The MacEwan University Student eJournal (MUSe) publishes select works of MacEwan University students that have passed a rigorous peer-review process. Published works are exceptional examples of student engagement with MacEwan’s program goals and learning outcomes.
By publishing works in MUSe, authors and creators retain copyright under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) license, which allows others to share these works for non-commercial purposes as long as credit is given. The MUSe Editorial Board reserves the right to make copy-editing changes to works prior to publication to ensure they conform to the publication's style and quality standards. The Editorial Board also reserves the right to archive published submissions in MacEwan University's institutional repository, RO@M.
Reforming Canadian Policing: Body-Worn Cameras and the Assumed Efficacy
This paper will review how Body-Worn Cameras are implemented across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. The primary goals of Body-Worn Cameras have been articulated by NGOs (non-governmental organizations), government agencies, and law enforcement, which aim to reduce officer misconduct, promote fairness and equal treatment, and increase public trust in policing through enhanced accountability. This paper will focus on examining the rhetoric and the implementation of Body-Worn Cameras using the Procedural Justice Theory and the Organizational Justice Theory. In doing so, this paper provides a critical examination of current approaches to Body-Worn Cameras alongside plausible reforms that may be considered for enhanced efficacy of said initiative. Outlining areas of consideration, such as costs, ethical and privacy concerns, and the validity of assumptions of increasing public trust, accountability, and deterrence, are key points in this paper.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ella Czapla https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
The content of this paper discusses Canadian, American and Filipino women and mothers who experience incarceration in some way, shape or form. Focusing on the mistreatment and inequality that women endure when; serving their sentences, when encountering prison systems as a visitor, or when sentenced mothers are away from their children and struggle to maintain their identity. This research evaluates a range of cases from the 1840s to the 2020s, with a focus on institutionalized sexism through a feminist lens using qualitative and quantitative research and data to support this argument.
Copyright (c) 2026 Megan Pitt https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Normalization and Civility: Attitudes and Trends Around Mask-Wearing among MacEwan Students in Fall 2024
COVID-19 remains a prominent threat years after its initial sweep across the globe. Despite this, public health measures have fallen to the wayside; vaccine supplies face delays, rapid test kits are difficult to access, and mask-wearing now lacks the attention it received years prior. In this project, I examined current attitudes and trends around mask-wearing among MacEwan University students. Using grounded theory (Starks & Trinidad, 2007), I conducted one focus group with three MacEwan students, and qualitative observations from three different locations at MacEwan University. Mask-wearing on campus has become less common overall, and the mask’s once-salient status as an emotionally and politically charged symbol has lessened compared to previous pandemic years. Further, mask-wearing is not seen as a necessity to maintain public health or an intrusion on one’s autonomy, but as an individual choice for individual protection, adopted only in particular circumstances. As COVID-19 and other health crises continue to threaten our health and well-being, examining current attitudes around mask-wearing and mask mandates can provide direction for further action to mitigate COVID-19 and prevent future pandemics.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ezra Richards https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Cannabis Legalization in Canada: A Critical Examination of Canada’s Failure to Protect Youths and Reduce Harms Associated with Cannabis Use.
This paper critically examines Canada’s approach to cannabis legalization, focusing on its failure to protect youth and reduce harms associated with cannabis use. While legalization aimed to restrict access and safeguard public health, inconsistent provincial regulations, inadequate education programs, and rising youth cannabis use have seriously undermined these goals. The paper compares Canada’s approach to Uruguay’s centralized, health-focused model, which has successfully reduced adolescent cannabis use and reliance on the illicit market. Recommendations include implementing a standardized national legal age, effective harm reduction strategies, and comprehensive education programs to address the gaps in Canada’s cannabis policy and better protect youth.
