POSTER AND PAPER SESSION ABSTRACTS
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE
ILLINOIS GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY AND
EMBARRAS RIVER MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
CHARLESTON, ILLINOIS
14 APRIL 2007
Abstracts appear in alphabetical order, by last name of the first author.
Poster Abstracts
Wendy Bigler (Southern Illinois University-Carbondale) Assessing Student Skills and Learning in an Undergraduate Inquiry-based Field Course. As part of the Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology (TIEE) research practitioner program, I examined the impact of an inquiry-based field methods class on student learning. The Field Methods in Geography course is designed around a series of class-based research exercises and culminates with small-group original research projects which may explore human, physical or environmental geography. Surveys conducted before, mid-term, and after the semester indicate students’ self-assessment of skill level increase through the semester; and these results may be linked to the timing of specific exercises in the class. Involving students in authentic research increases student interest and ability in field-based research.
Sherry Cribbet (Eastern Illinois University) The Effect of Wal-Mart on Society. Wal-Mart is one of the fastest growing industries, stretching out globally across the world. Discount stores have steadily been replaced by larger supercenters that have bolstered Wal-Mart sales on a local level and may have sparked change in the retail economy. This poster focuses on the spatial distribution and effect of Wal-Mart stores globally, nationally and in the state of Illinois, based not only on distribution of Wal-Mart stores, but also on the distribution per capita in order to predict a future pattern for store placement and viability.
Nife Fadul, Ahmed Elsheikh, Art Neulib, and Rory Mannion (Western Illinois University) 3D Mapping of Macomb’s Courthouse Square Area, Phase II. Fall 2006 saw the initiation of a group project to construct a 3D map of the Courthouse Square District in Macomb, IL. This poster will represent the second of three phases of the project. In the second phase, the three-dimensional buildings were drawn to scale using Google SketchUp. Teams of students were assigned specific blocks and most of the main architectural detail was created. At the end of this phase buildings were almost complete with minor details still needed.
Chase Pelletier, Bill Lotz, and Andy Parer (Western Illinois University) 3D Mapping of Macomb’s Courthouse Square Area, Phase I. Fall 2006 saw the initiation of a group project to construct a 3D map of the Courthouse Square District in Macomb, IL. This poster will represent the first of three phases of the entire project. The first phase involved photo reconnaissance, digitizing building footprints using ArcGIS, conversion of the footprints to a in this phase was to take pictures of the buildings on the square. The second step was to digitize the buildings in ArcMAP 9.1 and then bring the digitized buildings into Google SketchUp. The last step in this phase was to GPS features on the square such as light poles, benches, and other features which could not be seen from an aerial photo.
Matthew Pickett (Eastern Illinois University) Examining the “Parking Myth” at EIU. This poster is based on a research project that investigated the “parking myth” at Eastern Illinois University. The myth states that there is a lack of parking for commuter students near their classroom buildings during peak campus hours. This project is comprised of interviews with EIU parking representatives, the daily counting of empty spaces in designated lots around campus which was conducted during the hours of 9 a.m. -11a.m. and 1p.m.- 3 p.m. pm and daily weather data. The collected data will be presented with the use of Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) software.
Adam Proctor and Jim Davis (Eastern Illinois University) The Geography of Recruiting Patterns for NCAA Championship Subdivision Football. Our poster examines the recruiting patterns of NCAA Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) football teams. To establish a spatial pattern we collected each team’s roster for the 2006 season and calculated each location quotient. Our research is designed around three hypotheses. First, schools concentrate their recruiting around their geographical location. Secondly, national patterns will concentrate on southern states, with California, Texas, and Florida being most dominant. Finally, the southern dominance will also be seen though the success of the schools. Preliminary results are supporting our hypothesis of a southern core of football recruiting and a more regional recruiting pattern.
