University of St. Thomas

Awards

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  Rachel Anderson

  Purification of Prion Proteins for Use in an Experimental Treatment for Prion Disease

  Prion diseases caused by misfolded proteins are lethal, communicable, and currently no treatment is available. Although they are capable of being transmitted through different species, a barrier exists that is still not fully understood. It is predicted that prion disease could be treated in one species by the introduction of healthy prion proteins from another species. This can be tested by the injection of hamster or rabbit prion proteins into scrapie-infected cells or scrapie-infected mice. In order to carry out the latter part of the experiment which is being completed at the University of Minnesota, hamster and rabbit prion proteins must first be prepared. Hamster prion genes are currently available in an expression vector while rabbit prion genes must first be subcloned into an expression vector. Each vector then must be incorporated into bacteria and grown in a culture to produce mass quantities of the desired prion proteins. The prion proteins would then be purified for use of injection into infected cells and mice. The testing with cells and mice would be performed at the University of Minnesota. This aspect of the project is a small part of the whole investigation to find a treatment for prion diseases.

  Mentor: Katherine Olson

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  Paul Armstrong

  Economic Recovery: A Game Theory Analysis

  The recent economic downturn has resulted in a series of government sponsored initiatives and programs, attempting to revert drops in real estate prices, consumer spending, employment, and GDP growth. These programs, however, require certain responses on the part of other parties involved, such as consumers, investors, and employers, in order to ensure their success. In effect, these scenarios can be represented as games, or scenarios where two or more players can each choose to undertake one of several strategies available to them, resulting in certain payoffs for both of the participants. It is my intent to determine whether, given the results which we have witnessed thus far, as well as predicted ones, the actions and legislation which have been proposed by political and economic authorities are indeed the decisions which yield the highest payoffs. Consequently, I will also analyze the responses to these actions on the part of the respective parties which those actions are aimed at (e.g. banks, consumers), in order to discover whether, indeed, maximum payoffs have been achieved on their part as well.

  Faculty Mentor: Craig Marcott

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  Nikki Arola

  Sports Parents: Are They Driving Themselves Nuts?

  This study will investigate whether the high investments parents put into youth sports leads to higher expectations for their children and if this can explain why parental frustration in sports is becoming more and more common. Participants in this study will be parents of campers at Johnny Tauer’s Championship Basketball camp. This study will utilize both a correlational and experimental design. In the correlational study, parents will complete questionnaires measuring how their level of investment is related to their expectations and how the interaction between their investment and expectations relates to their frustration with their child’s sport. The experimental study will randomly assign parents to investment and met vs. unmet expectations scenarios and ask them to rate their level of frustration. It is predicted that parents with high investments will have higher expectations than those with low investments. It is also predicted that parents with high investment/unmet expectations will be more frustrated with sports than those with other combinations of investment level and met or unmet expectations. This study aims to help parents understand the frustration that they often feel from youth sports so that parental frustration does not lead to athlete burnout and parent/child interactions may be more positive.

  Faculty Mentor: John M. Tauer

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  Jacob Becker

  G-wire Stabilization by Intermolecular Bonding of Trans-bis(platinum) Complex

   Guanine-rich oligonucleotides(GROs) are of great interest in the field of nanotechnology. This is due to the GRO’s ability to self-assemble into stabile G-wires under aqueous conditions that resist denaturation in non-polar conditions. G-wires have the potential to act as scaffolding agents in nanoscale structure fabrication. The effectiveness of the G-wires depends on the stability and proximity of the G-quartets within the wire. To increase stability, reactions involving a bis(platinum) complex are investigated due to its ability to establish intermolecular bonds to the N7 atom and lock the G-quartets into place. Varying the diamine chain length linking the two platinum units plays a role in determining the spacing between G-quartets in the wire. The projected study will explore the intermolecular binding of the bis(platinum) complex and the resulting effectiveness at stabilizing the G-wire by covalently cross-linking neighboring oligonucleotides of the G-wire. Successful binding of the bis(platinum) complex and G-quartet stability will be shown on denaturing gels and the G-wire structure of the oligonucleotides will be characterized by atomic force microscopy. Broader applications of this work include advancing in the study of tumor cell lines that have become resistant to current treatment or aid in the development of new novel biomaterials.

  Faculty Mentor: Thomas Marsh

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  William Besser

  "An Investigation and Comparison of Design Across Two Disciplines"

  In general a designer is to engineering as an architect is to building. This analogy defines the role of concept creators to the individuals bringing that dream into reality. The parallel appears clear, but anyone who has been involved in a building project understands the difference in perspective, unclear definition of roles/responsibility and inadequate communication that sometimes exists between the architect and the builder. The same issues, which are complicated by the technical nature of the work, exist between a designer and an engineer. This project will research the differences between engineers and designers, and more specifically how they each define design. The differences will be analyzed and defined in three ways. These ways are:
  

  Differences in how they are educated.

  Differences in how they communicate and execute the design process.

  Differences in their industry roles.

  
  Research will be conducted through text, journal and report reading. Interviews with individuals in the two fields, representing both academia and in industry will also be conducted. The findings from this research and analysis will be submitted to the Journal of Engineering Education, and will be presented at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers "Design Engineering Technical Conference".

  Faculty Mentor: AnnMarie Thomas

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  Logan Bodnia

  Analysis of Toxins from Cyanobacteria in Minnesota Waters

  Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry is a very powerful instrumental method. This method can be applied to detecting toxins from cyanobacteria, found in various aquatic environments throughout the world. These toxins can cause disastrous effects to the environment as well as to humans. It is hard to detect these compounds sensitively and selectively using other common instrumental techniques. LC-MS allows for selective detection based on the mass of the ions from the toxins. There have been several studies of these toxins in parts of the US, but there have been no studies of these toxins in the sate of Minnesota. Study of these compounds will bring much needed information about our water quality.