Copyright (c) 2026 Kirpal Thind https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Effects of Psilocybin and Select Pharmaceutical Interactions
In Canada, the use of both prescription medications and psychedelics has become increasingly prevalent. As of 2022, approximately 16.5% of Canadians—about 6.3 million individuals—were prescribed at least one antidepressant, with fluoxetine remaining one of the most commonly used options (IQVIA, 2023). Benzodiazepine use, including drugs like alprazolam, ranges between 5% to 10% nationwide, with notably higher usage (15–20%) among older adults aged 65 and over (Davies et al., 2017). Psilocybin use, while less common, has shown steady presence in the population; in 2019, years hallucinogens such as psilocybin, LSD, and PCP were used by approximately 2% of Canadians—equating to roughly 587,000 people— and by approximately 6% of young adults aged 20 to 24 (Health Canada, 2023). Based on the statistical overlap between antidepressant and psychedelic users, it is estimated that over 126,000 Canadians may be experiencing interactions between these drug classes, a number that is expected to grow as both psychedelic therapy and recreational use become more culturally accepted. We investigated the chemical, physical, and psychological effects of psilocybin, fluoxetine, and alprazolam and their interactions with each other. In clinical contexts, benzodiazepines like midazolam are sometimes used to manage overwhelming psychedelic experiences, offering a pharmacological baseline for understanding how sedatives may interact with psilocybin. When taken concurrently, fluoxetine appears to attenuate the mind-altering effects typically induced by psilocybin, likely due to its modulation of serotonin receptor activity. This dampening effect suggests a pharmacological counteraction between the two substances. There is little direct research on the interaction between psilocybin and alprazolam, but from what is indicated, they may exhibit small interactive effects. Understanding these interactions may provide insight into more accurate harm-reduction strategies and clinical decision-making.
Copyright (c) 2026 Jordan McDowell, Jada K. Middleton, Alanna C. Bluett, Alisa Kozachenko, Bayan Attar, Yuvraj Saini, Jennifer Burke, Cayden E. McPhee, Mutahera Mutahera, Talya Ahmed, Nabila Ibrahim, Gilbert Atukwatsibwe, Sulabha Adhikari, Mohammad Esmaili, Jean-Vital Yambayamba https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
The Inhumane Reality of Contemporary Solitary Confinement
This paper argues that modern prison systems degrade incarcerated individuals through their use of solitary confinement, and this dehumanization only gets exacerbated through the significant inaction shown by legislative bodies. Drawing on the works of Sykes, Smith, Guenther, Hattery, Casella, Reiter and Aranda-Hughes, this research examines how systems of solitary confinement strip prisoners of identity, autonomy and fundamental humanity. It explores the psychological and physical consequences of extreme isolation, supported by harrowing inmate testimonies, and critiques the structures that continue to perpetuate these inhumane practices. In particular, it questions the failure of Canadian policies such as Bill C-83 to offer a meaningful sense of solitary reform. This essay concludes that solitary confinement not only fails to accomplish its goal of prisoner rehabilitation, but serves as a vessel of institutional dehumanization that demands urgent ethical and policy reconsiderations.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sanvindam Sidhu https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Leadership in Nursing: Professional Accountability and Responsibility
Expectations for new graduate nurses (NGNs) upon entry to practice are extensive. Alberta’s nursing regulatory body, the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA), outlines these competencies in several key documents. In this paper, we explore the importance of NGNs, as novice healthcare leaders, to intentionally pursue the foundational standard of accountability and responsibility through effective communication. We will discuss this competency’s presentation, importance, methods of practice, and methods of growth assessment. These insights will be supported by relevant literature and a personal anecdote, providing a well-rounded perspective for the proposed guidance on nursing leadership competencies for NGNs.
