Publication Type: PAPER
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This study examined 30 sexual-minority women’s narratives about important points in their sexual histories. High points included first sexual experiences with men and women. Low points included unwanted sexual experiences and relationship problems. Turning points included the realization of one’s sexual identity. These responses were compared to heterosexual women’s responses.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: While estimating ideal points in recent congresses is non-problematic (Poole 2005), determining support along specific issue dimensions can be difficult when only a limited number of votes are available. This is the case with votes on lesbian and gay rights in Congress. Cosponsorship data provides another manifestation of support in a policy area and early support for legislation implies greater support along a policy dimension. I merge the date a member of Congress cosponsors legislation into a standard Bayesian MCMC item response model (Clinton, Jackman, and Rivers 2004) to obtain improved policy support scores for members of Congress and compare these to the Human Rights Campaign Scorecard traditionally used as measure of support for lesbian and gay rights. The scores show a sharp consolidation of the Republican Party at an anti-gay pole after the 1992 Republican Convention and the election of a Republican congress in 1994. This suggests that Republicans used their agenda setting powers to display a unified front against gay rights in order to appeal to anti-gay religious activists.

Publication Type: Proceeding

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper takes all contiguous dyads from 1946-2000 and breaks down how the border is defined (i.e. river, lake, mountain, stragiht-line). The dependent variable is whether of not there was a Militarized Interstate Dispute in a dyad in a specific year. The independent variables are whether a river, lake, straight-line, or mountain define the border. Control variables include, joint democracy, capability ratio, alliance type, and contiguity. After the data is combined with non-contiguous borders, I use a logistic regression to find that the probability of conflict is reduced in dyads with a straight-line border. Predicted probabilities are run to analyze the effect of the coefficients in the model. Bremer's (1992) finds that contiguous borders are 35X more likely to engage in conflict, however, this ariticle show that by dissagregating the data, not all contiguous borders have a increase in the probability of conflict. Another interesting finding is that in dyads with straight-line borders as the countries become closer in capabilities, it reduces the probability of conflict. In all other contiguous borders, inequalities in capabilities reduce the probability of conflict.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Topic: Providing access to multiple styles of power point presentations through faculty instruction and resources to enhance diversity, access, and equality in the classroom.

Our goal for this presentation is to provide an easily accessible resource of suggested techniques to enhance access to and learning outcomes for all types of power point presentations. This presentation will focus on three types of power point presentations; student generated, instructional, and professional presentations, and how techniques of Universal Design in Learning (UDL) can be incorporated to improve accessibility and learning outcomes for students of differing learning styles.

Creating a high quality-learning environment through accessible Power Point presentations involves incorporating techniques of Universal Design in Learning (UDL). These techniques provide greater access for those with disabilities, and improve instruction by engaging all students through a variety of learning modalities. UDL strategies enhance learning by using assistive technology to create accessibility for students with sensory or learning disabilities. By using screen reading software for those with visual impairments, captioning the narrative for hearing or speech impaired people, and providing tactile representation of data, Power Point presentations become a very effective and inclusive teaching tool. Eliminating bright, flashing, and distracting images and focusing on coherent, simple presentations, faculty can offer students with different learning styles a choice in how they process the information.

To achieve the best practice for expanding learning opportunities and creating equity among student learners, this presentation will demonstrate specific techniques and tools that incorporate principles of UDL into a variety of power point presentations. Using campus and on-line resources, in addition to software-based accessibility features, faculty will learn the tools to customize Power Point presentations to meet the needs of a diverse audience.