Washington & Jefferson CollegeHoward J. Burnett Center

292 E. Wheeling St.Washington, PA 15301

www.washjeff.eduzgai@washjeff.edutel 724.503.1001

WELCOME to the fourth annual Undergraduate Asian StudiesResearch Conference, sponsored by the Pittsburgh Asia Consortium and Washington & Jefferson College.

PITTSBURGH ASIA CONSORTIUMThe Pittsburgh Asia Consortium (PAC) is a collaboration of academic and non-profit organizations in and around the greater Pittsburgh area. PAC aims to foster greater knowledge and understanding about Asia. The goal is to bring together organizations with an interest in educating academics, students, and the community about Asia, but who may individually lack sufficient faculty, resources, or finances to do so on a sustained basis. Members include the University of Pittsburgh, Slippery Rock University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Saint Vincent College, Duquesne University, Carlow University, Grove City College, Chatham University, California University of Pennsylvania, and Washington & Jefferson College.

ABOUT WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGEWashington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum while emphasizing a diverse community committed to multicultural and global understanding.

CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS

Poojan Jayeshbhai ShahAashil Alay ShahRutva Kalpeshkumar ShahRishi Maulik ShahPranav ShekhawatKinjal Suketu ShethSanjot SinghSartaj Singh

Chelsea Sisk

Paul SnyderBen SuAnna Sun*Stephanie Sweat

Hallie Synan

Philip TanenbaumSakshi Chiragbhai ThakkarRakshita Vinodkumar TotlaSue Tran

Jainam Jigneshbhai TurakhiaZachary Vasicak

Sakshi Lalbahdur VyasRebecca WallaceMark WeaverKristin WoodlenCori Woods

Anthony Zinobile*

Pandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityPandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityPandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityPandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityPandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityPandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityUniversity at Buffalo Pandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityBloomsburg University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of PittsburghSUNY BinghamtonKenyon CollegeWashington & Jefferson CollegeWashington & Jefferson CollegeUniversity of PittsburghPandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityPandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityWashington & Jefferson CollegePandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityIndiana University of PennsylvaniaPandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityUniversity of PittsburghGrove City CollegeBloomsburg UniversityIndiana University of Pennsylvania

sanjotni@buffalo.edu

Cs36573@huskies.bloomu.edu

pxs1@pitt.edubsu8@binghamton.edusuna@kenyon.edusweats@jay.washjeff.edu

synanhe@jay.washjeff.edu

pht4@pitt.edu

transl@jay.washjeff.edu

z.vasicak@iup.edu

rew60@pitt.eduWeaverMR1@gcc.edukhw55272@huskies.bloomu.educsts@iup.edu

ajzinobile@hotmail.com

8:00-10:00 AM REGISTRATION Howard J. Burnett Center, First Floor Lobby

The Rise of China, Chinese Nationalism, and Territorial Disputes in the East and South China Seas Room 109, Howard J. Burnett CenterChair: Katherine Carlitz, University of Pittsburgh

MICHAEL DICIANNA, DUQUESNE UNIVERSITYThe Future of the East China Sea

PHILIP TANENBAUM, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGHChinese Military on the South China Sea: How Economic Trends and Force Modernization Will Dictate Military Policy in the Region

BENJAMIN BLACK, PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITYThe South China Sea in State Media Propaganda: a Nationalistic Perspective

REBECCA WALLACE, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGHChinese Nationalism and the Confucius Institutes

PANEL 2 War, Rebellion, and Refugees in the Chinese and Muslim Worlds Room 203, Howard J. Burnett CenterChair: Patrick Caffrey, Washington & Jefferson College

PAUL SNYDER, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGHThe Intersection of the Taiping Rebellion and the Second Opium War

HALLIE SYNAN, WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGERoots of Anti-Arab Sentiment in Australia

FARAH RAHMAN, CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITYPolitical and Historical Context of Refugee Health Challenges: Jordan and Lebanon in Comparative Perspective

