Vol. 2 (2012)

In this, its second print edition, Scientia et Humanitas continues to provide an opportunity for exceptional students at Middle Tennessee State University to showcase their research across a wide range of disciplines. Scientia continues to grow and change.
We continue our efforts to improve and expand our application and editing process while maximizing our efforts to attract the best research throughout all of MTSU’s disciplines.

Much like the University itself, with its commitment to promoting diversity and opportunity, this current volume of Scientia covers an eclectic range of topics and disciplines:

Social sciences are represented by no less than four projects. Linda Purkey, a graduate in Elementary and Special Education, takes a current look at how fears that the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccinations may
be connected to autism have increased infant mortality rates. Amber Hulsey, a recent graduate in aerospace, surveys the slow adoption of Safety Management Systems within Tennessee Airports. Brian Criswell,
a recent sociology graduate, looks at educating people about sociological concepts of social inequality and stratification using progressive Hip Hop. Anna Yacovone, a recent Global Studies graduate who will be doing a Fulbright Fellowship in Laos next year, examines the positive uses of interfaith dialogues to mitigate conflicts in southern Thailand.

The humanities have three projects in this year’s volume. Mike Smith, a senior English major with prior degrees in business administration and
accounting and information systems, evaluates scenes from Augustine’s life depicted in his Confessions, which he analyzes allegorically in order better to understand Augustine’s faith. Matthew Hibdon, who recently
earned his history degree, investigates MTSU’s commitment to supporting National History Day competitions for high school students
since the 1970s. Finally, Lindsay Gates, another recent history graduate, looks at the controversy over the construction of the Narmada River and the conflicts that it engendered between India’s government and a
grassroots movement to save the Narmada.

Within the natural sciences, Richard Bautista, an undergraduate in MTSU’s forensic science program within biology, surveys the high degree of variability within each method of postmortem intervals (PMI)
used to estimate time since death.

Being part of the Scientia staff has been a rewarding experience both because it has allowed me to help create this publication and because it has exposed me to some of the finest undergraduate research that students are pursuing at MTSU. I would like
to thank my fellow editors, staff members and advisors, as well as the Honor’s College and its contributors, for providing the resources and opportunity for this journal to exist.

Most especially, thank you to those students who submitted their hard work to our journal. Without these hard-working and talented submitters, Scientia et Humanitas would be just
an empty cover.

Jacob H. Verhoeff
Managing Editor