Program of Spring 2010 Oral Presentations

1. Weeks, Meghan. Art, Chase Hutchison, Dr.Thiessen-Reily. Invisible Sight: Infrared Photography

According to Kant in the Critique of Pure Reason, “our representation of things, as they are given to us, does not conform to these things as they are in themselves…these objects as appearances conform to our mode of representation.” Infrared photography presents a reality that exists but is not perceptible to human beings. However, we are aware of its existence by experiencing the effect rather than the actual process of this reality. The purpose of this project is to address the conflict a viewer experiences when presented with an image of reality that is contradictory to what is known, yet is forced to acknowledge that both realities are variations of the truth. Through experimentation with infrared images and an analysis of photography as a medium, these concepts may be visually demonstrated and explained.

2. Fremgen, Aleshia. Biology, Dr. Bingham. Kin Selection and Interspecific Competition In Plants

Kin selection is a cooperative behavior in which individual organisms work to benefit their family group for a higher inclusive fitness, despite a reduction in their individual fitness. The proportion of genes relatives share determines the extent of cooperative behavior, as well as the costs and benefits of raising related offspring or their own offspring (rb>c). Plants must be able to recognize relatives, which involves volatile cues from the roots to their leaves as an herbivory response. Plants use their root systems to compete with other plant species but they restrict their root development when related to their neighbors. Several species grow shorter and fewer roots, reduce shoot production, or reduce the number of stamens per flower when in contact with non-self kin than when they come into contact with another species. These root interactions may be a combination of kin selection, interspecific competition, and resource partitioning.

3. Fuselier, Ross McGee, Stuart Magno, Jeremy Dole. Biology, Sarah Cerra. The Effect on Watering Brassica Plants 

Water is important to Brassica for photosynthesis. We predicted the overwatered Brassica plants will grow at a more accelerated rate while the underwatered Brassica plants will not appear healthy, and wilting may occur. If to little water is given to Brassica, they will not develop properly and will be susceptible to pests while too much water makes soil too moist for Brassica causing root failure and rot. After a failed experiment, we found it appropriate to give the underwatered 150 ml of water, the control 200 ml of water and the overwatered 250 ml of water. We can conclude our hypothesis was supported (p-value .00000967). We found the plants grew larger with more water. The overwatered plants on average grew 3.1 inches taller than the under watered set. We believe this experiment better if to give the control set the amount of water we gave the overwatered set 250 ml.

4. Fremgen, Marcella. Ecology, Dr. Patrick Magee. African Mammal Dietary Requirements, Habitat Proximity to Water and Reproductive Strategies

Sub-Saharan ungulates and carnivores have different water and nutrition requirements, which affect their preferred habitat. Carnivores need more water than ungulate species to digest their high protein diet and must live near a permanent water source. Most ungulate species obtain water from the plants they eat and are not restricted to land with available water. The Great Migration includes blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), Burchell’s zebra (Equus burchelli) and Thomson’s gazelle (Gazella thomsoni), which require more water than other ungulates and migrate to permanent water. This difference in habitat requirements may be related to different reproductive strategies, such as year round breeding versus birth pulses. The Great Migration species’ birth pulse is during the wet season. Because calves are born in wet season habitat and carnivores are restricted to this same habitat, the calves are vulnerable to predation. Nonetheless, this strategy is advantageous because the vast numbers of calves satiate predators.

5. Kuester, Travis. English, Dr. Alina Luna. The Art of Destruction

The play Paper Flowers, by Egon Wolff, explores various themes such as gender roles, the disparity between the rich and poor, and questions identity. One aspect of the play that has not been fully explored is the role of art as destruction. Wolff has chosen two very different types of artists to focus on in his play. The first is Eva, a wealthy widow who approaches art as a hobby, the second known as the Hake, contrasts the passiveness of Eva with a predatory instinct. By analyzing Paper Flowers and its two primary characters, with a lens focused on the importance of art as destruction, one can discover how this theme complicates the message of the play, and demonstrates that the purpose of art can not only be to provide an aesthetically pleasing creation, but can lead to the destruction of one’s humanity.