PANEL 3

8:30-10:00 AM PANEL SESSION 1

PANEL 1

Marketing, Consumption, Investment, and Development Assistance Room 209, Howard J. Burnett CenterChair: Robert East, Washington & Jefferson College

DAVID GARDNER, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGHCross-Cultural Consumption in the East and West: Divided Consumer Habits and the Western Commodification of East Asian Goods

CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS

Tyler McCullough

Aaditya Hasmukhkumar MehtaLijuan Meng*Shashwat Modnath MishraRiddhi Parimal ModiLinus Morales

Madison Nervig

Ashley NicholsonHimisha Kiritkumar ParmarNirja Mehulkumar PatelRootu Vinay PatelPalak Dilip PatelKeval Arvindbhai PatelGarrett Plue

Het Milan PobarooNeeta Paavan PrakashMolly Pratt-CassidyLev Pravda

Farah Rahman

Shivrajsinh Rajendrasinh RanaVatika Satyanarayan RathiEllen Raum

Lucas RayKayleigh Reed Hanna SantanamAlexandria Sayers

Washington & Jefferson CollegePandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityGrove City CollegePandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityPandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityIndiana University of PennsylvaniaWashington & Jefferson CollegeChatham University Pandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityPandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityPandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityPandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityPandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityIndiana University of PennsylvaniaPandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityPandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityUniversity at BuffaloBinghamton University, State Univeristy of New YorkCase Western Reserve UniversityPandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityPandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityIndiana University of Pennsylvania Duquesne University University at BuffaloUniversity at BuffaloWashington & Jefferson College

mcculloughtm@jay.washjeff.edu

lmeng@gcc.edu

qsfv@iup.edu

nervigmm@jay.washjeff.edu

anicholson@chatham.edu

xfcw@iup.edu

mollypra@buffalo.edulpravda1@binghamton.edu

fxr51@case.edu

ellen.raum@yahoo.com

RayL@duq.edu krreed2@buffalo.edusantanam@buffalo.edusayersab@jay.washjeff.edu

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

PANEL 3

Understanding Contemporary China and Japan through History and Traditions Room 213, Howard J. Burnett CenterChair: Jim Cook, University of Pittsburgh

LUCAS RAY, DUQUESNE UNIVERSITYTraditions and their Implications for the Future: China and Japan in Literature and History

ELLEN RAUM, INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIAReddening City: The Survival of the CCP in Shanghai, 1927-1928

NOEL ELIZONDO, DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY Nation, Market, and the Chinese Form of Government Today

PANEL 4

Contending with Growth in China and India Room 109, Howard J. Burnett CenterChair: Jing Li, Duquesne University

BENJAMIN KLUB, WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGEThe Rise of China and India

INGRID LEXOVA, WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGEEco-cities in the PRC

LAURA KILBURY, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITYThe Intersection of Sanitation and Education on Girls’ Education in Urban and Peri-urban Environments in India

10:15-11:45 AM PANEL SESSION 2

PANEL 5

MELANIE MARINO, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGHMarketing Tactics in Thailand

MADISON NERVIG, WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGENeocolonialism or Good Investment: An Analysis of Chinese Investments in Nigeria, Uganda, and South Africa

KIRA BAIERL, WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGEForeign Aid and its Relevance to the Middle East

PANEL 6 Love, Sexuality, and Gender Preference in East and South Asia Room 203, Howard J. Burnett CenterChair: Karen Kingsbury, Chatham University

CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS

Robert East*

Noel ElizondoZheya Gai*

David GardnerJody Gazda

Radha Mukeshkumar GhodasaraSamuel GonzalesYe Han*

Manthan Dipakkumar KananiLynn Kawaratani*Ryan Kenney

Neeta Khurana*Karen Kingsbury*Laura Kilbury

Benjamin Klub

Alexandra Kovacevic

Alexander Krol

John KulpGabrielle LeeMichelle LeiElizabeth LevyIngrid Lexova

Jing Li*Margaret MalloneeMelanie MarinoEvan MasonJackie McCarthy

Washington & Jefferson CollegeDuquesne University Washington & Jefferson CollegeUniversity of PittsburghIndiana University of PennsylvaniaPandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityUniversity of Pittsburgh Washington & Jefferson CollegePandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityUniversity of Pittsburgh Washington & Jefferson CollegePandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityChatham UniversityThe George Washington UniversityWashington & Jefferson CollegeWashington & Jefferson CollegeWashington & Jefferson CollegeUniversity of PittsburghUniversity of Pittsburgh University at Buffalo University at BuffaloWashington & Jefferson CollegeDuquesne University University of Pittsburgh

University of Pittsburgh

University of Pittsburgh

Saint Vincent College

reast@washjeff.edu

elizondon@duq.edu zgai@washjeff.edu

drobertgardner@gmail.comkrxs@IUP.edu

sag117@pitt.edu yhan@washjeff.edu

lyk12@pitt.edukenneyrc@jay.washjeff.edu

kkingsbury@chatham.edulkilbury@gwu.edu

klubbd@jay.washjeff.edu

kovacevicaj@jay.washjeff.edu

krolam@washjeff.edu

john.h.kulp@gmail.comgql1@pitt.edumengjial@buffalo.edu ejlevy@buffalo.edulexovai@jay.washjeff.edu

lij@duq.edu mlm171@pitt.edumkm66@pitt.eduewm14@pitt.edujacquelyn.mccarthy@stvincent.edu

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

conference 1

Shimony Sandeepkumar AgarwalKira Baierl

Aneesah BakshIndigo BalochAlan Baumler*

Catherine Bayless

Elizabeth BetancourtBenjamin Black

Javier BorrasMaria BrightmanAdam BurghPatrick Caffrey*

Chyanne Caldwell

Katherine Carlitz*Simran Anil Chhabraia

Diarra ClarkeJames Cook*Jessica CrawfordPeter Crivellaro

Ryan Currie

Priyanka Harish Daryani

Joshua Dewaine

Rahul Anilkumar DewaniTejas Dave*Michael Dicianna

PANEL 6 PETER CRIVELLARO, INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIAPatriarchy, Pensions, and Patrilocality: Explaining Asia’s Missing Women

CORI WOODS, INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIADaoist Sexual Vampirism and Confucian Self-Cultivation: The Ways of Chinese Fox Spirits

ANEESAH BAKSH, STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK— BUFFALOPhysical versus Mystical Love in the Madhumalati, an Indian Sufi Romance

PANEL 7 Nationalism, Economy, and the Environment in Japan Room 209, Howard J. Burnett CenterChair: Alan Baumler, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

RYAN KENNEY, WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGE The Yasukuni Shrine: A Geopolitically Controversial Subject

STEPHANIE SWEAT, WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGEAbenomics: Success or Failure?

JOHN KULP, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGHThe Extinction of the Japanese River Otter

PANEL 8 Encounters with Language Study and Film Room 213, Howard J. Burnett CenterChair: Han Ye, Washington & Jefferson College

LINUS MORALES, INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIAEffects of Synesthesia on Learning Chinese: A Personal Reflection

SAMUEL GONZALES, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGHThe Discourse on Script Reform in Modern China

EVAN MASON, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGHModality in Classical Japanese: Rethinking the Way We Teach the Grammar of Auxiliary Verbs

JACKIE MCCARTHY, SAINT VINCENT COLLEGEThe Kill Bill Volumes: A Western View of Japanese Culture

Pandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityWashington & Jefferson CollegeUniversity at BuffaloChatham UniversityIndiana University of PennsylvaniaWashington & Jefferson College

Pennsylvania State UniversityBloomsburg UniversityChatham UniversitySaint Vincent CollegeWashington & Jefferson CollegePennsylvania State University University of Pittsburgh Pandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityChatham UniversityUniversity of PittsburghUniversity of Pittsburgh Indiana University of PennsylvaniaWashington & Jefferson CollegePandit Deendayal Petroleum UniversityWashington & Jefferson College

