Student Theses and Honors Collection
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Library, Information, & Technology Services (LITS) established the electronic Student Theses Collection in 2005. It contains over eight hundred e-honors theses created by MHC seniors from across the disciplines. By archiving your honors work in the Institutional Archive, you are contributing to the legacy of excellence in student scholarship at the College.
To submit an honors thesis to the collection, please start by reviewing the information found here.
Once you are ready to submit, click on the "Login" link within the "My Account" box on the lower right side of this page. Click on the MHC logo, and then enter your MHC username and password. You will be redirected back to the Institutional Archive homepage. Scroll down to the "My Account" box and click on "Submissions. Then choose "Student Theses Collection."
For questions about the Student Theses Collection, please contact Digital Library and Academic Technologies.
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Item Open Access Escaping the Birdcage: Complicating Narratives of Agency and Victimhood through Maternal Metaphors of the Female Tigers in the LTTE(2024-06-24) Rao, Madhavi; Medhi, AbhilashIt is hard to imagine genocide, war and violence without imagining women. Cruelty against women, or more essentially mothers, represents the darkest aspects of war against a people. To humanize a group, you invoke their mothers – symbols of the capacity of those people to love and be loved. However, in many contexts, womens and mothers are not only victims of violence, but its perpetrators as well. During the Sri Lankan civil war, it was Tamil women within the militant separatist organization of the LTTE who disproportionately enacted mass violence against both soldiers and civilians. Women became perpetrators, not victims. And yet, their violence was assigned a maternal virtue – a mother’s divine wrath and extreme urge to protect. The association of women as docile, servile and above all self-sacrificing dispelled any sense of empowerment that female combatants might have gained when they picked up their weapons. Their participation in an extremist movement was attributed to the manipulation of their maternal instincts, not to an active choice fueled by their beliefs. By reducing women to different aspects of motherhood – the mother of a people, the ever-giving mother, the mother goddess – they are stripped of their agency and bound to their “nature”. This thesis attempts to complicate narratives of violent women as only acting upon and being exploited through their most maternal instincts. To this end, this thesis will engage with propaganda about and by Tamil female militants, mythical and religious depictions of mothers within nationalist rhetoric and the bodily autonomy of women fighting the Sri Lankan civil war to assert their identities as militants, not mothers.Item Open Access Characterization and Spatial Analysis of Official and Unofficial Caldera and Coronae Populations on Venus(2024-06-21) Woerner, Jess; Dyar, M. DarbyVenus is often considered Earth’s evil twin due to their similarities in structure, but its surface conditions render it a volcanic hellscape. Through the mapping of previously defined populations of calderas and coronae on Venus using ArcGIS Pro, many features considered “caldera-like” and “coronae-like” were identified, prompting the creation of potential caldera and potential coronae catalogues. Heat maps were created to assess the spatial distribution of these features across the surface of Venus and it was found that 61% of the identified potential calderas were contained within or closely associated with the official caldera population, while 85% of the identified potential coronae were contained within or closely associated with the official coronae population. Further analysis of high-density feature clusters uncovered a significant presence of coronae with depressed topography as well as relationships between highly deformed terrain and coronae formation on the surface. A previously undocumented coronae cluster was identified in the Bereghinya Planitia quadrangle, outside of the distinct geologic settings in which coronae are most common. Upcoming missions to Venus will produce higher-resolution radar maps of the surface, allowing closer research of these findings.Item Open Access How do Pigeons Find Their Way Home?(2024-06-21) Schlein, Silvie; Lawlor, Andrea; Yu, WesleyIn an exploration of what it means to construct queerness with and without language, my thesis aims to bring a new perspective to Chaucer’s work while also engaging in the current conversations surrounding queer identity. Chaucer’s Wife of Bath and Pardoner are reimagined as modern characters living in New York City. As they struggle to understand the strange pigeon-like reflections they have been seeing in the mirror, they end up helping each other through an unlikely friendship. Throughout this project, my process was rooted in an interest in queer and medieval theory, as well as in a love for the questions of identity that humans share across centuries. Incorporating illustration, fabulism, poetry, and prose, I pull from queer and medieval traditions to create a narrative that grapples with the abstract constructions of identity, gender, queerness, and pathology.Item Restricted Regulation of Insulin Signaling by Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 in Drosophila melanogaster(2024-06-21) Stichter, Madigan; Woodard, CraigInsulin