Sexuality acts as a societal arbiter; the further away one is from the norm, the more marginalized one becomes. As a result, sexuality forces us to ask the question of,  “who deserves love, and who should we extend it to?” These questions become paramount in stories that present love towards nonhuman subjects. Lars and the Real Girl, a movie about a man who falls in love with a sex doll; The Shape of Water, a fantasy romance between a mute woman and an amphibious man; and The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?, a play that features a man who has an affair with a goat, will be the base texts being analyzed. These stories question the structures we have in place for what we do and don't tolerate as love: what's wrong with loving a goat? To answer this question, I imagine love as a scale, with all the things in between the most normative love - white, heterosexual, and cis - and bestiality examined. Where do we draw the line between good, valid love and bad, invalid love and why? Using queer theory, a framework already populated with these questions, I analyzed these texts. There is a pervasive idea that writing about love has become a cliché and naïve pursuit. However, this thought has stifled the nuances that exist within the concept and erases the populations it has already marginalized. It is a delicate situation, but examining our desire, from the possible to the impossible, may illuminate what we believe is ethical. For without straying into the uncomfortable, we cannot challenge a norm. Rethinking perspectives and coming to a more complete and inclusive concept of love can be the value of these narratives of nonhuman desires.

Over the course of time, readers continue to be introduced to various retellings of the fairytale “Cinderella,” in children's literature and young adult fiction. This research looks at three retellings of “Cinderella” to investigate the significant similarities and differences that emerge. Using adaptation theory and structuralist theory, this paper analyzes the significance of selected adaptations relating to human experience and the need for continued reinvention of “Cinderella.” This paper excerpts a longer project analyzing “Cinderella,” by the Brothers Grimm; Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine; Cinder, by Marissa Meyer; and Geekerella, by Ashley Poston. These books are selected for their popularity as gauged by bestsellers lists, ratings from Goodreads, and ratings from Amazon. The analysis draws attention to reused themes, characters (i.e. foils, protagonist, love interest), and settings in retellings as compared to the original story. Retellings of “Cinderella” have been published nearly every year since Ella Enchanted boomed in 1997. With two decades of consistent Cinderella retellings, it is enlightening to reconsider the continued use of this story. It is not surprising that Cinderella's story is recycled. What is interesting to note, however, is the need to retell it in so many different formats and contexts. One possible explanation for all these retellings is that this is a way for publishers to make additional money from similar stories. Nonetheless, “Cinderella” is a classic fairytale, beloved by many, and retellings allow readers, young and old, to relive the story with new and modern twists.

Community Colleges have a direct impact on our community. Governing bodies of community colleges are becoming central role players in formulating strategies for the colleges they govern. A governing Board is an important place for institutional change. The Board of an institution is responsible for decision-making, policy-making and the general oversight of an institution. The assumption is that an effective college board is one that is student-centered, and composed of positive members with good intentions, having the best interest for the college. While the effectiveness of a board remains important to the growth of an institution, most college boards tend to rely on statistical data for the decision-making process. The reliance on statistical data has proved to work in some cases; however, in the dynamic economy, we live in now, having student representation on a board can help increase the effectiveness of an institution. Student leaders bring a unique perspective to the board and can help the board understand effects of its decision on students at a college. This research investigates the importance of the student representative on governing Boards in higher education institutions. Published research papers, interviews, surveys, and personal experience as a current student Trustee on the Edmonds Community College Board of Trustee are used as a source of credible data for this paper. The paper focuses on the role and the impact of student representation on a governing board and how it can boost a college's effectiveness.