Location: Morrie Jones A-B
C25. “’Comedy Has Gone Woke’: How has political polarization affected late-night sketch comedy?”
1:45 p.m. – 2:05 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter(s): Aidan Sears
Mentored by: Dominic Meyers
Abstract
”Saturday Night Live” has long been a platform for political commentary; from its portrayal of political figures to its reenactments of political events like State of the Union addresses, presidential debates, or presidential campaign ads. With the political landscape experiencing polarization of the previous years, the landscape in which these comedic sketches are written and performed has also changed. This study seeks to analyze how the political landscape has affected political sketches, specifically presidential debate sketches, and how those sketches interact with their landscape. This study also will focus on how the content of the sketches has differed during different political environments. The methods used will be rhetorical analysis with a focus on dramatist rhetorical methods. The sketches will be analyzed using theories by Kenneth Burke. The sketches will be analyzed with Burke’s theories with a focus on the representative anecdote and the dramatist pentad. Analysis with the representative anecdote will demonstrate how audiences are meant to receive the skits and how it affects how they should relate to the events behind depicted within the skits. The pentad will allow for analysis of the environment in which each skit was made and how it relates to the skits contemporary culture particularly pop culture and political culture.
C26. “Butch or Bust: An auto-ethnography of viewing masculine versus feminine-presenting lesbian stand-up comics”
2:05 p.m. – 2:25 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter(s): Saige Mattson
Mentored by: Dominic Meyers
Abstract
Standup comedy has proven to be a highly valuable art form not only for those seeking humor-filled pleasure, but for society as a whole. Standup has the potential to not only bring light to societal issues such as homophobia and misogyny, but also to create change within those issues. The intersection of gender and comedy is an incredibly nuanced subject, and the two have a complex history whose modern-day implications deserve to be studied thoroughly. Furthermore, the study of queerness in combination with the analysis of gender in standup adds a layer of complexity but also value to observing a niche but noteworthy subject. The intersection of gender, sexuality, and comedy is at the forefront of this autoethnographic paper which seeks to observe how the level of masculinity presented by lesbian comics affects the humor perceived by a young queer woman with experience researching and performing standup comedy. This paper anticipates that the higher levels of perceived masculinity presented by the lesbian comics will result in higher levels of humor found within their comedy due to the internalization of the stigma surrounding queer and female comics.
Location: Morrie Jones C-D
C27. “Sports Scheduling with Linear Programming”
1:45 p.m. – 2:05 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter(s): Ye Yint Win
Mentored by: Dr. Nate Axvig
Abstract
Scheduling games in a sports league can be a time-consuming task to perform by hand; however, this task can usually be automated and optimized using tools from linear programming. This project presents a linear programming approach to generate baseball and softball schedules for the 2026 season of the American Rivers Conference (ARC), a Division 3 Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from Iowa. In this talk we will discuss how ARC’s requirements (such as round-robin play structures, maximum and minimum consecutive away games, etc.) were modeled mathematically. We will also discuss how the final schedule is successfully generated and formatted into readable .csv files. This automated approach ensures an optimizable and repeatable scheduling process, which could also be adapted for future seasons.
C28. “Optimizing Growth of Duckweed for Lunar and Martian Habitats”
2:05 p.m. – 2:25 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter(s): Ren Lind
Mentored by: Dr. Krys Strand
Abstract
Duckweed is a group of small aquatic plants that grow on the surface of freshwater systems. Astronauts have begun growing plants on space missions for mental health benefits, research, and as an organic food source for humans living off planet. Duckweed could be a beneficial plant to grow during space missions due to its high resilience, fast growth, nutrient density, and water remediation capabilities. This study aims to find an efficient method of growing duckweed (Lemna minor) with the fewest resources possible, to mimic growing duckweed in Lunar or Martian habitats. We conducted preliminary trials to find light levels and water nutrients in which duckweed thrives. We tested a variety of complex fertilizers, phosphorous, and nitrogen sources in the water to determine their effect on duckweed propagation rate and frond size. Our data will be used to design duckweed propagation trials during space analog missions at the Integrated Lunar-Martian Analog Habitat at the University of North Dakota in their 2025 campaign. This research could also benefit terrestrial humans by promoting human consumption of duckweed. Though its nutrients and vitamins make duckweed a healthy food source, most cultures have not yet incorporated it into their diets.
Location: Olin 124
C29. “The Politics of Control: Pink Tax, Drag Bans, and Reproductive Rights”
1:45 p.m. – 2:25 p.m. | Panel
Student Presenter(s): Beck Benson, Brooklyn Hannig, Ceci Buzzeo
Mentored by: Dr. Darren Valenta
Abstract
In the U.S., marginalized communities have long been the focus of legislative restrictions. Reproductive rights, particularly the access to abortion, have been the target of mass legislation. Banning such rights has resulted in extreme consequences for individuals requiring essential healthcare. Similarly, drag performances are being increasingly restricted and criminalized, beginning at the state level, disproportionately affecting LGBTQ+ community members across the country. Additionally, systemic sexism is deeply rooted in society through structures like the pink tax, the concept that women’s goods and services are unfairly inflated than that of men’s, a form of gender-based price discrimination. Through separate literature reviews of reproductive freedom, the protection of drag, and understanding the pink tax, we will discuss our findings of the intersection of control, femininity, and harmful rhetoric embedded in these social restrictions.
