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In the United States, Black defendants are more likely to be sentenced to death than their white counterparts exclusively due to their race. There are several aspects that work to explain why this pattern is present, and this paper analyzes our current sentencing disparity through the lens of race to

In the United States, Black defendants are more likely to be sentenced to death than their white counterparts exclusively due to their race. There are several aspects that work to explain why this pattern is present, and this paper analyzes our current sentencing disparity through the lens of race to understand why this is the case. First, the historical context of legal racial discrimination will be explored as I discuss the legacy slavery and how the trade and ownership of Black people led to the devaluation of African Americans long after the 13th Amendment abolished the practice. This is seen from the establishment of convict leasing directly following abolition, to the development of Black Codes and Jim Crow laws, and eventually this legacy became the foundation that contributed to the targeted mass incarceration of African Americans beginning with Richard Nixon’s 1970s “war on drugs” campaign and spanning to today. Next, six important milestone Supreme Court cases relating to the evolution of capital punishment in the United States will be described. These cases include Furman v. Georgia, Gregg v. Georgia, Lockett v. Ohio, Batson v. Kentucky, and McCleskey v. Kemp. This research also presents data that illustrates the current trends in death penalty sentencing within 26 states who currently implement this punishment. The results show that there is an overwhelming amount of data in support of harsher criminal sentences and therefore a higher likelihood of Black defendants being sentenced to death in comparison to their white counterparts. Lastly, the systemic inequalities embedded within several aspects of capital trials are outlined—both in terms of juror bias against African American defendants as well as racial issues when hiring an attorney—and works to inform my argument that the death penalty should be abolished. An offender’s race should not play any role in determining the severity of their punishment, but the historic criminalization of Black people works to ensure that these groups of people are typically at a severe disadvantage when navigating the American justice system. Overall, the application of the death penalty can not be applied in a standard manner, nor can there be regulations passed in such a way to guarantee an absence of racism within our current system. Therefore, the United States should abolish this unjust, discriminatory practice.
ContributorsSasselli, Annabella (Author) / Shabazz, Rashad (Thesis director) / Corey, Susan (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor)
Created2023-12
Description
Migrant families are among one of the most vulnerable and under protected populations in terms of protection and aid from the United States government. Often arriving on the basis of fleeing violence and severe poverty, their quality of life deeply depends on their ability to find and maintain economic security.

Migrant families are among one of the most vulnerable and under protected populations in terms of protection and aid from the United States government. Often arriving on the basis of fleeing violence and severe poverty, their quality of life deeply depends on their ability to find and maintain economic security. Education is recognized as a path and is strongly linked to the achievement of economic wellbeing (U.S. Department of Education, 2021). A great number of (im)migrants experience educational barriers to enrollment and participation in education and are therefore unlikely to obtain both an education and access to financial stability. This thesis presents research on the educational policies and programs currently available for (im)migrant students, recent federally reported educational outcomes of these students, and identifies substantial barriers to their obtaining a meaningful education. The intended demographic of this thesis is Latinx (im)migrant students in the state of Arizona. Distributive justice practices are rooted in the understanding that all humans need specific resources to survive and thrive. This paper theorizes that these practices, when applied in relation to educational barriers affecting (im)migrant students, will enable them to increase both their access to and success in higher education. The author applies a distributive justice framework to address these issues via the creation of an innovative, dual-language infographic to inform (im)migrant students about the resources available to increase their access to higher education. To conclude, the paper provides an analysis of the impact the resource might have on (im)migrant students, as well as what policies or changes might/should be implemented for a large-scale impact.
ContributorsGarcia, Kaylee (Author) / Hlava, Terri (Thesis director) / Kerber, Noelle (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor)
Created2023-12
ContributorsGarcia, Kaylee (Author) / Hlava, Terri (Thesis director) / Kerber, Noelle (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor)
Created2023-12
ContributorsGarcia, Kaylee (Author) / Hlava, Terri (Thesis director) / Kerber, Noelle (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor)
Created2023-12
Description

The Starbucks Workers United Movement emerged in late 2021 and quickly spread to 290 stores in at least 40 states. SBWU cuts against the decades-long trend of decline in the US labor movement, and many hope that it signals its revitalization. I conducted interviews in Arizona's first SBWU location to

The Starbucks Workers United Movement emerged in late 2021 and quickly spread to 290 stores in at least 40 states. SBWU cuts against the decades-long trend of decline in the US labor movement, and many hope that it signals its revitalization. I conducted interviews in Arizona's first SBWU location to investigate why workers organized, why they chose to act now, and what obstacles lie ahead of the movement. I found that the movement is driven primarily by young workers (Gen Y and Z) motivated by factors other than pay like toxic management, scheduling concerns, and dignity at work. Findings indicate that the conditions which brought about SBWU will increase in a future of climate change and economic instability.

