Ryan Schmitz, Mass Communication

Ryan Schwingler, Political Science

Abstract: Public post-secondary institutions vary greatly in the way in
which they are organized. Some institutions have become part of a larger
system, in hopes to share costs and centralize administration, while others
have remained more autonomous. My research is focused on the benefits
and shortcomings of centralized systems of higher education and used data
from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) compiled
from over 650 public institutions. From which, I have analyzed statistics
such as tuition and fee costs and their relationship to the institution being
a part of a centralized system. Preliminary findings of my analysis indicate
that in the great plains region tuition and fee costs are actually higher for
students attending four-year public institutions within a larger system, (such
as MnSCU), than those attending autonomous campuses in the same region.
Curiously, these findings contradict analysis of national data.

Karlee Simonson,
Life Science Secondary Education

Abstract: Survival rates of fathead minnows were determined in a 96 hour
bioassay comprising four treatments, (Control-no algae; light- little algae;
intermediate- moderate algae; heavy- thick algae) from a dense fall 2008
blue-green algae bloom from Lake Bemidji, Minnesota. Ninety-six hour
survival rates in intermediate (47%) and heavy (7.5%) treatments were
significantly less than those in the control group (77%). Survival rates in the
control and light (69%) treatment were not drastically different (P=0.000).

Dustin Stensland, Undecided

Abstract: This paper presents a case study of the American Indian
Movement. Focusing on the situational social context that fostered the
emergence of AIM in the 1960s, the paper also discusses emergent leadership
among a disenfranchised Native American people and the cultural
significance of this leadership. The paper also explores the journey of the
movement in terms of within group personality conflicts, conflicts between
mainstream social structure and the emergent movement, and difficulties
in maintaining a coherent movement vision. The paper concludes with a
discussion of the collective identity that arises within the movement and its
role in sustaining the Native American voice.