sensitivity declines progressively with age in mammals, potentially leading to diseases such as metabolic syndrome, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. The mechanisms underlying this decline are not well understood. Matrix metalloproteinases or MMPs are multifunctional Zn2+-dependent protease enzymes that play key roles in tissue development, cell organization, cell cycle control, and response to stimuli and signaling in a wide variety of animals, including mammals and the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. Many MMPs are attached to the cell membrane by the protein glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI), which enables them to interact with the cell’s extracellular matrix (ECM) (Cieplak & Strongin, 2017). Previous studies of MMPs in D. melanogaster indicate that MMP1 and MMP2 work cooperatively and distinctly to degrade ECM components, particularly type IV collagen and laminin, during tissue remodeling of the larval fat bodies (Jia et al., 2014, 2017). MMP2 overexpression causes premature fat body remodeling in larvae and is both necessary and sufficient to induce fat body dissociation in D. melanogaster (Bond et al., 2011). I investigated the role of MMP2 in insulin signaling using D. melanogaster, which is a great model organism with a short life cycle that requires minimal culturing effort. Despite the fruit fly having low genetic redundancy, it still has a 75% similarity to all human genes implicated in disease. This makes it an ideal model organism to study the insulin signaling pathway. Previous studies show the indirect involvement of MMP2 in insulin signaling in D. melanogaster, and overexpression of an MMP (MT1-MMP/MMP14) in mouse hepatic (liver) tissue showed direct cleavage of the insulin receptor, thus suppressing insulin signaling (Guo et al., 2022). I hypothesized that in D. melanogaster, MMP2 has direct involvement in the insulin signaling pathway through cleavage of the insulin receptor. In my investigation - inspired by the mouse study - I overexpressed MMP2 in the fat body of transgenic flies and quantified the effect on insulin signaling via western blot analysis. Quantification of the western blot by downstream protein biomarkers of autophagy, Atg8a proteins, resulted in a surprising decrease in autophagy in the fat bodies of MMP2 overexpressing transgenic flies compared to the control group. Despite that outcome, it was notable that early fat body remodeling occurred in MMP2 overexpressed flies, which is consistent with the findings of Bond et al., (2011). In future studies, more western blots should be performed to gain a higher n value, and tissue samples should also be taken from feeding 3rd instar larvae when insulin signaling is at its highest (Chen, 2020).Item Embargo Assessing Thermal Tolerance of Infected and Uninfected Bombus impatiens to a Variable Thermal Environment(2024-06-21) Lohr, Micah; Van Wyk, Jennifer; Brodie, RenaeIn insect species such as the common eastern bumble bee, Bombus impatiens, the relationships between body size, temperature, and disease are closely intertwined. Given the significant selection pressure that the latter two of these stressors impose, it is critically important to understand how climate change will impact species who carry out critical ecosystem services as mean temperatures and thermal variability increase. This work assesses the ecophysiology of B. impatiens in a simulated heatwave. It compares the thermoregulation, behavior, and metabolic rate of bumble bees when uninfected versus infected with a sublethal intestinal trypanosome, Crithidia bombi. Using a thermally controlled chamber, I measured thoracic body temperature, behavior, and respiration rates in infected and uninfected B. impatiens workers from 24 to 36 ºC. I found a significant interactive effect of infection status and body size on thermoregulation, with infection masking the side-mediated effects seen in uninfected bees. The likelihood of an individual fanning– a physiological adaptation to heat stress– increased at higher temperatures regardless of infection. Finally, the respiration rate of infected individuals demonstrated a negative relationship with infection intensity. Obtaining this fine-scale understanding of interacting stressors will provide insight on outcomes for important pollinators with respect to global climate change.Item Open Access Depo Provera downregulates the expression of genes involved in maintaining the mucosal immune barrier and protecting against Chlamydia infection in the murine female genital tract(2024-06-21) Dresler, Madison; Lijek, RebeccahDepo Provera (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, DMPA) is a standard pre-treatment in Chlamydia animal models to ensure reliable female genital tract infection. DMPA also increases infection with simian-human immunodeficiency virus, herpes simplex virus, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mice and non-human primates. In humans, DMPA has been associated with an increased risk of sexually-transmitted infection, prompting the World Health Organization to call for more research on how DMPA impacts mucosal immunity. Here, we report a transcriptomics analysis of how DMPA modulates the expression of genes related to the immune barrier in the murine female genital tract. C56Bl/6 female mice were treated subcutaneously with 2.5 mg DMPA at day -7 or days -10 and -3, corresponding to different protocols in the Chlamydia field. The cervix, uterus, and ovaries were excised, total RNA was extracted and applied to the