Academic Festival Schedule of Events

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Ladd 206
"On Plato's Forms: A Philosophical Theory or Theme in Dialectic?"
Faculty Sponsor: Sarah Stebbins, UWW/Philosophy
Presenter: Susan Parrillo '05
This final project is a written thesis which asserts, contrary to 2,000 years of scholarship in Platonism, that Plato held no "Theory of Forms" (in the strong sense). The project examines the dialogues to see where Plato himself disavows a theory of forms and claims he has never written philosophy, nor would he ever do so. Finally, the project describes how the "Theory of Forms" was an invention of secondary scholarship, elucidating how this invention denies Plato's corpus the positive expression of the forms as a theme by removing the focus from the forms as an instigator of dialectic and spuriously creating a theory where there was none.

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Tisch Learning Center 201
"Is There a Relationship between Americans' Confidence in Religion and Government?"
Faculty Sponsor: Catherine Berheide, Sociology
Presenter: Lauren Sanders '05
Emile Durkheim's assertions regarding the declining role of religion in modern societies notwithstanding, in U.S. society, government and religion have in common the role of mediator and moral force within communities. Due to their similar natures, the two institutions are most likely interconnected within the belief systems of their followers.

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Palamountain 301
"Returning, A Poetry Reading"
Faculty Sponsor: Carolyn Forche-Mattison, English
Presenter: Pearl Higgins '05
The culmination of my creative writing studies at Skidmore is a poetry manuscript written over this semester that reflects my experiences. I will read selections from the manuscript and briefly discuss the process I undertook in creating a larger work of creative writing.

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Bolton 282
"Women in China Panel"
Faculty Sponsor: Eileen Walsh, Anthropology
Presenters: Meara McNally '06, Shubhangi Gokhale '07, Wu Nan '05 Beijing University, Li Wen '05 Beijing University
A panel of four students will discuss their experiences and findings in gender research in China. Their topics include the reemergence of all-female schools after the Cultural Revolution, female literacy and standards of living in rural areas, overseas migration and the female diaspora, and the experiences and expectations of female intellectuals.

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Palamountain 201
Education Department Junior Block "Teacher Education"
Faculty Sponsor: Lenora de la Luna
Presenters: Elizabeth Andel '06, Diana Anthony '06, Jennifer Clift '06, Mia Fedel '06, Lisa Groat '06, Lauren Henegan '06, Lori Lerman '06, Edith Packard '06, Zachary Rolf '06, Elisabeth Sunkin '05, Nea Wadson '06, Sara Wilkinson '06
Continued professional development within the field of teacher education is a necessity. By attending the largest and most prestigious educational conference in North America, we have been initiated into what we expect will be a lifetime of learning. Via posters we will present a snapshot of our experience.

9:30 AM - NOON
Dana 171
Environmental Studies Capstone Event
Faculty Sponsor: Karen Kellogg

Jonathan DeCoste '05, Conor Taff '05 - "Introduction to the Water Resources Initiative (WRI) and the Kayaderosseras Watershed Project"
WRI is a major effort in Skidmore's Environmental Studies program and aims to integrate coursework, team-based research, and engagement with local, regional, national, and international concerns for the availability, distribution, uses, and quality of water. The students in ES 375 Case Studies in Environmental Sustainability started WRI this spring semester with an interdisciplinary investigation of the Kayaderosseras watershed.

Jonathan DeCoste '05, Conor Taff '05 - "The History of the Kayaderosseras Watershed: An Environmental Approach"
Using various archival sources, a history of the Kayaderosseras watershed was constructed, starting before European settlement and proceeding into the 20th century. The goal of this project is to illuminate historical trends and changes that have shaped the environment that we see today and to provide valuable insight into future monitoring and planning.

James Caris '05, Laura Wittman '05 - "Kayaderosseras Creek Watershed: An Examination of Land Use Patterns & Point and Non-Point Pollution"
This project uses a series of GIS maps to visually convey point discharges as well as land use types that may contribute to non-point pollution within the watershed. Additionally, relevant state and federal permitting and policy procedures are included in order to highlight regulatory aspects applicable to facilities and land use that may affect the quality of the Kayaderosseras watershed.

Hal Himmel '05 - "Quantifying Riparian Zones in the Kayaderosseras Watershed"
The focus of this study is to determine the overall state of riparian zones in the Kayaderosseras Creek watershed. Using GIS and field site verification, the land use patterns within 200 feet of the Kayaderosseras and its tributaries were quantified. These data give insights into the overall buffering capacity, habitat availability and possible areas of concern within the watershed.

Leah Capezio '05, Lauren Mandel '05 - "Macroinvertebrates as Water Quality Indicators in the Kayaderosseras Watershed"
This project investigated macroinvertebrate populations in microhabitats throughout the Kayaderosseras Creek watershed. Population, diversity and community composition data were analyzed through various indices as a means of assessing water quality throughout the watershed.

David Hardy '05 - "Water Quality Analysis of the Kayaderosseras Creek"
Measurements of water quality, including pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, turbidity, alkalinity as well as concentrations of chloride, nitrates and phosphates, were taken at various locations in the Kayaderosseras Creek system. Sampling was conducted to capture seasonal and pre-/post-storm event variation.

Rebecca DiSciacca '05, Alexandra Reiss '05 - "An Analysis of the Kayaderosseras Creek as an Economic Resource"
In this study, we have adopted an economic perspective to better understand the relationship between human activity and the natural ecosystem resources in the Kayaderasseras Creek watershed. A general overview of the economic benefits of ecosystem services in addition to a more specific focus on several ecosystem functions, namely aesthetics as well as tourism and recreation, help form a basis for understanding larger economic trends in this natural boundary area.

