Scholars and their Research Project

Kalil Kamara

Title: Catastrophic Flood prevention in the Downtown Sacramento and Natomas

Abstract: The levee break in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina caused some residents in particular areas of Sacramento to question the safety of Sacramento's levees.  This research study investigates the readiness of the City of Sacramento to respond to an event such as Hurricane Katrina and the potentiality of a flood occurring.  In addition, the researcher examines what the social, economic, and political implications would be from a serious flood.  The area of Sacramento central to this study is downtown Sacramento, which is the central business district, and a suburb of Sacramento called Natomas; a growing neighborhood with newly built homes.  A few topics discussed in the research include flood history, different flood control agencies and a flood map showing the flood depths in Natomas and downtown Sacramento.

Amber Bill

Title: California Indian Women Basketweavers as Grassroots

Abstract: This study examines the grassroots political activism of California Indian women basketweavers. Traditionally, basketweavers were not thought of as political activists.  However, due to various historical and contemporary factors, which include upheaval of culture, colonization, and land, political and pesticide issues, California Indian basketweavers chose to become political activists in order to continue the tradition of basketweaving. Using qualitative data from interviews and literature, this researcher analyzed the importance of California Indian basketry, the formation of the California Indian Basketweavers Association (CIBA), and the efforts of California Indian women to perpetuate basketweaving. Five interviews with founding and non-founding members of CIBA, representing various California tribes, help provide an understanding of the challenges basketweavers have faced, in order to preserve tradition.

Jennifer Simpson

Title: Understanding Alexithymia and Its Relation to Binge Eating Disorder in Obese Individuals

Abstract: People classified as obese habitually overeat despite the knowledge that doing so increases their mortality and morbidity rate and risk. Obese individuals, especially those diagnosed with a binge eating disorder (BED), despite the health risks, have a greater difficulty in controlling their tendency to overeat. An explanation as to the continued binge eating in this population is a cognitive-affective personality trait called Alexithymia. A literature review of academic articles and scholarly journals concerning Alexithymia related to obesity and eating disorders, examines the extent to which Alexithymic symptoms increase BED-obese individuals' susceptibility to overeat.

Pang Moua

Title: The Effects of Native Californian Plants on Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer Cells

Abstract: Many Native Americans in California have used teas (aqueous extracts) of Apocynum cannabinum, Datisca glomerata, Iva hayesiana, and Nuphar luteum medicinally for treating various medical conditions.  Aqueous extracts of these four native California plants were investigated for cytotoxicity towards an estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer cell line grown in culture.  The ER+ breast cancer cells and media were inoculated with the extracts and the results were analyzed after 48 hours.  Extracts of A. cannabinum, D. glomerata, and N. lutuem proved effective against the cancer cells. However, in the case of I. hayesiana, the extract helped to increase the growth of the breast cancer cells.

Lusi Martin

Title: Assessment of Eating Habits, Attitudes and Knowledge of African American Females in Relation to Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

Abstract: Despite the publicity and research findings on the positive effects of a healthful diet, a significant number of African American women continue to die of cardiovascular disease, in particular, coronary heart disease (CHD).  For the purpose of this research, the researcher looked at the eating habits of African American females, ages 18-24, to determine: 1) if completion of a nutrition course positively affects eating habits and food choices; 2) if the knowledge of one's family health conditions affects eating habits and food choices; 3) if there is a common barrier that keeps African American females from eating healthily; 4)  if current eating habits are associated with increased risk for CHD, and 5)  how much knowledge this population has about the risk factors for coronary heart disease.

