DigitalCommons at College of DuPage (College of DuPage)

Mythology is more than fantasy tales of the past. It acts as a glimpse into history and culture. This presentation goes into how the 2025 video game, South of Midnight, adapts the Georgian folktale of Altamaha-ha. This folktale is quite similar to something like the Lochness Monster, however, most people have never heard of it. This project dives into the myths origins, different inspirations beh…

We chose Sea Windfarms as a research topic because wind energy is the way to clean renewable energy in the future. Sea Windfarms not only offer environmental benefits it is also an industry creating employment in many different sectors of the economy. Sea Windfarms offer a clean solution to a problem that both humans and nature share. Faculty Sponsor: Professor E. Hicks

This project examines how U.S. immigration enforcement could be restructured around three criteria: humane treatment, resource reallocation, and proportional consequences. The evidence, drawn from journalism, peer-reviewed research, government data, and international comparisons, consistently shows that current enforcement is poorly targeted, fiscally costly, and harmful to the community it depen…

I studied the Russo-Japanese war and the events that predated/followed the war. I chose a topic that I purposely knew little about to expand what I was already interested in to create a very productive and informative passion project. I was influenced by my teacher and other faculty to make my paper as in-depth as possible on the subject, giving me a deeper understanding of the conflict conveyed …

Phi Beta Chapter's College Project evaluated wayfinding challenges at College of DuPage through systematic audits and student surveys. Our research found 77% of students needed navigation assistance, revealing critical signage inconsistencies across campus. We presented comprehensive recommendations to administration for the Facilities Master Plan, demonstrating student leadership in institutiona…

This project examines the history of ramen, tracing its development from Chinese noodle traditions to its adaptation in Japan and its global spread through industrialization and postwar change. It highlights how migration, war, and globalization shaped ramen into a widely consumed food and a symbol of cultural exchange and adaptation. Faculty Sponsor: Professor Maria Ritzema

YouTube is a well-known platform that offers users endless hours of news, entertainment, and education. This research seeks to understand how the algorithm functions and uncover the effects of allowing a system to curate content for viewers. The research combines academic sources with fieldwork to understand the impact of YouTube's algorithm. Faculty Sponsor: Professor Jacqueline McGrath

I studied women who have impacted history, from the Roman Empire to the present: Boudica, Hildegard of Bingen, Joan of Arc, Natalie Barney Clifford, and Shonda Rhimes. Through this research, I discovered challenges each woman endured while in pursuit of achievements that define how they are viewed in society today. Faculty Sponsor: Professor Kristen Beirne

After conducting research on the effects of water quality on the physiological response of Daphnia magna, a common freshwater invertebrate. The biological stress response significantly differed in heart rates among groups, which differed from the original hypothesis after exposing the invertebrates to various samples of local pond water. Faculty Sponsor: Professor Lynda Randa

Rewriting First-Year Writing Instruction: Neurocognitive Frameworks for Multilingual Students Faculty Sponsor: Professor Steven Accardi

A brief introduction to Hagsploitation, a subgenre of Exploitation film both established and popularized by the release of Robert Aldrich"s What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962). Notable examples of these films will be discussed, as well as historical context, and the potential for a feminist reading on the subgenre. Faculty Sponsor: Professor Dylan Simons

My major is nursing and I learned that Black women and men receive unequal medical treatment compared to white Americans. I will trace the historical treatment of Black Americans in healthcare through today as Black women especially are more endangered in our medical system. Faculty Sponsor: Professor Maria Ritzema

(This presentation was composed and written in Fall 2025, before the recent events in Iran) When presented with our final project, I was given the prompt of looking at a myth through a modern lens. I connected to Greek stories as a child, but now as an adult, I resonate with them--especially the tale of Medusa. I feel in times like these, it is so easy to forget the suffering of ' the secondary s…

This presentation examines how capitalism shapes identity categories, not just oppresses them. Tracing thinkers from Adam Smith to Bayard Rustin, I argue that economic systems produce social identities like gender and sexuality. Rather than treating identity and class politics as opposing strategies, effective liberation movements must address both. Faculty Sponsor: Professor Joshua Price

Is more tutoring always better? This project analyzed COD survey data on tutoring hours, GPA, and academic goals, finding that tutoring time alone did not predict success. Motivation, context, and help-seeking behavior may matter more. The focus shifted: when does tutoring actually become effective? Faculty Sponsor: Professor Jennifer Hill

BDNF Signaling Dysfunction in College-Aged Males: MAPK/ERK Contributions to Mood, Cognition, and Motivation. Faculty Sponsor: Professor Liane Cochran-Stafira

A postmodernist exploration of national identity emerged in many films from Hong Kong’s cinematic golden age. Leading up to the 1997 Handover—Hong Kong’s administrative return to China after roughly 150 years of British rule—much of their cinema challenged various narratives defining what their identity supposedly was and/or should have been. Faculty Sponsor: Professor Gianni Barchiesi

I explored how big data and algorithms shape the way we think and interact at an individual and societal level. This started from things I kept noticing in everyday life. Through my research, I learned how the personalization and predictability in feeds can reinforce beliefs, limit our critical thinking, deepen polarization and threaten our freedom. Faculty Sponsor: Professor Aleisha Balestri

I studied medical malpractice through the lens of Monster Theory, examining how systemic failures, institutional silence, and cultural ideals shape harm in healthcare. I learned that malpractice is not only a legal issue, but a structural and ethical one, where fear and lack of transparency erode trust and impact both patients and providers. Faculty Sponsor: Professor Aleisha Balestri

I investigated the link between political violence and unethical rhetoric and the importance of ethical debate. I researched the First Amendment's protection of speech. Rhetoric that will incite immediate violence or intentional, defamatory misinformation is unconstitutional. I found that ethical debate is respectful, truthful, and possesses integrity. Lastly, I discovered how important ethical d…