Greg Roberts and Vince Gutowski (Eastern Illinois University) Investigation of Non-Conforming Land Uses in Charleston, IL. Planning and zoning are increasingly important to the cities of today. Zoning regulations are changing in order to increase the efficiency of land uses throughout cities. This change in zoning can often cause land uses to become non-conforming to the established zoning, along with problems arising with over use and under use of land. The City of Charleston has encountered these same problems as a result of changes in zoning districts over time. Looking at two study areas within the City of Charleston, a parcel-by-parcel land use study has been compared to the corresponding zoning district. In order to give a spatial perspective to the distribution of over use and under use within the study areas, parcels were symbolized according to land use in one set of maps and according to a comparison of land use to zoning in a second set.
Brian Ruckman and Kyle Bullifin (Eastern Illinois University) Bendway Weir Implementation and Results on the Embarras River, Cumberland County, IL. Bendway weir installations have been thought to have the ability to restrain the raw forces of a river. One of the main goals of bendway weirs is to help force the thalweg (quickest flowing portion of the river) to move towards the center of the stream channel in order to cut down on high erosion rates on the cut banks. River Channel migration is a natural process but when valued land is in danger of being eroded bendway weir installations may be an alternative to concerned landowners.
Chris Sutton, Daya Snapp, and Paras Acharaya (Western Illinois University) 3D Mapping of Macomb’s Courthouse Square Area, Phase III. Fall 2006 saw the initiation of a group project to construct a 3D map of the Courthouse Square District in Macomb, IL. This poster will represent the third of three phases of the entire project. In the final phase of the project, architectural details were added to individual buildings using Google SketchUp and the blocks were reassembled into the larger map.
Paper Abstracts
Brett Anderson (Eastern Illinois University) The Problem with Being the Last Frontier: The Image of Oklahoma in Popular Literature, 1885-1950. Oklahoma has long suffered from a negative image in popular cultural mediums such as movies and television shows, but also in tourism destination and favorite place to live surveys. In this study I trace the negative image of Oklahoma to the late nineteenth century, when the region was one of the last portions of the United States opened to Euro-American settlers. A reading of popular literature from that time until the 1950s reveals that Oklahoma’s status as the last American frontier was continually reinforced by writers, perpetuating the state’s negative image.
Bryan Campbell (Western Illinois University) Electrical Cooperatives in Rural Areas. For my presentation I plan on discussing the use of electrical cooperatives in rural areas. First I will explain what a co-op is, then I will discuss the different types of electric companies, and then I will show the seven principles of electric cooperatives. The bulk of my presentation will be about the history of cooperatives and the reasons they were started. I also plan to discuss why they are still in use today as well as their advantages in modern society. I will be using examples from modern co-ops to show that they are on the path to cutting the costs of power.
Jim Davis and Michael Cornebise (Eastern Illinois University) Amish Tourism Promotion in East-Central Illinois. This paper will examine the tourism promotional strategies in the broader communities of Arthur and Arcola in East-Central Illinois. The analysis is framed by three key questions: first, what is the extent and nature of tourism promotion efforts that involve both Amish and non-Amish actors from the local communities? Secondly, how effective have the promotional efforts been in attracting tourists and where are they traveling from? Finally, what economic impact has the tourism had on the local communities? Data collected for this paper are field generated and focus on interviews with local business people, government/tourism officials, and Amish residents. Tourism data was also collected at the Amish Interpretive center in Arcola, IL, and the visitor centers in Arcola and Arthur, IL. Preliminary results indicate an increased effort to promote the Amish culture for tourism. These efforts have successful in attracting visitors from the United States and abroad.
Mike Eichenseer (Western Illinois University) Marissa Mine & the Clean Air Act: How the Community was Affected. The Peabody Coal Company was forced to close its Marissa Mine near Marissa, IL in 1999. Phase II of the Clean Air Act of 1990 lowered the amount of emissions allowed into the air, so the high sulfur coal of Illinois was no longer allowed to be burned without scrubbers. The local power plant did not install scrubbers and instead chose to burn lower sulfur western coal. Many people lost their jobs and had to find new ways to make a living and support their families. This paper discusses the substantial economic loss for the community and its people caused by the mine closing.