Rebecca DiSciacca '05, Alexandra Reiss '05 - "Synthesis of WRI Projects and Conclusions"

10:00 AM - 10:30 AMM
Saisselin 2nd Floor Hall
"The Earth is Alive and Breathing: Artwork and Creativity"
Faculty Sponsor: Janet Sorensen, Studio Ar
t Presenter: Lindsey Fyfe '05
I am interested in natural geologic processes of the earth and the idea of a planet that is "alive and breathing". This exhibit contains recent artwork that describes my engagement with these ideas through the creative process.

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Ladd 207
"Use of Native Language as a Tool for Teaching and Learning ESL"
Faculty Sponsor: Dora Ramirez, Foreign Languages & Literature
Presenter: Stacy Aguirre '05
The adoption of the native language in the instruction of English as a second language is very important and necessary to pedagogy. This thesis is a call to all those for whom English is not their native language to resist societal pressure to abandon their native language. It encourages educators to employ, rather than reject, native languages as a tool for teaching English.

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Dana South Corridor 2nd Floor
Biochemistry Posters Faculty Sponsors: Michelle Frey, Vasantha Narasimhan

Katherine Britton '05 - "Spectrophotometric Assay of FBP Aldolase reactions"

Willa Fung '05 -"Salt gradients for removal of contaminating proteins from FBP aldolase of V. Fischeri"

Anna Gates '05 - "Purification of FBP aldolase of V. Fischeri using ammonium sulfate precipitation"

Erin McGinnis'05 - "Effects of green tea anti-oxidant flavonoids on DNA structure and properties"

Jessica Rose '05 - "Effect of Sybean anti-tumor flanonoids on DNA structure and properties"

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Tisch Learning Center 201
"The Impact of Motivational States on Seeking Positive Feedback"
Faculty Sponsor, Holley Hodgins, Psychology
Presenters: Kathryn Adair '07, Kevin Wozniak '05, Sara Shiffman '06, Rachel Gordon '06, Yaritza Saavedra '05
An experiment was conducted to compare the effect of different motivations on the degree to which individuals cling to positive feedback. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three motivation conditions and were primed to make that type of motivation salient. All participants engaged in several tasks and then received positive performance feedback for one task and negative performance feedback for another task. It was hypothesized that the proportion of time spent reading positive feedback would be greatest for participants primed with control motivation, would be moderate for neutral motivation participants, and would be the lowest for autonomy motivation participants. Results confirmed the hypothesis. They are interpreted as showing another aspect of the defensive functioning that is associated with control motivation, compared to autonomy motivation.

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Tisch Learning Center 302
"Identity Formulation, Popular Culture, and the Marketing of the Vernacular"
Faculty Sponsor: Gregory Pfitzer, American Studies
Presenters: Kaitlin Morton-Ranney '05, Alyssa Garvin '05, Shanley Irving '05
This session features the work of three American Studies seniors completing senior honors theses in the areas of identity formation, popular culture, and the marketing of the vernacular. The topics include: threats to Canadian identity posed by a usurping American popular culture; the marketing of regional identity in the evolution of the Vermont country store; and female athletes as fashion and pop culture icons.

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Gannett Lobby
"Goddesses and Amazons: An Interactive Installation"
Faculty Sponsor: Mary Stange, Women's Studies, Religion
Presenters: Amerin Aborjaily '06, Sara Daniels '05, Hilary Dowling '06, Alison Fahey '07, Lindsay Fishman '05, Kathryn Garcia '05, Leah Goldberg '05, Ashley Goldsmith '05, Elizabeth Grimes '07, Kirsten L'Orange '06, Jennifer Letourneau '06, Ashley Morrison '06, Bryony Newsholme '05, Kendra Pariseault '05, Miriam Pugh '05, Eloise Rarey '06, Pia Shah '05, Karen Smyth '05, Julio Toledo '06, Kevin Wozniak '05, Reema Zaman '06
Come explore how the Goddess has spoken to peoples throughout the ages and investigate how women warriors have fought and are fighting her battles. Our interactive installation will exhibit a cross-cultural and transhistorical examination of Goddesses who embody female power and the ways in which that power has been manifested. This installation arises from this semester's research in RE 330-001, "Goddesses and Amazons."

10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Intercultural Center
"China's Economic Power and Impact on the Global Economy"
Faculty Sponsor: Joel Smith, Asian Studies
Presenters: Gerard Gignoux '05, Yu Ka Chan '05
This presentation focuses on China's emergence as an economic power and how this affects the global economy, world trade, and the country of China itself. Additionally, the presenters address how foreign investment and WTO membership have shaped the present conditions of the Chinese market.

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Saisselin Landing 2nd & 3rd Floor
"Abstracted Space: Architectural Structures and Motifs"
Faculty Sponsor: Janet Sorensen, Studio Art
Presenter: Kristen Coates '05
A two panel oil painting that utilizes color and texture to describe a sense of abstracted space, based on architectural structures and motifs. The relationship of form and space comes into place; some areas are descriptive, while others are full of ambiguity, giving the sense of something that is tangible but without definition.

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Palamountain 301
"On Secrets"
Faculty Sponsor: Barbara Black, English
Presenter: Megan Taylor '05
"On Secrets" is a personal essay about the nature of secrets. The essay is comprised of interesting, poignant, and humorous family stories held together by the connective tissue of a philosophical study of secrets-- why and how we keep them, and from whom. It will be read aloud with time for questions and comments at the end.

10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
Ladd 207
"A Translation of 'La Maison Tellier'"
Faculty Sponsor: John Anzalone, Foreign Language
Presenter: Meriel Read '05
This presentation provides a translation of a short story by Maupassant called "The Tellier Establishment" ("La Maison Tellier"). An introduction in French and an afterward in English expand on the process of translation.

