UWEC CERCA 2026: Full Schedule

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2:00pm CDT

Poster 047: What Smartphone Brand Makes the Best Ping Pong Paddle?

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

Because smartphones have increasingly found their way into most aspects of modern life, there is much to consider when purchasing a smartphone. Among other things, operating system, performance, software, camera, and battery life are all important factors when choosing a smartphone. Despite the portability of smartphones and their effectiveness as table tennis paddles, there is a significant lack of literature on the topic of using smartphones as ping pong paddles. Through a cross-sectional experiment, the researchers tested several different smartphone brands and models in a controlled tournament-style environment. Smartphone models were traded among the researchers for each round of gameplay, allowing for an averaged score of the most effective smartphone brand and model. This study establishes the first empirical framework for evaluating smartphone models effectiveness as table tennis paddles, and demonstrates the vast difference in ping pong performance among leading smartphone brands.

Presenters

Jack Hagen

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Jackson Kerr

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Brandeis Shore

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Alex Cooper

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Silas Eacret

Student Administrator at Blugold Center for High Performance Computing, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Hello! I'm Silas. I enjoy breaking things, fixing the things, and then breaking more things in the process of fixing said things.

I'm currently employed part-time by the Blugold Center for High Performance Computing (https://hpc.uwec.edu) at UWEC as a Student Administrator. I help... Read More →

Hunter McDaniel

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Owen Kromrey

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Meyah Whitman

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Aaron Fraser

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Faculty Mentor

Jordan Hamzawi

Political Science, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA

CERCA Posters, 2 Thursday

Department Political Science
College CAS

2:00pm CDT

Poster 048: Privacy vs. Tolerance: Can You Have Both?

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)

What is the relationship between privacy and tolerance? Privacy is more prevalent in the United States as a legal concept; however, it remains undefined and contentious. Tolerance is a standard of thought that many see as necessary to a cohesive, successful society – the intersection of both concepts is unclear and debated. To explore that territory, I explored existing literature on both the elusive right to privacy in the United States and the concept of toleration. Definitions of each concept had to be reached and then compared. Subsequently, I expanded findings and conclusions based on the perspective of other scholars. The stance reached is that privacy and tolerance cannot both be applied to the same situation. They may very well be on the same spectrum from secrecy to transparency, but the two ideals must be treated differently in the political sphere.

Presenters

Kira Kirby

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Faculty Mentor

Adam Kunz

Political Science, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA

CERCA Posters, 2 Thursday

Department Political Science
College CAS

2:00pm CDT

Poster 071: Closeness and Presidential elections: Perception and Reality

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)

How close is a Presidential election? In most elections in the United States, we can judge closeness simply by looking at the number of votes that separate the candidates on the ballot. With the addition of the Electoral College, assessing closeness in US Presidential elections becomes far more complicated. Closeness is not simply determined by the popular vote, but also by the distribution of the Electoral College votes, and both of those measures are then viewed through partisan lenses by politicians, pundits, and the general public. While the public and the mass media have developed what could be generously described as ad hoc measurements, we will test they ways in which members of the public assesses the closeness of presidential elections using both surveys and panel studies.

Presenters

Emma Steffen

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Hannah Schindler

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA

CERCA Posters, 2 Thursday

Department Political Science
College CAS

2:00pm CDT

Poster 072: State Action or Private Opinion?: Exploring Protected Speech for Government Officials on Social Media

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)

My project is titled: "State Action or Private Opinion?: Exploring Protected Speech for Government Officials on Social Media." This project asks when a government official’s speech on social media is considered private expression and when it becomes state action subject to First Amendment limits. As public officials increasingly use platforms like Facebook and X to communicate with constituents, courts have struggled to apply traditional doctrines like state action and public forum analysis to digital spaces. Using close legal analysis of recent Supreme Court decisions, especially Lindke v. Freed and O’Connor-Ratcliff v. Garnier, along with lower court rulings and scholarly commentary, I examine how the Court defines “official capacity” and how that definition applies to real-world online behavior, such as deleting comments or blocking critics. I argue that although the Court attempted to create a clearer standard, the current framework remains difficult to apply consistently because officials often blend personal and governmental communication on the same accounts. I ultimately recommend clearer guidance for courts and lawmakers to better protect both government accountability and individual free speech rights in the digital age.