Copyright (c) 2026 Anu Bhullar, Serena Rose https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
This paper examines how the prison system amplifies gang culture and fosters gang involvement among incarcerated individuals, particularly marginalized youth. It argues that instead of rehabilitating offenders, prisons serve as environments that facilitate gang recruitment, leading to their growth. To support this claim, three key ideas are analyzed. First, social and economic conditions drive marginalized youth towards violent behaviours and gang affiliation. Second, the prison environment exacerbates gang connections. Finally, the convergence of street and prison cultures has established a vicious cycle that deepens marginalized youth's entrenchment in gang life. The paper highlights systemic issues, such as poverty, ineffective foster care systems, and historical trauma, which create vulnerabilities that gangs take advantage of to recruit new members. This exploitation frequently happens in prisons, where gangs offer protection, identity, and economic opportunities. Additionally, the convergence between the “code of the street” and the “convict code” reinforces dangerous levels of hyper-masculinity, mistrust of authorities, and retaliatory violence. As a result, it has become a new cultural norm that sustains the cycle of gang involvement that extends far beyond incarceration. To conclude, responses from institutions have failed to disrupt this cyclical pattern. Instead, it has exacerbated it, allowing gangs to use the prison system to accelerate recruitment, thus proving how prisons no longer and have never served as a deterrent.
Copyright (c) 2025 Kevin Konnayil https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
A Study of Edmonton Short Film Festival: Engaging Youth in Short Film Festival Participation
The Edmonton Short Film Festival (ESFF) aims to address the lack of youth engagement in its events by determining methods to increase short film submissions and audience attendance among the Generation Z demographic. By understanding the target’s preferences and barriers to participation, the research objective is to identify strategies to increase visibility, reduce submission intimidation, and address financial and preference concerns for ESFF’s prospective youth filmmakers and audience members. The study employed a mixed-method design, where we first interviewed 4 participants. In the second research stage, we used a stratified sampling technique with electronic surveys distributed to students, filmmakers, and arts community members in Edmonton via email and social media. The final sample comprised 55 valid responses, categorized into filmmakers (12) and audience members (43). Our major findings include the following. Low marketing visibility and limited outreach efforts have significantly contributed to low ESFF awareness and participation (viewership/festival attendance) among audience members. Nevertheless, such visibility challenges have less impact on filmmakers. Instead, within the filmmaker community, internal word-of-mouth is a stronger indicator of awareness and participation (short film submission). For filmmakers, intimidation and fear of rejection are significant barriers to filmmaker participation, decreasing the likelihood of submission to ESFF. However, a sense of competition among peers increases submission rates. While flexible submission criteria encourage participation, offering genre variety or the promise of streaming/hybrid event screenings does not significantly impact submission likelihood. Financial considerations, such as providing cash incentives for submission, have also proven to be a strong motivator, increasing submission likelihood. Even so, free submission forums do not increase the likelihood of submitting. For audience members, virtual and hybrid film screening preferences, popularized in the post-pandemic era, have reduced in-person attendance, decreasing audience engagement with ESFF. Similar to filmmakers, financial considerations impact audience member engagement, too. Some audience members prioritize affordability, while others view the experience as a worthwhile investment, creating two distinct subgroups with unique viewership participation: cost-conscious viewers and value-driven spenders. For audience members, virtual and hybrid film screening preferences, popularized in the post-pandemic era, have reduced in-person attendance, decreasing audience engagement with ESFF. Similar to filmmakers, financial considerations impact audience member engagement, too. Some audience members prioritize affordability, while others view the experience as a worthwhile investment, creating two distinct subgroups with unique viewership participation: cost-conscious viewers and value-driven spenders.