ContributorsSundin, Isaac (Author) / Fong, Benjamin (Thesis director) / Voorhees, Matthew (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2023-05
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Despite countless research reports, research studies, and studies of human psychology verifying that the Reid Method interrogation tactics used by police in the United States cause false confessions, the method is still heavily accepted and used on suspects everyday. This research paper will look into the Reid Method interrogation tactics,

Despite countless research reports, research studies, and studies of human psychology verifying that the Reid Method interrogation tactics used by police in the United States cause false confessions, the method is still heavily accepted and used on suspects everyday. This research paper will look into the Reid Method interrogation tactics, their connection to false confessions in order to establish a basis for repealing and replacing the Reid Method with an alternative interrogation technique. This paper will show that the guilt-presumptive nature of the Reid Method leads to innocent individuals falsely confessing and spending years in prison. Evidence of this phenomenon will be shown through research papers, studies, case examples, and an interview with a false confession expert Dr. Richard A. Leo. The Reid Method is problematic and jeopardizes the presumption of innocence for every citizen in the United States and should be repealed by an alternative interrogation technique called P.E.A.C.E in order for justice to be renewed.

ContributorsWorrell, Hayley (Author) / Niebuhr, Robert (Thesis director) / Adelman, Madeline (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor)
Created2022-05
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Description

Despite George Washington’s warning against political parties, the United States we know today consists of two political parties that are becoming even more polarized. Since President Trump’s first run for the Republican party candidate and presidency, these partisan tensions have been recharged with further polarization and many individuals swearing on

Despite George Washington’s warning against political parties, the United States we know today consists of two political parties that are becoming even more polarized. Since President Trump’s first run for the Republican party candidate and presidency, these partisan tensions have been recharged with further polarization and many individuals swearing on social media they would never date a Trump supporter. According to Pew Research Center, “45% [of Democrats and those who lean left who are currently seeking relationships] say they definitely would not consider seriously dating a Trump voter” (Brown 2020). The divide between parties and the importance of political beliefs amongst partners has appeared to only increase after the actions taken at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. My research aims to quantify this phenomenon and then discover the “why?” behind it. How many people really consider their partner’s partisan affiliation and political beliefs a deal-breaker? Further, is it a deal-breaker because of the individual’s identity and political beliefs? Using intersectionality as a framework to examine identity and the confluence of identifiers and oppressors, will allow for a deeper understanding and personal account of why individuals find partisanship to be such a big criterion in a partner.

ContributorsPerryman, Olivia (Author) / Lennon, Tara (Thesis director) / McGibbney-Vlahoulis, Michelle (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor)
Created2021-12
Description
This paper researches and studies the experiences of queer and transgender ballet dancers in classical ballet. While men in classical ballet are typically considered to be gay due to gendered stereotypes, women in classical ballet are assumed to be heterosexual. This causes a lack of visibility of queer women in

This paper researches and studies the experiences of queer and transgender ballet dancers in classical ballet. While men in classical ballet are typically considered to be gay due to gendered stereotypes, women in classical ballet are assumed to be heterosexual. This causes a lack of visibility of queer women in classical ballet. Furthermore, strict gender roles in traditional classical ballet affect nonbinary and transgender ballet dancers, impacting their experiences. Misogyny and body shaming play a role in the experiences of female ballet dancers, and these issues combine with homophobia and transphobia for queer and transgender dancers. This paper considers the intersection of gender and sexuality and researches how that impacts the experiences and mental well-being of classical ballet students. It compares the experiences of classical ballet dancers of all backgrounds, genders, and sexualities to determine how their experiences relate and differ.
ContributorsReynolds, Ry (Author) / Conder, Carley (Thesis director) / Flower, Lauren (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor) / School of Music, Dance and Theatre (Contributor)
Created2024-05