The Evology of Addiction

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This research explores popular discourse regarding the “opiate epidemic” and deconstructs the ways in which popular conceptions of addiction and addicts shapes the care that that people recieve. By looking at the systemic causes of addiction, this research also examines the links between addiction, environmental justice, rurality, and the many facets of systemic oppression.

The Feminist Pedestal: Ronda Rousey and the Representation of Female Athletes

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This article will explore the feminist self-identification of female athletes in addition to critiquing the harms and benefits of placing female athletes on a “feminist pedestal.” Ronda Rousey, a well-known athlete in mixed martial arts, will serve as a case study in the analysis.

The Geographic Movement of Goods Related to the Iron Industry in Humboldt County During the Early 20th Century

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This project examines the geographic movement of materials and products related to the ironworks industry in Eureka, CA during the early 20th century. Archival research was undertaken in the Eureka Ironwork's Collection and Humboldt Room at Humboldt State University. Data was analyzed using GIS in order to understand the geographic scope of business transactions.

The Gift of Kings: Reciprocity Between Worlds

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

I investigated the role of reciprocity in sacrificial rites of Iron Age Ireland through literature review of three well-documented bog bodies: Clonycavan Man, Gallagh Man, and Oldcroghan Man. I hypothesized that the elite status of these men made them valuable as sacrificial offerings. Literature indicates their high status as well as the ritual nature of their deaths and deposition. Sacrificial ritual establishes reciprocity between mortals and the divine. Reciprocity is a universal social phenomenon which creates a network of mutual obligation. The people of Iron Age Ireland used high-value offerings in sacrificial ritual as a means of obtaining high-value returns from their deities.

THE HIMALAYAN BLACKBERRY (RUBUS ARMENIACUS) IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY RIPARIAN AREAS :Mapping and Analysis of the Mad River and Jacoby Creek Ecosystems

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

California is a native biodiversity hotspot, and is affected by over 60 invasive plants and animals despite aggressive state efforts to combat this problem. This project will focus on the relationship between the Himalayan blackberry and its effect on neighboring native species in the riparian areas of the Mad River and Jacoby Creek in Arcata, CA. The goal of this project is to highlight the spatial location and extent of the invasive blackberry thickets and design a potential abatement program that can be implemented at the local level. GIS will be used for mapping and special analysis.

The Hippie: From Conception to Today

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Beatniks, Free Spirits, Tree Huggers, Bohemians, and even Freaks some may say, are all words commonly used to describe what one might generalize as a “Hippy”. This subculture has been a highlighted group synonymous with fashion, mass media recognition, environmental conservationism, musical creation, music culture, nomadism, drugs, and various other connotative associations. This analysis seeks to identify the media correlation between the identified subculture of the “Hippy” from its conception to today and how the evolution of this culture has manifested itself in today’s mass media-flooded society as well as media of the past.

The History and Development of the Washoe People

Caroline Blair, Anthropology Undergraduate Student

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This project is an exploration in the history, development, and reclamation efforts of the Washoe Tribe. This native tribe’s ancestral land centers around Lake Tahoe in Nevada and California. The Washoe people have been adversely impacted by colonial and westward expansion. Currently, The Washoe have proposals for land use within each of their established settlements that will incorporate more agricultural practices and conservation efforts and the Tribe is opening a sawmill within the Tahoe Forest for revenue, jobs, and fire management. These projects represent efforts by the Tribe to reclaim their ancestral lands and promote their own development.

The Homeless Students of Color of Humboldt State University

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

In the Fall semester of 2015, Humboldt State University experienced an increase in enrollment unlike any in its history; HSU recruited a total 1,429 incoming freshmen, which joined the already-enrolled student body of 7,370. Of that population, 31% was Hispanic-identified, and 31.3% of that population was from Los Angeles alone. Competitive housing on and off campus left many students in housing insecurity; some endured homelessness for a majority of the semester. This ethnographic research spans the Fall 2015 semester as an attempt to analyze the multi-faceted issue of student homelessness. The increase in enrollment provides an opportunity for analysis in our very racialized present.

The Impact of COVID on Academic Stress and Achievement Goal Orientations in College Students

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Since the start of the pandemic, college students report experiencing more stress, more burnout, and more negative academic perceptions which in turn have affected persistence rates. College students' are experiencing more academic stress due to having a hard time adjusting to online format which has been associated with lower academic persistence. Students' goal orientation may be influenced by stress. Achievement goal orientations refers to a student’s motivation and approach to educational goals. We hypothesize that COVID-19 stress would mediate the relationship between perceived academic stress and achievement goal orientations.

The Impact of Mandated Physical Fitness Testing on Mental Health

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

For my project I wanted to focus on the impact that mandated Physical Fitness Testing has on students. The state of California mandates that students receive a physical fitness test. The test then categorizes the results and measures health based on these results. What it fails to take into account are biological, psychological, and socioeconomic components that can contribute to the students results. Body image and eating disorders are a prevalent issue amongst our society. What I hope this project addresses is the limited research we have on the detriment of physical fitness testing and if and how it impacts the mental health of students.