Volume 2: Spring 2018

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This issue of Royal Road includes essays composed during the 2016-17 academic year. Students completed revisions during the fall semester of 2017.

EDITORS

Daniel Dooghan

Joseph Letter

David Reamer

Royal Road features the best researched arguments produced in the University of Tampa's AWR 201 - Academic Writing and Research course. Student essays are nominated by instructors and reviewed by a faculty panel; those that are selected for potential publication undergo a process of peer review and revision that reflect the standards of academic publishing. Selected essays are published in an annual journal and used as models for future sections of AWR 201.

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    [Front Matter] Royal Road: A Journal of Undergraduate Research 
    (Department of English and Writing, The University of Tampa, 2018) Dooghan, Dr. Daniel, Ed.; Reamer, Dr. David, Ed.; Letter, Dr. Joseph, Ed.
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    Deeper than the Surface: Analyzing Tattoos in a Modernized World
    (Department of English and Writing, The University of Tampa, 2018) Todd, Katy
    In the late 1990s, anthropologist William Peace entered the American Museum of Natural History’s special exhibit, Body Art: Marks of Identity, a display he later described as prompting a “measured respect for body art [as well as] great skepticism” (589). The exhibit displayed the many ways that a variety of cultures have practiced body art and body modifications overthe past several centuries. Peace showed particular interest in the cultural phenomenon of tattooing, and how the practice was (and still remains) synonymous with cultural symbolism. In other words, it served as a way to visually transcribe certain aspects of human existence, as well as an impression of culture shared among generations. (589, 591). By definition, the word tattoo is indicative of “permanent marks or designs inserted on the skin by puncturing it and inserting pigment or pigments” (“Tattoo”); however, Peace describes the age-old art form much differently. According to Peace, body art, particularly tattoos, are a worldwide medium of expression, and as the name of the exhibit suggests, tattoos inherently are marks of human identity (589, 593). Though tattoos themselves are permanent, the role these century-old markings play in shaping human identity is, somewhat ironically, ever-changing. In fact, it has even changed in just the two decades following Peace’s publication.
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    When Innovation Exceeds Technological Capacity: A Moral Evaluation of CRISPR/Cas9’s Role in Genetic Engineering Research
    (Department of English and Writing, The University of Tampa, 2018) Yaeger, Brianna
    The Human Genome Project (HGP) in 2003 showcased the vast influence the field of genetics exerts on biomedical innovation The National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Human Genome Research Institute called the HGP “one of the greatest feats” and praised it for giving researchers “the ability, for the first time, to read nature's complete genetic blueprint for building a human being” within the public domain (“All About the HGP”). This successful sequencing provided biomedical researchers with a necessary precursor for uncovering the particular genes—and the genetic mutations—that directly correlate with chronic and/ or fatal diseases (Venter et al. 2003). In fact, many of the novel methods inspired by the genomic revolution—such as genetic testing—are now essential to the field of medicine. For example, the discovery of breast cancer-related genes and subsequent use of genetic testing kits led to incredible advances in breast cancer diagnosis and prevention (Heemskerk-Gerritsen et al. 668-677).Today, internationally accredited biomedical research scientists and microbiologists explore unprecedented, genomic manipulations of human cells on a continuous basis. Although the ability to alter human genomic DNA offers alluring potential in the biomedical field, researchers know it comes with irreversible changes. Nonetheless, biomedical research has already established an overwhelming pace for real-world applications that is not likely to ease up or scale back anytime soon. Thus, researchers must step back and carefully evaluate the recent discoveries in genetic engineering of the human genome and the implications of innovation without watchful intervention.
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    Scaling up the Sustainability of the Salmon Aquaculture Industry: Implementation of Integrated Multi-Trophic Salmon Aquaculture
    (Department of English and Writing, The University of Tampa, 2018) Marter, Alexandra
    The current and rapid expansion of the fish farm industry gives it the potential to be sustainably shaped as a solution to diminishing wild fisheries and a means of food security for a growing human population. By focusing on salmon as a template species, this essay explores the current unsustainable problems negatively characterizing the aquaculture industry like inefficient baitfish feeds, disease, and pollution, while also presenting options for sustainable improvements. Research on diverse global salmon aquaculture production methods and policy was gathered through analysis of relevant texts including: scientific institute reports and publications, an aquaculture textbook, scientific journal articles, and a seafood expert’s nonfiction writings. Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) was found to be a promising solution in terms of the ecological and economic sustainability of salmon aquaculture. This paper argues that world governments should promote sustainable salmon aquaculture by removing regulatory barriers and financially incentivizing IMTA.
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    The Fate of the Florida Mangroves
    (Department of English and Writing, The University of Tampa, 2018) Kirby, Claudia