Zachary Fleming (Illinois State University) There’s a Giant in the Neighborhood: The Westward Expansion of Bradley University. In a community already immersed in development, growth and expansion, Bradley University looks to expand into a landlocked, primarily residential area. This study examines the effects and future of this expansion on the City of Peoria, the City of West Peoria, the University, and the residents of the surrounding neighborhoods. The study pays particular attention to the concerns and feelings of homeowners versus renters. It also relates Bradley’s expansion to other examples of institutional expansion nationwide.
J. C. Fultz and Cameron Craig (Eastern Illinois University) Determining the Effectiveness of C500L in Tornado Forecasting. Tornado forecasting is becoming easier and more understood with time. Another forecasting technique developed by Davies and Guyer (2006) from the Storm Prediction Center focuses on the increased accuracy in forecasting tornado events using the upper level 500mb cold core low and the surface occlusion (C500L). Three past tornado events that occurred in Illinois will be used to determine whether it is possible to use charts to forecast tornadoes based on the C500L method.
Kat Haessler (Western Illinois University) Micro-Loan Practices in Rural Development. This presentation will outline the history of modern micro finance as well as the various benefits and drawbacks that micro loaning practices can offer. The essay examines micro finance as a tool for furthering economic and community development and sites specific examples where these methods have been implemented.
Lazar Ilic (College of DuPage) Recasting Yugoslav Borders: Moving Toward Nation-States as a Means to Reduce Conflict. Ill-conceived boundaries have often been a cause of conflicts, from colonial Africa to the former Yugoslavia. The former Yugoslavia, which erupted in war in the 1990s, had internal boundaries which lumped rival groups together. This resulted in flare-ups of ethnic tension and the subsequent wars. Boundary issues were one of the major issues driving the wars in Croatia and Bosnia. These boundaries have not been adjusted, and the region appears ripe for further conflict. This presentation examines the boundary problem and explores alternative boundaries for the former Yugoslavia.
Kevin Jeanes and Cameron Craig (Eastern Illinois University) EIU Climate Project: An Overview. The Department of Geology/Geography currently maintains two digital weather stations positioned atop the Physical Science Building and recently at the Charleston Water Treatment facility. The data are collected every three seconds and archived at the EIU Weather Center facility. The data can be used and analyzed by students, faculty, researchers, scientists, farmers and the general public. Current weather observations are readily available for immediate weather information on the website.
Prajwol Raj Kaphley (Western Illinois University) Community Forestry Program in Nepal. This paper gives a brief outcomes of community forestry in Nepal, basically it shows the main achievements, challenges and the contribution that Nepal’s community forestry program (CFP) has made to improve rural people’s livelihoods and forest conditions. CFP emerged in Nepal in the 1990s as an evolutionary outcome of various lesson learned of past policy attempt that recognized traditional users as primary stakeholder of the forest and granted them full authority to control over resources and make decision on conservation, management and utilization. CFP has been recognized to improve sustainable management of forest and improve livelihoods of local people. It is claimed to be one of the most successful rural program in Nepal. Some 1.06 million hectares of forestland were handed to 13,078 community forestry users groups involving 1.4 million house holds and benefiting 9 million people (DoF, 2004).
Thomas Milone (Illinois State University) Municipal Overlap along McHenry County’s Southern and Eastern Boundaries. This paper deals with the eight municipalities, all villages, that overlap the southern and eastern boundaries of McHenry County, Illinois, one of the six Collar Counties. Of the eight villages, seven overlap as the result of annexation of territory across the boundary whereas one, Island Lake, has been on the McHenry-Lake border since its incorporation in 1950. The rationale for the research that led to this paper was whether or not these overlapped boundaries matter to anyone.