Copyright (c) 2025 Elise Frederickson, Zoe Mintram, Sarah El-Sakaan, Angad Sekhon, Justace Byam https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
The Rise of the 4B Movement: Reimagining Futures Through Radical Resistance
Following the 2024 U.S presidential election, the 4B movement—a South Korean feminist movement which is characterized by women’s refusal to participate in dating, marriage, childbirth, and sex with men—has experienced increased popularity in the West. Naturally, this inspires questions about the 4B movement, its origins, and its objectives. Asking these questions is necessary to avoid an oversimplification and/or Western co-optation of the movement. Through examining the historical contexts of Korean feminism, alongside modern socioeconomic conditions and online activism, this paper argues that the 4B movement can be conceptualized as a distinct radical feminist movement that responds to multiple intersecting power structures. By analyzing how the state, capitalism, and patriarchy work in concert to control women’s bodies and futures, the 4B movement’s counter-participation presents itself as political resistance aimed at reclaiming women’s autonomy and envisioning new feminist futures outside of patriarchal constraints.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ash Schepens https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
A Narrative of Wealth: The Nuanced Principles of Interior Décor and Roman Art
The study of Roman art during antiquity leads to a greater understanding of the cultural and artistic priorities of the time. The Alexander Mosaic and the frescoes from the Villa of the Mysteries are key examples of interior decor that explore the public and private spheres, wealth and power, and narrative and storytelling within ancient art. The essay acknowledges the nuances within these key aspects of interior decor and highlights the necessary balance between them. Through this lens, the influence of Greek culture and myth in Roman art becomes evident.
Copyright (c) 2025 Samara Murray https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
The Parthenon Frieze and The Column of Trajan; Filling the Historical Gaps
Artifacts from the ancient world are essential in order to help develop the modern day understanding of society. However, not only is the presence of these artifacts an effective way to help develop and further the knowledge, there are also times where the lack of information behind these artifacts can hinder the understanding or add questions. This essay will use the examples of the Parthenon Frieze and the Column of Trajan in order to create an understanding of the impact ancient artifacts had on the understanding of the ancient Graeco-Roman world.
Copyright (c) 2026 Paige Reed https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Joan of Arc - A Study in Virginal Power and Female Autonomy
This paper examines the life of Joan of Arc, a visionary and military leader from fifteenth-century France, through contemporary records and later posthumous interpretations by admirers and detractors alike to determine if Joan was able to achieve autonomy in her brief career, and if so, by what methods. Using these resources, it argues that Joan was clearly able to achieve an unprecedented level of political and military autonomy for a common woman in fifteenth-century Europe by using the holy notions of virginity and divine connection that has allowed many mystics and visionaries to ascend beyond their stations throughout history. Furthermore, it considers the gendered notions of clothing that were clearly at play, as many considered Joan to be ‘dressing as a man’ and changing her identity to achieve her goals, an argument that this paper disagrees with based on the evidence.
Copyright (c) 2025 Steven Jewkes https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Analyzing Lexus of Edmonton's Marketing Channels
This report was conducted for Lexus of Edmonton to identify the best social media platform to invest their marketing budget in order to obtain the best ROI. We analyzed individuals' social media usage from various age groups of both current and potential clients to determine whether Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, or TikTok was the most effective in generating sales leads. By investigating how dealerships can market themselves in social media through conveying experiences and emotion with targeted content, we conducted a survey using simple random sampling (SRS) with 103 respondents to answer the management objective and determine the accuracy of our hypotheses.
Copyright (c) 2025 Camryn Lauer, Hannah Yaremovich, Kara Giasson, Julia Januszczak, Sydney Checknita https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Racial Justice and Contentious Politics: The Impact of Racial Bias in Employment.
Contentious politics focuses attention on collective actions and lobbying efforts to remedy injustices, particularly in the workplace, where racial inequalities continue to influence hiring procedures, promotions, and compensation. Despite anti-discrimination legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964, racial and ethnic prejudice continues to limit economic possibilities and exacerbate systemic disparities. Subtle kinds of bias, such as implicit and aversive racism, worsen the problem, influencing hiring decisions and maintaining socioeconomic disparities. Case studies from the United States, Brazil, and Malaysia show that racial bias in the workplace is a global problem, showing itself in behaviors such as neighborhood-based recruitment, cultural stereotyping, and implicit preference for dominant ethnic groups. Intersectionality exacerbates these processes, as those who face many forms of discrimination, such as race and gender, are marginalized even more. Emerging solutions, such as the use of artificial intelligence for blind hiring, diverse hiring committees, and broad policy changes, have the potential to reduce bias and promote inclusivity. However, establishing actual racial justice necessitates confronting both apparent and unconscious biases, as well as removing structural inequities entrenched in historical and systematic oppression. By promoting fair employment practices, societies may maximize the potential of a diverse workforce and promote equitable economic opportunities for all.
