Engineering Ethics

Presented By: Andrew Brei, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Philosophy     

Location: University Center, Alumni Room

Description: With the help of moral theories, several case studies, and insights from the world of behavioral ethics, my project aims to provide engineering professionals with the means to deal properly with moral issues that commonly arise in their chosen fields.

Exploring the Emerging Stereotypes of the COVID Generation

Presented By: Cody Cox, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior

Location: University Center, Alumni Room

Description: The COVID-19 pandemic was an overwhelmingly disruptive event that impacted all aspects of life.  Writing in the Scientific American, authors Ong and Burrow (2020) noted that the pandemic led to a proliferation of age-related stereotypes as well.  They noted that the pandemic led to a prevalent perception that younger people were irresponsible (and spreading the disease) and older individuals (as online tools became more prominent) were technologically inept.  Likewise, Asian Americans were also stereotyped in numerous ways and experienced increased discrimination during the pandemic (Daley, Gallagher, & Bodenhausen, 2022).  Thus, as the world adapted to and attempted to understand the pandemic, numerous stereotypes about many groups proliferated.

As the pandemic receded, it could be expected that the associated stereotyping might decline as well.  However, the students who experienced the pandemic during their education are perceived to be behind their peers in terms of their education and, interestingly enough, the students themselves seem to embrace these perceptions.  An article in the New York Times (June 20, 2023), for example, quotes a student who suggests her education online put her at a disadvantage in college.  College students who experienced the pandemic in earlier education view themselves as disadvantaged, less sociable, less communicative, and less experienced in many ways.  However, while there is some evidence that test scores declined during the pandemic, there has been little empirical evidence that students are likewise less sociable or communicative.  Thus, despite the end of the pandemic, the stereotypes about the students who were educated during the pandemic persist.

The purpose of our study is to explore whether stereotypes about this generation who experienced COVID exist and whether these stereotypes impact the perceptions about this generation.  We anticipated that students who received their education during COVID will be perceived as less social, less interpersonal, and less communicative than previous generations have been.  This study is one of the first to document the persistent stereotypes about students who were educated during the COVID pandemic.

The Unexpected

Presented By: Alyssa Gallegos, Accounting and data analytics major

Research mentor: …

Location: University Center, Alumni Room

Description: How I was moved by the Marianist values and how they impacted my first semester at St. Mary’s.

Characteristics of a Marianist Education

Presented By: Alyssa Homsy, Political Science major

Research mentor: Janet Dizinno, Ph.D.

Location: University Center, Alumni Room

Description: This was written for the Rebecca Gonzalez Sermino Spiritual Oral Presentation Prize and Scholarship competition for St. Mary’s freshmen.

Characteristics of a Marianist Education

Presented By: Eliana Salinas, Criminology major

Research mentor: Tim Bessler, Ed.D.

Location: University Center, Alumni Room

Description: An essay written on my observations of how St. Mary’s University showcases core Marianist education values.

Lethality Assessment Protocol: Challenges and Barriers of Implementation for Domestic Violence Victim Advocates

Presented By: Tanya Grant, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Forensic Science        

Location: University Center, Alumni Room

Description: This exploratory qualitative research study examined the attitudes and barriers domestic violence victim advocates identified in successful implementation of the lethality assessment protocol, a collaborative intervention between police departments and domestic violence advocacy agencies in the state of Connecticut. Focus groups were conducted at four domestic violence agencies to ascertain advocates’ perceptions of the lethality assessment protocol. Advocates (N = 24) were recruited through an individual contact at each agency. Responses to focus group questions indicated both system-wide and individual agency and police department collaboration barriers. Results showed advocates generally support the protocol and believe it has beneficial intent and purpose. Challenges identified included lack of victim cooperation, variations in law enforcement officer attitude, and deficiencies in training. Implementation barriers and advocates’ attitudes are also discussed. Lethality assessment protocol is a useful tool, yet all stakeholders must actively engage in cooperative training, tackle personal biases toward domestic violence victims, and gain a better understanding of victim psychology.

Present Bias, Payday Borrowing, and Financial Literacy

Presented By: Solomon Wang, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Finance

Location: University Center, Alumni Room

Description: This paper investigates the relationship between payday borrowing and an individual’s present bias, a cognitive inclination toward short-term gratification while ignoring long-term consequences. We use U.S. government stimulus cash during the COVID-19 pandemic as a quasi-natural experiment. The present biased individuals are defined as those who spent the cash to make purchases and not to save or invest, or those who did not pay off debt while having a debt problem. Our findings suggest that individuals with stronger present bias are more likely to borrow payday loans. And among the payday borrowers, the frequency of borrowing increases with the level of present bias. These effects are robust after financial literacy, financial distress, and demographic characteristics are controlled and after propensity score matching is applied. Moreover, we find that present bias decreases with the level of financial literacy, suggesting the importance of financial education for the correction of cognitive bias. Lastly, we find that present bias also determines the usage of other expensive financial services such as pawn loans, title loans, etc.

The Deterrent Impact of Capital Punishment: A Statistical Analysis

Presented By: Haley Aleman, Political Science major

Research mentor: Leona Pallansch, Ph.D.

