Orientalism and its Effects on Modern Day Sportswashing

Wahaj Ali, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Biology

I have been a huge fan of sports, particularly soccer, from a very young age and as I have grown up I’ve begun to see the actual power of the sport. Soccer, a sport that is played by youth all over the world, was in fact plagued with corruption at all levels. The 2015 uncovering of the exploitation at the highest level of football completed by the higher-ups of FIFA, became the tipping point for many viewers, as it highlighted the value of money over the integrity of the sport.

Match-fixing has always been prevalent; however, we’ve never had cases of nations paying FIFA members to be able host World Cups until now. I began to realize the power of not only soccer, but other sports as well, and as the 2022 World Cup inched closer the term “Sportswashing” became more apparent.

Sportswashing is the use of soft power, which is power through attraction as opposed to coercion, in order to divert controversial issues a nation is facing.

I looked at Sportswashing as a new concept; however, through completing this project I learned that while it is a new phrase, the concept itself has been around for years. I learned how Sportswashing has a very strong impact on a nation's geopolitical standing. Sports are an easy and safe way to promote tourism, show off your prominent cities, and take away any negative news coming out about your nation.

As this process became more mainstream, regular media outlets would write about its dangers. I began to realize that many of these articles were highlighting the usage of Sportswashing by MENA nations (Middle East and North Africa). 

Its concept has recently been used by Russia (2018 World Cup), and China (2008 Summer Olympics and Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics). However, their usage was not highlighted. Instead, the takeovers of soccer teams by Qatar and Saudi were protested against, deals that if deemed harmful could easily be blocked by the English parliament. Learning more about Orientalism and how prominent it is in our society, I began to put two and two together and found that many of the views pushed out about Sportswashing were derived from Orientalist views.

Can Art Integration Enhance Student Engagement in the Classroom?

Jaclyn Regina, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in SLS (1-6)

For my research project, I wanted to focus on a topic that I was both passionate and knowledgeable about. As an SLS major with a special interest in art, I thought that researching information on the connection between art integration and student engagement would be interesting. I completed a literature review, analyzing texts that supported the question at hand. With the assistance of my mentor, Professor Cabral, I was able to learn a lot about art integration and its many connections to increased student engagement.

This assignment taught me a lot about both my specific topic and the process of creating an effective capstone. I learned a lot about how to properly research and where to find appropriate sources. Almost every source I used was from the CSI library. The education databases provided me with so much significant information that was very beneficial when researching and writing this essay. I was also able to improve my ability to cite sources and to defend claims. The ability to answer a research question by providing strong peer-reviewed sources is a very important skill to have.

Being able to expand my knowledge on a topic that is important to me has also been very impactful. As a future educator, I want to ensure that my students are supported and have a reason to come to school every single day. With the information I learned through the literature reviewed, I now know so many different aspects of teaching, as they connect to art integration and student engagement.

My essay follows 6 key themes including hands-on learning, social-emotional learning, use of new materials, different art forms, culture, and identity. Each of these themes work together to support how art integration can enhance student engagement in the general education elementary classroom. I was able to learn a lot through this experience and it was exciting to present my findings at the Undergraduate Research conference.

Comparison of Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Treatments for Parkinson's Disease

Gadzhi Shakhnavazov, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Biology 

"The more you learn, the more you earn," is a famous quote by Warren Buffett. While most people think that it is only related to money, I found it to be beyond that. Learning, in my opinion, provides one with an opportunity to have new experiences, which can then shape the person.

Doing research was a new thing for me, and to be honest, it was not easy, but it was worth it. While my capstone project (research) was a meta-analysis and I did not have to physically do the experiments, it was not easy to find reliable sources and accurate information.

Searching for articles on the comparison of conventional and non-conventional treatments for Parkinson's disease was quite difficult, since the disorder is not well studied yet. During the process of completing my project, I embarked on a journey that not only enriched my understanding of this neurological disorder but also honed my skills in research, critical analysis, interpretation of information, and teamwork.

After completing the project, I enhanced my research skills and learned new ways of finding reliable information that I implement in my everyday life. For example, I recently needed to buy supplements and I used my research skills to find a good study that discussed the benefits and disadvantages of different forms of certain supplements that best suited my needs.

Another important aspect that was enhanced was teamwork. Working and communicating with my partner and mentor taught me important communication skills, making me more professional. We had different perspectives on different matters, but, embracing diverse perspectives and integrating insights from several minds can lead to more comprehensive solutions to complex challenges.

