ARTS & SCIENCES PROJECT SUMMARIES
SPRING 2025
Deborah Seligsohn
Political Science
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The project is to look for statements by high-level leaders, both in their high-level positions and before they reached that position, on environmental protection, with a specific focus on air pollution, and to examine through content analysis what changes have occurred in both quantity and quality of such statements.
The project is to look for statements by high-level leaders, both in their high-level positions and before they reached that position, on environmental protection, with a specific focus on air pollution, and to examine through content analysis what changes have occurred in both quantity and quality of such statements.
Adriano Duque
Spanish
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Myths, Superstitions and Urban Legends: Understanding Stories Among Students at Villanova University
As students of Villanova University have sought to adapt to campus life, one of the most salient consequences has been the proliferation of ghost stories in the community. Following a crucial link between initiation and belief, this project investigates how ghost stories can be used to measure a community’s adaptation and social resilience. In doing so, the study inquires about the importance of communication and spatial self-understandings in navigating campus life, thereby deepening the connection between “ghost stories” and facilitating initiation rituals on campus.
So far, we have completed statistical graphs on the dissemination of ghost stories on the Villanova Campus, the frequency of certain words, and the motivations behind each story. Using the existing graphs, the student will help further analyze the content of the stories and develop detailed explanations for each graph. Work on this project will involve examining articles and presentations on ghost stories, tripping (ghost expeditions), urban legends and cautionary tales on U.S. university campuses.