Location: University Center, Alumni Room

Description: Violent crime and our nation’s efforts to reduce homicide rates, such as capital punishment, have always been divisive issues in criminology and political science. In an effort to contribute to the discourse surrounding these multifaceted issues, this study and its preliminary findings aim to investigate whether the implementation of the death penalty has had a statistically significant impact in deterring homicide throughout the United States.

This has involved an evaluation of quantitative data regarding capital punishment and homicide from 2010 to 2022 to gain an understanding of a possible relationship between capital punishment and homicide rates. We utilized various bivariate statistical techniques, including paired t-tests and independent samples t-tests, to assess the relationship between capital punishment and homicide rates.

Preliminary analyses indicate that capital punishment may have some deterrent effect on homicide rates. Since the statistical significances found may be marginal, it would be beneficial to conduct further research with continued statistical testing and additional controls. Our findings only highlight how necessary it is to draw more conclusions regarding the effectiveness of capital punishment.

Domestic violence in Latino culture

Presented By: Emilee Pesina, Criminology major

Research mentor: Colton Daniels, Ph.D.

Location: University Center, Alumni Room

Description: I aim to explore the barriers Latina women face in accessing the support and resources needed to escape abuse. By examining cultural norms, immigration status, language barriers, and the influence of family and community dynamics, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of how domestic violence manifests in the Latino community. I want to identify effective interventions and policies that address the unique needs of these women. My broader goal is to raise awareness, encourage community-based solutions, and develop culturally sensitive approaches to empower Latina women to break the cycle of violence and remind them they are not alone—that help is available if they seek it.

What Factors have Influenced Quality of Life in Laredo, Texas over the past 20 years 

Presented By: Daisy Zapatero, Political Science major

Research mentor: Leona Pallansch, Ph.D.

Location: University Center, Alumni Room

Description: Research has shown that quality of life in US-Mexico border cities is not felt the same compared to non-bored cities. This research aims to explore what factors could be the root cause of this difference in quality of life. More specifically, Laredo, Texas will be explored over a 20 year time period to explore the patterns that have affected the quality of life for residents of the city. The city of Laredo has one of the nation’s biggest inland ports otherwise known as the World Trade Bridge, which raises inquiry about how such a large institution may affect such a small town. To add, the constant immigration both legal and illegal flow raised concern about its effect on residents of Laredo, Texas. A database showing various quality of life aspects will give further insight to the factors that have been prominent in causing quality of life to vary. In addition, a quality of life index will further assess the overall well-being of citizens populating Laredo, Texas. Through this research, a thorough analysis of this data hopes to reveal what has been a constant factor in influencing quality of life in Laredo, Texas.

Courtroom Colonialism

Presented By: Sigrid Vendrell-Polanco, J.D., Visiting Associate Professor of Law

Location: University Center, Alumni Room

Description: This article delves into the pervasive issue of federal prosecution of local crimes across all U.S. territories, exploring a constitutional and political anomaly that reflects broader imperial dynamics within the U.S. governance system. Amid rising debates about the political status and rights of territories such as Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico, this discourse is particularly relevant. The article asserts that the federal government’s authority to prosecute local crimes in these regions is not merely a matter of legal routine but a significant expression of the United States’ ongoing colonial influence.

By mapping the landscape of federal prosecutions in these territories and illustrating how local and federal law enforcement agencies collaborate, the author demonstrates that the system leads to mass incarceration under federal control, without full democratic oversight by the territorial populations.

The article critically examines the “territorial incorporation doctrine” which has allowed federal courts to selectively apply constitutional rights, often resulting in a diluted form of citizenship for territorial residents. This selective application starkly contrasts with principles upheld in mainland states, thereby perpetuating a dual standard of rights and liberties.

Finally, the article argues for a re-evaluation of federal prosecutorial practices as part of the broader decolonization and self-determination debates concerning U.S. territories. It urges scholars, policymakers, and activists to consider how federal criminal jurisdiction acts as a cornerstone of colonial control and to seek pathways that could lead to greater political and legal autonomy for these territories.

On a Mission: Latino Art and Activism in San Francisco

Presented By: Lindsey Wieck, Ph.D., Associate Professor, History

Location: University Center, Alumni Room

Description: This presentation will overview my book manuscript on the history of Latino art and activism in the Mission District of San Antonio.

Section 1983 Municipal Liability and the Plaintiff’s Burden of Proof

Presented By: Lauren Porfirio, Law student

Research mentor: Michael Smith, J.D.

Location: University Center, Alumni Room

Description: This piece explores the rules and standard of review for municipal liability outlined in Monell and then Brown by defining the purpose of those court decisions and outlining the custom and policy requirements. Then, this piece discusses three Fifth Circuit cases that outline the current approach the appellate body takes in analyzing Section 1983 municipal liability claims. Next, several cases from other circuit courts and their application of Section 1983 for municipal liability are analyzed. Then the Fifth Circuit Court application of Section 1983 is compared and contrasted to the application of the other circuit court cases. Finally, several questions left unanswered in case law will be examined, namely, what evidence is sufficient to prove custom. To conclude, potential solutions will be presented to address the plaintiff’s difficulties in meeting the evidentiary burden for Section 1983 under Monell.