As mentioned above, the disorder is not well studied yet, so it is important for research to continue. One potential direction is to conduct longitudinal studies to assess the long-term efficacy and safety of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, advancements in technology offer opportunities to enhance the delivery and monitoring of non-pharmacological interventions such as physical therapy, cognitive training, and deep brain stimulation. While meta-analysis exposes you to a broad scope of information, I think that choosing one certain treatment and conducting a physical experiment on its effectiveness would be a great way to continue researching the topic in the future.

In conclusion, the process of developing and completing my capstone project has been a transformative journey. It has not only deepened my understanding of this neurological disorder but has also equipped me with invaluable skills in research, critical analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Incorporating an ASL Curriculum for Students in Grades 1-6

Gianna Occhiuto, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in SLS (1-6) and minor in ASL

When I was in fifth grade, a select few students took an American Sign Language class as an extracurricular activity. I never had the opportunity to join the class, but a lot of my classmates did, and they communicated with each other through sign language across the classroom. I was fascinated by how my classmates were communicating with each other without speaking. When I started as an undergraduate at CSI, I had the opportunity to take ASL as one of my major requirements and fell in love with it. I learned so much about the language, along with the culture.

As a childhood education (grades 1-6) major with a minor in American Sign Language (ASL), I was inspired to create a capstone project that would bridge these two areas. Throughout each of the ASL courses that I have taken, I have gained an appreciation for the language, culture, and community. The result was an ASL curriculum for childhood education, a tool that not only explores the benefits of teaching ASL to hearing students but also paves the way for its incorporation into my future classroom as a teacher. I worked with Russell Rosen, my professor for ASL 215 (level IV) and 220 (Deaf People, Community, and Culture). Professor Rosen provided great insight into what should be incorporated to create a successful curriculum for teaching ASL. There is a gap in previous studies, meaning there is no curriculum for grades 1-6; there are various curriculums that high schools and colleges use based on the state. An ASL curriculum should be aligned with state standards based on the grades the students are in.

Throughout my research, I learned a lot of valuable information that I will utilize when incorporating an ASL curriculum into my classroom. Teaching ASL as a second language has various benefits, such as cognition, memory, brain development, sight, comprehension, play, and movement. It also improves students' self-esteem, engagement, and enrichment.

While completing my project, I reflected on my experience as a student teacher. I decided that teaching each lesson of the curriculum should follow the workshop model (I Do, We Do, You Do) because I found it successful when teaching my students. In addition, it would be beneficial for English Language Learners (ELL) students to learn sign language to help them learn English.

Teaching ASL as a second language to students in grades 1-6 will create meaningful teaching moments that students will cherish in their educational careers. The curriculum will promote an inclusive, diverse, and equitable student classroom.

Afto-Latinx Youth: A review of Literature and Clinical Recommendations

Kelly Calixto, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Psychology

For my final project, I wanted to choose a topic that I was passionate about. Being a Latina of immigrant parents, I knew the hardships Latinos face from society which made me want to shed light on the Afro-Latinx immigrant youth community. My project was a literature review that focused on how discrimination affects the mental health of Afro-Latinx Immigrant Youth Community.

While researching this topic I learned that this community is not only ignored by society, but also in the psychological world. While looking for articles I saw how not many research studies are done on this specific community. Many research studies focus on either Latinos in general or immigrant Latinos, but rarely focus on the Afro Latinx immigrant youth community and how they are affected.

Another thing I learned was how not only discrimination against their race, ethnicity, and legal status affects them, but how the sense of cultural homelessness made this group feel isolated. Many Afro Latinx immigrants suffer from cultural homelessness because of the sense of not belonging. These individuals go through questioning their belonging to their Latin American culture and African culture, as well as adapting to the United States culture.

In this literature review, I created a research suggestion that would assist in identifying how discrimination plays a significant role on mental health for the Afro Latinx immigrant youth community. I also recommended clinical practices such as cross-cultural training and suggesting research outputs in schools for immigrant youth.

This capstone not only educated me on Afro Latinx immigrant community but encouraged me to learn about my growth as a student. When I first began the Verrazzano Honors program and heard of the capstone, I was intimidated and thought that successfully completing the department’s requirements would be unattainable. I realize now that completing the capstone allows me to recognize my growth.

I would like to thank Professor Roger-Sirens for being an amazing mentor throughout this journey. She inspired me to complete my capstone, and shed light on this community after taking her class in the spring semester of 2023. She  continued to push and motivate me throughout this process.

I now aspire to work in minority communities and be the therapist that individuals can feel comfortable relying on.