The Undergraduate Journal of Humanistic Studies aims to challenge conventional thought and popular assumptions. The papers in this issue do exactly that. The authors featured chose not to shy away from the taboo and politically charged, and their papers are thought provoking and innovative as a result. We are proud to share them.

The Winter 2016 collection includes five papers written by Carleton students whose work reflects the diversity of passions present at Carleton. With pieces drawing from the disciplines of History, Political Science, Art History, Women’s and Gender Studies, American Studies, and English, the issue offers a truly interdisciplinary approach to considering a number of complex and relevant social problems.

  • Melanie Xu engages in courageous self-reflection as she problematizes the Global North’s unabashed condemnation of genital mutilation.
  • Similarly, Sarah Olson’s fascinating piece explores the extent to which incest between siblings is the natural consequence of Jacobean era male entitlement.
  • Aaron Suiter argues that attempts to create green spaces from abandoned railroad corridors to serve low-income residents in fact produces dislocation of the target demographic as gentrification causes large rent hikes and raised property taxes.
  • Charlie Kilman describes the shifts in mindset — regarding community and capitalist ideals — that occur when one resides in an environmentally conscious tiny house.
  • Julia Kroll examines the rhetoric in Los Angeles and New York City newspapers in order to demonstrate that, despite their close ties to Mexico and larger Mexican population, both cities exhibit similar prejudices against Mexican immigrants.

Taken together, we feel this issue reflects the Journal’s mission to highlight work that offers fresh and unconventional perspectives.

We would like to thank all of the authors who submitted their work. The submissions are an exciting glimpse of the type of difficult but important issues Carleton students choose to grapple with. We would also like to thank the peer-reviewers whose insights and disciplinary expertise made the paper selection process possible.

We also thank our faculty advisors, Silvia Lopez and Susannah Ottaway, whose support and advice have been invaluable; Web Content Specialist Doug Bratland and Web Designer Steve Bentley who designed our website and continue to offer technical support; and Resident Graphic Designer Grace Black, who created our insignia and this issue’s cover.