10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
Palamountain 201
"The Efficacy of Reading Recovery in the United States"
Faculty Sponsor: Susan Lehr, Education
Presenter: Jessica Leonard '05
This thesis investigates Reading Recovery, which is an early intervention program designed to reduce first-grade reading failure and return children to reading at their grade level. This research explores the efficacy of Reading, Recovery and its impact on reading learning disability placement, grade retention, grade level reading, test scores, and self esteem. Cost-effectiveness of the program is also considered.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Tisch Learning Center 108
"Public Outreach and Archaeology"
Faculty Sponsor: Laurie Miroff, Anthropology
Presenters: Meara McNally '06, Nichole Abbott '05, Benjamin Perlmutter '06, Kaelyn Dooley '06
Through posters and video, we will demonstrate how the often dry, technical aspects of archaeology can be presented in interesting ways to a public audience, helping them to understand what archaeology is and empowering them to critically evaluate the process of interpreting the past.

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Saisselin 3rd Floor Hall
"The Visual Language of Tibet in Varied Media"
Faculty Sponsor: Janet Sorensen, Studio Art
Presenter: Katherine Goyette '05
After having traveled to Asia, I have created a visual language that references the geographical nature of Tibet to define its culture, history, religion, language, and people. I have worked simultaneously in printmaking, painting, and drawing, thus additionally creating an interdependent relationship among the work done in these varied media

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Bolton 282
"Roxana: Defoe's Forgotten Novel"
Faculty Sponsor: Regina Janes, English
Presenter: Elizabeth Goodfellow '05
Daniel Defoe's 1724 novel, Roxana, addresses marriage, prostitution, motherhood, sexuality, and female friendship. Despite remaining provocative and shocking today, Roxana is rarely on syllabi and is often dismissed by critics. I hope, through a new analysis of the novel, to make a space for it alongside other great early novels.

11:00 AM - NOON
Dana South Corridor 2nd Floor
Inorganic Chemistry Posters
Faculty Sponsor: Steven Frey

Richard Egan III '05 - "Kinetic studies of enzymes entrapped in Mg/A1 double hydroxide clay"

Mackenzie Firer-Sherwood '05 - "Synthesis of Ruthenium (II) pentadentate complex"

Nathaniel Temin '05 - "Synthesis and characterization of Ruthenium II-DMSO derivatives"

Christopher Ware '05 - "Preparation of a series of Lanthanide (III) substituted hectorite clays"

11:00 AM - NOON
Palamountain 301
"Periodicals of the Nineteenth Century: Godey's Lady's Book, The Cherokee Phoenix, and Robert Merry's Museum"
Faculty Sponsor: Jennifer Mason, English
Presenters: Rebecca Jackson '06, Sarah Nahikian '06, Nolan Crohn '07
This panel on 19th-century periodicals addresses The Cherokee Phoenix, the first periodical written and published by Native Americans; the influence of fashion plates in Godey's Lady's Book on ante-bellum society; and changing views toward fiction in the children's periodicals The Youth's Companion and Robert Merry's Museum.

11:30 AM - NOON
Saisselin 301
"Realm: An Installation"
Faculty Sponsor: Janet Sorensen, Studio Art
Presenters: Lucas Chute '05, Jonathan Janeway '05
Realm is an installation that places the viewer in a new and different social environment. Visual language is redefined as the space is filled with carefully crafted sound and visual stimulation in the form of large drawings.

11:30 AM - NOON
Harder 203
"Star Formation in Dwarf Galaxies"
Faculty Sponsor: Mary Crone Odekon, Physics
Presenter: Christopher Czech '05
Blue compact dwarf galaxies mystify astronomers because they show vigorous star formation in small systems without many heavy elements. I will discuss the difference between these galaxies and others, as well as my analysis of one of them.

11:30 AM - NOON
Bolton 282
"Point By Point: A Senior Thesis Presentation of Women In The Victorian Sexual Triangle"
Faculty Sponsor: Catherine Golden, English
Presenter: Sarah Etlinger '05
This presentation of my thesis begins with a discussion of how I became interested in Victorian fiction, and then moves to a discussion of the sexual triangle. Using a handout, I will explain the crux of my argument and present my findings about women's roles in Victorian fiction and also in their society, showing women find happiness in a repressive society while others break from patriarchal codes.

11:30 AM - NOON
Ladd 207
"A Passionate Loneliness: Translation and Analysis of the Poetry of Gertrud Kolmar"
Faculty Sponsor: Mary-Elizabeth O'Brien, Foreign Language
Presenter: Katherine Huss '05, Awarded Consulate General Prize in German 2005
This presentation provides an English translation of work by the twentieth-century poet Gertrud Kolmar. A relatively untranslated poet, Kolmar, and her work deserve a wider audience.

11:30 AM - NOON
Intercultural Center
"China's Growing Water Crisis: Perception Versus Reality"
Faculty Sponsor: Catherine Berheide, Sociology
Presenter: Michelle Yee '05
More than 700 million people in China consume drinking water contaminated with animal and human waste. This presentation, based on primary data collected in 2004 through the National Science Foundation, queries whether individuals with a higher socio-economic status have more awareness of the severity of the water shortage and its dangers than individuals with a lower SES.

11:30 AM - NOON
Palamountain 201
"Trends in Bilingual Education"
Faculty Sponsor: Lenora de la Luna, Education
Presenter: Oleg Iogman '05
Throughout history, bilingual education has undergone periods of both opportunity and denial. This paper discusses the different periods of bilingual education in America. Following a brief overview of the last hundred years, a more in-depth discussion of the current period and modern trends in bilingual education will be presented.

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Saisselin 308 Fiber Arts Studio
"The Dresses in Passing: Bodies and Sexuality"
Faculty Sponsor: Margo Mensing, Studio Art
Presenter: Kenne Dibner '05
This project is a culmination of my work as both an English and Art student. After printing and editing the text of my thesis on fabric, I have constructed several dresses that reflect the time period of Nella Larsen's novel Passing. The presentation of these dresses looks at the way our thinking about bodies and sexuality informs our work - either written or visual. Additionally, this presentation will include a brief overview of my academic thesis.