    As the state of Florida gears up for governor elections in the upcoming fall of 2018, many of its residents are reflecting on the last two terms served by current governor Rick Scott. A particular emphasis has been placed on the changes in environmental policy during the last decade as many Floridians are becoming aware of hydrological issues across south central Florida and the Everglades region. Gov. Scott has repeatedly shown a preference for business over the environment with actions like cutting down funding for Florida’s water management districts, lowering pollution regulation enforcement, andfunneling less money into land conservation programs (Rangel). He even reportedly banned the use of terms like “climate change” and “global warming” within the administration of the Department of Environmental Protection (Sherman). The stance his office has taken in environmental affairs has been made clear during his time in power which is why many residents were left confused when he proposed a one billion dollar blueprint in 2014 that would improve Florida’s water flows within the Everglades. The plan would help to reverse the damage from previous canaling and river alterations that have resulted in a disturbance of natural hydrological flows into southern Florida wetlands (Turner). Many citizens summed it up to be a campaign strategy as Gov. Scott unveiled the plan a month before his re-election.
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    A Long Way to Equality: Women on Television News
    (Department of English and Writing, The University of Tampa, 2018) Igleheart, Arden
    “Where can you find a morning news anchor who’s provocative, super smart and just a little sexy?” asked the voiceover in an ad about Paula Zahn, the then host of CNN’s American Morning. The ad, released in 2002, was quickly pulled from television, but its opening line echoes a major problem in thebroadcast news industry. News channels, without stating it as explicitly as CNN, still often portray their female anchors and reporters as “just a little sexy.” These channels rarely portray men this way. Hiring women in broadcast news is still a relatively new practice, and these women face various obstacles, including stations’ sexualization of them, that men do not face. Barbara Walters, the first female host of a late-night news program, wasn’t awarded her position until 1976. “The so-called hard news, a woman couldn’t do it. The audience wouldn’t accept her voice,” Walters told Oprah Winfrey. “She couldn’t go into the war zones; she couldn’t ask the tough questions” (Capretto). Many researchers have addressed the topic of barriers forwomen in broadcast news, but my research examines several different ways that these women face sexism at once, drawing a conclusion from several studies about the effect that these combined aspects have on the audience. This paper argues that the underrepresentation of female reporters overall and in certain types of stories, the lack of women as expert sources and the value that employers and the audience place on the appearance of female reporters on American television news convey to the audience that women are not as authoritative as men. This portrayal could be limiting the job opportunities for women, both in broadcast news and other fields, by reinforcing harmful gender stereotypes. On average, networks
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    Stereotypes of Islamic Dress and Appearance- Based Discrimination in America
    (Department of English and Writing, The University of Tampa, 2018) Gambatese, Erica
    Today in America, media coverage and the education system lack factual information surrounding Islam and its identifiers, resulting in physical stereotypes towards Muslims and those who appear to be Muslim. Appearance-based discriminationhas become such a prevalent issue in today’s society, especially because of the recent presidential election. On January 20, 2017, Donald Trump was officially inaugurated as the President of the United States, and many of his viewpoints have heavily influenced America and its citizens. In a CBS interview with John Dickerson, Trump stated “I think profiling is something that we're going to have to start thinking about as a country...we have to look at it seriously” (Phillips). Because President Trump has publicly endorsed the idea of ethnic profiling in order to diminish the threat of terrorism, those who fit the stereotype of “terrorist” have been cruelly persecuted. Furthermore, Trump has specifically directed this stereotype towards Muslims,reinforcing misconceptions about the Islamic religion. On Fox Business, Trump discussed American conflict with Islam, stating, “we're having problems with the Muslims, and we're having problems with Muslims coming into the country” (Johnson and Hauslohner). Trump’s statement endorses the idea that the Islamic religion is anti-American and threatening, furthermore introducing these false thoughts into the minds of the nation. Instead of knowing the true teachings of Islam, Americans are inaccurately educated by unreliable sources, such as those in the media. However, because profiling revolves around physical appearance, discrimination does not only affect Muslims, but also those who appear to be Muslim, especially through dress. In order
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    Progressive Income Tax: The Tax Policy America Needs
    (Department of English and Writing, The University of Tampa, 2018) Oakes, Nicholas
    Income tax has enormous implications on many aspects of American life. It is the main source of the government’s revenue and it dictates how much money will be deducted from every worker’s income. There has been a recent movement for a flat tax regime to take over the current progressive United States income tax code, especially by members of the Republican Party. This paper uses secondary research and evidence from private research institutions, such as the Tax Foundation and the Tax Policy Center, and government publications, such as IRS data and the federal budget from the Office of Management and Budget to argue that the progressive income tax code, with some improvements such as fixing loopholes and introducing a new tax rate for the super-rich, proves to be better than a flat income tax in the areas of tax revenue collection, reversing income inequality, and providing useful tax incentives. The results found prove that a progressive income tax, with modifications, is the best income tax policy for the United States and a flat income tax would be detrimental to the United States economy and the intrinsic values that American citizens hold dear.
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