Honors Program
Bemidji State University
1500 Birchmont Drive NE
Bemidji, MN 56601-2699
Room: HS 357
Phone: (218) 755-3984
E-mail: honors@bemidjistate.edu
In water and soils, humic substances and clays are omnipresent, and wither directly or indirectly associated with numerous biological, chemical and physical phenomena. Those substances readily form aggregates between themselves. The aggregates can absorb a wide spectrum of pollutants from the waters and soils serving as an environmental remedy.
Dr. Branden's research project was a case study of negotiations between Anishinaabe and university representatives as they came together to build an environmental/research center on the reservation. Issues of ownership over wild rice caused conflict between the two groups. The lecture's focus was on describing the research project and discussing ways Bemidji State University could benefit from the information gathered.
The first part of this lecture described & evaluated 3 recent & highly publicized challenges to Darwinian evolutionary theory. The second part of the talk described contentious issues within evolutionary theory & provided an overview of the current consensus & remaining challenges.
Rachel Carson's book, Silent Spring, changed the way Americans think about the environment and ecology. When it was published, it was attacked as unscientific and treated as a mere public relations problem by the USDA and other government agencies. This lecture addressed the book helped move environmental issues to the front of American consciousness and women from the backyard to the research lab.
Research distinguishes between women in traditional professions (TP) from those in non-traditional professions (NTP). An unpublished study found that the majority of a sample of US women identified themselves as tomboys in their childhood, suggesting gender role factors play a role in shaping career paths. This presentation examined childhood experiences of women from three cultures. It proposed that it is gender role factors that shape career choice.
This lecture dealt with communication and gender. Even though the world's cultures differ in many and various ways, they share the same process of transforming meaning and feeling.
This lecture explored the contemporary performance of personal stories. Oral histories and storytelling are ancient forms of human enterprise. Regardless of text and the contexts, the common thread is a communicative purpose. Our stories create us and constitute our legends. As we engage others, telling who we are, we are also learning about who we are.
This past June & July, three BSU students prepared and implemented their own service-learning projects in Kibwezi, Kenya under the supervision of Dr. Lawrence. In this lecture, Cory Connett, Melissa Jacobsen and James Sutton shared their experiences.
This lecture focused on the transition of Vietnam in two parts: from a Command economy to a Market economy. Dr. Scheela also examined Vietnam's changing relationship with the United States from the reunification of Vietnam in 1975 to the present. The presentation included personal videos and observations about life in Vietnam.
In the spring of the year 200 BCE, the Roman Republic entered upon a war against Macedon. In this lecture, Dr. McManus argued that this was was launched not so much for geopolitical reasons, but for internal political reasons. The launching of this was had serious consequences. It initiated a half-century of war in the Eastern Mediterranean that would enrich Rome and greatly expand its empire.
What happens when a sexual offender is released back into the community? There is much social debate regarding the application of community corrections and concern for the safety of community residents. An inherent conflict emerges between the criminal justice system and the community. This presentation examined the legacy of Megan's Law as a case study for polarized community attitudes toward sexual offenders and others bearing a social risk.
Even though the world's cultures differ in many and various ways, they share the same processes of transforming meaning and feeling. This lecture dealt with self and personal identity, as well as with the feeling component of our communication. In many cultures, gender separates. Gender, however, may serve as a unifying element. Gender differences were identified in the expression of emotion as demonstrated both locally and worldwide.
Using the United States' current involvement in Iraq as a backdrop, Dr. Murphy examined the relationship between American imperialism and 19th century ideals about manhood as expressed by Captain Frederick S. Wild. Wild's experience testified to the war's dangers and difficulties, and he reflected the cultural characteristics that shaped his generation. This presentation considers Wild's ideas about masculinity, their importance in shaping his experience as a field officer, and their connection to the expansionist designs of the U.S. government at the end of the 19th century.
The focus of this lecture was on the incredible world of change that American Indians have experienced in the past 150 years, particularly the past 35 years, from Mr. Cook's perspective and experience. Topics discussed included: negative stereotypes, misunderstanding and mythology rather than authentic understanding and a sense of history, and the reality of the world in which American Indians live today.
Poisonous chemical agents have been a part of warfare between nations throughout history. Poisonous chemicals have also been effective tools for individuals dealing with personal problems, such as unloved relatives, barking dogs, and political or economic rivals. This talk was based on the premise that lessons can be more confidently drawn from more common types of tragic incidents involving poisonous chemicals.