  Faculty Mentor: Tony Borgerding

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  Katherine Cook

  The Efficacy of Out-of-School Programs for Minority and Lower- Income Youth

  In an increasingly multicultural society, successful academic programs for diverse student populations are crucial for the growth and well-being of the community. All too often, minority children fall through the cracks of the educational system, lacking proper social support and motivation. Research by Teachman, Paasch and Carver indicate the high costs of these failures: "over the past two decades, individuals with less than a high school degree have suffered an absolute decline in real income and have dropped further behind individuals with more education," (1996). Some social service agencies are partnering with schools in order to provide at-risk youth with more academic and social support, including ways to make a positive transition between elementary school and middle school and from middle school to high school. This research will focus on evaluating the efficacy of one specific program in the Twin Cities. Three main goals of this research are to analyze current data and collection methods, interview students to better understand their perception of the survey, and thirdly to include interview and literature information into a more representative survey of the program. The proposed project will be the collaborative work of Katherine Cook, and Dr. Lisa Waldner, Professor of Sociology representing the University of St. Thomas, and staff members of Family and Children‟s Services (FCS) including John Till, Vice President of Family and Community Programs at FCS and Jeannette Raymond, Project Manager of the FCS program Out of School Time.

  Faculty Mentor: Lisa Waldner

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  Robert Crane

  Freedom and Universality in Kant’s Aesthetics

  Immanuel Kant, the 18^th century German philosopher, is famous for his critical philosophy– a philosophy that explores and demarcates the limits of human being’s capacities of knowledge, while bringing to light inherent psychological elements of our conscious experience. Three of Kant’s works are recognized as the major corner stones to his critical philosophy, the latest he authored, The Critique of Judgment, attempts to uncover inherent conditions of thought that allow one to make aesthetic judgments. Two of the most important conditions that Kant raises regarding aesthetic judgments are freedom within a judging person and that any such judgments be required as valid for all persons. One objection to Kant’s Critique of Judgment is that these two elements of aesthetic judging are contradictory, i.e., how can a person be free and simultaneously be required to assent to a universal aesthetic judgment? This research project will assess this apparent contradiction and determine whether Kant’s account of aesthetic judgment requires modification or if it holds up to this criticism. To make this assessment I will examine specific passages in Kant’s Critique of Judgment and other relevant works of his in detail as well as contemporary literature and comment regarding Kant’s aesthetics and freedom.

  Faculty Mentor: John Van Ingen

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  Caitlin Dado

  Development of a Microfluidic Device for Microscopic Titration

  One of the underdeveloped areas of studying the uptake of drugs at the single cell level is determining the total amount of drug taken up by the cell.  To begin to address this problem, an accurate and precise method for the determination of microscopic volumes needs to be developed.  The goal of this project is to create a microscopic titration method using microfluidic devices in order to analyze very small volumes of chemicals.  To establish the method, a titration system in which EDTA is the titrant and copper is the target sample will be used and the progress of the titration will be determined by measuring fluorescence signals.  Once the titration method is standardized, a second demonstration system in which antibodies are the titrant and protein covered polymer spheres are the target sample will be used.  The titration method will be further applied to biological cells using antibodies as the titrant and yeast cells which are models of human cells as the target sample.  Ultimately, the long term goal of this project will be to apply the microscopic titration technique using the developed microfluidic device to analyze drug uptake in single human cells.

  Faculty Mentor: Gary Mabbott

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  Sarah Fink

  Solid-State Structures and Mutual Solubilities of Dual “Bridge-Flipped” Isomers

  Organic molecules often form crystals, solid structures in which molecules are arranged in a regular pattern. This arrangement is determined by intermolecular forces and the shape of the molecules. Using X-ray crystallography, the exact arrangement of these molecules can be determined. If two molecules have the same arrangement when crystallized, they are said to be isostructural. This similarity in arrangement often allows isostructural molecules to be co-crystallized[1]. In past research on this subject, benzylideneanilines[2] were used. These compounds have a nitrogen-carbon bridge between two substituted benzene rings. If the substituents on the benzene rings differ, the properties of the molecule change when the bridge is flipped so that the ring originally connected to the carbon side of the bridge is connected to the nitrogen, and vice versa. Previous work in this field has yielded relatively few isostructural pairs of isomers. In the proposed research project, molecules with three benzene rings and two bridges will be used.[3] Perhaps the internal symmetry will cause these bridge-flipped isomers to be isostructural. Because of the different properties of bridge-flipped isomers, when co-crystallized in certain ratios, new materials could be made with specific conductivity, melting point or color.

  Faculty Mentor: William Ojala

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  Erica Gathje

  How Competition Affects Nutrient Regulation in Ants.

  In Collaboration with Andy Van Alst

  All animals must obtain a balanced intake of nutrients because each nutrient plays a role in body functioning. Animals can obtain an appropriate balance by selectively collecting resources rich in nutrients they need. This selective feeding is more difficult when animals face competition, but also for social animals who work together to collect food.  In this study, we will investigate how exposure to competitors affects patterns of nutrient regulation in colonies of the pavement ant, Tetramorium caespitum. We predict that these colonies will regulate their protein: carbohydrate intake ratio around a common target when given foods differing in quality and concentration. We will test this by giving colonies foods differing in protein: carbohydrate ratio and total nutrient level. In a second experiment, colonies will be placed in competitive environments, forcing them to interact with ants from another colony. We predict that nutrient regulation will differ when colonies face competition; most notably, that the nutrient intake ratio will shift to include a higher amount of carbohydrates, an important fuel needed for activity to counter-act the threat from competitors. The comparison of competition’s effects on nutrient regulation is a novel idea that could make a contribution to the field of animal behavior.

  Faculty Mentor: Adam Kay

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  Anthony Gerten

  Molecular and Crystal Structures of Nitrogenous Monosaccharide Derivatives

  The goal of this project is to create crystalline sugar derivatives to look for ways to influence molecular conformations and investigate other properties.  Data pertaining to crystalline properties will be determined using X-ray crystallography

  Faculty Mentor: William Ojala

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  Caitlyn Gomez

  Mother Nature’s Daughters: An Exploration of The Disconnect Between The Modern Woman And The Natural Environment

  In our sexually-objectifying culture, women learn to habitually adopt an observer perspective on their own bodies (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997; McKinley & Hyde, 1996). This critical evaluation is termed self-objectification and refers to women’s preoccupation with their shortcomings in comparison to the unrealistic idealized beauty images portrayed in the media. Recent studies by UST students collaborating with Dr. Scott have found a significant negative correlation between self-objectification and feelings of connectedness to nature. Connectedness to nature is enhanced by natural settings. However, our cultural beauty ideals alienate women from their natural bodies and discourage experiences within the natural world because active, muscular, sweaty, and dirty bodies are considered unattractive and unfeminine (Choi, 2000; Dowling, 2001; West-Smith, 2000). Disconnection from nature is related to less eco-friendly behavior and lower environmental concern (Clayton, 2003; Shultz & Tabanico, 2007). In this study, we will experimentally test the theorized relationship between self-objectification, connectedness to nature, and environmental concern by assigning participants to either a natural or built environment condition. I hypothesize that those tested in the natural setting will report less self-objectification and more environmental concern in comparison to those tested in a built environment.

