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In Union College Permanent Collection

Abstract

black outline of a world map printed or drawn on top of pastel blue, green and gray shapes and curvilinear lines; horizontal print; applied on top of both these elements are pale green swirls, concentric circles, and curvilinear lines perhaps depicting currents

Type of Resource

VisualArtwork

Rights Statement

In Honors Theses

Abstract

Over the past twenty years, marijuana has been the most widely accessible and widely used illicit drug in the United States of America. Marijuana is often labeled a gateway drug and is illegal to possess, use, or cultivate under federal law. However, movements of medical marijuana advocates see the drug as a potentially beneficial substance used to treat a variety of ailments including multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s Disease, and seizures. A strong push in support of legalizing marijuana for medicinal use has quickly gained nationwide traction. Since California first adopted medical marijuana legislation in 1996, twenty-eight states and Washington D.C. have passed similar medical marijuana legislation. Marijuana may be associated as a compliment or a substitute for other health related risky behaviors, leading to possible increases or decreases in tobacco use. The potential impact of long-term legalization of medical and recreational marijuana on greater cigarette co-use in adults is something that must be taken into account. This paper investigates the effect of medical marijuana legalization on individuals’ tobacco smoking participation, initiation, and cessation rates using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) data set from 1997 to 2015. The results I find indicate that those respondents living in states that legalized medical marijuana are associated with an increase in regular cigarette use and regular marijuana use. However, there is no evidence to show medical marijuana legalization had an effect on cigarette use initiation and cessation. These findings suggest potential negative effects of medical marijuana legalization on smoking outcomes. The negative implications of these effects are far reaching across the U.S. healthcare system.

Type of Resource

Thesis

Rights Statement

In Honors Theses

Abstract

My work examines the nature of The Office of the First Lady of the United States as a lens through which to view female leadership, power and influence in America. Through analyzing the singular experiences of four controversial First Ladies; Abigail Adams, Jacqueline Kennedy, Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, this dissertation illustrates the ambiguities and challenges associated with The Office of First Lady as a metaphor for female power. Why analyze the First Ladyship as compared to other political posts held by women? The Office itself is not elected, appointed, institutionalized or legal. Therefore, how do these women use The Office, a feminized position accorded through marriage, to maintain, disrupt, challenge or reinforce gender roles and stereotypes in American society? Each First Lady analyzed through this work represents a shifting ideal of women in America as constructed through the era in which they served. While the feminist movement has either benefited or been disadvantaged by these First Ladies, what are the ultimate contributions of the Office? With a former First Lady potentially making her second run for the Presidency, it is clear that the Office of the First Lady of the United States yields more power than once thought imaginable.

Type of Resource

Thesis

Rights Statement

In Honors Theses

Abstract

For my environmental policy thesis, I investigated female forest rangers in the New York state department of environmental conservation (DEC). I looked at how their introduction into the forest service has evolved since the first female forest ranger in New York state, Patti Rudge, who took the job in 1988. I looked at common trends between retired and current female forest rangers as well as comparing their experiences to studies done about park rangers in the national park service. I found many similarities between their experiences, however there are key differences between federal and state level agencies. Through my research I was able to gain a perspective from female forest rangers of how the New York State DEC could be more inclusive, as well as what to be done to improve their relationship with the public. I also found that gender stereotypes are still a significant issue for female forest rangers. A solution to this, though not an easy one, is to push equality of educational opportunities at a young age to break gender stereotypes associated with the outdoors. This might break the stigmatization that women are not as capable of doing the forest ranger job as men are for the next generation.

Type of Resource

Thesis

Rights Statement

In Honors Theses

Abstract

This thesis studies the effects that race and socio-economic status have on a student's academic achievement in the American public education system. It compares the experiences of students from Schenectady, New York, a low-income, minority-populated small city, and neighboring Niskayuna, a predominately white, affluent community, by looking at graduation rates, school budgets and resources, teacher salaries, household income, and rates of poverty. Despite the annual budgets and student expenditures being similar amongst the two districts, the rates of poverty and racial disparities are dramatic. Therefore, this research exposes how there are countless variables outside of the school itself that impact a student's academic proficiency. Much of my research has come from census data and local news sources. However, my largest and most effective source were the two districts' superintendents, who I had the honor of interviewing. Both men offered insight into the reasons for the achievement gap seen between their districts, and furthered my claim by explaining how the culture of poverty and subsequently parental involvement largely effects a student's achievement. This thesis begins with a review of the secondary source literature I used to contextualize my claim and is followed by three chapters focusing on the general history of Schenectady County, the history of education in Schenectady, and a direct comparison of the discrepancies between Schenectady and Niskayuna. It is completed with an epilogue that shines light on some of the national programs that have been implemented to reform the American education system.

Type of Resource

Thesis

Rights Statement

In Honors Theses

Abstract

This thesis aims to illustrate the concept of natural disaster-induced environmental gentrification. There is a heightened vulnerability to unmitigated forced displacement by socioeconomically disadvantaged residents following a natural disaster. Environmental gentrification is a variant of green gentrification. Green gentrification occurs when providing green amenities to a city increases local property values and attracts wealthier residents to a previously polluted or disenfranchised neighborhood, which displaces the low-income residents. Similarly, environmental gentrification is a process that occurs after a natural disaster and rapidly accelerates the process of traditional urban gentrification or green gentrification. As a result, environmental gentrification magnifies and facilitates further the underlying socioeconomic and environmental inequality already in place at the time of disaster. This thesis presents two case studies in which exemplify environmental gentrification post-natural disaster. The two case studies are New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and New York City in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The overall objective of combating the effects and continued occurrence of environmental gentrification post-natural disasters is the materialization of a more complete democratic vision of climate change resiliency planning and policymaking. Resiliency planning requires that the concerns of all potentially affected residents are addressed through the cooperation of all government levels and the private market to ensure egalitarian opportunities for participation in planning and policymaking process. Through mutual responsibility and transparent presentation of policies the outcome is the creation of an equitable environment for all potentially affected people and property.

Type of Resource

Thesis

Rights Statement

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

Type of Resource

DigitalDocument