Honors Theses
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Item Open Access How much does media portrayal matter? The impact of a polarized media on politics and political ideology in the United States(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025-12-23) Hall, Kaley, author; Stenson, Peter, advisor; Berg, Marni, committee member; Buckley, Cara, committee memberBackground: The American political scene continues to grow more polarized, particularly among the two major political parties. Republicans and Democrats dislike, demonize, and look down upon each other more than ever before. This is partially due to the media and its portrayal of the two parties as well as its increasingly apocalyptic messages about one party or the other. The goal of this research is to shed light on how the media portrays each major political party from 2020 to present day and the devastating impact this portrayal has had on American politics and on the American people. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to examine both traditional media forms such as print and cable news as well as contemporary media forms such as social media to determine their impact on politics and individuals' political ideology. The following questions will guide this research: 1) What are the differences in how the media portrays the two major political parties? 2) What are the effects of this difference in the portrayal of the two parties on United States politics? 3) What are the effects of this difference in portrayal of the two parties on the general population and individual political ideology? Findings: This study found that bias in the media manifests differently depending on whether the news outlet is left leaning or right leaning. It also found that this bias has a significant impact on the American public; particularly when it comes to polarization and an overall negative perception of others in the opposite party. This polarization among the people is reflected in the increasing division among lawmakers and political figures.Item Open Access Salt licks and long hunters: an environmental history of the Plains bison east of the Mississippi River(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Matullo, Jake, author; Zwick-Tapley, Sarah, advisor; Swetnam, Sunshine, committee memberFrom the 1500s to the early 1800s, hundreds of thousands of bison once lived east of the Mississippi River. This was due to two principle reasons: the clearance of forests by Native Americans for agriculture, and the devastating decline of those same Native Americans at the hand of introduced Old World diseases. With greater open space and reduced hunting and habitat pressure from people, bison crossed the Mississippi and expanded from the Prairie Peninsula into many areas of the east. There, they affected the environment in remarkable ways, such as by improving grassland biodiversity and creating navigable paths in dense forests. Not only did many Native American societies use these paths for travel, but they made various different clothes and tools out of bison as well. Europeans and Americans hunted bison as well, primarily for their meat and hides, ultimately driving them to extinction in the east. Now, many different bison herds have been reestablished out east. However, do they even truly belong there?Item Open Access Decoding greenwashing: how young adults perceive and react to sustainability claims on social media(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Landwehr, Kendall, author; Dahl, Jamie, advisor; Baudoin-Farah, Andrea, committee memberAs the impacts of climate change intensify globally, consumers increasingly expect companies to adopt more socially and environmentally responsible business practices. Yet, as companies are incentivized to act sustainably, many engage in greenwashing– the practice of exaggerating or falsifying their environmental claims. This study investigates how young adults aged 18-24 encounter greenwashing on social media and how such exposure shapes their attitudes and consumer behavior. An online survey was administered to assess participants' daily social media use, recognition and understanding of greenwashing, and responses to sustainability-related claims. Participants reported extensive daily social media use and frequent exposure to environmental messaging through influencer and product marketing. Participants often struggled to distinguish between misleading claims and honest sustainability efforts. Although most respondents reported they would avoid a product or brand if they suspected greenwashing, 67% had not done so in practice, revealing an attitude-behavior gap. Perceptions varied with sustainability knowledge but respondents consistently expressed interest in companies' efforts to limit post-consumer waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions, decrease energy use, and minimize upstream and downstream operational impacts. Across respondents, concern about deceptive marketing and a strong preference for brand integrity emerged. Consumers would prefer for brands to be honest about the challenges they face in making their practices more sustainable, rather than overstate their sustainability initiatives. Specifically, participants wish to see greater transparency in sourcing, manufacturing, stakeholder engagement, and