Pandit Deendayal Petroleum

University

Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University

Duquesne University

baierkm@jay.washjeff.edu

aneesahb@buffalo.eduibaloch@chatham.edubaumler@iup.edu

baylesscl@jay.washjeff.edu

elib3@comcast.netbdb5244@psu.edu

jab75148@huskies.bloomu.edumaria.brightman@chatham.eduadam.burgh@stvincent.edupcaffrey@washjeff.edu

coc5353@psu.edu kcarlitz@pitt.edu

huclarke23@gmail.comjacook@pitt.edujmc248@pitt.edu vfws@IUP.edu

currierp@jay.washjef.edu

dewainejt@jay.washjeff.edu

CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS

diciannam@gmail.com

*Faculty

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

PANEL 9 Chinese Currency and the Global Banking System Room 109, Howard J. Burnett CenterChair: Alan Baumler, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

BEN SU AND LEV PRAVDA, STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK—BINGHAMTONChinese Central Bank Policy and Effects on Global Currency Markets

MARK WEAVER, GROVE CITY COLLEGEIs the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank a Healthy Competitor in the Global Banking System, or is it a Challenger to the World Order of Economics?

PANEL 10 Protest and Perception in India Room 203, Howard J. Burnett CenterChair: Lynn Kawaratani, University of Pittsburgh

CHYANNE CALDWELL, PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITYProgressive Steps in a Modern World: The Methods of Mahatma Gandhi and of the 1989 Tiananmen Protesters

Welcome to W&JBy John Zimmerman, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, Washington & Jefferson College

Welcome to the 4th PAC Undergraduate Research conferenceBy James Cook, Acting Director, Asian Studies Center, University of Pittsburgh

Introduction of Keynote SpeakerBy Zheya Gai, Professor of Political Science and Director of International Studies, Washington & Jefferson College

Keynote address: “Journey to the East: An Intellectual Voyage”By Anna Sun, Associate Professor of Sociology and Asian Studies, Kenyon College

Anna Sun, a sociologist of religion and culture, shares the intellectual journey that led her to become a scholar of Chinese religion. She also shares what her students have taught her about their own intellectual journeys to the East in the 21st century.

1:45-3:15 PM PANEL SESSION 3

LUNCH

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

PANEL 10

Buddhism at the Crossroads: Narcotics, Power, and DevelopmentRoom 213, Howard J. Burnett CenterChair: Patrick Caffrey, Washington & Jefferson College

JOSHUA DEWAINE, WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGEThe Use of Altered Mental States in Buddhist Traditions

ALEXANDRA KOVACEVIC, WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGEA Comparison of Uses of Buddhism as a Political Tool in Burma during the 21st Century

ALEXANDRIA SAYERS, WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGEMes Aynak: A Buddhist Complex at the Crossroads of Past, Present, and Future

3:15-4:15 PM PITTSBURGH ASIA CONSORTIUM FACULTY MEETING Room 109, Howard J. Burnett Center

KAYLEIGH REED, STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK— BUFFALOIntersection of Gazes: Steve McCurry’s Depiction of India in National Geographic

HANNA SANTANAM, STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK— BUFFALO“The Next King of Action:” The Globalization of the Indian Male Body Through Film Culture

PANEL 11 Resource Issues in China: Water and Energy Room 209, Howard J. Burnett CenterChair: Robert East, Washington & Jefferson College

MARGARET MALLONEE, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGHChina’s South-North Water Transfer Project (SNWTP): A Cost-Benefit Analysis

TYLER MCCULLOUGH, WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGENatural Products as an Alternative Fuel Source in China

ALEXANDER KROL, WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGELithium-ion Batteries as a Replacement for Fossil Fuels in China

PANEL 12

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

12:00-1:30 PM LUNCH AND KEYNOTE ADDRESS Rossin Ballroom, second floor, Rossin Campus Center