Is It Okay to Help Students Pray? A Constitutional Analysis of Chaplains in Public Schools

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Most analysts understand the First Amendment as requiring the separation of church and state while allowing for individual religious liberty. Though seemingly straightforward, the application of these principles is highly contested – especially in the context of public schools. The Supreme Court is often tasked with determining how to maintain a careful balance between avoiding religious establishments and protecting free exercise. The current posture of the Court and the convergence of recent rulings indicate an increasingly permissive attitude towards the commingling of religion and schools. The landmark cases of Kennedy v. Bremerton and Carson v. Makin in 2022 established a new era of the contemporary Court: protections for public school employees to exercise their religion on school grounds, and allowing the use of public funds for religious education. Since then, many states have proposed bills that allow religious symbols and practices in public schools, including requiring classrooms to display the Ten Commandments, mandating a daily moment of silence, and allowing teachers to pray during the school day. Perhaps most intriguing are policies permitting religious chaplains to serve as counselors in public schools. Already enacted in Texas, more than a dozen other states have recently proposed similar legislation. This presentation analyzes the constitutionality of these policies. I argue that allowing chaplains to work as counselors in public schools ultimately undermines the principles set forth in the Constitution.

Follwing the Light

For the first time, I am cataloging and studying ancient lamps that were recently donated as part of the Turnure Collection to the Samek Art Museum. This year I began by focusing on one mold-made style of lamp, lamp TD2020.12.29, which style I determined came from the Eastern Mediterranean. However, through my research, it became clear that this specific lamp did not originate from that location. I started to look at similar later lamps in Italy, which then led me to start considering North African red-glaze pottery. This expanded my investigation to two similar lamps in the Turnure collection, TD2020.12.38, and TD2020.12.28, which may represent two different periods of the lamp’s development. I am now investigating if the lamp may have come from or have been influenced by North African red slip pottery.

Exploring feminine expression and the aftermath of gender-related trauma in Romantic literature

This study delves into the intricate interactions between expressions of traditional femininity and the psychological complications of gender-based trauma in Romantic literature. Through a nuanced analysis of Mary Shelley’s “Valperga” and “Matilda,” alongside Julia Ward Howe’s “The Hermaphrodite,” this research project investigates how characters negotiate societal expectations, complex desires, and traumatic experiences shaped by gender roles.
In “Valperga,” the protagonist Euthanasia exemplifies a blend of feminine and masculine traits as she grapples with the conflict between political loyalty and love. Her ultimate demise underscores the struggle of individuals occupying undefined spaces within the Symbolic order. Similarly, Matilda’s narrative unveils the consequences of patriarchal dominance, leading to her self-destructive behavior rooted in complex and taboo love and the ensuing emotional turmoil.
Contrasting traditional gender binaries, “The Hermaphrodite” explores the journey of Laurence, an intersex individual navigating identity and societal expectations. Laurence’s liminality disrupts conventional norms, prompting questions about belonging and acceptance within the Symbolic order.
By applying Lacanian psychoanalysis, this research illuminates how rigid gender roles perpetuate emotional dependency and traumatic experiences. The analysis highlights the need for greater flexibility and diverse representation to address the shortcomings of the Symbolic order. Recognizing the complexities of gender expression is crucial in fostering healing and empowerment for individuals grappling with trauma-induced narratives.
This study contributes to a deeper understanding of gender dynamics in literature and advocates for transformative narratives that transcend traditional binaries, offering avenues for healing and agency in the face of trauma.

International Virtual Exchange as a Microcosm of the Corporate University: Preliminary Reflections

This paper introduces a critical theoretical framework for analyzing the developing field of International Virtual Exchange (IVE). It situates its development within the current economic period of transnational capitalism and explores how its implementation across American universities might be motivated by the values of the corporate institutions that dominate the broader social structure. In offering this framework, this paper aims to stimulate critical discussion regarding how internationalization can be aided by technology without compromising its educational mission.