Location: Integrated Science Center 201
C30. “The Impact of Teacher-Student Relationships”
1:45 p.m. – 2:05 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter(s): Jerica Friese
Mentored by: Dr. Teri Langlie
Abstract
This study, The Impact of Teacher-Student Relationships, examines the role of student-teacher relationships in shaping classroom dynamics, with a specific focus on the application of the BARR (Building Assets, Reducing Risks) model. Relationship building tools such as the BARR model highlight the importance of positive and supportive relationships that enhance student engagement, academic achievement, and students’ overall wellbeing. Through teacher interviews and research, this study will identify key elements that contribute to an effective classroom. Using tools like the BARR model influence teacher effectiveness and classroom management. The findings are expected to provide insights into how relationship building and more specifically the BARR model can be applied to create a positive classroom that promotes both academic and personal growth for the students. Ultimately, this research aims to inform educational practices and highlight strategies for creating and building student-teacher relationships in a variety of classroom settings and the positives of those strategies.
C31. “COVID-19 Impact on American Education”
2:05 p.m. – 2:25 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter(s): Brock LaTourell
Mentored by: Bree Langemo
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic created a historic disruption to education in the United States, worsening existing challenges within the nation’s educational system. This research addresses the lasting impact of the pandemic on academic performance, social development, and mental health among students. The central argument is that COVID-19 did not merely cause temporary setbacks in education but instead accelerated a broader decline already underway in the U.S. education system. To explore this issue, two research methods were used. First, a survey was conducted among Concordia College students to capture personal experiences and insights regarding academic struggles, social difficulties, and mental health challenges during the pandemic. Second, secondary research was carried out by analyzing existing studies, reports, and data on the nationwide educational effects of COVID-19. Together, these methods provided a comprehensive understanding of both localized and national impacts. The findings reveal widespread declines in academic achievement, particularly in core subjects, alongside increased rates of anxiety, depression, and social disconnection among students. These results confirm that the pandemic’s educational consequences extend far beyond temporary learning loss, with long-term implications for student success and well-being. This research underscores the need for ongoing support systems, targeted interventions, and structural reforms to address the lasting damage COVID-19 has inflicted on the U.S. education system.
Location: Integrated Science Center 260
C32. “Languages and Cultures – PEAKing at CLV”
1:45 p.m. – 2:25 p.m. | Panel
Student Presenter(s): Sean Martin, Al Sterling, Emery Bell, Catherine Rademacher, Allison Roth
Mentored by: Dr. Gay Rawson, Marty Fankhanel, Paul Faust, Zhen-Jing Luo, Sina Stuhlert
Abstract
The Concordia Language Villages (CLV) emphasize a lived language learning immersion approach in an outdoor, community-based learning setting. Their programs welcome learners of all ages, regardless of their proficiency level. Their goals echo Concordia’s goals as CLV strives to inspire engaged citizenship, justice, and sustainability:
A courageous global citizen lives responsibly by
- Appreciating and seeking to understand diverse cultural perspectives
- Communicating with competence and cultural sensitivity in multiple languages
- Respecting human dignity and cultivating compassion
- Engaging critically and creatively with issues that transcend boundaries
- Advancing a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world for all
Students completing WLC 395 have been exploring how these goals intersect with Concordia’s PEAK framework. This session will explore the research students conducted to delve deeper into the language and culture they are studying as they prepared an interdisciplinary project to be used in this immersion setting. After they present their approach to the project, participants will have the opportunity to participate in a “mini-CLV” linguistic and cultural experience. We will solicit feedback on the application of their research into the immersion experience in order to make improvements before we conduct these sessions with villagers later this semester.
Location: Integrated Science Center 301
C33. “Add to Cart, Delete from Planet? Confessions of a Sustainable Gen-Z Consumer”
1:45 p.m. – 2:05 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter(s): Crisavy Seeman
Mentored by: Dominic Meyers
Abstract
This autoethnographic study explores how adopting sustainable habits challenges a Generation Z individual’s consumer identity, revealing conflicts between values and real-world consumption behaviors. Rooted in two years of reflection and practice inspired by a broader study on overconsumption and waste production, this research analyzes personal habits, shopping behaviors, and digital interactions to uncover psychological, social, and environmental factors shaping sustainable consumption efforts. Data was collected qualitatively through retroactive journaling, purchase tracking, visual vlog analysis, and a digital footprint examination. Preliminary findings suggested increased awareness of conflicting values between environmental sustainability and factors such as convenience, affordability, and social influence. Additionally, emotional responses including guilt, pride, frustration, and empowerment emerged, reflecting the complex nature of aligning personal values with everyday consumption choices. Ultimately, the study highlights personal growth in redefining concepts of need versus want, contributing insights to ongoing discussions about mindful consumer habits and overconsumption. This research is particularly relevant as campuses, including Concordia, increasingly claim to prioritize sustainability initiatives, offering valuable insights into the barriers and motivators Generation Z faces in pursuing sustainable lifestyles.
C34. “Levels of Motivation Based off of Environmental Factors”
2:05 p.m. – 2:25 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter(s): Kaitlin Petrich
Mentored by: Dominic Meyers
Abstract
I will be conducting an experiment that will be a personal benefit to figure out where I have increased levels of motivation in different environments. This experiment will help me figure out how certain environments help me with productivity when doing homework assignments because I have been struggling with completion of assignments recently, mostly because of the environment of where I decide to do my assignments. I will conduct this experiment by going to different environments that include a variety of atmospheres and attempt to work on assignment from my classes. I will record the results by my personal level of motivation that I will experience at each of the different environments. I will be in five different environments and will work on homework for as long as I feel motivated to do so. The time I feel motivated and my overall feelings and emotions while doing homework, will also be recorded as data. I will conduct this research over the period of a week and choose a new atmosphere each day. My anticipated results will include a varying degree of me feeling motivated in high traffic areas with louder noise, but that also comes with many distractions. I anticipated being bored and very unmotivated at quieter locations or the locations at where I am more comfortable, which gives me freedom to go on my phone or do unproductive activities on my computer.