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Bolton 282
"Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for the Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Client"
Faculty Sponsor: Jennifer Block Lerner, Psychology
Presenter: Kevin Wozniak '05
Mindfulness empowers individuals to accept physical and mental pain, thereby reducing the suffering that results from their struggling against events out of their control. In this experiential presentation, mindfulness-based intervention is proposed as an effective therapy to teach gay, lesbian, and bisexual clients a means of accepting and overcoming the trials of living in a homophobic society.

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Dana South Corridor 2nd Floor
Environmental Chemistry Posters
Faculty Sponsor: Judy Halstead

David Hardy '05 - "Analytical techniques in natural water analysis"

Jacqueline Shea '05 - "Determination of phosphates and nitrates in natural waters"

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Tisch Learning Center 201
"Don't Worry, Be Happy: Effects of Hospitalizing a Child or Partner/Spouse on General Happiness As Well As Contentment in Their Marriage"
Faculty Sponsor: Catherine Berheide, Sociology
Presenter: Shayla Wallace '05
The illness of a loved one can be stressful on a family, especially if hospitalization is necessary. While past research has not specifically looked at how families respond emotionally to such situations, this presentation examines the impact hospitalizations have on a person's general happiness and contentment in marriage.

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Palamountain 303
"IMing: Its Impact on Social Interaction, Language, and Identity"
Faculty Sponsor: Phyllis Roth, English
Presenter: Rachel Silverstein '07
Instant messaging (IMing) is perhaps the most popular means of communication for our generation. It's quick, it's convenient, and it's free. It also breaks all of the conventional rules of communication. This documentary film explores instant messenger use and its effects on social interaction, language, and identity.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Gannett Lobby
"LS2 Insite: Exploring the Visual - Class"
Faculty Sponsor: Alison Barnes, English, Tang Teaching Museum
Presenters: Margaret Bergen '07, Hillary Blair '07, Adam Brown '08, Sandra Cun '07, Julia Ferguson '07, Megan Garfinkel '08, Simon Gunner '08, Michael Handis '08, Neil Irwin '08, Megan Isaacs '07, Madison Li '08, Katharine Meacham '08, Erica Meade '05, Samuel Merwin '07, Ondriona Monty '07, Meredith Mowder '08, Patrick Phelan '08, Kristina Powell '07
In this poster display, the participants in LS2H Insite: Exploring the Visual will present documentation of their place-specific intervention projects. These projects bring together the study of cultural geography, museums, and exhibition design in an effort to explore how the visual shapes our experiences in everyday places.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Tisch Learning Center 108
"South Park: Reconstructing a Native Past"
Faculty Sponsor: Susan Bender, Anthropology
Presenters: Marissa Block '07, Hayley Brown '08, Trevor Draeseke '07, Bianca Glade UWW, Maya Hann-Byrd '07, Danielle Johnson '08, Chelsea Leonard '07, Lora Moore '06, Jasmine Munk '07, Elizabeth Sobel '06, Rebecca Ziino '07
This presentation presents research on reconstructing South Park, Colorado's native past through analyzing and interpreting lithic artifacts. By cataloging thousands of stone fragments, we created a complete archaeological database that helps to interpret the site.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Palamountain 301
"Composing Nature"
Faculty Sponsor: Jacqueline Scoones, English
Presenters: Marissa Rossi '08, Adam Goldstein '08, Angelica Thornhill '08, Susanna Cooper '08
A panel of students will present excerpts from the final course papers they completed for English 105, "Composing Nature." In their papers, the students analyze how nature is "composed" by non-literary texts (T-shirt logos, computer games, etc.), discussing how these texts define and value "nature," and how they construct our ways of "seeing" the natural world.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Davis Auditorium
"Bringing Bath to Skidmore"
Faculty Sponsor: Catherine Golden, English
Presenters: Margaret Bergen '07, Jessica Bick '07, Elizabeth Dickson '06, Caroline Golden '07, Leah Langsam '06, Lauren Masterson '06, Anna Raup-Kounovsky '06, Jessica Samph '06, Katherine Scheu '07, Rebecca Senville '07
Ten Skidmore college students entered the British city of Bath on a gray and foreboding morning, similar to the arrival of Anne Elliot, heroine of Jane Austen's Persuasion. Immersed in the Georgian way of life, we gained insight into Austen's wit and social commentary. Now, we will bring Bath back to Skidmore.

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM Dana Atrium "The Impact of Fungi on Manure Management"
Faculty Sponsor: Sue Van Hook, Environmental Studies
Presenter: Lauren Mandel '05
As nature's decomposers, fungi have the ability to break down organic matter. My experiment sought to determine whether the presence of either Stropharia rugoso-annulata or Lepista nuda fungi increases the decomposition rate of Skidmore College's resilient equestrian stable waste. The findings may be applicable to future manure management practices.

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
Intercultural Center
"China's Impact on the Global Economy"
Faculty Sponsor: Bernard Kastory, Asian Studies
Presenter: Gerard Gignoux '05
China's economic reforms and the opening of the country after Communist isolation have created a rapidly growing economy, in which there is an abundance of cheap labor. Because of these factors, China has become a global manufacturing center. This study examines China's profound effect on the global economy.

12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
Filene Recital Hall
"Gabriela Mistral, Nobel Laureate"
Faculty Sponsor: Gordon Thompson, Music
Presenter: Margaret Valiante '05
Over the past eighty-five years, more than forty Chilean composers have set Nobel Laureate, Gabriela Mistral's poetry to music, resulting in over two-hundred songs. Margo Valiante will perform selected compositions that were inspired by Mistral's passionate, lyrical poetry, including analyses of the songs and the story of Mistral's words.

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
Saisselin 308
"Between World Wars: Female Designers in Paris"
Faculty Sponsor: Katherine Hauser, Art History
Presenter: Doria Santlofer '05
The presentation focuses on important female fashion designers in Paris between the World Wars, a time filled with anxiety about population decline, and conservative ideas about female roles. Female designers, including Chanel, challenged these traditional ideas about femininity through their treatment of the body and fashion innovation.