  Faculty Mentor: Britain Scott

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  Mary Gustafson

  The basin and range is a geologic province that stretches north-south from Oregon to Mexico and east-west from Arizona to California. This is an area where the earth’s crust is experiencing extension (the crust is pulling apart), and this process creates a series of mountain ranges with sedimentary basins in between them. The area that is today’s basin and range did not always look like this: extension rearranged and broke up highlands and basins that previously existed in the area. In order to fully understand the basin and range and the process of extension, we have to understand what t he area looked like before and during the main phases of extension. The Basin and Range is still extending today.
  
  The University of St Thomas Geology Department is part of an on-going project in the Lake Meade area of Nevada that is trying to explain the geologic history of this region, including he formation of the Horse Spring Formation, a sequence of basin-fill rocks that formed 24-12million years ago. I am proposing to focus on the Bitter Ridge Limestone Member of the Horse Spring Formation in order to eventually piece together the entire Horse Spring basin. I will organize and describe the rock layers with in the Bitter Ridge Limestone Member into meso-scale units (smaller than the member itself, and bigger than an individual layer) for the purpose of reconstructing that portion of the basin.
  
  It is important to understand extensional processes for many reasons. One is the multitude of people living in the area and in other extensional areas around the world and the potential safety issues that they cause, such as earthquakes. Another is the importance and abundance of natural resources, such as oil, that can be found in such regions. In working to reconstruct the Bitter Ridge Limestone (BRL) Basin(s), I will be seeing documentation of how extension works in the rock record, and documenting this myself on paper. I can also use the reconstructed basin to help interpret paleo climate, which is important because it helps us to understand how climate works and helps in the study of global warming. I personally am very interested in understanding what the earth used to be like and how this effects how it is now and how it is currently evolving.

  Faculty Mentor: Lisa Lamb

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  Randy Hade

  Action Research for Aurora Avenue Community Enhancement

  The proposed study will involve the collaborative work of Randy Hade and Dr. Lisa Waldner, Professor of Sociology, along with the Community Stabilization Project, a local nonprofit.The study will take place over the summer of 2009 and will involve action research around approximately 180 homes along Aurora Avenue in St. Paul, MN. The focus of the research is twofold. The first aspect is the creation of a neighborhood profile consisting of a combination of qualitative and quantitative data. This data will be gathered using already existing resources such as census data and local organizations’ research as well as face to face interviews that I will conduct with both qualitative and quantitative questions. The second aspect of the research is on the opinions about the ‘peace garden’ established in 2001 as well as its perceived positive or negative effects of the garden on the neighborhood. Successful research will be a response rate of over fifty percent of households on the avenue. The completed research will be presented to the community with the intent that it will be utilized to create next steps towards improving the community.

  Faculty Mentor: Lisa Waldner

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  Matthew Humbert

  Gas Phase Microdialysis Extraction as a Tool to Measure Biologically Generated Nitric Oxide

  This project focuses on the development of gas phase microdialysis extraction as a means of measuring nitric oxide generated by mammalian cells. Gas phase microdialysis extraction has the potential to improve upon existing methods of measuring nitric oxide. The probes used in this technique are small enough to be potentially useful in animal studies and can be interfaced with a sensitive, chemiluminescence nitric oxide analyzer to provide accurate measurements of biological levels of nitric oxide. If gas phase microdialysis extraction is shown to be a viable means of means of measuring nitric oxide produced by mammalian cells it would pave the way for future nitric oxide measuring experiments using animals.

  Faculty Mentor: Anthony Borgerding

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  Renee Huset

  Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to Understand Minnesota’s Carbon Landscape

  This project has three phases, all of which are centered on locating and preserving Carbon-rich lands in Minnesota.  The first phase of the project involves mapping concentrations of above ground Carbon in state.  The second phase includes analyzing the underlying processes associated with the presence of Carbon hot spots.  To accomplish this, we will estimate the relative contribution of multiple factors on the Carbon-sequestration potential of the landscape.  For example, we will examine whether north- or south-facing slopes are associated with higher Carbon concentrations.  After mapping the Carbon landscape and analyzing variables associated with Carbon sequestration, the final phase of the project synthesizes our findings into a formal proposal to the Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council (LOHC)—the state’s governing body responsible for appropriating funds for conservation projects.  Our proposal will suggest the preservation of lands in the state that contain high Carbon levels as well as a plan for statewide Carbon offsetting.

  Faculty Mentor: Paul Lorah

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  Ryan Irey

  Some Textural Considerations in Schoenberg’s Klavierstück, Opus 33a

  The twelve-tone compositional practice is one of the many interdisciplinary facets of music, for which mathematical principles are recruited to help explain certain elements.  However, unlike most basic and intermediate mathematics, there is still a large subjective component to twelve-tone music.  So much of the texts regarding basic twelve-tone music theory hold the idea of “row primacy”, that is, the importance of the order in which the twelve notes of the Western chromatic scale appear, as the foundation of twelve-tone music.  It is my initial finding that Schoenberg abandons this compositional principle in Klavierstück, Op. 33a.  Furthermore, in many analyses of this piece, theorists seem to focus on very particular twelve-tone principles, which inevitably overshadow the problematic areas of the piece.  I believe that the realm of twelve-tone music theory and Schoenberg enthusiasts alike would benefit from an analysis that addresses all of the problematic areas in addition to building on the general observations that are widely held by music theorists.    

  The project that I am proposing is well within the capacity of a complete undergraduate music education.  It is interesting to me that an analysis that considers the vast textural implications of this piece has not already been published so as to provide a perspective that alleviates the problematic areas of the piece.  It is my hypothesis that such an abandonment of row primacy in twelve-tone music is highly anomalous, and part of my research will focus on this issue within the context of the genre itself.  If my hypothesis is correct, I believe that the importance of this project will reveal itself in the larger artistic implications of the piece, which Schoenberg may have venerated more than the “rules” of his own compositional method. 