Jessica Ramirez

Title: Unknown History: The Experiences of the Bracero Guestwork Program, 1942-1964

Abstract: This study examines the Bracero Guestworker Program, from 1942 to 1964 from a socio-historical perspective.   The term bracero comes from the Spanish word for arm, and can be loosely translated as 'farmhand' (Calavita, 1999, p.1).  While much of the existing literature recognizes how the economic interests of growers in the United States was a driving force for institutionalizing deplorable working conditions, little discussion focuses on exploring the response of Braceros to a guestworker program that proved to be at best dehumanizing.    With the assistance of the Association of Braceros of Northern California, five case studies were conducted using open-ended questions over a period of 15 weeks.  The narratives gathered and analyzed reveal conditions and structures that shaped the experiences of the Bracero.  Understanding the means by which braceros retained their livelihood while working amidst an economic industry that qualified their contributions as cheap labor is the focus of this study. 

Alicia Marquez

Title: ESL Students at Loma High School

Abstract: Since the passage of Proposition 227 in California, a measure that outlawed most forms of native language instruction, research has shown that the quality of instruction has decreased for English Language Learners (ELL) students. To further understand the challenges faced by ELL students, this author conducted a research study that surveys eight ELL students and one teacher at a high school with a growing population of Mexican immigrants. This study revealed the challenges ELL students face at school, as well as the consequences of a school system that does not prepare them for the world outside of school.

Catalina Alvarez-Alvarez 

Title: Views of Domestic Violence from the Perspective of Immigrant Mexican Women As a Norm in Their Romantic Relationships

Abstract: This study investigates influencing factors that contribute to immigrant Mexican women (IMW) between the ages 20-60 of years old viewing domestic violence (DV) as a romantic relationship norm. The term romantic relationship refers to women who are living with or married to a male partner. Six women from Stockton, California were interviewed. The interviews consisted of open-ended and close-ended questions, and were conducted in Spanish, as the participants were unable to either speak or write English. The phase of the interview containing open-ended questions was audio-taped. The researcher used descriptive statistics to analyze the data obtained from the close-ended questions, and transcribed interview data from the audiotape. Context analysis was used to identify emergent themes.

Adrián Rocha-Alvarez

Title: Transformation of Gender Roles among First and Second Stage Immigrant Mexican Couples

Abstract: This study addresses the topic of changes in gender roles among first and second stage immigrant Mexican couples as a result of migration, while considering various factors related to these transformations. This study examines six Mexican couples (three from first stage migration and three from second stage migration) from Gómez Farías, Michoacán, México, residing at the San Andreas Community Labor Camp in Watsonville, California. The focus of this study is gender empowerment as measured by questions on gender ideology, authority (mando), division of labor, and spatial mobility.  Among the mediating factors considered are transnationality, employment status, religiosity, and educational attainment.  The data was collected through in-depth interviews (both open-ended and semi-structured), participant observation and informal interviews with members of the community.

Carmelita Miller

Title: The Quest for Glory: Pericles and The History of the Peloponnesian War

Abstract: The study of democratic leadership has been a popular topic in the fields of history and politics since the birth of democracy in Athens in the early fourth century B.C.E.  Thucydides, ancient historian and author of The History of the Peloponnesian War, argued that the Athenian statesman Pericles provided a superlative example of an effective democratic leader.  This article analyzes the depiction of Pericles in The History to define what Thucydides viewed as the best kind of democratic leadership and applies this analysis to reveal the author's contradictions in his attempt to validate the claim that Pericles was the model leader of a democracy.  Ultimately, it will be shown that Pericles' actions did not reflect the exemplary attributes of leadership as defined by Thucydides.

Adrienne Taylor

Title: Differences in Intelligence Scores Across Ethnic Groups

Abstract: This study hypothesized that, when studying the relationship between types of intelligence scores and ethnicity, there would be a significant difference found across ethnic groups.  To test this hypothesis, a 59-item instrument was administered to college students to assess intelligence scores, along with a demographic survey to account for ethnicity. The data was analyzed using an analysis of variance between ethnicity and various types of intelligence, and a correlation test between the three types of intelligence. Specifically, the three areas examined were basic intelligence, emotional intelligence, and social interest intelligence.  The results of this study showed that there was significant relationship between basic intelligence scores and ethnicity, and no significant relationship between emotional intelligence, or social interest intelligence, scores and ethnicity.