labor practices. Overall, the findings emphasize a need for improved consumer education on sustainability and stronger corporate transparency, highlighting the dual role of informed consumers and responsible companies in mitigating greenwashing.Item Open Access Protecting U.S. fisheries: strengthening the Magnuson-Stevens Act in a post-Chevron Deference era(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025-12) Nicol, London, author; Olofsson, Kristin, advisor; Houghteling, Sam, committee memberOverfishing and fishery collapse pose escalating environmental, economic, and social risks to the long-term stability of U.S. marine ecosystems. The Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) has been the United States’ primary and most effective tool for preventing overfishing and rebuilding depleted fish stocks for nearly five decades. However, the Supreme Court's 2024 decision overturning Chevron Deference has introduced new legal uncertainty into the regulatory framework underpinning the MSA, exposing key conservation measures—particularly industry-funded monitoring requirements—to heightened litigation and judicial reinterpretation. This policy brief examines the implications of a post-Chevron regulatory landscape for U.S. fisheries governance, with a focus on monitoring provisions critical to detecting Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and ensuring compliance with catch limits and bycatch reduction standards. The analysis finds that while monitoring requirements remain essential to sustaining fishery health, mandating that fishers bear monitoring costs has generated persistent stakeholder opposition and legal vulnerability that threaten the durability of MSA protections. To preserve the effectiveness of U.S. fisheries management, this brief recommends that Congress strengthen the MSA by enacting explicit statutory authority for monitoring programs and shifting monitoring costs from industry to federal funding. Such reforms would reduce economic burdens on fishers, limit future litigation, reinforce regulatory stability, and safeguard the ecological and economic gains achieved under the MSA in a post-Chevron policymaking era.Item Open Access Ashes and adaptations: exploring fire adaptations through a podcast mini-series(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Paa, Peyton, author; Neuwald, Jennifer, advisor; Hart, Sarah, advisor"Ashes and Adaptations" is a five-episode podcast mini-series discussing plant adaptations shaped by fire. The goal of the project was to create an overview of fire as an evolutionary force and explain how climate change is harmful to fire-adapted ecosystems. The audience was intended to be the general public, not just those within the scientific community. The series begins with an overview of evolution, discussing the mechanisms behind the process, how adaptations arise, and correcting the common misconceptions surrounding the topic. Then, the next three episodes dive into specific fire adaptations, including thick bark, serotiny, and the wide variety of adaptations contained within the iconic Eucalyptus tree. Finally, the series ends with a panel discussion with fire scientists Jamie Woolet and Sarah Hettema, discussing their work related to fire ecology and issues they've seen fire-adapted ecosystems facing today. With the generous help of Dr. Neuwald and Dr. Hart as advisors, this podcast was able to come into fruition. This project combined many of the skills I have fostered throughout my undergraduate experience, including research and writing, while also utilizing the knowledge I have gained from my classes in natural resources.Item Open Access The importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in veterinary medicine: advocacy through art(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Negron, Justine Adrianna, author; Aubry, Lise, advisor; Blanco, Cristina, committee member; Sadar, Miranda, committee memberVeterinary medicine has traditionally faced a lack of racial and ethnic diversity in its workforce. Despite ongoing efforts to minimize this issue, such as American Veterinary Medical Association diversity symposia and recruitment efforts by veterinary schools, 'Diversity, Equity and Inclusion' continues to be a modern challenge for the field. This honors thesis aims to answer the following: Why does racial and ethnic diversity in veterinary medicine matter? By using private organizational research, government statistics, interdisciplinary journal articles, and books, this project argues that diversity in veterinary medicine matters for three reasons: i) enabling better client-provider communication via diverse perspectives and cultural competency, ii) creating increased profitability and thus financial security for veterinary business institutions, and iii) allowing for better understanding/problem-solving of complex issues, which could impact society in sectors like public health. Given that visual art can cross cultural and language barriers to convey ideas and mobilize societies, three paintings were created to further communicate these themes. Taken together, the written and artistic components are meant to serve as educational tools, aiming to promote continued research and efforts toward increasing veterinary diversity to bolster the profession's relevance in