  Faculty Mentor: Shersten Johnson

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  Emma Jindra

  A Comprehensive Assessment of the Potential for Estrogenic Endocrine Disruptors in the Chicago Area Waterways

  The Chicago Area Waterways (CAWs) comprise numerous natural and man-made passages. These waterways have various sources and many of them may be impacting aquatic life. Certain inflows have shown the possibility of excreting endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) into the local water habitat. These EDCs are potentially disturbing the health of fish populations in the aquatic environment by interfering with their hormonal system. There have been no studies to date that have investigated the impact that endocrine disrupters are having on the fish populations in the Chicago area. This project has designed a three-phase operation in order to determine the following: the frequency and density at which EDCs are found in the CAWs, the disruption that is potentially occurring in native fish populations, and finally find the sources that are contributing to the EDC occurrence in the water systems. The results of this study will help water resource managers to develop more effective tools to improve the water quality and environmental health of the ecosystem.

  Faculty Mentor: Dalma Martinovic

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  Kyle Johnson

  Béla Bartók and the Musician’s Search for Authenticity

  This research focuses on Béla Bartók’s reasoning that led him to document and use indigenous melodies, rhythms and timbres. Past research has focused on the actual application of the indigenous music within Bartók’s compositions. This project is innovative because it will aid future musicians and scholars in understanding the problem of authenticity in Western art music’s use of folk elements. In most musical academic environments, the question of authenticity is seldom addressed (Seeger). A historical study of Béla Bartók’s endeavors in ethno musicology could assist inquiring musicians in the search for musical authenticity.
  
  As a student of music, I question the limits of authenticity within Western art music. I am fascinated by the relationship between an institutionalized Western music education and the untaught aesthetic qualities that make music meaningful. This research will help musicians know this balance by learning from a composer who sought authenticity through the appropriation of indigenous culture.
  
  The works of Béla Bartók offer perspective into the Western search for identity. Bartók participated in the genesis of the modern search for roots by idealizing the folk and indigenous populace (Schneider). Early 20th Century nationalism embodied the modern beginning of identity insecurity (Murphy). Identity has become even more elusive within globalization. This research will create knowledge of how musicians fit as individuals in a global culture. Bartók’ssearch for authenticity mirrors my quest for authentic musical expression. By grounding myself in Bartók’s ethnomusicology I will move towards understanding how artistic meaning is found.
  
  My research approach will consult the written and musical works of Béla Bartók. Withint he primary sources of Bartók, I will seek his theoretical reasoning within his musicological activities. By focusing on Bartók as a primary source, the academic community can learn why and how musicians search for musical authenticity

  Faculty Mentor: Sarah Schmalenberger

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  Samuel Johnson

  Learning Electronics with Play-Doh: Fun, Colorful, Malleable, and Conductive

  For many individuals, learning electronics is a particularly difficult thing to do.  In fact, engineering concepts, in general, aren’t easily grasped by many people.  Visual and playful learning are two of the best teaching methods which allow students to develop a genuinely deeper understanding of these concepts.  This paper proposes a project that will develop an innovative tool which applies both of these learning methods to the practice of teaching electronics.  Conductive Play-Doh could increase the experiences students have when initially learning the basics of electronics, and in turn, solidify their knowledge of those concepts.  Students will also enhance their creativity due to these playful and visual learning techniques, an attribute with a growing need in today’s rapidly changing society.  Becoming practiced in these learning methods and establishing more creative thinking skills is important for students future education in the sciences and engineering, as well as other academic disciplines, and will improve critical thinking and communication when dealing practical, real-life situations

  Faculty Mentor: AnnMarie Thomas

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  Luke Kassekert

  Development of a Nanopore for Protein Characterization

  The overall goals of the proposed project are very simple: I want to create a pore with a size selectable aperture with reproducible diameter at the nanometer (nm)^* scale. The pore may act as a gate that will allow particles of predetermined size to pass through. I aim to achieve pores with 16-60 nm diameters that will allow particles ranging from 0.3-36.0 nm to squeeze through. This knowledge is applicable towards the characterization of nanoparticles by size. Recent applications in this field of study have been in the area of DNA sequencing (Oxford Nanopore Technologies). Theoretically, full genetic codes may be quickly read using small pores. This concept is still in development. I will be applying the Coulter principle in a similar manner that will help me characterize various antigen/antibody reactions.

  Faculty Mentor: Gary Mabbott

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  Laura Kolar

  The Rise of the Working Woman and the Victorian Marriage

  In her 1888 article, “Marriage,” published in Westminster Review Mona Caird wrote that the “present form of marriage…is a vexatious failure”.  Caird, like many “New Women” writers in the late Victorian era, was concerned that marriage created a constricting economic dependence on men.  The writings of Caird and other New Women sparked a movement in the late 19^th century to expand employment and educational opportunities for women and thus provide an alternative to the strictures of domestic life.  At the same time, other Victorian writers defended traditional marriage and the sanctity of the home.  This resulted in the emergence of the “Marriage Question” in periodical literature of the time.  Fierce debates ensued, which addressed the following questions:  Are women are naturally suited for domestic life?  Should women pursue careers?  Does marriage hinder woman’s self-development? 

  In the proposed project, I will explore how Victorians grappled with these questions.  By critically reading Victorian essays published on “The Marriage Question” and then analyzing them using a feminist historical approach, I will investigate why women pushed for liberation from the home and argue that their struggle has strongly influenced later debates about the working mother’s balance of family and career in the twenty-first century.

  Facutly Mentor: Alexis Easley

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  Nicole Lucca

  The Invasion of Wonderland; A Post-colonial Reading of Lewis Carroll’s Alice Books

  This project will explore how British imperialism was communicated to children through literary texts during the late Victorian period. In particular, I will focus on Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, which encouraged children to accept the values of imperialism. The books helped to reinforce the idea that the Western standard of rational thought was far superior to the rationality of the colonized “other.” When Alice, an upper-middle class Victorian child, falls down the rabbit hole into Wonderland, she finds herself in an alternate world that doesn’t follow Western standards of rational thought. In response to this “foreign” environment, Alice behaves in a way that is both aggressive and elitist. Even though she is a child she considers the creatures of Wonderland beneath her because they do not adhere to the Western manners and morals. Alice tries to impose her beliefs about what she considers right and wrong, but when her ideas are not well received she declares all of Wonderland to be “mad.” The imperialist context and subtext of Carroll’s Alice books and of Victorian children’s literature in general has received little attention in recent scholarship. Such a reading is justified by the fact that Carroll’s work was published during a period of rapid colonial expansion and highlights the exotic imagery associated with the British colonies. This study thus provides a groundbreaking interpretation of the Alice books and illuminates what kinds of imperialist values were being transmitted through children’s literature during the Victorian era.