12:30 PM - 1:00
PM Harder 203
"A Computational Approach to Understanding Natural Language"
Faculty Sponsor: Alice Dean, Computer Science
Presenter: Daniel Pratt '05
This project demonstrates a way for computers to be programmed to understand human language. The program I wrote is an implementation of a natural language processing algorithm which is used to recognize grammatically correct sentences in English. Using that algorithm, it is possible to extend the program's abilities for use in important areas, including text summarization, grammar checking, and text analysis.

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
Bolton 282
"Prostitution in China"
Faculty Sponsor: Katherine Graney, Government
Presenter: Liv Johanson '05
This presentation addresses prostitution in China, relevant government polices, societal perceptions of prostitution, and how these characteristics indicate greater gender regimes of the pre-Mao, Mao, and post-Mao eras.

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
JKB Theater Lobby
"Costume and Makeup Exhibit" Faculty Sponsor: Patricia Pawliczak, Theater
Presenter: Ashley Jones '05
Exhibition of several costumes I've built, as well as photographs of my senior project in stage makeup. Costumes include kimono, Zulu beaded necklace, Brazilian feather headdress, and sari, as well as contemporary western styles. Makeup highlights include severed/reattached hand, wolf, and Beetlejuice.

12:30 PM - 1:00
PM Palamountain 303
"The Poetry of Adrienne Rich and Susan Howe"
Faculty Sponsor: Terry Diggory, English
Presenter: Megan Taylor
My senior thesis presentation centers on my analysis of the poetry and politics of Adrienne Rich, a radical lesbian poet, and Susan Howe, an experimental language poet. Both poets are most interesting when read dialogically. Poems will be handed out followed by an engaging discussion.

12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
Tisch Learning Center 202
"Perceptions of Mental Illness"
Faculty Sponsor: Crystal Moore, Social Work
Presenter: Ariana Millner-Hanley '05
Fifteen students were interviewed to explore their perceptions of those with a mental illness and to discover the origination of those perceptions. Interviews were analyzed for themes and a documentary was produced to attain a deeper understanding of how those with a mental illness are viewed by the interviewees.

12:30 PM - 1:30
PM Tisch Learning Center 301
"Cultural Consciousness and Historical Memory"
Faculty Sponsor: Gregory Pfitzer, American Studies
Presenters: Erin Klemyk '05, Kristen Helmstetter '05, Sean Robb '05
This session features the work of three American Studies seniors completing senior honors theses in the fields of cultural consciousness and historical memory. Topics include: DuBois's concept of double-consciousness; the "Disneyfication" of the American past; and the problem of historical amnesia as it relates to American memories (or lack of memory) about the Spanish Civil War.

12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Harder 206
Self-Determined Majors
Faculty Sponsor: Roy Rotheim
Presenters: Caitlin Givens '05 Christopher Ladd '05 Hector Mendoza '05 Rebecca Paxton '05

12:45 PM - 1:15 PM
Dana Atrium,br> "Born-Again Gully: The Reestablishment of the Miller Brook Gully, Northern Vermont",br> Faculty Sponsor: Kyle Nichols, Geosciencem
Presenter: Derek Eaton '05
The subject of the research is a gully that has formed in glacial sediments in the Miller Brook Valley, near Stowe, VT. Fieldwork and research were conducted that showed that the gully has reestablished itself after being remediated in 2001. This study suggests that in order to stabilize gullies in glacial sediments, which are quite common in the northeast, one must correctly identify the erosion processes taking place.

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Bolton 282
"Until Death Do You Part: Gender Violence in Spain, an Overview"
Faculty Sponsor: William Mudrovic, Foreign Language Spanish
Presenter: Kimberly Lizza '05
Gender violence and discrimination against women have plagued Spanish society for centuries, yet it has only recently come to receive the attention it deserves. The Constitution of 1978, democracy in general, and the efforts of various women's movements and organizations have helped to launch programs and proposals for legislation, which have placed this issue at the political forefront and demanded change.

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Ladd 307
"Capital Punishment"
Faculty Sponsor: David Karp, Law & Society
Presenters: Tamara McEwan '05, Christopher O'Donnell '06
This presentation addresses the ethics of capital punishment from a sociological and constitutional law perspective. The sociological perspective addresses American death penalty opinion and the criminal justice system's uniquely retributive nature. The constitutional approach follows precedent, from the mid 1960s to the present, citing the evolving role of the Supreme Court into a socio-sentient institution.

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Davis Auditorium
"'The Kingdom of Man': A Radio Drama"
Faculty Sponsor: Michael Marx, English
Presenters: Joseph Kaifala '08, Brian McGowan '08, Kirkland Kraines '08, Lori Bordzuk '08, Jeremy Sultan '08
"The Kingdom of Man" is a radio drama that considers the relationship among God, prophets, and human beings. It is about an African man who explores the problems of the world through three religions, including a native African one and two imposed upon him. All the religions explain the world through divine generosity and omnipotence, but his fundamental problem is the question of evil; why are there so many struggles among human beings and misinterpretations of religions?

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Palamountain 201
Education Studies/Service Learning "Outer Limits: Gifted Kids Thinking Out of the Box"
Faculty Sponsor: Joyce Rubin
Presenters: James Pizzolato '06, Rahman Mohammed '05, Meredith Atkinson '05, Carrie Walker '08, Jessica Cichy '06
As part of coursework on Intelligences and Learning (ED104), students examined behaviors characteristic of gifted and talented individuals. Through the BOCES and with support from the Tang, students mentored local Young Scholars as they explored their individual "Outer Limits." Students involved with the project will present their experiences, learning outcomes, and reflections.

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Emerson Auditorium
"Selected Films from EN105H and EN205H Students"
Faculty Sponsor: Tom Lewis, English
Presenter: David Brown '07"Still Fighting... Again" is a film by Dave Brown that reveals the parallel nature of war from one generation to the next, and the reasons that young Americans volunteer their services to the military, despite knowing the horrors of war.