serving today's communities.Item Open Access Pets and mental health(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Pitts, Isaac, author; Dewey, Tanya, advisor; Knaus, Pam Vaughan, committee memberMental health is a growing concern in the United States. Despite this, mental health is often misunderstood, misrepresented, or not taken seriously. Misconceptions about mental health can have devastating consequences, including high rates of suicide. It is crucial that mental health be given more attention and that those struggling are encouraged to seek help. For many people, pets can play a vital role in supporting mental health. Numerous studies have explored the health benefits of pet ownership and have found that pets not only improve mental well-being but also contribute to physical health, such as lowering blood pressure and reducing other cardiovascular problems. This thesis aims to present the research on how our pets at home help us each day. Since this was an art project, art will also be considered a behavior to improve mental health. To convey this message in art form, a collage of many different pets, from cats and dogs to crabs and rats, was created with a brain and heart in the center to show how important pets can be. The written and art pieces together aim to promote healthier ways to deal with mental health and promote more research on how pets are beneficial to humans.Item Open Access Paws & perception: the influence of marketing on animal rescue behavior(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Miller, Amanda, author; de Brito, Paulo Borges, advisor; Wright, Jennifer, committee memberThis honors thesis examines how marketing can catalyze a renewed cultural shift toward animal rescue in the United States, with a specific focus on Gen Z consumers. Drawing on historical analysis, secondary data from national animal welfare organizations, and primary survey data from pet owners in the Denver Metro Area, the paper traces the evolution of the rescue movement from the 1970s—when an estimated 15 million animals were euthanized annually— to the present plateau of approximately 607,000 euthanasias per year. The study identifies key historical inflection points, including the Animal Welfare Act, early animal rights advocacy, and high-profile celebrity interventions such as Oprah Winfrey's 2008 coverage of puppy mills, and contrasts these with current stagnation in progress. Quantitative analysis indicates that preventable euthanasia could be eliminated if only 27% of recent pet purchasers chose adoption instead, suggesting that a relatively modest behavioral shift could have an outsized impact. Survey findings further show that 60% of respondents who purchased from breeders asked about welfare-related practices, and half of those altered their purchasing decision, highlighting an existing ethical sensitivity to leverage. The thesis argues that the legacy slogan "Adopt, Don't Shop" is increasingly perceived as accusatory and insufficiently nuanced for Gen Z, who seek authenticity, narrative depth, and a sense of belonging in social causes. It proposes that modern marketing strategies—particularly influencer partnerships, viral storytelling, and socially resonant messaging reframed as a positive, joinable movement (e.g., "Join the Rescue Revolution")—offer a promising pathway to shift perceptions away from breeder purchases and toward rescue and adoption.Item Open Access The importance of insect education for all ages(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Linscomb, Olivia, author; Mola, John, advisor; Camper, Matt, committee memberMy experience included tabling and presenting at Bug Zoo and Entomology Club outreach events for the Fort Collins community, geared toward both children and adults, to examine how responses to insects varied. My involvement provided me with unique insights into the world of wildlife education and helped me develop valuable scientific communication skills. Along the way, I encountered numerous challenges, including obtaining IRB approval and a shortage of volunteers to assist me at various events.Item Open Access Applied crisis management in the supply chain: a qualitative study(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Coulson, Kirstyn, author; Mumford, Troy, advisor; Macdonald, John, committee memberThis thesis examines how supply chain leaders handle crisis and what effective leadership looks like. I conducted qualitative interviews with six leaders across manufacturing, logistics, procurement, healthcare, and rail. Their experiences point to several themes that shape crisis response, including the severity of the disruption, the vulnerabilities within a complex supply chain, and the leader’s own capabilities. Crises happen in every industry. They create financial risk, time pressure, and a need for strong coordination across teams. The leaders I interviewed described a shared approach. They stay outwardly steady while managing internal stress, pull people and resources together quickly, and turn each disruption into a learning opportunity through root cause analysis and prevention planning. A key takeaway is that a supply chain never leaves a crisis in the same condition it entered. Disruption exposes weak spots and moves the organization from a mindset focus on efficiency toward greater