NanoString PanCancer Immune Profiling and Host Response Panels, representing 1114 genes. DMPA treatment resulted in the differential expression of over 300 genes, including the significant downregulation of many genes involved in mucosal and cell-autonomous immunity (e.g. lipocalin 2, mucin 1, CCR3, STING, and caspase 8). Studies investigating the relative contributions of key genes and their relationship to Chlamydia infection are ongoing. These data support a model wherein DMPA weakens immune barrier functions to allow reliable Chlamydia infection in the murine female genital tract, and may also explain why DMPA use in humans is associated with increased sexually-transmitted infection.Item Open Access Neural Representation of Implicit Meter in Typical Early Readers(2024-06-20) Rose, Madeline; Breen, MaraThis study tested the hypothesis that implicit meter can serve as a way to measure oral reading fluency which in turn could predict reading comprehension. By investigating the neural mechanisms that inform implicit meter, it should be possible to measure oral reading fluency. Therefore, by studying the neural and behavioral underpinnings of implicit meter in children during development (6–10-year-olds), it should be possible to map specific neural mechanisms to reading comprehension. Additionally, this study investigated whether one of the specific mechanisms, the LMN component, had a direct correlation on childrens’ reading comprehension KTEA scores. This study found that adolescents are more so successful in sustaining a quadruple implicit meter than a triple meter and are more successful sustaining a slow tempo meter than a fast tempo meter. This study also found that the N1 component matures over the course of adolescence, with it being unobservable in the youngest cohort and fully emergent by the oldest cohort. The LMN component was found to be observable throughout all cohorts without showing visual signs of maturation. Additionally, this study found that the LMN component does not exhibit direct correlation to reading comprehension. Therefore, the LMN component is not a neural component that can be used to measure oral fluency, and therefore is not suitable to measure reading comprehension. This deeper understanding of the neural underpinnings of reading comprehension can then inform future educational policies that aim to promote childhood reading comprehension and provide clear targets that policies can focus on when designing interventions for the vast population of children who are struggling to meet the threshold to be considering as being able to read to their grade level.Item Open Access An Approach to Thermodynamically Controlled Supramolecular Assembly in WaterMyren, Isabel; Hamilton, DarrenSupramolecular chemistry focuses on the formation of multi-molecular complexes held together by non-covalent interactions. One prominent sub-field of study within supramolecular chemistry is the use of thermodynamic favorability to drive the self-assembly of complex structures, such as rotaxanes. Rotaxanes are a type of supramolecular complex in which a linear ‘guest’ molecule with bulky ends is threaded through a large ring-shaped ‘host’ molecule. Rotaxanes are important for several reasons such as their use as molecular shuttles and synthetic dye stabilizers. Many rotaxane synthesis techniques rely solely on the thermodynamic favorability of non-covalent interactions such as π-rich and π-poor aromatic unit interactions. A recent study created a synthesis method that used reversible carbonyl condensation chemistry to form the linear guest molecule within the host macrocycle much like assembling a ship piece by piece within a bottle.1 Then they used an irreversible dehydration step to remove the formation reversibility and ‘trap’ the guest molecule within the host molecule, creating a stable rotaxane. This research project examined whether rotaxanes could be formed in water through the addition of sodium bisulfite to augment the method used in the previous study. This project tested the premise that the hydrophilicity of the water combined with the favorable non-covalent interactions would then drive rotaxane formation. It was theorized that this addition should increase the yield of rotaxane formation while simultaneously decreasing the complexity of the process. However, modified experiments focused on guest molecule formation in water produced much lower product yields than expected. Additional experimentation determined the cause for this drop in yield to be an unexpected reaction between the sodium bisulfite and the unadded bulky end groups of the guest molecule. This sodium bisulfite reaction was irreversible in the presence of aqueous base and thus removed much of the sodium bisulfite and the bulky end molecules from the reaction. Several attempted bypass reactions prove ineffective. Due to the overactivity of sodium bisulfite, future experiments could focus on testing other possible water solubilizing agents such as amino acids in imine formation reactions.Item Open Access Beyond Silence: The #MeToo Movement’s Confrontation with Chinese Patriarchal Hegemony(2024-06-17) Gong, Katherine Shaojun; Day, IykoThe #MeToo movement has emerged as a defining moment in feminist digital activism, yet the majority of literature has primarily examined its impact within North American and European contexts. With the increasing prominence of international digital activism and discussions surrounding censorship and social movements, understanding the arrival of the #MeToo movement in mainland