2008 Proceedings - St. Cloud State University

Abstracts
Session U Social Sciences II North Glacier
How Does Per-Pupil Spending Affect Graduation Rates?
This paper considers the topic of how to advance the graduation rates of today‘s children. It has been proven that those with a high school
diploma earn higher wages and face lower unemployment than those without. Ways to increase child education has always been a
foremost political topic, this and education spending. This paper intends to see how that very spending affects the graduation rate of
Americas High School students and to see if those graduation rates come at the expense of education quality in the form test scores.
Socioeconomic variables such as income, poverty levels, teacher‘s wages, and unemployment will also be explored to see just how they
affect the graduation levels of today‘s youth.
Presentation Index: U1
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Department: Economics
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Chris, Gliadon
Grossman, Philip
173d Airborne Brigade
Social resistance to the Vietnam War influenced beliefs and behaviors around the country. History has shown this aspect presenting the
protests and rallies of the era. What are not represented are the communities around the country that stood in support of the men and
women of the U.S. Military. Rochester, Minnesota was one of these communities, and backed their support with the adoption of the 173d
Airborne Brigade.
Presentation Index: U2
Time: 3:50 p.m.
Department: History
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Canfield, Bryan
Galler, Robert
New York Times Talks
Endeavoring to create an enriching experience for students inside and outside the classroom, colleges and university all over the country
provide extracurricular opportunities to students. The outcomes of these programs and opportunities in many cases are to create future
leaders and well rounded members of society. The Social Change Model of Leadership Development (SCMLD) explains leadership
development through a multi-level (individual, group, and community) competency (seven C's) process model. One such competency is
Controversy with Civility, which relates to the future leader's ability to hear differing opinions and air these different opinions in a civil and
respectful manner. The New York Times (NYT) Talks are part of the Husky L.E.A.D. program at St Cloud State University. These talks
are a collaboration of The American Democracy Project, The New York Times, The Volunteer Connection, and many faculty members on
this campus. These talks encourage students to explore readership, current events, and inspire open dialog and debate about the issues
of today. An outcome of this project is that attendees will improve in the competency of Controversy with Civility. This study predicts that
attendees of the NYT Talks will score higher than non-attendees. In addition, there will be a positive correlation between the number of
Talks attended and higher competency scores. A set of randomly selected students and a sample of former attendees of the NYT Talks
will be given an electronic survey containing a competency assessment, basic demographic material (including age and year in school),
and extracurricular student involvement. The researcher then compares competency scores of New York Times Talks attendees with nonattendees
across the competency of Controversy with Civility. Implications for program assessment will be discussed.
Presentation Index: U3
Time: 4:10 p.m.
Department: Psychology; College Experience
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Corbett, Benjamin
Valdes, Leslie; Umberger, Stuart
Session V Communication Studies Lady's Slipper
Meaning Beyond Words: Nonverbal Communication Research
The study of nonverbal communication can involve such varied areas as our comfort level with touch in friendship, the perception of
another's body, the meanings of tattos and variables (such as smiling and proximity) influencing the sum of money tipped to a server. Four
research projects conducted in an advanced level noncommunication class illustrate the breadth and signficance of nonverbal
communication in our everyday lives.
Presentation Index: V1
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Department: Communication Studies
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Gohner, Trevor; Baso, Andrew; Brown, Tara;
Rehling, Diana
Krava, Elizabeth; Babinski,Rebecca
St. Cloud State University Student Research Colloquium 68
April 22, 2008