Jerry Mostek (Northeastern Illinois University) and Ruth Mostek (Southern Illinois University-Carbondale) (alumnus) Methods of Historical Geography: Settlement along the Embarras. Crawford and Lawrence counties played an early role in the settlement of the State of Illinois; however slowed economic growth and under-representation have fostered a position somewhat on the fringe of discussion and inhibited acquisition of funding towards the protection of the region. We will examine the Embarras River as an agent for historic settlement, travel patterns, and land use development, and reflect upon the implications of residential stability in the preservation of the ecosystem. Issues of spatial distribution, public versus private spaces, rural-urban migration, and the availability of published data will be discussed within an historical context.
Kelly Mull and Cameron Craig (Eastern Illinois University) Influence of Hurricane Rainfall on Central Illinois Fields: A Preliminary Assessment. Hurricanes frequent the coastal regions of the United States several times a year. The top three (2005, 1995, 1969), significant hurricane years were derived from the past one hundred years of data. Hurricane data were then paired with precipitation records from four cities located within Central Illinois: Charleston, Decatur, Effingham and Lincoln. The two data sets were analyzed to determine the significance of the hurricane tracks and associated rainfall within Central Illinois.
Laura Perticara (Augustana College) An Overview of Organic Farming in the Quad Cities Area. Organic food has been gaining attention nationwide; this study examined the culture and presence of local, organic agriculture in the Quad Cities area of Illinois and Iowa. The study explored how and why the farms, and various characteristics thereof, are distributed. After surveying forty two farmers, I used their answers to make charts, graphs, and maps. The results show relatively even distributions of farm locations, product type, percentage of farm in organic acreage, and other characteristics of the farms.
David Weaver (Western Illinois University) Addressing Rural Child Poverty in America: Policy for the Next Generation. The wealth of recent poverty data clearly show that despite decades of unprecedented growth in GDP and per capita income, 20% of rural children in America remain in poverty. In addition to these 2.6 million children, millions more live in rural households struggling to survive just above the official poverty level. A vital but rarely cited factor in the disproportionately high rural poverty rate is the ongoing implementation of obsolete and underproductive rural policy. This report summarizes the findings of recent rural child poverty research and provides a critical analysis of current rural policy. The report concludes by reiterating the urgent need for dynamic social and economic policy in the context of diverse and changing rural landscapes.
Sylvester Robert Wood (Western Illinois University) Roberts Rules of Community Development: Really it’s an Art Form. This paper is to look at community development from the front lines in communities of Michigan, Romania (Transylvanian Carpathian Mountains) and Albania (on the Kosovo Border) and what development methods worked in all three areas. This will be a brief view of international community development, interwoven with pictures and maps. All three communities are separated by miles and in a sense, time, yet the three communities of three different countries, all have common factors related to community development. It is true that the three communities are as different as they are alike. Northwest Lower Michigan has many natural and human resources to draw upon. Romania has abundant natural resources that the country is trying further to restore after suffering greatly under communist dictatorship, and is trying to develop further its human resources each day. Albania was not too long ago the most isolated country in the world while suffering under the rule of a brutal communist dictator. Its natural resources are severely devastated, and what resources are left are threatened by further degradation. Additionally, its human resources are looking both forward and back in time, yet hunger for a new and brighter future. So how are these communities so different, yet alike, concerning community development?
Keith Yearman (College of DuPage) Institutional Responses to Femicide: The Case of Ciudad Juarez. The murders and disappearances of women continue in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Over the past twelve years more than 400 women have been found murdered, with another 4,500 having disappeared. The response of the local and state governments has been disappointing, with both blaming the victims and downplaying the number of victims. The Mexican government came under criticism from the U.S. State Department for the downplaying the number and for the lack of a substantive response. Yet newly declassified documents suggest the U.S. government was doing precisely what the Mexican government was doing. This presentation explores the governmental response to femicide on both sides of the border, as well as the response of non-governmental organizations. This presentation also examines the role of neoliberalism in the governmental response to femicide.