Copyright (c) 2025 Terique Brown https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Analyzing Alberta's Proposed Exit from the Canada Pension Plan: A Bureaucratic Caring Perspective
This paper explores the potential health impacts of Alberta's proposed withdrawal from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) on Canadian seniors, focusing on the economic, political, and educational domains of Ray's Theory of Bureaucratic Caring (TBC). We analyze data from Statistics Canada and nursing and health science literature to discern the interplay between CPP income and health outcomes. The economic domain discussion highlights the importance of solidarity and caring for others as a basis for reciprocity in creating a more caring and stable economic environment. The political domain explores how political literacy and nursing advocacy can integrate caring principles into policy decisions. In the educational domain, we examine the role of nursing faculties in fostering political literacy to include caring principles in policy discussions. We propose restructuring nursing curricula to bridge the gap between caring principles and political action. We also advocate for Health Impact Assessments to inform policy decisions, aligning them with Ray's TBC. The implications include the need for informed nursing advocacy, political education, and a caring approach to economic decisions. Future work involves assessing the impact of an Alberta Pension Plan on Albertan and Canadian seniors' well-being and promoting a compassionate and equitable society through care-informed policies.
Copyright (c) 2025 Karissa Goulding, Stefan Nasedkin, Dawson Hartman https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Alcohol use is a feature of Canadian society, as is alcoholism, which is currently defined in the DSM-5 as alcohol use disorder (AUD). While statistics may help estimate quantitative AUD data such as disease and all-cause mortality as well as the costs of AUD on government resources, they cannot convey the qualitative suffering AUD inflicts on users, users’ family and friends, and even strangers – i.e., innocent bystanders still lose their lives to drunk drivers. The intent of this essay is to weave some AUD data into a non-fiction story that relies heavily on anecdotes from my own personal struggle with AUD, as well as insights gleaned from my family, friends, and coworkers. If statistics cannot sway others away from substance abuse, maybe putting a few faces on a few of those numbers can. I have changed the names, but anyone familiar with Edmonton’s bar scene will know who I’m talking about.
Copyright (c) 2025 Corey Hayes https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
2040: Climate Change Documentary Analysis
This paper examines the impacts of climate change on human health and well-being, utilizing insights from the documentary 2040, directed by David Gameau. It explores how agriculture and ocean ecosystems can contribute to climate change mitigation. While the agricultural industry is a significant source of emissions, it is also particularly vulnerable to climate impacts (Gameau, 2019). Rising ocean temperatures and acidification threaten biodiversity and disrupt vital ocean circulation (Gameau, 2019). This paper highlights the interrelation of climate change, planetary health, and human well-being and advocates for a multisectoral approach. It emphasizes strategies like sustainable agriculture and marine permaculture alongside adaptation measures to reduce vulnerability. This research accentuates the importance of environmental justice and the need for equitable and inclusive climate action. Through examination of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as zero hunger and responsible consumption, this paper identifies crucial intervention areas. Recommendations include reducing waste, promoting sustainable consumption, and implementing upstream policies to support climate mitigation. The research highlights the urgent need for global action to combat climate change and protect human health for future generations. Given the climate crisis's implications for nursing practice, adopting planetary nursing approaches is essential to safeguard both the planet and its population.
Copyright (c) 2025 Taylor R. Louey, Alena Eng, Jimmy Hang, Jaismeen Kaur, Katelyn Nixon, Katlynn Sperling https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Fermat's Last Theorem and the Golden Mean
We attempt to find solutions to the Diophantine equations from Fermat's Last Theorem in the ring Z[tau], where tau is the golden mean. We begin with the case when n=3 and create an algorithm to generate solutions to the equation. Out of these solutions, we have found only four to be primitive. Also, we attempt to find solutions under higher powers greater than three but have not found any solutions in such cases. The algorithm and solutions themselves are all provided in the paper.