  Faculty Mentor: Alexis Easley

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  Kati Lundell

  The Development of St. Paul: Non-Profits and their Dependence on Industry

  During the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, the city of St. Paul began to see a dramatic population increase.  Thousands of settlers were attracted by the new opportunities offered in the railways being constructed as well as the flour and sawmilling industries.  As St. Paul began its transition into a profitable economic center, how did this affect the formation of non-profit institutions within the city?  My goal in researching this subject is to understand the development of St. Paul from a different perspective.  Although the growth of St. Paul was heavily based on the emerging industries, the creation of non-profit organizations further propelled another aspect of development.  I want to connect how St. Paul industry effected the formation of community-oriented non-profit organizations and thus a more completed city.  I will conduct this project by reading extensively on industrial and non-profit history within St. Paul.  I will use resources of the Minnesota Historical Society to examine St. Paul’s industrial history as well as visiting appropriate cultural and social non-profits in the St. Paul area. Non-profit research will be conducted at specific institutions whenever possible.   I will also interview people within different organizations that have knowledge pertaining to this topic.    

  Faculty Mentor: Tom Mega

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  Rae Lyons

  Pets as Purses: Treating Pets as Accessories and its Influence On How Humans Value the Natural Environment

  This project will explore how the “pet as accessory” trend (probably originating with Hollywood celebrities) influences the views people hold of the natural environment.  While previous research has explored other areas of human-animal relationships, none have investigated the effects of this recent trend.  Previous research has demonstrated, however, that the way humans’ view the natural environment is a state, rather than a trait, and as such can be susceptible to stimuli.  The question this project asks will be answered by randomly assigning participants to one of three conditions where they will read a narrative and view a photo describing a human-pet relationship where the human views the pet as an accessory, as a family member, or as nature.  Participants will then complete a questionnaire, which will include questions from an environmental motives scale with three dimensions, egoistic, altruistic, and biospheric concern.  It is believed that those who view pets being treated as an accessory will have scores that reflect an egoistic concert, those that view pets being treated as a family member will have scores that reflect altruistic concern, and those that view pets as nature will have scores that reflect biospheric concern.

  Faculty Mentor: Elise Amel

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  Kevin Mahoney

  The Viability of Stock Options in Family Controlled Businesses in the S & P 500

  Stock options for decades have been the main motivational tool for large corporations, but in the past year have proved devastating for many companies.  In my project, I will explore the stock option system to see how companies with different philosophies on stock options have grown in the past decade.  In particular, my goal will be to see if publicly traded family controlled companies have better long term prospects than non-family firms, due to avoiding stock options.  Many of these companies still have family members in control and have vested interest in keeping their long term value and reputation intact.  In my project I will conduct a literature review to determine the financial industry’s views on both stock options and family controlled businesses.  I also will research what makes up a family business and separate all corporations of the S & P 500 index into family and non-family firms.  Next I will research and define the makeup of stock options.  Having established these criteria, I will create an experiment in which I will compare whether a lack of stock options has helped family controlled businesses remain solvent during the recent economic downturn and thus provide more value for their shareholders.

  Faculty Mentor: Mary Daugherty

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  Jascha Marchuk

  Use of Cell Based in vitro Assays to Measure Androgenic Activity in Streams Impacted by Septic Tanks

  Lake Superior, more specifically the North Shore near Duluth and Grand Marais, has been under increased developmental pressure over the last twenty years which has led to an increase in non-point source inflow from household septic systems. Recent studies have shown that even septic systems that function correctly do not fully eradicate endocrine disrupting chemicals from household wastewater and that these endocrine disrupting chemicals can have detrimental effects on development, growth, and reproduction of fish native to Lake Superior. We will use in vitro assays to determine whether septic systems represent a present source of androgens in Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes. We will use cells assays to aid with the evaluation of androgen removal methods that civil engineers develop.

   

  Faculty Mentor: Dalma Martinovic

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  Rory Mattson

  Reconciling the Discord Between the Opposing Roles of the Mississippi River

  In 1986 Congress formally recognized the Mississippi River as both a nationally significant ecosystem as well as a nationally significant commercial navigation system. Since that recognition the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers has been charged with finding a middle ground between commercial development and environmental rehabilitation. Throughout the United States of America’s history the Mississippi River has been a focal point for transporting goods, a gateway for settlers and a freeway for commerce. In recent years, however, society has begun to recognize the Mississippi River as a unique and irreplaceable ecological treasure.  Central to this evolution is the manner in which the tensions between ecology and economic development are presented to the public. The media play a crucial role in prioritizing social ideals. This research will explore the framing of this debate by the media, the public perception regarding the debate and whether it is possible to reconcile two contradicting purposes for the Mississippi River.

  Faculty Mentor: Steve Hoffman

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  Anna Meyer

  Hepatic Morphogenesis in Mammals and Fowl: Two Patterns from One Mechanism?

  The miracle of embryonic development is the transformation of a single, fertilized cell into a myriad of cell types and tissues that comprise a functional organism.  This process is controlled in part by tissue interactions: relationships between two proximate tissues in which one (the inducer) either causes or allows the second (the responder) to attain its mature form.  The formation of every organ in vertebrates is a consequence of these interactions, which generally involve a mesenchymal tissue as the inducer and an epithelium as the responder.  This project explores these interactions with regard to mammal and bird liver, each of which has a distinctive morphology.  When mammals and birds diverged 65 million years ago, the liver of these two species took on a unique appearance.  This project investigates whether this structural difference may be traced to the associating epithelium or mesenchyme, and more specifically, the retention of these tissue interactions as a developmental mechanism over evolutionary time.  Epithelium and mesenchyme from the rudimentary livers of two different species, mouse and quail, will be combined and the resulting structural patterns of the developed liver analyzed.  

  Faculty Mentor: Glenn Sherer

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  Jon Meyer

  Aggression and Lipid Profiles in Argentine Ant: Are They Correlated?