Six hundred billion dollars. That's how much local newspaper publisher Adam Steele thinks the First Amendment is worth. Steele is the founder, editor, reporter, ad salesman and columnist of the Northern Herald. He recently had the opportunity to test his hypothesis in federal court, after three years of litigation against the City of Bemidji and individual named plaintiffs, who, he claimed, conspired to keep him from distributing the Northern Herald because of his hard-hitting stories about political and corporate corruption in our town. The story of the trial, what led up to it and its aftermath provided a fascinating case study in how difficult it is to appreciate a messenger whose message a community dislikes.
Interrupting each other's speech has always been considered rude, inappropriate, and even aggressive. A close observation of the speech acts of a group of close friends reveals that their habit of "interrupting" each other functions in ways that can facilitate communication and foster relationships. This was, in part, a paper previously presented at the International Listening Association conference in Sweden in July 2003. Additional information and insights are the result of a review of the research with the participants in the study.
Historical interpretation or re-enactment has become increasingly popular in the last decade. Role playing in historical contexts attracts both a large number of participants and sizable audiences. This lecture presented findings of research among Civil War re-enactors, members of the Society for Creative Anachronism and Lewis and Clark interpretive events.
Active technology has supplanted many of the reflective arts that kept us in touch with what it means to be human. The diaries, conferences, long conversations, complex novels have been sidestepped by e-mail, video and virtual reality. Poetry returns us to the memory, the spirals and labyrinths that lead us to reclaim what has been lost, neglected or forgotten. The events in our inner world guide and influence who we become and how we define what it means to be human. The poet brings harmony to the world. This lecture surveyed key 20th century poets to examine ideas about the nature of poetry and its potential to translate body into spirit and to embody spirit in language.
It has been three years since the terrorist attach on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. During that time, the US Government has stepped up a counter offensive against terrorism through direct intervention in Afghanistan and a much disputed war in Iraq. On the home front, the US Patriot Act was hastily presented to the US Congress and quickly approved. This lecture focused on the issue of 9/11 and the promulagation of domestic anti-terrorist policy. The US Patriot Act was analyzed along with a proposed bill granting the US Government further control over the criminal justice system and the due process of rights of American citizens.
During the 1990's, a heated debate took place in the media and in psychology about repressed memories vs. false memories. This debate led to a renewed interest in the topic of false memories within experimental psychology. The goal of this renewed interest has been to better understand the process by which false memories are formed and remembered; in other words, the focus has been on basic rather than applied research. In presenting his research, Dr. Rafferty discussed a number of general issues related to experimental psychology, including control procedures, statistical significance and a justification of basic research.
During every election season throughout American history, political candidates have utilized their military background. In 2004, Senator John Kerry emphasized his record as a naval officer in the Vietnam War. He also minimized the National Guard role of President George W. Bush, laying claim to the votes of 8.4 million Vietnam-era veterans. In this lecture, Dr Murphy examined Kerry's role as a veteran who protested the war and discussed the role of two Republican administrations in trying to rewrite history for political gains.
This lecture focused on "the past of culture and education." Culture dramatically affects the learning process. Although in essence all cultures teach much the same, we may observe similarities in the areas of science and math, and many differences in the areas of history, philosophy and social studies. The status of teachers, and the esteem in which education is held, are reflections of a culture's values and beliefs.
Language. It's all around us. We are unaware of its effects on us and on those around us. Elfriede Jelineck, a contemporary Austrian author, writes to jar her readers from their complacency vis-a-vis language, it's use, its influence, its power. Jelinek shocks her readers into attending to the often alienating what, how and context of her language use. Through Jelinek's latest dramas, this lecture demonstrated Jelinek's understanding of cultural use of language as a tool for inciting violence, for promoting irrational response, for manipulation of memory and for distorting history.
The lecture provided an overview of the changing nature of college counseling center work nationally and on the BSU campus. Traditionally, counseling programs served students by helping plan majors, explore career options, and resolve temporary personal problems. Today, many centers are reporting significant increases in students seeking services for serious psychological problems. The Center staff also discussed efforts to better respond to these changes through a comprehensive planning process, and presented results of recent research by staff on best practices in providing services to students with serious psychological problems.