11:10 a.m., Aug. 14, 2009----“How I spent my summer vacation” took on a new meaning when 57 University of Delaware students (the 58th was still on location in Guatemala working on a project) enrolled in the Undergraduate Research Program reported on their summer research projects at the 2009 Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences In View program, held Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 10-11, in the Trabant University Center. The students, who are rising juniors and seniors, will continue their research this fall.

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Students, faculty and other guests were greeted by Lynette Overby, faculty director for Undergraduate Research and Service Learning. Overby said it was a time to celebrate after working hard on research, and she recognized the faculty sponsors and others who had helped the students “make the journey.”

Meg Meiman, program coordinator in the Undergraduate Research Program, also spoke to the students, saying everyone was looking forward to their presentations, “to see not only how hard you've worked over the previous 10 weeks, but also how your research has begun to develop, to focus and to shift and change course as the summer has progressed.”

The presentations covered a vast array of subjects including such topics as "What Does It Mean to Be Musical? An Examination of Musical Self-Perception" by Karen Hauge; “Copycat Violence: Legal Liabilities of Video Game Manufacturers” by Helen Wolf; “Did It Really Make a Difference? The Role of New Media Technology in the 2008 Presidential Campaign” by Marie Hong; “Recreatin' Sarah Palin: Journalists, Political Humor and the Creation of a Political Persona” by Michael Nigro; and “Musicians of Nazi-Occupied Europe” by Marion Jacob.

After the event, faculty judges announced first and second place awards in each category, made possible by the University of Delaware Association of Retired Faculty. Student winners received a monetary award and certificate and next spring will attend the Colonial Academic Alliance Conference, where selected undergraduates from 12 schools present their work.

Awards were presented in the following categories:

Arts

-- Eric Daino, music theory and composition, won first place for “The Double Bass: A Technical Study of Timbre.” His sponsor is Brian Stone, assistant professor of music.

-- Esteban Pilonieta, fine arts, won second place for “The United States' 'Backyard.'” His sponsor is David Meyer, assistant professor of art.

Humanities

-- Allison Myers, English, won first place for “From Aleichem to Allen: the Jewish Comedian in Popular Culture.” Her sponsor is Elaine Safer, professor of English.

-- Amanda Brizendine and Molly Yborra, both English, won second place for “Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde: A Manuscript Study.” Their sponsor is James Dean, professor of English.

Social Sciences

-- Douglas Shapiro, economics, won first place for “Smell No Evil: Where Are the Toxic Assets?” His sponsor is Jeffrey Miller, professor of economics.

-- Lauren Zaplitny, criminal justice, won second place for “Victim Impact Videotapes: Emotion as a Substitute for Reason in the Modern Courtroom.” Her sponsor is Kenneth Haas, professor of criminal justice.

Article by Sue Moncure
Photos by Ambre Alexander