Christopher Ladd '05"'i' identity" a film by Chris Ladd is an exploration of identity in one persons' search to understand who he is.

Selected films from EN105H and EN205H students

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Intercultural Center
International Affair Capstone Event
Department Sponsor: Mary-Elizabeth O'Brien, International Affairs

Sophia Alexandre '05 UWW- "title"
In an interview with PBS journalist David Brancaccio, John Perkins, author of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, claimed that the West has "managed to create history's only truly global Empire.. for the first time . without the military." This presentation explores the validity of this statement by interrogating the imperialistic tendencies of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the powerful industrialized states.

Elizabeth Baldwin '05 - Awarded The Jerome Solomon Ginsberg Memorial Award in International Affairs 2005 "Turkey and the EU" One of the most ardently debated topics in contemporary European politics is the possible Turkish accession in the European Union. My senior thesis explores different avenues of analysis with particular emphasis on the political and economic Copenhagen criteria as well as the relationship between European and Turkish identity. Ultimately the EU cannot afford to shut the door on this possibility, for Turkey would be a vital instrument in bridging relations between the western and eastern worlds.

Karrie Chen '05 - "Three Gorges Dam: Taming Environmental Dragons with Technology" This presentation addresses China's controversial Three Gorges Dam project by using a cost/benefit analysis to evaluate reasons why the Chinese, after nearly 100 years, decided in the 1990s to build the dam.

Andrew Farrell '05 - "The United States and the International Criminal Court" The purpose of this capstone project was to explore many of the aspects of the relationship between the United States (US) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). This project has sought to answer four probing questions: 1) Why does the US continue to refuse to join the ICC? 2) Is there a dichotomy of opinion between the American Body Politic and the elite actors concerning the ICC? And if so, why does this dichotomy exist? 3) What have the ramifications been of the US refusal to join the ICC? 4) What is the future of the US-ICC relationship and international law? Gabrielle Goldman '05 - "The WTO" The World Trade Organization has been under serious scrutiny from skeptics around the world since its inception in 1995. However, the protest of the WTO has been led by those who do not truly understand its role as the primary actor in global trade. As an intergovernmental organization whose primarily role is dispute settlement, the WTO has functioned considerably well in its first ten years. Those that believe that the role of the WTO is to link environmental, health and labor concerns with trade disputes are somewhat mistaken. The true role of the WTO and the limits on its jurisdiction will be discussed here. Presenter:

Tessa Nazzaro '05 - "The United States Trade Embargo on Cuba" Faculty Sponsor: Roy Ginsberg, Government This paper examines the history and effectiveness of the US trade embargo on Cuba. The policy's history is looked at through the lens of two levels of analysis. The first views how Cold War politics initiated the sanctions and domestic politics in the US and Cuba have influenced its continuation. The second half of the study examines what the proposed goals of the economic sanction are and whether they have been achieved through the policy.

1:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Harder 203
MA376 Capstone Course Presentations
Faculty Sponsor: Gove Effinger, Math & Computer Science

Kristofer McCullough '05, Laila Moussa '06 Three computer scientists from India recently discovered an algorithm to determine whether or not a given number is prime which always runs in polynomial time. We outline the ideas behind this remarkable algorithm.

Steven Yaeger '05, Taylor Brown '05 It was recently proven that recognizing if a number is prime is "easy." However, it has not been proven whether there are an infinite number of twin primes. We will explore what progress is being made towards proving that there are an infinite number of twin primes.

Joshua Singer '05, Matthew Rivers '05 We will state and prove an important result from number theory. Our main focus will be to explain how the theorem can be used to solve systems of modular equations.

Pinpraaj Chakkaphak '06, Amal Cummings '05 Ever wonder how banks come up with those numbers at the bottom of checks? In our discussion we will explore the significance of the modular structures which form the backbone of everything from modern inventory, to bank checks, to airline tickets.

Elizabeth LeBarron '05, Benjamin Tripp '05 - "How Are Primes Distributed? Exploring Bertrand's Postulate" In this talk we will discuss Bertrand`s Postulate, which says there always exists a prime number between n and 2n-2, where n>3. We will talk about the proof, some unsolved questions stemming from this result, and an algorithm associated with it.

Yu Chen '06, Jennifer Letourneau '06 We will explore what perfect numbers are and what makes a perfect number perfect! We will also look at some applications of perfect numbers, including their connection to triangular numbers and Mersenne numbers.

Stephanie Waite '06, Emily Turek '06 A Sophie Germain prime is a prime, p, such that 2p+1 is also prime. These primes played an important role in the 19th century work of Fermat's Last Theorem. Although many examples of Sophie Germain primes have been discovered, it has yet to be proven that there are infinitely many of them. We investigate these ideas.

Andrew Matusiewicz '05, Jannine Wysmuller '05 The MD5 message digest algorithm is a one-way cryptographic hashing algorithm which has a variety of uses, one of them being as a more accurate checksum algorithm. In addition, MD5 is beginning to replace DES as a password encrytion algorithm. MD5 produces a semi-unique 128-bit number for an arbitrary length input, and it has been conjectured that it is computationally infeasible to produce two messages evaluating to the same 128-bit number, or to produce a message evaluating to a given 128-bit number.

1:15 PM - 1:45 PM
JKB Theater Studio B
"A Staged Reading of 'The Late Mister Ward'"
Faculty Sponsor: Carolyn Anderson, Theater
Presenters: Ryan Morrison '05, Adam Lerman '07
A performance of an original piece written for a playwriting independent study.

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
Tisch Learning Center 201
"Multimedia Narratives of Social Work Issues"
Faculty Sponsor: Crystal Moore, Social Work
Presenters: Amelia Kinter '07, Amelia Rubenstein '07, Brittany Bransford '06, Lauren Sheehy '06
Social Workers encounter numerous social problems in the context of their professional practice. The social problems of unemployment, homelessness, and domestic violence are explored through multimedia narrative in this presentation.

