lived. A character analysis of Caulfield opens pathways to new CDT interpretations of other postmodern literature, serving as a piece of particular significance due to its stylistic differences in comparison to other works of the time. Tru Naumovitz - “Narrative Criticism of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run” (session 20) The artifact(s) for this criticism will be Part 7 of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, specifically aspects of this part that involve disability related themes and factors. The basis for the story of part 7 includes Johnny Joestar, a disabled individual who spends the entirety of the story confined to a wheelchair. This theme proves to be prevalent throughout the narrative, with a particular focus on how Johnny’s mind is all he needs to overcome the great adversity that he faces throughout the story. Ultimately, the arrival of “Act 4” presents Johnny as the strongest, proving his story to be one of triumph in the face of adversity and the challenges that he faces with his disability. The narrative criticism application will be an attempt to make a model specifically based upon disability and how the interactions in the story create a clear, linear model as to how disability functions in the story specifically. This presentation will be useful to fans of the manga as well as individuals interested in the growing representation of disability in media. Eddy Ndayikengurukiye - “Alcohol Use and Behavioral Patterns Among Missouri Valley College Students” (poster session II) This study examines alcohol use and behavioral patterns among students at Missouri Valley College, with a focus on understanding how drinking habits influence decision- making, social interactions, and academic performance. Alcohol consumption is a common aspect of college life, yet its psychological and behavioral impacts vary widely among individuals. The purpose of this research is to identify trends in drinking frequency, motivations for alcohol use, and the potential consequences associated with these behaviors. Data will be collected through an anonymous online survey distributed to currently enrolled students. The survey includes questions related to alcohol consumption frequency, social contexts, emotional triggers, and perceived academic and personal outcomes. Participation is voluntary, and all responses will remain confidential to ensure ethical research standards are upheld. By analyzing these patterns, the study aims to contribute to a better understanding of how alcohol use affects student well-being and behavior. The findings may also provide insight for campus programs and mental health initiatives designed to promote safer decision-making and healthier coping strategies among college students. Alanna Neilsen - “Early Comprehensive Sexual Education in Pre-Adolescents: I’m Proving Knowledge and Reducing STI Risk” (session 17) Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and adolescent sexual risk behaviors continue to be a critical health concern. Missing knowledge in reproductive anatomy and prevention education contribute to untrue information and unsafe practices during adolescence. Children and adolescents refer to their close peers for obtaining answers about sexual education although very few children this age have correct education and resources. To bring awareness of this societal issue, an educational module was developed containing information relating to safe sex practices and physical development. This project examines whether
comprehensive sexual education introduced to pre-adolescents ages 8–12, compared to delayed instruction during teenage years, improves sexual health knowledge and long-term outcomes. Evidence suggests that introducing anatomy education, STI prevention strategies, and body awareness before adolescence prepares children with critical decision-making skills and promotes safer behaviors later in life. Early comprehensive sexual education may serve as an essential preventive health strategy, reducing rates of sexually transmitted infections and supporting improved adolescent health outcomes. Preston Nicholson - “From Rhetoric to Massacre: The Role of Dehumanization in the Rwandan Genocide” (poster session I) The Rwandan Genocide of 1994 is a chilling demonstration of how social division can be manufactured and translated into mass violence within a matter of weeks. This paper examines how the Hutu Power movement used historical grievances and propaganda to push the Tutsi people outside the boundaries of moral concern, reframing their identity in biological and threatening terms. David Livingstone Smith argues in Making Monsters that dehumanization is not a set of actions, but a deeply rooted ideological mindset. This paper connects Smiths concepts of subhuman classification, essentialism, and natural- kind thinking to the specific rhetoric of the genocide to show how this mindset changes moral perception. Analysis reveals that dehumanization is a manufactured psychological shift that ordinary people under specific social conditions are highly susceptible to. This conclusion carries implications for how we can detect and resist dehumanizing narratives today, particularly in light of social media and digital platforms. Preston Nicholson - “Parasites Can’t Talk: How Corporations Reassign Dependency and Control Worker Identity Through Narratives of Parasitism” (session 14) In modern workplace discourse, employees are frequently framed as “parasitic,” for behaviors such as minimal productivity, absenteeism, and disengagement while still expecting compensation. I argue that this narrative functions as a tool of control, masking the deeper reality that corporations and elites rely on the labor of workers while taking disproportionate gains from their efforts. I will use the movie, Parasite , as a lens to examine how parasitism is often wrongly assigned, and instead reveals a system of dependence in which wealth is maintained through largely unrewarded labor. I will use literary analysis of this film, academic work on labor and power, and qualitative analysis of worker narratives online to explore how these dominant narratives are constructed. I will then show how, once constructed, these narratives shape the lives of the people they describe, enforcing compliance and sustaining the system. This project challenges common assumptions about agency, dependency, and value in capitalist systems by amplifying the often-overlooked perspectives and stories. It will be of interest to readers seeking to better understand how cultural narratives shape perceptions of work and encourage them to critically reassess how their roles and identities are shaped by these systems. Preston Nicholson - see Fletcher et al. “Recovering the Home Front: Economy, Logistics, and the Jackson County MO War Experience” (session 19)
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