Copyright (c) 2025 Chris Dela Cruz, Leif Fitzsimmons Frey, Tom Luu https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Failure Rates Of The Matrix Triangle Inequality
The triangle inequality is a fundamental principle in mathematics. However, its validity is not always guaranteed in matrix theory, specifically, when dealing with the matrix absolute value. We investigate how often the matrix absolute value satisfies the triangle inequality for different spaces of matrices. By using numerical methods, we quantify the frequency with which the triangle inequality holds and examine possible key factors contributing to its success or failure.
Copyright (c) 2024 Osman Jime, Jordan Kaseram https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Cannabis Legalization in Canada and Combatting the Illicit Cannabis Market
Despite the elimination of the illegal cannabis market being a fundamental element to cannabis legalization, as outlined in the Cannabis Act (S.C. 2018, c. 16), the Canadian federal government's efforts have had a mild impact in mitigating its influence. In analyzing possible contributions to the illicit sector's sustainability, these factors are in large part due to the federal government failing to understand consumer behaviours in recreational cannabis usage, as evidenced by lack of accommodation for frequent users, pricing and quality of legal cannabis compared to illegal cannabis, alongside faulty enforcement of cannabis law due to issues of conciseness and discretionary powers between the police and federal government. However, there are some suggestions that could better help the federal government in achieving its goal of combatting the illegal cannabis market. The potential amendments to cannabis policy include lowering tax on legal cannabis to better compete with illegal cannabis at the market level while refocusing on addressing public health concerns through promoting the safety of legal cannabis, controlling accessibility of legal cannabis, and providing public education regarding cannabis consumption. If done correctly, each amendment made would address the flaws within cannabis policy, allowing the Canadian federal government to combat the illegal cannabis market more efficiently.
Copyright (c) 2024 Matthew Andresen https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Altering Olive: A Look at HBO’s Adaptation of Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge
This paper discusses the HBO adaptation of Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge, with a focus on revealing the level of depth and nuance that gets lost in the translation from short story cycle to mini-series. By analyzing the cycle form, this paper considers the risks involved in neglecting the form of a source text during adaptation. While the author ultimately refrains from commenting on the quality of the mini-series as its own entity, she does conclude that as an adaptation, the mini-series is disappointing in its replication of the source text's complexity.
Copyright (c) 2025 Lana Walsh https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Successful Aging and Preventative Health: A Business Owner's Perspective
Successful aging can be viewed as a continuous and ongoing holistic process or as a goal-oriented approach. Both views provide sufficient exploration and definition toward development continuing through adulthood into the latter. However, the investigation of successful aging and how its definition can become affected by technological-based health innovation is an under-researched topic. Using literature and qualitative interview findings, successful aging may be considered to also incorporate the use of health-related innovation assets under the umbrella of preventative health, which contributes as an important factor toward how older individuals perceive the success of themselves and the various areas of their life as they continue to develop in late adulthood.
Copyright (c) 2024 Joshua Bell https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Site-Directed Mutagenesis of Position 204 Threonine to Isoleucine Failed to Generate Acid-Tolerant EGFP
Protonation of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in acidic conditions prevents the emission of fluorescent light and limits the ability to visualize, localize, and study acidic organelles. Therefore, it is critical to introduce mutations into enhanced GFP (EGFP) to generate acid-tolerant fluorescent proteins. This experiment aimed to replicate a threonine to isoleucine mutation at position 204 in EGFP and identify if acid-stable fluorescent proteins would be produced in the BL21(DE3) Escherichia coli system. Site-directed mutagenesis was utilized to generate T204I mutant EGFP. SDS-PAGE and fluorescence microscopy were employed to analyze induction success and fluorescence. Spectrofluorophotometry was used to determine the excitation and emission spectra of T204I mutant EGFP and whether acid-tolerant proteins were generated. Results illustrated that the mutation of threonine to isoleucine at position 204 produced fluorescent proteins at pH 7. However, at pH 6 and 5, proteins failed to fluoresce. The replication of the T204I mutation failed to generate acid-stable EGFP proteins in the BL21(DE3) E. coli system. There is significance in generating acid-stable cellular markers, as currently, no cellular markers thrive in acidic conditions. This limits the ability to study acidic organelles and acidic cellular processes. Creating acid-tolerant markers will permit a greater range of biological research.