resilience. Overall, the research shows that effective crisis leadership relies less on technical expertise and more on emotional intelligence and a commitment to supporting teams through uncertainty.Item Open Access Diversity of Lampyridae (firefly) species across Colorado(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) DuMais, Benjamin, author; Borowiec, Marek, advisor; Aubry, Lise, committee memberFireflies, lightning bugs, and glowworms (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) are ecologically and culturally significant, yet their diversity and distribution in Colorado remain poorly understood. This study examined 327 Lampyridae specimens from the C. P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity at Colorado State University. Specimen data, including taxonomic identification, collection locality, and date, were entered into the global Ecdysis database and mapped using geographic information system (GIS) software with county and watershed boundaries. Six genera (Ellychnia, Photuris, Photinus, Pyractomena, Pyropyga, and Lucidota) were identified, though many specimens could only be resolved to the genus level. Collections were concentrated along the Front Range, while the Western Slope, Eastern Plains, and San Luis Valley were underrepresented. Several genera, including Ellychnia and Pyropyga, likely comprise species complexes requiring further taxonomic and genetic study. Although all eleven major watersheds were represented, specimens were collected from only 36 of Colorado's 64 counties, reflecting a spatial sampling bias. These findings establish a baseline checklist of Lampyridae in Colorado, highlight significant geographic gaps, and underscore the need for targeted survey efforts to support regional conservation and management of firefly populations.Item Open Access Romanticism as political critique: authority, sympathy, and the modern state(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025-12) Harrison, Rory, author; Steinway, Elizabeth, adviosr; Lessor, Edward, committee memberThis thesis examines British Romanticism as a sustained political critique of authority, freedom, and systemic power, challenging the longstanding view that Romantic writers retreated from politics after early revolutionary enthusiasm. Drawing on recent scholarship that reframes Romanticism as deeply entangled with war, empire, slavery, ecology, and economic instability, the project argues that Romantic literature persistently interrogates the moral and psychological foundations of political authority. Through close readings of writers including William Wordsworth, William Blake, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, Mary Wollstonecraft, Germaine de Staël, Anna Laetitia Barbauld, and Felicia Hemans, the thesis traces how Romanticism conceptualizes freedom not as a fixed achievement but as an ongoing ethical and imaginative practice. Romantic critiques of revolution, nationalism, humanitarianism, institutional power, and environmental degradation reveal enduring patterns of domination, complicity, and resistance. By extending these insights beyond historical reconstruction, the thesis demonstrates how Romantic political thought illuminates contemporary democratic crises in the United States, including racial inequality, economic precarity, ecological collapse, and the erosion of civic trust. Ultimately, the project argues that Romanticism remains politically vital because it exposes how authority operates both externally through institutions and internally through perception, habit, and imagination, insisting that political renewal begins with moral and imaginative transformation.Item Open Access Rights from wrongs: an educational unit on patient rights for students(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Lakoski, Samantha, author; Jeckel, Kimberly, advisor; Robinson, Gina, committee memberPatient rights lie at the intersection of two of the most daunting systems for everyday people, the medical and legal systems. Already stressful situations can become more confusing when a person doesn't know what protections they are entitled to as they enter a healthcare setting. Lack of awareness can be traced back to the lack of a comprehensive patient rights document in the United States. Rather, patient rights are distributed over various pieces of federal legislation, state legislation, and court cases. This paper outlines an educational unit for high school students that aims to define patient rights, outline key pieces of legislation, highlight population considerations, and identify significant legislation specific to Colorado. The goal of this unit is to help students become more familiar with the protections they are afforded in a medical setting, so they can feel more empowered when interacting with medical professionals. Through this empowerment, students will feel more comfortable seeking necessary medical help, communicating with medical professionals, and advocating for themselves if the need arises.Item Open Access A comparison of canine and avian skeletal and respiratory systems and diseases(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Ryann, Autumn, author; Martin, Jason, adivsor; Svec, Paulina, committee memberUtilizing comparative anatomy, we aim to expand anatomical knowledge of canine and avian