  Linepithema humile (Argentine ant) is an invasive species of ant from South America. This pesky ant species has been introduced in the coastal United States, Austrialia, Europe and Hawaii.  Ferocious to other ants, Argentine ants do not compete with its own species in introduced populations, forming huge colonies instead.  This unicolonialism may be related to loss of genetic diversity, nestmate recognition processes, or evolution in the native range.  Both environmental and genetic factors that affect their unicolonialism.  One environmental factor is diet.  Diet changes these ants’ lipid stores. Lipid profiles, the relative amounts of lipids present in a specimen, of the invading ant, may also change with diet.  This changing lipid proflie may be important in the nestmate recognition process of L. humile.  Long-chain hydrocarbons, such as the ones used in nestmate recognition, require a large input of carbon in the diet to build.  Changes the lipid profile of L. humile may change its unicolonial behavior through affecting which chemicals it produces.  We propose to study the changes in lipid profiles.  through detalied study of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) usingthrough chromatography.  Gas chromatography is required to identify individual lipids in these comples biological samples.

  Faculty Mentor: Thomas Marsh

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  Andrew Michel

  Synthesis of a Novel Antimicrobial Agent

  In recent years, medical news has featured a significant number of findings of different bacteria developing resistance to antibiotics developed and used since the 1960s.  As these multidrug resilient bacterium continue to mutate, multiply, and cause harm to human health, new antibiotics need to be explored and synthesized.  Oxazolidinones are a common class of synthetic antibiotics proven to combat and inhibit the resilient bacteria.  Linezolid, trademarked Zyvox, is the only compound on the market today.  It is commonly combined with other medicines to achieve the desired antibacterial effects.  With the increasing immunities by the bacteria and obvious side effects more specific and advanced antibacterial molecules are needed.  Continual research is being conducted by chemists with many new compounds arising with promising results, hoping to capitalize on this current research a few compounds will be synthesized and tested for their potency compared to Linezolid.  The main goal of my research project is to synthesize an Oxazolidinone with a thiadiazole group.  Also efficient synthetic work will be done in order to develop a profitable route to the desired compound.  At the end of each step, the product will be purified and characterized by NMR and HPLC-MS.  Further research will be done to make the synthetic route more productive and look into other antibiotic molecules.

  Faculty Mentor: Thomas Ippoliti

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  Katie Miller

  Nitrogen Homeostasis in the Invasive Argentine Ant, Linepithema Humile.

  Homeostasis of macronutrients is vital to the success of many organisms including ants. Many insects have been shown to respond physiologically to different macronutrient ratios but most of these studies have focused on nitrogen and phosphorus as limiting macronutrients. Here we examine the effects on the Argentine ant species Linepithema humile when carbon is a limiting macronutrient and how this can lead to increased levels of nitrogen to the point where nitrogen toxicity increases mortality among these ants. We are interested in discovering the exact biomolecule that causes this increased mortality in the Argentine ants when they are reared on low carbon: high nitrogen ratios.

  Faculty Mentor: Thomas Marsh

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  Joseph Nesbitt

  Researching, Designing, and Building Better Communication Devices for Older Adults

  Unlike the newest generation, older generations were not brought up with computers, the Internet, and cell phones.  This difference between the ways each group communicates poses a challenge that needs to be overcome.  This research project directly addresses this challenge and deals with the lack of easily accessible communication methods for older adults.

  One of the main goals for my project is to build a working prototype of a device that sends text message updates to inform people that their loved ones are getting along alright by themselves.  To be specific, sensors will be used to monitor activities such as opening a refrigerator, which can indicate that the individual is remembering to eat, and turning on a bathtub faucet, which can indicate that the individual is remembering to bathe.

  What makes this project feasible is that I have already made a lot of progress.  As a volunteer researcher for Dr. Ann Marie Thomas, I prepared a survey on technology usage among older adults that will be going out to older adults around the Twin Cities area.  I have also written pieces of code for the hardware I am using to build the prototype

  Faculty Mentor: AnnMarie Thomas

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  Dustin Potter

  Factors Influencing Fish Community Composition in Shallow Minnesota Lakes

  The number of fish species present in lakes (species richness) is driven by both colonization and extinction variables. Colonization variables (can a species get there) include horizontal and vertical distance to other lakes, while extinction variables (can the species persist through time) include lake size and lake depth. Research in deeper lakes has shown colonization variables are more important than extinction factors, but variables driving fish richness in shallow lakes (less than 5 m deep) are presently unknown. I will address this information need by studying 144 shallow lakes in 6 different areas of Minnesota, and I will measure lake size and depth, distance to other water bodies, connectivity, plant mass in the lake, water pH, and species richness and composition of the fish community. I will use a model selection approach to assess which of these variables best predicts fish species richness, and whether the variables differ among the 6 different study areas. Because they are shallower and are more likely to have low oxygen levels in winter, I hypothesize extinction factors will be more important than colonization variables in shallow lakes. My results will help state and federal agencies manage species richness of fish in shallow lakes.
   

  Faculty Mentor: Kyle Zimmer

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  Annmarie Rodriquez

  Isabella Bird: Transcendental Spirituality in A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains

  Isabella Bird is known for her brave feminism, her extensive world travel, and her detailed observations of the natural environment. All of these aspects of her achievement present in her book, A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains (1879). Recent criticism has explored Bird’s feminism and her contribution to environmental preservation. However, critics have not addressed the spiritual and philosophical roots of her work. In this project, I will address this gap in existing scholarship by answering the following questions: In A Lady’s Life, to what extent was Bird influenced by Transcendentalist thinkers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson? How did A Lady’s Life inform and shape the burgeoning environmentalist movement? I will argue that Bird’s personal, lyrical approach to nature writing is evidence of her transcendental spirituality. With extensive research of primary and secondary sources, I will shed light on Bird’s unique brand of transcendentalism by analyzing her text from historical, feminist, and environmentalist critical perspectives. With a comprehensive analysis of the text through these lenses, my project will demonstrate how Bird’s personal, lyrical approach to nature writing emerges as a feminist-environmentalist response to Emerson’s transcendentalist thought.

  Faculty Mentor: Alexis Easley

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  Mark Schreck

  Parallel Processing: Applications in Computational Physics

  In order to facilitate the research being done by St. Thomas professors and enable student research projects, the university needs to have a parallel computing cluster dedicated to research purposes. Currently, professors must use off campus resources for their computations, and it is very difficult to have students involved in computational physics research. My proposed project is to build a 16 processor computing cluster that will be available for future computational research projects. The cluster will be built using standard computer components, and it will run the Linux operating system as well as use several computational software packages. These computational packages are specifically designed to solve systems of differential equations which are used to model physics problems. The cluster is not just limited to physics applications; departments like computer science and mathematics will also have access to this cluster for their research needs. 

