Schedule of Events

The modern university is arguably the most important agent of socialization for young people around the globe. These schools, which become students’ home away from home for four years, are integral in shaping students’ minds, behaviors, and attitudes, particularly regarding physical activity (Frederick & Ryan 1993; Gruber 2008; Rapport et al. 2018). The social forces surrounding college fitness centers create a “gym culture” and beyond that intimidate certain groups of people such as new students and non-athletes, locking them into culturally prescribed roles. To study these behaviors and attitudes on a small university campus, we used availability, purposive, and snowball sampling to recruit our peers for a survey comprised of closed- and open-ended questions and Likert Scales. We wanted to evaluate the effect of being new to a college campus on comfortability in a fitness center setting, as well as the potential correlation between active sport participation and workout frequency and duration. We found that there is not a statistically significant relationship between relative newness and comfortability, nor is there a correlation between sport participation and workout duration, but there is a positive relationship between sport and workout frequency.

In a typical college environment, it is very common for many students to interact and utilize their college fitness center to stay physically active and engage in exercise throughout their academic years. However, what are the factors that seem to influence the attitudes and perceptions of which type of students tend to more frequently use their college fitness center than others? This study aims to explore college students from California on their attitudes and experiences on the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center, and to dissect the social forces surrounding gym use and contribute to existing literature on why college students are so eager or reluctant to exercise on campus. Through an online survey, we asked 97 respondents to reveal who at Cal Lutheran uses the GSFC more, why they use the GSFS, and overall comfortability within the facilities. Throughout the study, the factors of gender, class year, and the fear of infection rates from the COVID-19 pandemic were studied to examine the levels of comfortability in students and their impact on the decision to use the GSFC for exercise. Our findings suggest that gender and fear of COVID-19 infection, as well as class standing at CLU does not affect the level oof comfortability and use of the GSFC. In addition, despite our research, we didn’t survey enough males and students of first to second years, which didn’t make our results representative of the entire population at CLU.

Campus gyms serve as an important resource to student bodies. No two students are the same and the attitudes they have towards their campus gym can impact their usage of it. This study aims to test the theory that certain groups of students will have different attitudes towards the California Lutheran University (CLU) Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center (GSFC) than their counterparts. Through an online survey, 97 participants were asked questions regarding their demographics and their attitudes towards the GSFC. The study looked at the varying experiences students had, and our findings suggest that the years a student has attended CLU does not affect their attitudes towards the gym, but that men had more positive attitudes towards it than women. 

This study investigates the ongoing problems within the cosplay community. The research is based on data collected during a semester-long participant observation study of cosplayers in internet settings such as Reddit, Facebook Groups, TikTok, and Youtube. The findings reveal that identity plays a huge role within the anime community. Rules on cosplay are clear but cosplayers follow them depending on their identity. Also, anti-Blackness runs deep within the community and is still normalized, and women are starting to be given a space to discuss the oversexualization of women characters. This study expands the existing studies on cosplay and misconduct that have previously been conducted to understand toxicity within the cosplay community. Results from this study can be used to assist researchers on cosplay in better understanding why toxicity is tolerated within the community and with producing better policies to be able to combat the misconduct that has been enabled by the community.

This study investigates the power dynamics within the fashion industry, focusing on the perspectives of female fashion models. This research is based on data collected during a semester-long participant observation study of two online settings, including a Facebook group and an Instagram page. The findings reveal that within the fashion industry, a model's agent or booker maintains a position of power and domination over female models. Correspondingly, female models remain in a passive position of subordination. Agents commonly request models to alter their physical appearance, as well as their self-identity, to appeal to clients. Consequently, fashion models suffer from mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. In addition, they struggle with body image and, in some cases, disordered eating. Although there is extensive research done on the impacts the fashion industry has on young women, there is limited literature to address what, and possibly who, is responsible. The results presented in this study aim to illuminate the experiences of female fashion models and help take steps towards a more safe and inclusive industry.