6. Grauberger, Amanda. English, Dr. Alina Luna. Victorian Victimization

Henry James creates The Turn of the Screw in which the governess, commonly believed to be a patron of the devil for being a creator of corruptor amongst her charged children, is in fact victimized by the social role she is forced to take, where as D. H. Lawrence writes Lady Chatterley’s Lover, a story about an aristocratic woman who freely partakes in an adulterous affair. Both of these women are held to societal standards they cannot change or alter. James’ governess, unable to escape the domineering lifestyle of her position, is left without options and forced to accept her fate, confined to the wills of societal expectations. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley, though not mandated to uphold the accepted norm as an aristocrat, willingly chooses to victimize herself by sacrificing everything for “the better cause.” Both women have personal obligations to uphold and neither concludes positively, for each sacrifice true happiness in order to perfectly adhere to the socially accepted roles of their time.

7. Burkett, Nelsa. History, Dr. Anthony Miccoli. Philosophy of Science: American Philosophy of the Industrial Revolution

Philosophers, such as Descartes and Heidegger, have struggled to explore the concept of science. The continental thinkers examined man’s relationship with science and technology. Americans philosophers such as Charles Pierce, William James, and Jane Addams, however, view science as a way to procure result. This philosophical movement is different from that of the continental thinkers. My project explores why and how this philosophical difference occurs. Are these trends reactions to historical and social movements such as the American Industrial Revolution? Or are the philosophers acting in response to eachother?

8. Myers, Dax. History, Heather Theissen-Riley. Collapse of Somalia: A Direct Result of Siyad Barre 

Somalia has faced oppression since the colonial division but none as severe as the stranglehold that Siyad Barre had on the country during his rule from 1969 to his exile in 1991. While the colonial era did little to prepare Somalia for independence, the modern state was driven into the ground after Barre came to power. Illustrating the destructive characteristics of African “Big Man Politics,” instead of establishing positive economic structures, he embarked on a series of military campaigns that each ended badly. Allying with the Soviet Union and the United States (among others such as Italy) Somalia’s economic production slowed until the state relied entirely on foreign aid. As the Barre regime was the last functioning government in Somalia, the collapse of the modern Somali state can be directly linked to his actions.

9. Myers, Dax. History, Heather Theissen-Riley. Phoenix's Dependency on Rocky Mountain Rivers

This paper examines Phoenix’s rapid growth based on its dependence of Rocky Mountain Rivers. While the city does not get all of its water from Rocky Mountain Rivers, it is such substantial amount that the human habitat of Phoenix can be looked at as artificial, meaning (on the current growth scale), the area of Phoenix should not be as densely inhabited as it is, based on the resources that it needs to function. As a result of the rapid growth (after 1950- and the arrival of central air conditioning), the mass development destroyed the surrounding desert and the influx of population growth caused the city to require more water than what the Indian Bend Wash Watershed could support. The result of this was Phoenix turning to other sources of energy and water resources. Glen Canyon Dam now provides the hydroelectric power needed to support the cities growing air conditioning needs. In the 1980s, the Central Arizona Project planned to divert water from the Colorado in order to satisfy the cities growing needs. The implications of this expansion are tremendous, and have already led to the destruction of many delicate ecosystems.

10. Crum, Alyssa. Honors. Heather Theissen-Riley. Tradition Conservation and Education in Santa Fe

In this presentation, I explore Santa Fe’s educational curriculum and will determine whether or not the local schooling reflects the unique traditions within the area. Santa Fe is known for its unique architectural, commercial, and artistic identity, an identity that is more often presented as a tourist attraction than an actual tradition. Using information from my interviews with various educators throughout the city, I suggest that this identity is more tied to the local culture and education than one would suspect at first glance. The real tradition and culture underscores the fabricated commercial exterior of Santa Fe, and this is reflected in Santa Fe’s younger population carrying on the legacy of Spanish and Native American Influence.

11. Ankoviak, Chris, Kindra Luberski, Jeremy Johndrow, Jacob Tucker. Outdoor Leadership and Resort Mangement, Brooke Moran. Conserving Energy: By saving Money Through Sustianable Practices

This project was done to show how implementing sustainable practices can save money and the environment. Our goal was to isolate the number of rooms cut off from all electricity, thus eliminating their phantom load at the Grand Lodge, in Crested Butte. Comparing occupancy, electricity bills and evaluating the effect of disconnecting 50 vacant rooms for 30 days, we determined the cost associated with operating each room. Cost effective and sustainable practices were also introduced for the lobby, business offices, pool, restaurant and gift shop areas. Based on the level of involvement from hotel employees, tactics were suggested to directly affect the amount of electricity and money saved. We found that on average the Grand Lodge could potentially save 10% to 15% annually on electricity bills. The findings of this project will be implemented throughout Crested Butte Mountain Resort in an effort to become more sustainable.