species in those with basic understanding of the skeletal and respiratory systems. The canine is utilized as a model for comparison to establish general anatomical principles before introducing the evolutionary adaptations of the avian skeletal and respiratory systems, supporting the idea that form follows function. Additionally, variations in anatomy create a divergence in presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of various pathologies of these systems. The canine skeletal system is largely unfused, with many joints and flexibility, allowing efficient terrestrial locomotion and maneuverability. The avian skeletal system has many aspects of fusions in the vertebrae and appendages, providing rigidity that assist in flight stability and lowering mass. Canine respiration is bidirectional, requiring one inhale and one exhale for a full respiratory cycle. Avian respiration is unidirectional, requiring two inhales and two exhales for a full respiratory cycle, maximizing gas exchange for flight at altitudes with lower oxygen levels. Fractures cause problems in the skeleton's structural integrity, no matter the species. Canine rib fractures can be deadly, decreasing respiratory efficiency and increasing risk for secondary infections. Avian fractures impact the respiratory system in pneumatic bones, which often contain air sacs. Rupture of air sacs through fractures can increase risk of respiratory and bone infections, and often require surgical intervention. A fungal infection like aspergillosis primarily affects avian species, though it can present as sinonasal aspergillosis or disseminated aspergillosis in canines. Avian influenza (AI) affects both avians and canines, and can present as low or high pathogenicity in avian species. Generally, canines infected with AI have mild symptoms, though it can mutate in canines and establish a lineage of canine influenza.Item Open Access Early motor development and co-occurring biomedical conditions in toddlers with Down syndrome(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Despradel, Maria, author; Fidler, Deborah, advisor; Graham,James, committee memberDown syndrome (DS) is a neurogenetic condition present in 1:800 live births (Bull, 2020). DS is caused by the presence of a third copy of chromosome 21, known as trisomy 21. Trisomy 21 and the overexpression of genes on chromosome 21 are associated with intellectual disability (ID) and a variety of distinct physical characteristics (Bull, 2020). DS is the most common chromosomal cause of ID, typically presenting with mild to moderate severity (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2023). Individuals with DS are also at a higher risk of developing co-occurring biomedical conditions, including congenital heart defects (CHD), neurological disorders, such as infantile spasms and seizure disorders, and vision problems (Bull, 2020). Evidence to date suggests that motor skills are a key area of developmental vulnerability in DS (Sacks & Buckley, 2003). Characterizing early motor skill acquisition in infants with DS is critical to better tailor interventions and therapies to optimize outcomes. This study aims to characterize the range of motor skill presentations within a large sample of infants with DS, and the association between motor skills and co-occurring biomedical conditions.Item Open Access Rethinking the scale: inclusive assessment of social-emotional development for autistic preschool children(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) VonLunen, Mia, author; Daunhauer, Lisa, advisor; Simpson, Erica, committee memberAssessment in early childhood ensures children receive adequate challenges and scaffolding to support development. Formative, norm-based assessment measures are used to guide instruction; however, normed assessments are often not reflective of neurodivergent populations. For autistic preschoolers in particular, demonstrating social-emotional growth on a norm-referenced scale is challenging, as students with developmental disorders are underrepresented in the creation of the scale. As such, the present project modifies the Teaching Strategies GOLD, a widely used early childhood assessment tool, to include descriptions of levels and example behaviors that are developmentally appropriate for autistic children ages three to five. Through the inclusion of verbal and non-verbal example behaviors, a wide variety of learners are represented. Additionally, revisions focus on breaking apart levels into smaller progressions. By providing early childhood educators with an inclusive tool of assessment, neurodiverse students have access to accurate progress monitoring.Item Open Access Balancing conservation and cultural rights: how the International Whaling Commission's policies shape Indigenous and commercial whaling practices(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Tomlinson, Emma, author; Berg, Marni, advisor; Seidl, Andy, committee memberThe International Whaling Commission (IWC), established by the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, creates international rules that distinguish among commercial, scientific, and aboriginal subsistence whaling. Since the 1982 moratorium on commercial whaling, which entered into force in 1986, the IWC has continued to recognize and manage Indigenous subsistence hunts