"Her Name Was" (open access)

"Her Name Was"

Her Name Was is an examination of the oppression of transgender people in a society that is built on the nominalization of cisgender people, those who gender matchers their sex assigned at birth, and how this oppression lends itself to violence. In the summer of 2015, the body of Shade Schuler, an African American transgender woman, was found in a field outside of Dallas, Texas. Ms. Shade is part of an alarming epidemic of escalating levels of targeted violence against the transgender community. This documentary pulls back the curtain as it captures the feelings and struggles of the transgender community as they attempt to navigate and survive in a cis dominating society.
Date: August 2018
Creator: Almendariz, Sergio E
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Giving Texas Veterans a Voice: Traumatic Experience and Marijuana Use (open access)

Giving Texas Veterans a Voice: Traumatic Experience and Marijuana Use

Disabled veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exist in a category separate from many civilians and soldiers. Their experiences land them in a category distinctly marked as atypical. The standard protocol to manage this atypical subject position is prescription drugs- a mark of the ill. In a distorted, post-war American society, what happens when veterans with PTSD refuse to be labeled as ‘sick,' ‘different,' or even ‘disabled'? This thesis explores the actions and intricacies of a community of veterans who advocate for medical cannabis to manage associated symptoms of PTSD. This group of veterans campaigns for individuality, both in medical treatment and in personal experience. Collaboratively, their experiential evidence indicates that none can be treated in the same fashion. After a year of participant observation and field work, it becomes apparent that their work both individualizes and unifies the veterans. This thesis details their experiences and the results of their activist campaign to demarcate themselves.
Date: August 2018
Creator: Berard, Amanda Kay
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Exploratory Mixed Method Study of  Gender and Sexual Minority Health in Dallas: A Needs Assessment (open access)

An Exploratory Mixed Method Study of Gender and Sexual Minority Health in Dallas: A Needs Assessment

Gender and sexual minorities (GSM) experience considerably worse health outcomes than heterosexual and cisgender people, yet no comprehensive understanding of GSM health exists due to a dearth of research. GSM leaders in Dallas expressed need for a community needs assessment of GSM health. In response to this call, the Center for Psychosocial Health Research conducted a needs assessment of gender and sexual minority health in Dallas (35 interviews, 6 focus groups). Competency was one area highlighted and shared across existing research. Thus, the current study explored how competency impacts gender and sexual minorities' experience of health care in Dallas. We utilized a consensual qualitative research approach to analyze competency-related contents. The meaning and implications of emerging core ideas were explored. These findings were also used to develop a survey instrument.
Date: August 2018
Creator: Bonds, Stacy
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Use of Bio-Product/Phase Change Material Composite in the Building Envelope for Building Thermal Control and Energy Savings (open access)

Use of Bio-Product/Phase Change Material Composite in the Building Envelope for Building Thermal Control and Energy Savings

This research investigates the bio-products/phase change material (PCM) composites for the building envelope application. Bio-products, such as wood and herb, are porous medium, which can be applied in the building envelope for thermal insulation purpose. PCM is infiltrated into the bio-product (porous medium) to form a composite material. The PCM can absorb/release large amount of latent heat of fusion from/to the building environment during the melting/solidification process. Hence, the PCM-based composite material in the building envelope can efficiently adjust the building interior temperature by utilizing the phase change process, which improves the thermal insulation, and therefore, reduces the load on the HVAC system. Paraffin wax was considered as the PCM in the current studies. The building energy savings were investigated by comparing the composite building envelope material with the conventional material in a unique Zero-Energy (ZØE) Research Lab building at University of North Texas (UNT) through building energy simulation programs (i.e., eQUEST and EnergyPlus). The exact climatic conditions of the local area (Denton, Texas) were used as the input values in the simulations. It was found that the EnergyPlus building simulation program was more suitable for the PCM based building envelope using the latent heat property. Therefore, based on the …
Date: August 2018
Creator: Boozula, Aravind Reddy
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Retail District Evolution: An Exploration of Retail Structure and Diversity, a Case Study in Denton, Texas (open access)

Retail District Evolution: An Exploration of Retail Structure and Diversity, a Case Study in Denton, Texas

