Synaptic

2016 Edition

A Note from the Editors

By Elizabeth Koele ‘16 & Hannah Marcum ‘18

Welcome to the 36th edition of The Writing Anthology.

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Illness vs. Identity

By Hannah Marcum '18

A bald woman in a pink t-shirt. A cane and sunglasses. A nervous tic, rocking back and forth. Eyes too close together. Eyes too far apart. Too messy. Too neat.

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Ethical Perspectives of Stem Cell Research

By Michaela Mathews '19

In the field of biological sciences controversy is quite common, but the use of embryonic stem cells in research proves to be one of the most controversial topics of the decade. Despite the debate, new discoveries on stem cells are made every day.

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A Comparative Analysis of the Foreign Policies of Egypt and Saudi Arabia after the Arab Spring

By Elisabeth Callejón '18

The Middle East is a region with more tension, violence, and instability than any other in the world.

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A Scarlet Sea

By Dana Wolthuizen '15

Scarlet poppies cascaded out of the Weeping Window, arched over the bridge way, and dotted the entire green space around the Tower of London. A river of blood seeped from the fortress, staining British soil, flooding into a moat of ceramic blooms with emerald stems.

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La realidad y la fantasía de la crisis española de la vivienda en Los fenómenos

By Elizabeth Carman

El derecho a la vivienda en España representa más que una declaración en el artículo 47 de la Constitución Española. La ley requiere que el gobierno establezca unas regulaciones y un sistema que crea y mantiene un país de propietarios.

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Tribes and Tribulations: An Ethnography of College-Aged Gay Men and the Problems They Face

By Emma Simmons '17

It is never easy to go against the norm. It can be emotionally, physically, and mentally taxing to fight against what one has been taught is correct one’s whole life.

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The Platonic Forms

By Matt Imoehl '16

Throughout the Republic and other Platonic dialogues, Plato gives arguments for the reality of the Forms through the mouth of Socrates.

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Supervised Chaos

By Bailey Anderson '18

“Excuse me, Miss, are you a Christian?”

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Learning the Loess Hills

By Elizabeth Koele '16

Driving north along the edge of Western Iowa, the flat land surrounding the Missouri River is the definition of perfect farmland.

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An Evolutionary Approach to Vocalizations and Hearing Adaptations in Killer Whales

By Stephanie Griffith '15 & Jessica Mozga '15

Frequently studied today, killer whales have evolved the ability to produce a variety of vocalizations with a wide range of frequencies.

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La Vega

By Sam Davis '16

We found ourselves walking again, this time away from the city center, and towards the countryside.

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Extraction and Depolymerization of Natural Rubber from Common Milkweed

By Kevin Jack '16

Isoprene is a common biologically produced hydrocarbon and the monomer of natural rubber.

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19:22

By Taylor Sanders '17

Many believe that a physician’s training starts in med school, but it actually starts much sooner. In order to even have a chance at becoming a physician you must be an outstanding student, be involved in extracurricular activities, volunteer, conduct research, and shadow a physician.

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