily lives. Alongside the frequent use of mobile devices, there has been an increase in mental health issues worldwide. The Internet opens many new doors and provides unlimited information, which has its benefits but can cause other negative issues. Behavioral changes from interacting with social media are noticeable, but research today has suggested that the use of social media may be rewiring our brain’s neural networks and its regular functions, such as the dopamine reward system and our ability to focus. This study investigates the correlation between this rewiring of the brain and worsening mental health outcomes, especially anxiety and depression. To investigate this issue, I explore persuasive design, mobile device dependency, and digitally influenced mental health issues. The results of this study are important for predicting the future of mental health treatment. By studying the consequences of social media use and dependency, I hope to raise awareness of the issue and help users make better decisions about their engagement with these products and minimize or prevent their negative effects.