with the explicit objectives of maintaining whale populations at healthy levels while enabling Indigenous peoples to continue culturally and nutritionally necessary hunts. Each form of whaling has its own unique regulations and enforcement mechanisms, binding states and communities under international law. These regulatory arrangements establish a legal and management framework that must strike a balance between species conservation and Indigenous rights and cultural survival. This paper explores the complicated relationship between Indigenous self-determination, the limitations of international law, and conservation challenges.Item Open Access Exploration of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms and preliminary links to neurodevelopmental disorders(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Gibson, Ronan L., author; Anderson-Noell, Tori, advisor; Rosenberg, Corey, committee memberThe methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene encodes an enzyme involved in folate metabolism, specifically the production of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate — the metabolically active form of folate, a crucial nutrient for fetal development. Mutations in the MTHFR gene lead to folate deficiency, which contributes to multiple developmental complications, such as neural tube development deficits. Preliminary research shows a correlation between MTHFR polymorphisms and the onset of neurodevelopmental disorders, more specifically Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). These disorders can impact an individual's ability to perform daily activities, such as work and maintaining social relationships. This thesis explores the biochemical, genetic, and physiological mechanisms for MTHFR polymorphisms, as well as directing future research towards investigating a causal relationship through transgenic models in mice as well as the possible therapeutic benefits of 5-MTHF supplementation. Continued investigation into the relationship between MTHFR polymorphisms and neurodevelopmental disorders can further inform targeted interventions.Item Open Access Integrating market research and creative strategy: an advertising proposal for Stio(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Zoller, Kaija, author; Slejko, Gina, advisor; Robinson, Arnold, committee member; Krukowski, Kipp, committee memberThis project integrates comprehensive market research with creative advertising strategy to develop an informed, multi-channel marketing proposal for Stio, a premium outdoor apparel brand rooted in mountain-athlete culture. Through industry analysis, competitive benchmarking, and consumer trend evaluation, the research identifies a rapidly evolving outdoor apparel landscape defined by rising participation in outdoor activities, growing demand for versatile and sustainable gear, and the increasing role of social media in shaping lifestyle-oriented outdoor fashion. Using quantitative and qualitative data, including onsite interviews, analytics, social listening, and third-party research, the project establishes four key consumer personas: the Graduated Grom, Mountain Maven, Eco Explorer, and Seasoned Seeker. These personas guide the development of a research-driven campaign concept, "The Gear That Does It All," which highlights Stio's ability to balance technical performance with everyday versatility. Paired with a six-month, funnel-based digital media plan spanning awareness, consideration, and conversion channels, the campaign is designed to support revenue growth, strengthen brand differentiation, and maintain Stio's aspirational mountain-towner identity. The resulting proposal positions Stio to expand its audience while preserving authenticity, addressing strategic challenges of credibility, brand dilution, and sustainability storytelling within a crowded and competitive market.Item Open Access Timing the bite: nutrient timing strategies for athlete success(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Zembeck, John, author; Gentile, Chris, advisor; Burke, Colleen, committee member; Carlson, Charlotte, committee memberThis thesis integrates evidence-based sports nutrition with culinary application to empower athletes through strategic nutrient timing and accessible meal preparation. Drawing on current research and personal experience in athletics and culinary science, it addresses common barriers to optimal fueling such as time constraints, cost, knowledge gaps, and psychological stress. This will also offer practical solutions tailored to collegiate athletes. The framework centers on four critical fueling windows: breakfast, pre-workout, post-workout, and before bed, each supported by physiological rationale and targeted recipes. Emphasis is placed on calculating energy and macronutrient needs using methods such as the Mifflin-St Jeor equation and activity multipliers, while highlighting the importance of consistent eating patterns, micronutrient adequacy, and individualized experimentation. Recipes are designed to be nutrient-dense, budget-conscious, and performance-enhancing, with adaptations for varied schedules and training loads. By merging scientific insight with culinary creativity, this resource aims to foster sustainable fueling habits that enhance performance, recovery, and long-term athlete health.