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Research Question - Political Inquiry (POSC 301)
Research Question - Political Inquiry (POSC 301)
"How does exposure to mass shootings affect public support for gun control legislation?" This was the question I developed and answered in my Political Inquiry (POSC 301) class at Radford University. Students were asked to come up with an empirical, testable research question relating to politics. I decided to develop my question around gun control, as it is a major issue in America, especially here in Virginia where Appalachian hunters and gun control enthusiasts often clash. I wanted to know a few things about gun control and legislation surrounding gun control, but mostly I wanted to know if exposure to a mass shooting, such as a school shooting, directly affected the way someone votes on gun control legislation. Does seeing a mass shooting or experiencing one so close to home have an effect on how people vote? Does it really matter if they are exposed to a mass shooting, or will they follow thier original party affiliations? My hypothesis was that exposure to a mass shooting would increase the likelihood of someone voting in favor of gun control legislation.
How I examined gun control legislation and if people supported it is by looking at candidates people voted for. I took some data of where some mass shootings happened, and then analyzed the votes for candidates in the next election following the shooting. Were people more likely to vote for a candidate who supported more gun control? In my research design and literature review, I explain more of my findings and what I personally discovered after doing a longitudinal cross-sectional analysis.
Now, unlike my other peers in this class, I made this assignment part of an Honors Contract for the Honors College. This just means I do a little extra work (in this case, I finish the research) in trade for honor's credits.
Literature Review
Research Design
Conclusions
Habitat Deconstruction At Radford University (Wicked Fest)
Habitat Deconstruction At Radford University (Wicked Fest)
For my Honors Wicked Problems class (PHIL 115), students had to work together in groups of about three to four members who had to research a "wicked problem". A Wicked Problem is one that is complex and difficult to solve, and does not necessarily always have a right answer. Some major topics of Wicked Problems could be homelessness, inflation, healthcare, social injustice (such as the death penalty and police brutality), and even things like environmental issues (climate change, deforestation...)
My team and I decided to look into environmental issues, and narrow the topic down to Habitat Deconstruction at Radford University. When Radford University was built, it forced it's way into the natural wild land of the Appalachian mountains. As it continues to grow and the surrounding areas urbanize, we come across the issue of ruining natural habitats for animals in the area. The New River is right across the street from the University, but pollution (light pollution, sound pollution, and trash) infect the area. My team and I are researching ways to start supporting the local wildlife and help the environment around Radford University become a more friendly place for all creatures.
Fall 2026
Under the Trestle - Book Analysis
Under the Trestle - Book Analysis
For my Courts and the Criminal Process class (CRJU 233), we were given the option to read the book Under the Trestle by Ron Peterson Jr. Students had to read the story and discuss what they thought of the book, what they think the true story of what happened that night was, and if the defendant was given a fair trial.
The story is about a young student at Radford University, Gina Hall, who disappears after spending the night at a lake house at Claytor Lake belonging to a Virginia Tech alumni. Gina Hall was last seen leaving a VT party with Steven Epperly, a 28-year-old man who worked on the campus of Radford as a groundskeeper, and a former football star. Taking her to the lake house late that night, she was never seen alive again by her family.
This case was very interesting as it was the first "no body" murder conviction in the state of Virginia. The police department and detectives were unable to find Gina's body, and she has still yet to be found forty years later. Since she was never found, prosecutors had to try and charge Steven Epperly with her murder-- but they couldn't even be sure she was dead.
April 2026
Billy Milligan: A Story of Psychology and Criminal Corrections
Billy Milligan: A Story of Psychology and Criminal Corrections
I watch a lot of true crime, and I came across a series about Billy Milligan. It is called Monsters Inside: 24 Faces of Billy Milligan. I really enjoyed the series and wanted to look more into his story, as well as the history of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) and how it affects people in the criminal justice system. Billy's story was extra fascinating as it was one of the few times that a defendant in a criminal trial has been able to successfully plead not guilty by reason of insanity. Many people debated the existence of his condition, and if he was either playing it up or lying completely about his other personalities.
March 2026
A Career in Law: Presentation
A Career in Law: Presentation
In my English 112 class, students were asked to make a presentation describing the median salary, benefits, education, and other information about the career we were interested in joining. The slides are down below, and these are the presentation notes for my presentation on a Career in Law. Students were then asked to write a self-assessment essay, presentation notes, and eventually a research paper about issues in the career they chose and proposed solutions to them (below).
February 2026
Domestic Violence in the United States: CRJU 100
Domestic Violence in the United States: CRJU 100
At the end of the semester in the Fall 2025 term at Radford University, students were asked in the Criminal Justice 100 class to make a presentation explaining a crime, the history of the crime, and the criminalogical theories that could be applied to the crime based on what we learned in class.
I chose domestic violence because it is one that directly impacts women the most. Millions of women, not only in the United States but in every country across the world experience domestic violence. I want to be an advocate for women suffering from this crime and help them be heard. The first step I took into learning more about domestic violence was making this presentation covering the basic stats, definitions, and laws surrounding domestic violence in the United States.
December 2025
Domestic Violence Final Project Power Point.pptxPage updated
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