China offers a valuable and distinct opportunity to explore how these dynamics operate in a non-Western context. This project presents four in-depth case studies of allegations that epitomize the Chinese #MeToo movement, considering variations in media exposure, state surveillance, and public reaction. It interprets the #MeToo discourse in China as a battleground for the emergence of a feminist counter-hegemony against the state’s patriarchal authority. Drawing from Gramscian notions of cultural hegemony, common sense, and good sense, this thesis examines feminist public discourse and resistance to state repression as hegemonic struggles, highlighting how the general understanding of sexual assaults has been shifted by the #MeToo movement and how the movement exposes the vulnerability of the state’s hegemonic position. Despite evolving state interventions and heightened surveillance of #MeToo conversations, the movement also unveils opportunities for future feminist activism in China.Item Open Access On the Microscale: Dorsal Snakeskin Microstructure Variation(2024-06-17) Rinvelt, Arin; Brennan, PatriciaThe surface layer of snake scales produces patterns and textures called microstructures visible only at high magnifications. They are highly variable and responsible for snakeskin’s hydrophobicity, structural color, and frictional properties. Past research has used snake shed or wet preserved skins to study these microstructures as opposed to tanned skins. Additionally, little research has been done on the microstructures formed by keratinocytes found between the snake scales and in the hinge region. We used SEM to image the anterior, middle, and posterior dorsal snakeskin microstructures of eight different snake species. We compared the scale microstructures to currently published microstructure research SEM photos and between body regions. We compared inter-scale keratinocytes between species and body regions. We found similar scale microstructures on our tanned skins to other published research. There was some variation between scale microstructure and body region. Inter-scale keratinocytes were very round for all species but varied in size across species. There was no variation in size or circularity between body regions. Tanned skin is useful for SEM research. There is more regional variation of scale microstructures than previously described. Keratinocyte characterization and how its diversity relates to microstructure would be an interest area for further research.Item Open Access Towards An “Accented” Approach: A Queer Hermeneutic of Listening and Intimacy(2024-06-17) Hahn, Jaquelyn; Wilson, LucasThis paper aims to conceptualize “accented” as a reading practice and hermeneutic. Building on Hamid Naficy’s concept of an “accented” cinema, this theory of accented reading practices is a conceptualization of a reading practice that accounts for situatedness, through the theoretical frame of the accent. Working on the sensorial and affective aspects of the accent, a conceptualization of reading as a relational and situational practice allows for a greater range, depth for interpretation, as well as possibilities for building affiliations between a variety of aesthetic practices. Accented cinema is rooted in a discomfort with notions of belonging, home, nationality, and citizenship. This paper examines three texts, Dictee by Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Paddington, the 2014 film directed by Paul King, and Flee the 2021 animated documentary directed by Jonas Rasmussen. Each of these texts work to expand Naficy’s theory aided by the work of Gayatri Gopinath, the critiques of Asuman Suner, and Jose Muñoz. The first text conceptualizes accented reading away from cinema towards literature, to truly first encounter it as a reading practice. The next chapter turns back towards cinema, but conceptualizes accented reading practice as finding affiliations within popular culture. Finally, the final chapter turns towards documentary and testimony as well as queer subjectivity. In finding affiliations between three vastly different texts, this paper conceptualizes accented reading practices as a site of connection, affiliation, and alternative hermeneutics.Item Restricted The Bruising Acts(2024-06-04) Michener-Rutledge, Darwin; Lawlor, AndreaThe Bruising Acts is a work of fiction exploring late-adolescent relationships in the Midwest. The story follows Mia, a nineteen-year-old girl, as she negotiates new kinships in her hometown while recovering from sexual assault. The novel examines belonging and acceptance, bystander complicity in rape culture, and the interpersonal wounds we sustain and survive. Told in vignettes, phone calls, and dreams, The Bruising Acts attempts what Leslie Jamison calls for in her essay, "Grand Unified Theory of Female Pain," "the possibility of representing female suffering without reifying its mythos."Item Restricted Designing Sustainable and Accessible Apartment Style Living for Mount Holyoke College(2024-06-04) Kazel, Catherine; Darling, NaomiThe intersection of sustainability, justice, and accessibility in design holds particular significance in today’s context. This thesis presents a design proposal aimed at innovating residential living at Mount Holyoke College through the lens of sustainability and accessibility. As colleges, including Mount Holyoke College, increasingly acknowledge their responsibility towards environmental stewardship and inclusivity, the need for innovative housing solutions becomes imperative. Focusing on apartment-style living