  Faculty Mentor: Marie Lopez del Puerto

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  Daniel Sjolund

  Photo-induced Electron Transfer and Reduction of Pyrromethene with Various Quencher Molecules in Transient Absorption Spectroscopy

  This research project is primarily concerned with obtaining the absorption spectrum of the Pyrromethene 567 radical anion. The results will aid in understanding the fundamental principles of radical organic molecules excited by high-intensity light, and the data will likely confirm the basic principles of intermolecular electron transfer and energy release through fluorescence. By utilizing a laser generated beam of photons directed through a chemical sample, one has the capacity to perform transient absorption spectroscopy. Such a technique allows an observer to determine whether or not excited species of the original chemicals have been generated. This project will focus specifically on finding reproducible methods for generating electrically excited radical anions of Pyrromethene 567, and then continue investigation by recording absorption patterns at all measureable wavelengths of light

  Faculty Mentor: Joseph Brom

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  Nathan Skemp

  United States and United Kingdom Response to Terrorist: Explore Policies in Context of Extradition and Human Rights.

  My research will examine the legal, cultural, and ethical issues concerning the extradition in two powerful world leaders which have recently faced terrorist threats:  the United States and the United Kingdom.  Examination and research of the two aforementioned world powers explores the policies of extradition, the relevant treaties between nations, the international norms of handling terrorists, and how suspected terrorists are treated under the issue of human rights. The comparison of U.S. and U.K. extradition of suspected terrorists will bring forth key issues, such as the interpretation of complex treaties, the rights of suspects, Guantanamo Bay, capital punishment, and the differences between a terrorist act and a political war.

  Faculty Mentor: Susan Marsnik

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  Matthew Slattery

  Analysis of the Antibacterial Properties of Tetracycline and its Photoproducts

  In this study the photodegradation, or decomposition caused by sunlight, of tetracycline under environmentally-relevant conditions will be examined to determine the fate and behavior of its photoproducts. Tetracycline, by direct photolysis, is known in varying conditions to degrade into seven different photoproducts (Oka Hisao et al. 1989). Water hardness and pH are two characteristics of a natural environment that can alter the decomposition pathway of tetracycline (Oka Hisao et al. 1989). Here, the growth of the bacterial strain E. coli DH5α will be measured by UV-vis spectrophotometry (600nm) in the presence of varied concentrations of both photolyzed and unphotolyzed  tetracycline to determine the potential antibacterial activity of its photoproducts in diverse waters and conditions. The EC₅₀ of the photolyzed and unphotolyzed curves are compared to determine if the photoproducts retain antibacterial activity.

   

  Faculty Mentor: Kristine Wammer

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  Christine Spampinato

  Effect of Substance P in Immune Response to Mouse EL4 Lymphoma Model

  Substance P (SP) is an eleven amino acid neuropeptide that has been shown to have a regulatory role in the immune system. This regulation includes an interaction with both the proinflammatory and anti-tumor mechanisms of the immune system. Depending on the tumor model, SP has been shown to have either stimulatory or inhibitory effects on tumor growth. In this study, SP’s effect on a mouse lymphoma model will be examined in vivo. Further, I will examine the role of macrophages and T cells in the SP-mediated immune response to this tumor. This will be accomplished by depleting mice of macrophages or T-cells and observing tumor growth through flow cytometric analysis.

  Faculty Mentor: Jill Manske

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  Chris Stefonowicz

  Characterization of Toluene Chemotaxis in Pseudomonas putida F1

  Many different types of bacteria are known to be chemotactic, that is they have a physical attraction to specific chemicals in their evnironment.  The attraction is usually driven towards chemicals that the organism is able to metabolize and harness as energy.  This phenomenon is controlled by protein receptors located on the surface of the cell that recognize either energy changes or certain chemicals that are of particular interest to the cell.  Once an energy change or chemical is detected, these receptors generate a series of biochemical reactions that lead an organism to swim towards that chemical.  Pseudomonas putida F1 is a common bacterium found in the environment that displays chemotactic behavior towards the toxic aromatic hydrocarbon, toluene; a common environmental contaminant.  Unique from many other organisms, P. putida F1 is able to utilize toluene as an energy source. Currently, it is not known what receptors are used by P. putida F1 to detect toluene in the environment.  We hypothesize that P. putida F1 has a specific set of genes on its chromosome that encodes for the ability of P. putida F1 to detect toluene in the environment and subsequently affect the biochemical changes to make the bacterium swim towards toluene.  If we are able to identify the specific set of genes that code for the chemotactic protein receptor, it could lead to a better understanding to how bacteria respond to toxic chemicals in the environment and possibly provide some solutions for the degradation and clean-up of chemical toxins in the environment.

  Faculty Mentor: Jayna Ditty

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  Amanda Stemig

  Antibacterial Activity of Oxytetracycline, Its Photoproducts

   The overall goal of this project is to provide important information about the potential impacts of various antibiotics in natural water systems. The first portion of this project is the study of oxytetracycline. Oxytetracycline, a derivative of tetracycline, is an antibiotic commonly used to treat both humans and animals and has been detected in natural water systems.  It is known that oxytetracycline degrades when exposed to sunlight and concerns have emerged that some of its photoproducts may also retain antibacterial activity.  The antibacterial activity of oxytetracycline and its photoproducts will be studied under various water conditions including varying pH levels and metal ion concentrations.  The goal of this research will be to finalize and solidify data from research that was performed during the summer of 2008 in order to publish the findings in a journal of chemistry.

  The second portion of this project is continuing collaboration with the University of Illinois in which the antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim and lincomysin is studied before and after degradation with potassium permanganate.  The goal of this portion of the research will be to continue and finish collecting data in order to publish a paper with the group from the University of Illinois.

  Faculty Mentor: Kristine Wammer

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  Jonathan Tschiggfrie

  Toward a Synthesis of Steam Calliope Technique on the Western Rivers

  This research will explore the last remaining element of steam calliopes on America’s inland waterways. While the history and technical development of the calliope has been covered in some available literature, the technique and style customary to the steam calliope in the riverboat tradition have never been described in any reputable source. Elements of this research include gathering previous video and audio recordings of past calliope performers, creating new recordings of modern performers, and combining these sources with existing data collection to synthesize a model of historically authentic steam calliope performance. In addition, the research will cover the influence of individuals in the history and folklore of riverboat calliopes, to the extent of their role in shaping the proliferation and preservation of the steam calliope tradition in America. 