It is well established that national retail chains impact small, single location retail businesses in terms of revenue generation, retail structure, retail type diversity, and location. This study examines the retail structure and diversity of five retail districts in the City of Denton, Texas. The analysis focuses on one central business district (CBD), one traditional retail strip center (University Drive, also known as US HWY 380), one special retail district (Fry Street District), one traditional enclosed shopping mall and associated development (Golden Triangle Mall), and one power retail center (Denton Crossing). The empirical foundation for the investigation is a historical business database covering years 1997 to 2010, obtained from Info Group's Reference USA. This Reference USA database includes location, industry, and status (single versus chain location) information for each business. Retail diversity and evenness were measured for each of the five retail districts using the Simpson's Diversity Index and the Simpsons Measure of Evenness, leading to specification of the differences that exist in retail structure and diversity among the districts. Golden Triangle Mall and Denton Crossing were primarily chain location in composition while Fry Street District, the CBD, and University Drive were primarily single location in composition. Across all years, …
Date: August 2018
Creator: Bova, Joshua Paul
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Relationship among Select School Variables and 8th Grade African American Male Academic Achievement (open access)

The Relationship among Select School Variables and 8th Grade African American Male Academic Achievement

This study was designed to investigate the correlational relationship between four school elements listed on the Texas Academic Progress Report (TAPR) and the academic achievement of 8th grade African American male students. Data for this study was provided from the Texas Education Agency's (TEA) Office for Public Information Requests. The study included four independent variables: percent of socioeconomically disadvantaged students, average years of teachers' experience, attendance rate and average class size in mathematics. The dependent variable was the 8th grade African American males' performance on the mathematics STAAR exam. The study examined scores from the mathematics STAAR exam for the years 2012-2014. The sample population included 1,540 schools and 47,169 individual test results. The results of the correlational analysis indicate that none of the independent variables were correlated to each other, but each of the independent variables had a statistically significant correlation with the dependent variable at the p < .05 level. The study also sought to explore the variance in academic achievement that could be explained by the four independent variables when used as a model. The results of the simple multiple regression suggest that not only were the results statistically significant at the p < .01 level, but …
Date: August 2018
Creator: Bowser, Jimmy Lee, Jr.
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
South Texas Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 53, No. 8, Ed. 1, August 2018 (open access)

South Texas Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 53, No. 8, Ed. 1, August 2018

Monthly newspaper from Corpus Christi, Texas published by the Diocese of Corpus Christi that includes news of interest to Diocese members along with advertising.
Date: August 2018
Creator: Cottingham, Mary
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
"World Life" (open access)

"World Life"

During this time of interest and uncertainty in immigration, a foreigner seeking an education, home, and career wonders how welcoming America really is. This documentary film focuses on how the organization known as World Life is involved in helping international students in terms of language, accommodation, and religion. It follows an organization that is willing to open up and welcome them into the community.
Date: August 2018
Creator: Ingabire, Cyuzuzo
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Influences on Latino Males' Enrollment in Four-Year Colleges (open access)

Influences on Latino Males' Enrollment in Four-Year Colleges

The purpose of this study was to explore characteristics that influence Latino male students' enrollment in four-year colleges. This study utilized a mixed-methods approach and acquired information specifically pertaining to the high school Latino male population. Participants for the study included Latino male high school students in Grades 9-12, parents of Latino male high school students in Grades 9-12, and counselors of high school students in Grades 9-12. The study was conducted across two campuses. Data for student and parent participants were obtained through an online survey questionnaire and counselor data was obtained through face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The results of this study reveal that there are influential characteristics that contribute to Latino males' potential enrollment in college. Of the data obtained from student participants, 70.2% of participants on Campus 1 and 90.5% of participants on Campus 2 planned on attending college. Responses from parent surveys found that 85.8% of parents had expectations for their Latino male student to attend college. Through the semi-structured focus group interviews, it was found that the school district and campuses in which the study was conducted had several procedures or processes in place to positively encourage Latino male student enrollment in four-year colleges. Results of …
Date: August 2018
Creator: Jones, Victor Jerrell
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Getting the College Experience: Exploring the Effect of the Residential Component of the Upward Bound Summer Program (open access)

Getting the College Experience: Exploring the Effect of the Residential Component of the Upward Bound Summer Program

