Arts - Buffalo State College

Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship Program
James Harter, Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Professor Michael MacLean, Psychology
Abstract Title: Exploring a Possible College Drinking Motive: Defiance
James is a Psychology major who will graduate with a B.A. degree in May 2012. He plans on
earning a doctorate in clinical psychology and pursuing a research career.
James gathered data from over 300 underage college drinkers, including their personality
characteristics and underlying motives for drinking in order to predict which drinkers are
most likely to experience repeated problems. He applied advanced statistical techniques such
as confirmatory factor analysis and mediational modeling. His results suggest that a majority
of college drinkers report at least some defiance drinking motives and that higher scores on
this motive predict more alcohol-related problems. James presented his work at the Society for
Research on Adolescence in Vancouver, BC in March 2012.
David Huurman, Printmaking
Faculty Mentor: Professor Anthony P. Gorny, Fine Arts
Abstract Title: Non-Traditional Bookbinding
David is in the B.F.A. Printmaking program and plans to graduate in May 2013. David
is planning further graduate studies for a M.F.A. Printmaking degree. His artwork has been
represented in several New York State exhibitions.
David explored various types of less common bookbinding styles including the Japanese,
Coptic, and Caterpillar stitch methods. He investigated uses of unconventional book materials
such as Plexiglas. He discovered imagery by literally tying the books together and brought them
to the realm of art with intrinsic concepts. His sense of color, composition, and ideas became
clearer, transcending the limiting approaches of book arts, bridging them toward sculpture.
Leah Knott, Health and Wellness
Faculty Mentor: Professor Susan Baldwin, Health and Wellness
Abstract Title: The Colorless, Odorless, Tasteless Compound That May Be
Targeting Athletes Across the Nation
Leah is a Health and Wellness major with minors in Coaching and Women’s Studies. She will
graduate in May of 2012 and plans to pursue a graduate degree in a health-related field. Leah
was the 2011 Undergraduate Health Major of the Year from the Association for the Advancement
of Health Education (AAHE) and is the Health and Wellness Association President.
To better understand air quality in ice arenas, Leah’s research consisted of collecting carbon
monoxide levels, barometric pressure readings and health survey data in a local ice arena. Based
on data collected using four carbon monoxide data loggers placed around an ice rink, Leah
found that over a two day period nearly 50 carbon monoxide levels exceeded the recommended
50.0 ppm level. She also found that nearly 43% of survey participants answered that they sometimes or often noticed zamboni
exhaust fumes while in an ice arena. Future research is planned to study air quality in other ice rinks to ascertain how widespread
poor air quality is found.
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