Copyright (c) 2025 Milica Vignjevic https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
The Role of Property in Gender Diversity among the Indigenous Societies in North America
This study explores the relationship between Indigenous gender diversity, namely Two-Spirit identities, and property ownership and understandings of the land in Indigenous communities in North America, as compared to that of Western colonial ideology. As a society's economic structure can be understood by studying its mode of production and whether property is seen as private or communal, I consider the influence of economic structures in Indigenous gender diversity: If pre-colonial Indigenous societies were inclusive of all genders, then is the absence of private property ownership in these Indigenous societies one of the reasons for their inclusive and equal societies? Along with the harsh socio-cultural changes brought on by colonial assimilationist policies, Indigenous economies and modes of production were also drastically altered under colonization. Accompanying these Western economic influences was a colonial emphasis on patriarchy and cisheteronormativity, which negatively impacted Indigenous non-binary gender identities, suppressing Two-Spirit identities. From an anthropological perspective, I explore these changes in the mode of production among various Indigenous groups in North America to reveal associated shifts in perspectives on gender diversity and Two-Spirit identities. Through a holistic lens, I discuss the role of colonial economic influences as part of the sociocultural changes to the status of Two-Spirit identities in Indigenous societies in North America.
Copyright (c) 2024 Dheepika Dheenadayalan Mekala https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Increasing Enrollment in MacEwan University’s Co-op Program for Marketing Majors
The study aimed to identify barriers to enrolling in the marketing cooperative education program at MacEwan University and to develop strategies that encourage higher enrollment among marketing majors. Research focused on understanding student perceptions and the effectiveness of current enrollment initiatives, including the primary reasons for their low participation. The research design targeted non-co-op Bachelor of Commerce marketing students, employing a probability sampling method to ensure a representative sample. Major findings indicate that a higher likelihood of recommending the co-op program correlates with better knowledge of program details, suggesting that increasing awareness could boost interest. However, the impact of current advertisements on program recommendation is low, indicating the need for improved marketing strategies. Students preferred receiving information through emails and in-class presentations, which are deemed most effective. Despite some support for mandatory work-integrated learning, there is ambivalence toward making the co-op program compulsory, signalling a need for further exploration. Based on these findings, the study recommends establishing partnerships with local businesses for part-time co-op placements to avoid extending graduation timelines. Additionally, it suggests integrating co-op program information and promotional activities into relevant courses to enhance visibility and stimulate student interest. Another recommendation is allowing students to count co-op placements as elective credits, aligning practical experience with academic and career goals.
Copyright (c) 2024 McKenna Down, Ashley Reid, Mercedes Lam, Denise Berry https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Identifying Gaps in Care Upon Discharge from Inpatient Psychiatry Settings to the Community
This literature review examines gaps in care within healthcare systems that negatively impact service users as they transition from inpatient psychiatric settings to community settings. Topics such as historical contexts, readmission rates, intrapersonal factors, and institutional limitations are taken into account to explain the complex relationship between community and inpatient psychiatric services and how they influence current gaps in care. Interventions to address these limitations are explored, which is aimed at examining different models of care and their subsequent impact on gaps in care. In these interventions, concepts such as continuity of care and therapeutic relationships are then proposed as vital factors when addressing gaps in care. Finally, this literature review suggests areas for future research to improve upon gaps in care.