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Bolton 282
"From Republican Mother to Welfare Queen: Cultural Conceptions of Motherhood and the American Welfare System",BR> Faculty Sponsor: Natalie Taylor, Government
Presenter: Elizabeth Sheridan '05
Since the founding of mothers' pensions in the 1910s, American aid to poor families reflects ideal behavior for mothers. This presentation examines the image of the welfare queen, the ways in which motherhood has changed since the 1960s, and offers an in-depth analysis of the 1996 reform.

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Filene Recital Hall
"Original Music Composition"
Faculty Sponsor: Anthony Holland, Music
Presenter: Stephanie Haase '05 ,BR> My capstone is a collection of original music composed for a movie created using footage from Camp Takodah in Richmond, NH. The piece is ten minutes, composed for guitar, piano, and violin. Violinist and Filene Scholar Artemis Roehrig and I will perform this piece.

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Gannett Auditorium
"The Skidmore Honor Code"
Faculty Sponsor: Tim Burns, Honors Forum
Presenters: Amerin Aborjaily '06, Patricia Brewster '08, Amelia Crane '06, Elizabeth Edwards '08, Natasha Fahey '07, Caroline Golden '07, Valerie Gulotta '07, Lisa Klane '08, Sarah Kunz '06, Justin Matijcio '05, Heather Moore '08, Laura Morris '07, Francis O'Shea '05, Geoffrey Parsons '08, Chelsea Ring '07, Lindsey Smith '07, Elizabeth Sobel '06, Margaret St. Clair '07, Basil Weiner '07 The Citizen Studentship class will discuss their investigation into the meaning of honor and the Skidmore Honor Code.

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Dana 171
"A Three-Dimensional Vector Study of Laminar and Turbulent Flow Around A Meander Bend On The South Bend Tributary of the Kayaderosseras River"
Faculty Sponsor: Kyle Nichols, Geoscience
Presenter: Kenneth Cleveland '06
Little is understood concerning the three-dimensional modeling of stream flow and how turbulent flow arises. We investigate these questions through creation of a detailed three-dimensional vector model of stream flow. The resulting visualizations are surprisingly different than the generally understood stream flow models.

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Tisch Learning Center 1st Floor Senior Thesis Poster Presentation Department Sponsor: Psychology

Samantha Anderson '05 - "Preliminary Investigation of the Relationship Between Psychological Dissociation, Anxiety Sensitivity and Morality Salience"

Morgan Casella '05 - "What Can Line Drawings Tell Us about Our Mental Representations of 3D Shape?"

Katherine Driver '05 - "Gender Differences in Affective Reactions to Sexual Activity"

Emily Gentes '05 - "Are People Diagnosed with Comorbid Obsessive-compulsive Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Distinguishable from Those Diagnosed with Obsessive-compulsive Disorder Only?: An Examination of Obsessive-compulsive Disorder Symptoms and Obsessional Beliefs"

Alison Infield '05 - "Are Eating Disorders Similar to Obsessive-compulsive Disorders: An Examination of Symptoms and Beliefs"

Ariana Millner-Hanley '05 - "College Students' Perceptions and Antecedents of Perceptions of Mental Illness"

Erin Mulrane '05 - "Body Modification: An Inquiry into the Addiction of Pain and Permanence"

Llora Negro '05 - "Mere Exposure and Implicit Learning Effects on Likeness Ratings of Music"

Miriam Pugh '05 - "Women's Studies versus Gender Studies: A Study on the Influence of Gender and Course Labels"

Kristin Weibust '05 - "To Give Or Not to Give: The Effects of Death Reminders on Prosocial Behavior"

2:00 PM - 4:00 P
M Dance Theater
Senior Capstone Dance
Faculty Sponsor: Mary DiSanto-Rose, Debra Fernandez, Denise Limoli

Joanna Wiederhorn '05 - This presentation will explore parts of my thesis on Dance Movement Therapy (DMT). My thesis consists of an historical overview of DMT, the theoretical foundations on which DMT is based, what types of patients are suitable for DMT, an in-depth look at the application of DMT with survivors of sexual abuse, and a final section on the future direction of DMT. My presentation will focus on what makes DMT a unique type of therapy and what separates it from the other art therapies. I will discuss movement as a way to access preverbal memory and the different theories behind the relationship between psyche and soma. I will also address the future direction of DMT, particularly how DMT might be used with survivors of war.

Ellen Goldstein '05 - I will be presenting excerpts of my choreography from my senior capstone piece accompanied by a verbal description of how each excerpt fits into the creative process. My goal is to provide the audience with an idea of both the process and rehearsals involved in my capstone piece.

Jeremy Clayton '05 - The senior dance capstone is a culminating experience combining theory and practice for the dance major. After studying three masterworks: Balanchine's "The Four Temperaments," Petipa and Ivanov's "Swan Lake Act II," and Graham's "Appalachian Spring," students constructed a major choreographic work of their own. My work was inspired by all three in various ways.

Jacobee Buchanan '05 - "Spectrum" was choreographed for the DA376 Capstone class. Each Capstone student researched three masterworks and created original dances with a masterwork as their basis. This piece, inspired by George Balanchine's 1946 ballet "The Four Temperaments," is a contemporary ballet which uses the principles of light and color to explore different styles of movement.

2:15 PM - 2:45 PM
Davis Auditorium
"Ghana Captured Through Personal Essay and Photographs"
Faculty Sponsor: Linda Simon, English
Presenter: Julia Pistell '05
A evocation of the images and attitudes of the student traveler in Ghana, West Africa, presented through personal essays and photographs. Hear stories that explore the challenges of cultural immersion, race relationships, and interpretation of experience. Understand why the Ghanaian motto is "Enjoy Your Life."

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Intercultural Center
"Sustainable Economic Development and the Three Gorges Dam Resettlement: Future Perspectives from Past Projects"
Faculty Sponsor: Roy Rotheim, Economics
Presenter: Tony Lu '05
An attempt to analyze the Three Gorges Dam Resettlement utilizing the tools of sustainable development as well as past instances of dam building to predict the likelihood of sustainable livelihood for the two million relocatees.

