Eastern Student Taylor Hemphill of Norwalk Presents Research Poster at CREATE Conference

2016 May 3

More than 250 talented students at Eastern Connecticut State University presented research and creative work at the university's second annual CREATE conference this past April. CREATE stands for Celebrating Research Excellence and Artistic Talent at Eastern, and is the university's premier, academic year-end showcase. At the culminating event, students of all majors presented professional posters, live music, dance performances, artwork, photography, documentaries and panel discussions.

Taylor Hemphill '17 of Norwalk, who majors in Social Work, presented a research poster at the event. Hemphill's poster presentation, co-presented by three other classmates, was titled "Eastern Students' Perception of Campus Safety Against Shooting."

"The shooting incidents that occur on college campuses continue to raise concerns regarding safety and legislation," said the students in a joint statement. "These recent events have led to discussion regarding moral panic, threat assessment teams, gun control, and counselling/psychological services provided through the University. By utilizing a questionnaire survey, the purpose of this exploratory study is to gain an understanding of the views of Eastern Connecticut State University's students. The findings will provide insight into students' perception and feelings of campus safety, and how liberal arts colleges in the Northeast region of the country should address the issue."

Remarking on the variety of presentations, Professor Dickson Cunningham, conference co-chair, said, "CREATE encapsulates the essence of the liberal arts in one afternoon. It is an intellectual smorgasbord."

Speaking to the value of CREATE, Eastern President Elsa Nunez said, "It takes a very strong and dedicated student to produce this quality of work, and it's important for other students to see this output." Praising the faculty, she added, "It takes a committed and skillful mentor to guide students to the work that is on display. Mentorship is such an integral part of undergraduate research."

During the one-day conference, the Student Center crawled with artistic and scholarly activity. Students in professional attire addressed their peers, faculty and family. In the cafe, ensembles performed; in the theatre, student-produced documentaries were shown; in the Betty R. Tipton Room, aisles of posters depicting scientific research were displayed; across the hall, a gallery-worth of paintings lined the walls; and on the ground floor, panel discussions and oral presentations about the humanities took place.

In celebration of students' exemplary research, experiential learning and creative activity, CREATE serves to reinforce high-impact practices such as mentored research; increases the number of students presenting their work in a professional forum; raises public awareness of Eastern's liberal arts mission and student accomplishments; and contributes to the intellectual richness of the campus community.