Copyright (c) 2025 Connor Kapty https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Evolving social values: Intersectional Analysis of Same-sex and Interracial Couples in Magazine Advertisements
This study used a quantitative content analysis and qualitative image analysis to explore the representation and intersectionality of same-sex and opposite-sex couples with interracial and intraracial couples in advertisements from Canadian Living, Châtelaine, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Men’s Health, Reader’s Digest, and Sports Illustrated magazines between January 2021 to March 2024. Observations collected from a sample of 208 advertisements depicting two or more adults were used to tentatively suggest dominant Canadian social values towards same-sex and interracial couples. Advertisement images were coded for gender, race, the activity depicted, the physical touch between adults, and the presence of children. Results showed that representation of same-sex couples, both interracial and intraracial, was higher than the proportion reported in Canada in 2016. Similarly, the representation of interracial couples, both same-sex and opposite- sex, was higher than the proportion reported in Canada in 2021. These two findings suggest growing acceptance of same-sex relationships and interracial relationships. Interracial couples involving a White female partner occurred far more often than those involving a White male partner, suggesting social disapproval of unions between White women and visible minorities may no longer prevail. However, in advertisements with interracial or intraracial couples, depictions of physical intimacy favoured couples that were of the opposite sex. Advertisements with same-sex couples displaying intimacy were more often intraracial than interracial. Displays of intimacy from same-sex couples were almost exclusively between two women, and no interracial couples were engaged in very intimate touch. Results of the intersectional analysis finds a bias favouring intraracial, opposite-sex couples over both interracial, same-sex couples and interracial, opposite-sex couples unless the couples were engaged in simple touch, conveying friendship over intimacy. These biases suggest social approval of interracial relationships and same-sex relationships as long as they appear superficial or casual and potential social disapproval of relationships that are both interracial and same-sex. Only four advertisements depicted children with couples, and these showed a bias favouring opposite-sex, intraracial couples. The overall results from this study indicate that although there is increased representation of same-sex couples and interracial couples, advertisements may continue to reflect and perpetuate heteronormative and intraracial social values in concepts of relationships and family.
Copyright (c) 2024 Erica To https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Attempts to Build Community: How Independent Bookstores Contribute to Culture
This study focuses on comparing the book culture of Glass Bookshop in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with Lighthouse Bookshop in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. Each independent bookstore has a social narrative, portrayed as a space where communities gather and is important to the local community fabric. Glass Bookshop and Lighthouse Bookshop have left-leaning, socio-political social narratives. Different aspects of each bookstore’s websites, store events, and customer habits were compared and contrasted using qualitative data analysis. It was found that Lighthouse Bookshop appears more established in its book culture and community interactions than Glass Bookshop, which appeared to be more disconnected in its portrayal and interactions. Glass Bookshop closed in February 2024, so the study cannot be replicated.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ashley Platz https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Change in The Canadian Midwest: An Analysis of Land in Edmonton
In this paper, I analyse the usage and layout of land in Edmonton, its impacts on the city’s growth and future, and propose potential solutions to the city’s current problems. Zoning is one specific area that will cause the council many political issues in the coming years. In city planning, “zoning” refers to how cities divide land into areas called “zones.” These zones typically have different regulations regarding how developers can use land and what buildings they can build. Recently, outdated zoning laws have hindered Edmonton’s climate goals and development in urban areas, which I will show in this paper. Even after zoning reform, the public remains concerned about the influence of big-money developers. However, Edmontonians are also uneasy about a more significant tax burden due to economic uncertainty. I propose regular 20-year zoning bylaw revisions, creating an inventory of unutilised and underutilised public land, and taking steps towards common land ownership. These solutions combine Edmonton’s future with current sustainability and development goals in mind. I also propose the creation of a land value tax and will show why it would be the most viable source of revenue for the city. This would reshape land ownership in Edmonton and Canada while boosting potential government resources.
Copyright (c) 2025 Matt Clark https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0