Mcnair scholars journal ____________________________________________________________________________________________ The McNair Scholars Journal of the University of Washington Volume VII Spring 2008 ii THE MCNAIR SCHOLARS JOURNAL UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON McNair Program Office of Minority Affairs University of Washington 375 Schmitz Hall Box 355845 Seattle, WA 98195-5845
[email protected] http://depts.washington.edu/uwmcnair The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program operates as a part of TRIO Programs, which are funded by the U.S. Department of Education. i Mcnair scholars journal ____________________________________________________________________________________________ University of Washington McNair Program Staff Program Director Gabriel Gallardo, Ph.D. Associate Director Gene Kim, Ph.D. Program Coordinator Rosa Ramirez Graduate Student Advisors Zakiya Adair Eric Hilton Rocio Mendoza McNair Scholars’ Research Mentors Dr. Richard Anderson, Computer Science and Engineering Dr. Gad Barzilai, International Studies Dr. Pamela Conrad, Astrobiology (NASA Jet Propulsion Lab) Dr. Oren Etzioni, Computer Science and Engineering Dr. Mark Forehand, Marketing Dr. James Gregory, History Dr. Gregory Jensen, Aquatic and Fishery Science Dr. Peter Pecora, Social Work Dr. Nikhil Singh,History Dr. Alys Weinbaum, English Dr. Joseph Weis, Sociology Volume VII Copyright 2008 ii From the Dean of the Graduate School It is with real pleasure that I write to introduce this seventh volume of The McNair Scholars Journal. The papers contained in this volume represent a remarkable breadth of scholarship. They also represent a depth of scholarship that encompasses the best of what the University of Washington has to offer. The Scholars, their faculty mentors, the staff of the McNair Program, and all of us at this institution are justifiably proud of this work.