Upward Bound is a federally funded program designed to help low-income and first-generation high school students become college graduates by providing them with academic enrichment, financial aid information, and relevant educational experiences. Many Upward Bound programs throughout the country include a 6-week summer program when participants stay in residence halls on a university campus. The Upward Bound program at the University of North Texas is one such program. The goals of this research project are to understand how the residential component of the summer program affects the experience of participants in Upward Bound and the possible benefits it may have towards meeting the overall goals of the program. Participant observation during the 2016 UNT Upward Bound summer program and interviews with participants, RAs, program alumni, and organizational leaders uncovered the ways in which the residential component benefits and enriches the experience of participation in Upward Bound.
Date: August 2018
Creator: Krehbiel, Riley M
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Response to Intervention (RTI) and Promising Practices:  What Works at the Secondary Level (open access)

Response to Intervention (RTI) and Promising Practices: What Works at the Secondary Level

The primary focus of RtI has been at the elementary school level. However, over the past few years there has been a shift, and RtI has been expanding to secondary schools. Through this expansion, it is unclear if RtI has been effectively implemented at the secondary level. The ultimate goal for any school implementing change is institutionalization or sustainability. Therefore, this qualitative case study examined the institutionalization or sustainability of RtI systems in one high school. This study was designed to deepen the understanding of secondary RtI and to add to the literature on RtI at the secondary level. The purpose was to understand how one secondary school addressed the complexity and uniqueness of the secondary environment while sustaining RtI practices. The participants in this study shared several research-based practices that they believed assisted struggling students to become academically successful. The findings regarding RtI practices and implementation were supported by researchers whose works were analyzed in the literature review. The study concluded that understanding the phases of change, the three major forces which influenced change and a clear, well thought out plan are vital components to success.
Date: August 2018
Creator: Little, Regena Ann
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 114, No. 364, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 1, 2018 (open access)

Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 114, No. 364, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Daily newspaper from Denton, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: August 1, 2018
Creator: McCrory, Sean
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 114, No. 365, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 2, 2018 (open access)

Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 114, No. 365, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 2, 2018

Daily newspaper from Denton, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: August 2, 2018
Creator: McCrory, Sean
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 1, Ed. 1 Friday, August 3, 2018 (open access)

Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 1, Ed. 1 Friday, August 3, 2018

Daily newspaper from Denton, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: August 3, 2018
Creator: McCrory, Sean
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 2, Ed. 1 Saturday, August 4, 2018 (open access)

Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 2, Ed. 1 Saturday, August 4, 2018

Daily newspaper from Denton, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: August 4, 2018
Creator: McCrory, Sean
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 3, Ed. 1 Sunday, August 5, 2018 (open access)

Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 3, Ed. 1 Sunday, August 5, 2018

Daily newspaper from Denton, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: August 5, 2018
Creator: McCrory, Sean
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 4, Ed. 1 Monday, August 6, 2018 (open access)

Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 4, Ed. 1 Monday, August 6, 2018

Daily newspaper from Denton, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: August 6, 2018
Creator: McCrory, Sean
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 5, Ed. 1 Tuesday, August 7, 2018 (open access)

Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 5, Ed. 1 Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Daily newspaper from Denton, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: August 7, 2018
Creator: McCrory, Sean
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 6, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 8, 2018 (open access)

Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 6, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Daily newspaper from Denton, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: August 8, 2018
Creator: McCrory, Sean
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 9, 2018 (open access)

Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 9, 2018

Daily newspaper from Denton, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: August 9, 2018
Creator: McCrory, Sean
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 8, Ed. 1 Friday, August 10, 2018 (open access)

Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 8, Ed. 1 Friday, August 10, 2018

Daily newspaper from Denton, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: August 10, 2018
Creator: McCrory, Sean
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 9, Ed. 1 Saturday, August 11, 2018 (open access)

Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 9, Ed. 1 Saturday, August 11, 2018

Daily newspaper from Denton, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: August 11, 2018
Creator: McCrory, Sean
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 10, Ed. 1 Sunday, August 12, 2018 (open access)

Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 10, Ed. 1 Sunday, August 12, 2018

Daily newspaper from Denton, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: August 12, 2018
Creator: McCrory, Sean
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 11, Ed. 1 Monday, August 13, 2018 (open access)

Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 11, Ed. 1 Monday, August 13, 2018

Daily newspaper from Denton, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: August 13, 2018
Creator: McCrory, Sean
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History