as a solution to common housing accommodations for increased accessibility, this research explores how design interventions can enhance quality of student life and quality of the environment. The methodology encompasses a multifaceted approach, integrating the architectural context, green building rating systems standards as guidelines, and universal design concepts. Through literature review, case studies, and a survey, the thesis examines best practices in sustainable architecture, accessibility standards, and the context of Mount Holyoke College.Item Restricted REIMAGINING LOVE: Understanding Black Mothers and their modes of mothering from fearful to wayaward(2024-05-30) Core, Kyla; Day, Iyko; Maye, KristenThis thesis will Reconceptualize Black Motherhood through African American Literature. Explicitly using the novels Sula, The Bluest Eye, and The Street. Through these three novels, there can be a new understanding of motherhood, that motherhood is not categorical and that a categorical model of motherhood is paradoxical for Black Women. Instead this thesis will offer a new way of understanding motherhood outside of the lens of good or bad and will look at how the choices each mother makes within the novels. As well as what modes of mothering is required for every mother to feel autonomous and free, a respect that is not granted easily to Black Women or Black Mothers.Item Open Access On the Sentimental Argument(2024-05-30) Walton, Mykelle; Emery, NinaIn his 2022 paper, “Five New Arguments for the Dynamic Theory of Time,” Ned Markosian presents the Sentimental Argument for what he calls the dynamic theory of time. According to this argument, there are certain, so-called “poignant” truths about the way the world is. According to Markosian, it follows from these poignant truths that the dynamic theory of time is true. In this thesis, I explain Markosian’s sentimental argument for accepting the dynamic theory of time. I will then point out an objection to his argument by positing some alternative views besides the dynamic theory that could play the same role in Markosian’s argument. I find myself rather persuaded by Markosian’s argument, in the sense that I think we ought to pay attention to what he identifies as these poignant truths when deciding what metaphysical theory of time to adopt. And if our only options are Markosian’s static and dynamic theories of time, then I agree that we ought to choose the dynamic theory on the basis of his sentimental argument. My view is that there are in fact other options. And once we recognize the other options, even if we are paying attention to the poignant truths, they do not entail what Markosian thinks they do.Item Open Access Interactive Effects of Warming and Nitrogen Availability on Soil Carbon Fluxes: Implications for a Changing Climate(2024-05-23) Waldron, Emma; Hoopes, MarthaThe excess of greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide in the atmosphere urgently calls for a deeper understanding of existing natural mechanisms for carbon sequestration. Soils act as a critical natural carbon sink, storing at least twice as much carbon as there is globally in the atmosphere and in plant biomass combined. However, climate change and associated increases in average temperatures can impact soil carbon storage processes, converting carbon sinks to carbon sources. The response of soil carbon to warming is complex and depends on many environmental factors. This study focuses on nitrogen (N) availability, which may mediate the effects of warming on soil carbon via its influence on microbial activity and decomposition. Strong support for this hypothesis is lacking, however, as these variables are difficult to isolate in the field. In this greenhouse experiment, I cross two warming treatments with four N treatments in order to disentangle some of these relationships. To get a picture of how carbon fluxes responded to my treatments, I measured soil organic matter (SOM) as a proxy for the amount of carbon stored in the soil, and soil respiration rate to see how much carbon the soil was releasing. I also measured nitrate and ammonium levels as well as nitrification and mineralization rates in the soil to get a fuller understanding of how my treatments actually affected both N availability and the soil microbial activity governing N availability. I found significant effects from both my warming treatments and my nitrogen treatments, along with significant interactions between the two. Because my pots had living microbes and plants, there were feedbacks between N and C above and belowground, creating complicated relationships between warming, N, SOM, and soil respiration (as expected). Further clarification of these dynamics will be critical for making accurate climate predictions and for strategically targeting restoration efforts to mitigate climate change.Item Open Access Finding the clitoris: using comparative anatomical methods to describe and characterize the clitorises of alpacas (Vicugna pacos)(2024-05-21) Thompson, Grace; Brennan, Patricia; Lijek, Rebeccah; Diewald, BarbieThe clitoris, like many female reproductive organs, is a vastly understudied organ with a long history of misunderstanding. Despite poor representation in scientific literature, the clitoris plays an important role in pleasure, behavior, and reproduction among vertebrate animals. Clitoral stimulation has been linked to induced ovulation and increased rates of fertilization in domesticated agricultural animals. Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) clitoris anatomy has not been previously described despite the prevalence of alpaca farms across the world. Alpacas have unusually long copulation for an Artiodactyl (over 20 minutes on average), and a novel pattern of deep intromission with the penis causing abrasion and hematoma of the female mucosal layer along the upper reproductive tract and uterine horns. Through methods of dissection, histology, CT segmentation, and in vivo observation, we found that alpacas have a well-developed clitoris consisting of the primary components of corpus cavernosum, vestibular bulbs, extensive vascularization and innervation, and clitoral muscles. In addition to these expected structures, there is an unusual cartilage prong in the vulvar commissure and a clitoral lamina of unknown origin and composition that partially encircles the cartilage. These are possible subjects of future study.Item Embargo Effects of Starvation on Matrix-Metalloproteinase 2 Expression in the Larval fat body of Drosophila melanogaster(2024-05-21) Wolfel, Zoe; Woodard, CraigInsulin sensitivity declines with age in mammals, leading to diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity, yet the precise mechanism is not well understood. The modulation of insulin signaling is implicated in the pathogenesis of the diseases and plays a critical role in various metabolic processes. The matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP) are a family of multifunctional Zn2+-dependent protease enzymes that play a role in tissue development, cell organization, and cell cycle control in mammals and the model organism Drosophila melanogaster which are a great model organism for research because it has a rapid life cycle, is small and easily cultured, male and female individuals are easily differentiated, and they share 75% similarity to all human genes implicated in disease. (Guo et al., 2022). Many MMPs are attached to the cell membrane by the protein glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI), which allows them to interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM). In Drosophila there are two MMPs: MMP1 and MMP2 which together degrade ECM components (Jia et al., 2014). I investigated the role of MMPs in the regulation of insulin signaling. Past studies have examined the indirect involvement of Drosophila MMP2 in insulin signaling (Bond, 2010). Along with a homolog for MMP2, MMP14 direct cleavage of insulin receptor in a murine model, consequently suppressing insulin signaling. In my investigation, I studied the role of MMP2 in insulin signaling during larval development by performing starvation experiments. I hypothesize that starvation induces MMP2 expression to allow MMP2 to cleave insulin receptor, which shuts off insulin signaling, allowing autophagy and nutrient release to occur. In order to test this hypothesis I have examined MMP2 transcript levels in the fat bodies of fed and starved third instar larvae using real time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The results of my experiments support my hypothesis that higher MMP2 transcript levels are observed in a starved condition compared to a fed control.Item Restricted A Laughing Matter: Translating the Humor of Catullus(2024-05-21) Moon, Lila; Arnold, BruceCatullus, an innovative and sharp-tongued poet writing during the late Roman republic, has engaged generations of scholars and students alike with his unique wit. Generally, however, the humorous aspect of his poetry is overlooked in academic settings, especially when it comes to translations of his work. Beyond engaging readers, Catullus’ humor reveals many things about the society in which he lived. In this thesis, I explore how we can communicate Catullus’ humor in translation, so that those who do not read Latin may enjoy his poetry and the knowledge that comes with understanding it. Catullus’ work, and especially the humor of his work provides an accessible point of entry into the Roman republic, one of the richest and most enlightening periods of Roman history. In analyzing Catullus’ unique sense of humor, I consider his work through the lenses of two major philosophical theories of humor, as well as through the lens of the literary tradition that inspired the poet. Within this thesis, I offer my own translations of a selection of Catullus’ work in order to prove the feasibility of translating his humor and to demonstrate how this goal should be achieved. I also provide commentary on my translations in order to explain the choices I made to best display Catullus’s humor.Item Embargo Blessed Politics: Christian Zionism, the Prosperity Gospel, and American Policy toward Israel(2024-05-20) Gallery, Lela; Hashmi, Sohail; Hilton, Adam; Barba, LloydWhenever scholars explain the belief system behind Christian Zionism, many scholars cite a complex theological worldview called premillennial dispensationalism. According to this theology, Jews must return to their homeland of Israel for the second coming of Jesus to happen. While this worldview certainly plays a role in Christian Zionist activism, there is another overlooked belief system which impacts this political movement: the prosperity gospel. Since the rise of charismatic Christians into political activism in the 1980s, Christian Zionism has become less about speeding up the end times and more about blessing Israel to gain God’s favor. This project has two goals: 1) to argue that Christian Zionism is a political movement and 2) to show how the prosperity gospel has impacted American policy toward Israel via Christian Zionism.