  Faculty Mentor: Sarah Schmalenberger

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  Brandon Turek-Krengel

  Engineering Design Within K-12 Systems: An Analysis of Existing Methods and Recommendations for Effective Design Teaching

  The goal of this project is to motivate and facilitate the teaching of engineering design in K-12 schools. The engineering design process is necessary for most engineering practices [5]. Additionally, the processes systematic approach can be considered beneficial to students who may find their career interests within other disciplines. Unfortunately the process of engineering design is often considered to be hard to learn and still harder to teach to students [1], regardless of their age. I propose to establish a recommendation of “best practices” for teaching the processes of engineering design to K-12 students. This objective shall be pursued in a three step program; first, establish a layperson definition of design and to establish a set of “best practices” for engineering design through a comprehensive literature search. Second, I shall use the results from step 1 to evaluate existing K-12 engineering design projects, detailed within the literature. Finally, the evaluated processes will be used to serve as recommendations of programs for teachers based upon their teaching style and familiarity with the topic of engineering design. As a supplement a few class programs for students and teachers will either be outlined or provided within an appendix.

  Faculty Mentor: AnnMarie Thomas

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  Jessica Urban

  Psychological Identity of College Students

  College has become a time of exploration and identity realization. Many decisions and commitments are made regarding several aspects of the young person’s life.  Questions about their morals are often tested and the young person needs to make decisions as to where they stand.  According to current experts, identity development is no longer reserved just for adolescents in high school, but has been extended into the early twenties, particularly for those in college. With this research project, I hope to empirically examine the relationship between two different paradigms of identity-related concepts relevant to college-age students:  identity developmental status (Marcia, 1966) and moral identity (Hardy & Carlo, 2005). To do this, I will hand out questionnaires to students taking psychology courses during the Summer Session I. These questionnaires will assess their identity status as well as their moral identity. I will carry out particular statistical analyses specific to my two hypotheses that address how their identity status relates to their moral identity. This research will help other psychologists better understand identity and moral development in college-age students.

  Faculty Mentor: Tonia Bock

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  Andy Van Alst

  How Competition Affects Nutrient Regulation in Ants

  In Collaboration with Erica Gathje
  All animals must obtain a balanced intake of nutrients because each nutrient plays a role in body functioning. Animals can obtain an appropriate balance by selectively collecting resources rich in nutrients they need. This selective feeding is more difficult when animals face competition, but also for social animals who work together to collect food.  In this study, we will investigate how exposure to competitors affects patterns of nutrient regulation in colonies of the pavement ant, Tetramorium caespitum. We predict that these colonies will regulate their protein: carbohydrate intake ratio around a common target when given foods differing in quality and concentration. We will test this by giving colonies foods differing in protein: carbohydrate ratio and total nutrient level. In a second experiment, colonies will be placed in competitive environments, forcing them to interact with ants from another colony. We predict that nutrient regulation will differ when colonies face competition; most notably, that the nutrient intake ratio will shift to include a higher amount of carbohydrates, an important fuel needed for activity to counter-act the threat from competitors. The comparison of competition’s effects on nutrient regulation is a novel idea that could make a contribution to the field of animal behavior.

  Faculty Mentor: Adam Kay

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  Mai Cha Vang

  Hmong in the Twin Cities: Attitudes Toward Homosexuality

  This proposed study will involve the collaborative work of Mai Cha Vang and Dr. Lisa Waldner, Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice. The study will take place during the first ten weeks of the summer of 2008 and will involve surveying residents of the Hmong community in the Twin Cities in order to assess attitudes toward homosexuality. Because there is little empirical evidence documenting current Hmong attitudes, I propose using surveys with quantitative measures to find out the level of acceptance towards gay men and lesbians. In other words, how do Hmong attitudes compare with other minority groups such as other Asians, African-Americans, and Hispanics? Furthermore, this study strives to understand what may help explain these attitudes by specifically testing whether or not variables such as gender roles, level of acculturation, homophobia, and family dynamics. I believe having a better understanding of this area may positively benefit Hmong youth and other family members who may be struggling to understand or deal with the homosexuality of someone they know. 

  Faculty Mentor: Lisa Waldner

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  Vladimir Vinnik

  Synthesis of Novel Diamines from “Green” Feedstock

  New technologies are emerging to utilize biomass feedstocks to supplement and eventually eliminate the use of petroleum as fuel and as a base for industrial and chemical processes. These new technologies are extremely important since biomass is likely to be the fuel that powers the world in the uncertain time of transition from petroleum to the energy sources of the future. At the same time, chemists are collaborating with government agencies to discover new ways for biomass to be incorporated in industrial processes. Nylon 6,6 is synthesized from adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine, both of which are petroleum derivatives and consumed in mass quantities every year in industry. In my research project I will be attempting to synthesize hexamethylenediamine from a completely green feedstock, 5-(chloromethyl)furfural, which is made from cellulose. The synthetic route designed by Professor Ippoliti utilizes relatively uncomplicated methods to achieve the desired result. With Professor Ippoliti’s expertise, my chemistry background, and the availability of chemicals and equipment, the project is very realistic and should be finished within the proposed timeframe. 

  Faculty Mentor: Tom Ippoliti

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  Kelly Ward

  The Cult Following of Robert E. Lee and His Place in the Lost Cause Mythology of the Confederacy

  The American Civil War raged between the Union and the Confederacy from 1861 to 1865 claiming the lives of many and immortalizing the lives of a few. One such was Confederate General Robert E. Lee. He was admired during his life, an admiration that only grew and flourished in the years after his death. This project will explore the cult following of Robert E. Lee and his place in the Lost Cause mythology of the Confederacy. I will examine three aspects concerning Robert E. Lee; his public image from the end of the war to present day; his place in the greater context of the Lost Cause mythology of the Confederacy; and whether he deserves the level of reverence he is given in history and public sentiment. My primary research materials will be letters and memoirs from Confederate and Union soldiers and newspaper and journal articles from 1861 to 1880.  The bibliography of secondary sources is attached.

  Faculty Mentor: Joe Fitzharris