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Tisch Learning Center 202
"The Effect of Parental Divorce on College Students"
Faculty Sponsor: Crystal Moore, Social Work
Presenter: Serena Houle '06
This presentation will discuss the findings of a two- semester study on the effects of parental divorce on college students, with particular focus on those whose parents divorced near to or during the students' time in college. The study included quantitative and qualitative methodologies, and all participants were Skidmore College students.

2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Palamountain 202
Skidmore-Saratoga Entrepreneurial Partnership (SSEP)
Faculty Sponsor: Roy Rotheim, Economics

Jeffrey Blankstein '05 - A Slice of Heaven
Patrick O'Leary '05 - Wellness Center
Anna Markowitz '05, Adrienne Baker '05 - Beekman Arts District
Michael Grazewski '05 - et al - Beekman Arts District
Courtnei Evans '05 - G. Willikers

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Bolton 281
Exercise Science/Service Learning,BR> Faculty Sponsor: Colleen Grossner
Presenters EX126 & EX127: Hillary Goldfarb '06, Pamela Brewer '07, Andrew Miller '07, Ian Connole '06, Benjamin Clippinger '06, Alexandra Lange '07
Anatomy and Physiology students demonstrate the importance of giving back to the community by serving the needs of people interested in understanding how their bodies work. Projects range from creating a children's book about muscles to teaching seniors about the importance of bone health.

Presenters EX242: James Woods-Corwin '07, Alexandra Lange '07, Vanessa Ruiz '06, Jonathan Brestoff '08 EX 242 students visited Maple Avenue Middle School to observe its lunch program. They appreciated the need to educate the middle school students about nutrition. In groups of three, Skidmore students interactively taught nearly all seventh grade health classes how to be healthy, especially by making small changes in eating habits.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Davis Auditorium
"Goodbye, Deutsch!"
Faculty Sponsor: Mary-Elizabeth O'Brien, Foreign Languages and Literature
Presenters: Nicholas Danilevsky '05, Katherine Huss '05, Elizabeth Baldwin '05, Anna Markytan '05
Goodbye Deutsch! is a fictionalized tale of the consequences of censoring German language and culture at Skidmore. Composed of vignettes featuring the activities of a secret society of German speakers, this film features guest appearances by many Skidmore faculty, staff and students, including President Glotzbach. A brief discussion follows the 17-minute film.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Emerson Auditorium
"Chocolate and Gold: Images of Ghana"
Faculty Sponsor: Gerald Erchak
Presenters: Rachael Caine '07, Karrie Chen '05, Elizabeth Closson '05, Mai-leen Colon '06, Leslie Cortez '06, Nolan Crohn '07, Marleny Diaz '07, Caitlin Givens '05, Eliza Hatch '06, Francis Hayes '05, William Huessy '07, Robin Lehman '06, David Roush '07, Elissa Ruse '05, Alexander Theoharides '07, Deedra Veerathanongdech '07, Shayla Wallace '05
A audiovisual presentation of the experiences of the students in TX 202 in Ghana. It will consist of digital slides with music and commentary. All of the seventeen students will participate.

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Dana 169
"Research and Analysis of Local Food Systems"
Faculty Sponsor: Robert Jones, Honors Forum
Presenters: Jonathan Greene '07, Michael Kramer '06, Taylor Leake '07, Julia Johnson '07, Marissa Rossi '08
Five students designed a semester-long independent study course entitled, HF 372: Research & Analysis of Local Food Systems. They compiled a thorough database of "local" farms and plotted the data on a GIS mapping system. This data will be used for assessing the local availability of foods for Skidmore's Dining Service and for NY communities.

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Emerson Auditorium
"Saratoga Reads!: A Skidmore College and Maple Avenue Middle School Collaboration"
Faculty Sponsor: Catherine Golden, English/Service Learning
Presenters: Elizabeth Sobel '06, Julia Pistell '05, Tessa Clark '05, Elizabeth Edelheit '07, Ashlee Fairey '07, Katherine Scheu '07, Alexandra Reiss '05, Jill Hanson '05, Laura Beshears '07, Debra Japko '07

Maple Avenue Middle School
Faculty: Margie Herman, Chair, English Department
Participants: Tim Lynch, Shira Rubenstein, Emmet Golden-Marx, Jesse Golden-Marx, Brian Ferraro, Emily Gardner, Aly Best, Kelly Brennan, Amanda Coon, Emily Breitbart, Jill McPherson, Melissa Hill
HF 202 students and Maple Avenue 8th graders collaborated as part of the town-wide Saratoga Reads! program. Enthusiastic students from both schools met in small groups to discuss Deborah Ellis's Parvana's Journey and sections of Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner and to create projects in response to them.

5:15 PM - 7:00 PMGannett Auditorium
"Should Skidmore Revert to the Old Drug and Alcohol Policy?"
"Should Batman Kill the Joker?"

Skidmore Debate Society Presenters: Jennifer Jaw '08, Michael Morris '08, Daniel Moran '07, Alexander Hanson '08, Daniel Shatz '07, Katherine Hardiman '07, Kirkland Kraines '08, Douglas Scandrett '05

Judges: Jeffrey Vickers '07, Constance Woodman '05
The Skidmore Debate Society showcases two debates in the Parlimentary style: "Should Skidmore Revert to the Old Drug and Alcohol Policy?" and "Should Batman Kill the Joker?"--Skidmore Debate's icon case. Enjoy the art of rhetoric and see if you can see through the flaws of logic before the debaters do!*

* Any students interested in joining next semester, please send an email to Jennifer Jaw ('08), Mike Morris ('08), Alex Hanson ('08) at j_jaw@skidmore.edu, m2morris@skidmore.edu, a_hanson@skidmore.edu respectively.