Schedule of Events

    This study seeks to investigate the significant emotional, social, and health challenges thatmake it difficult for HIV/AIDS+ individuals to adjust to their new lives and personal identities upon several years after discovering their diagnosis. This semester-long ethnographic methods project was conducted using a method of passive observant participant with data collected and analyzed from an HIV/AIDS+ awareness and social support platform on YouTube. The findings from this study indicates that there are three serious challenges resulting from interactional and individual HIV stigma that affect the lives of newly (2 years of less) and currently (3 years or more) HIV/AIDS+ groups: processing a positive self-identity upon diagnosis, negotiating safer-sex practices with casual and monogamous partners, and developing a self-management system for the uptake of HIV/AIDS-related medications. The findings from the study contributes to existing literature because HIV/AIDS-related stigma continuously affects the ability for positive individuals to come to terms with accepting their diagnosis and making healthier choices to protect the sexual health of themselves and others, Additionally, this study provides beneficial insights that more sexual health education and HIV/AIDS support and counseling services to both help positive individuals accept their diagnosis in a healthy way and navigate related challenges that occur in their lives, as well facilitating positive individuals to continue to use condoms and dental dams during sexual intercourse and taking medications to suppress the HIV virus to untrasmittable and undetectable levels.

This study investigates the interpersonal roles of transgender people and allies based on interactions in an online group. The research is based on data collected during a semester-long participant observation study of a Facebook group, including posts and comments. The findings reveal the ways in which attitudes expressed by trans members play a crucial role in the development of the attitudes of and interactions with participants who identify as cis/het allies of trans participants. These findings also illustrate an important distinctions in the relationships between trans members who display inclusionary versus exclusionary attitudes towards allies. This study expands on previously conducted studies which have focused on the concept of allyship and how the interpersonal relationships between trans people and allies impact the experience of trans people. Results from this study can be used to assist allies of the trans community in better understanding the expectations and responsibilities that their roles entail, with hopes of producing an overall better experience for the trans community within online spaces.

AbstractThis project explores college students' perspectives on mental health through a comprehensive survey employing diverse sampling methods: availability/convenience, snowball, and purposive sampling. Nominal measures include demographic factors such as gender, race/ethnicity, living arrangements, sports participation, employment, and club involvement. Ordinal measures gauge education status and elicit rankings for 10 mental health statements. Interval measures capture the hours spent on work, sports/clubs, and sleep, while ratio measures encompass respondents' ages. Additional open-ended questions investigate the impact of social media. Preliminary findings reveal nuanced relationships between mental health perceptions and variables like academic year, work hours, living conditions, and D3 athletic status. This study sheds light on the intricate interplay of factors influencing college student's mental health, providing valuable insights for institutions seeking to enhance well-being support services.Keywords: Mental Health, College Students, Social Media

AbstractThis project explores college students' perspectives on mental health through a comprehensive survey employing diverse sampling methods: availability/convenience, snowball, and purposive sampling. Nominal measures include demographic factors such as gender, race/ethnicity, living arrangements, sports participation, employment, and club involvement. Ordinal measures gauge education status and elicit rankings for 10 mental health statements. Interval measures capture the hours spent on work, sports/clubs, and sleep, while ratio measures encompass respondents' ages. Additional open-ended questions investigate the impact of social media. Preliminary findings reveal nuanced relationships between mental health perceptions and variables like academic year, work hours, living conditions, and D3 athletic status. This study sheds light on the intricate interplay of factors influencing college student's mental health, providing valuable insights for institutions seeking to enhance well-being support services.Keywords: Mental Health, College Students, Social Media