Presenters

Grace Schnabl

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Faculty Mentor

Eric Kasper

Political Science, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA

CERCA Posters, 2 Thursday

Department Political Science
College CAS

2:00pm CDT

Poster 073: Cybercrime and Statecraft: Conversations With Ransomware Gang Operators

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)

As the relationship between cyber warfare and geopoltics continue to grow more intertwined, there is a growing need to understand how not only state actors but also commercially driven ransomware gangs interact within the cyber realm. Much of Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) focuses on technical methods of analyzing cyberattacks and various cyber criminal gangs. However, this study uses interviews conducted with operators in cyber criminal gangs over the dark web (Tor network) to understand the effects of geopolitics on ransomware gangs' targeting choices. Drawing from interviews with multiple groups, this study explores how ransomware gangs define targets as off-limits, respond to geopolitical situations, and political motivations behind their actions.

Presenters

Jack Hagen

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Faculty Mentor

Jordan Hamzawi

Political Science, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA

CERCA Posters, 2 Thursday

Department Political Science
College CAS

2:00pm CDT

Evolution after Integration

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

Davies Center: Centennial Room (320A&B)

Case Study Abstract My topic is digging into how the integration of minority groups into Major League Baseball has helped evolve and improve the game from a skill/talent standpoint. I believe this is an important topic because it will help to magnify the efforts of these athletes over different eras and how they have left their mark on the sport. My main goal is to prove that minority integration has significantly improved the talent of Baseball. To conduct my research, I will use a qualitative case study. I will use a real-world context to provide evidence for various patterns and themes relating to my project. I believe my research will help to materialize and provide concrete examples relating to the cause and effect of the evolution of baseball, specifically talking about minorities. My research will also shine a well-deserved light on the talent that has been/is a part of American sports now.

Presenters

Ej Weix

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Faculty Mentor

Damir Kovacevic

Political Science, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Centennial Room (320A&B) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA

From FYE to HIE: High Impact Experiences for First-Year Students

Department Political Science
College CAS

2:00pm CDT

How Can an Insider's Trade Rumor Disrupt a Team in a Major Sport?

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

Davies Center: Centennial Room (320A&B)

The broader topic in this research is the untrust in current and past sources within major sports teams, with a focus on how this untrust affects the game, culture, and how it’s played. What we intend to achieve with this research is a better understanding of how insiders in the major sports leagues can cause a shift in culture. The method we are using to conduct the research is qualitative case study. With the case, we are focusing on the recent trade rumors of Giannis Antetokounmpo before the NBA deadline. This study is expected to show a negative relationship between an NBA insider’s trade rumor and the team’s fans, culture, and morale. It matters politically, because we are seeing more news sources stretching truths in today’s society. This leads to untrust and misinformation in communities across the United States.

Presenters

James Norby

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Sam Skipper

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Faculty Mentor

Damir Kovacevic

Political Science, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Centennial Room (320A&B) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA

From FYE to HIE: High Impact Experiences for First-Year Students

Department Political Science
College CoHHS

2:00pm CDT

Jesse Owens Myth Busting

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

Davies Center: Centennial Room (320A&B)

This research project will look at the impact of the performance by Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and how his performance challenged the Nazi belief in their superiority over other races. This will be done by starting with an overview of the life of Jesse Owens and his background and achievements before he went to the Olympics to compete. This will include his winning four gold medals. The discussion will then move to the setting of the 1936 Olympics, which was held in Nazi Germany and was a form of propaganda for the Nazi belief in the superiority of the Aryan race. This will be done by analyzing the performance of Jesse Owens and how it challenged the beliefs of the Nazis. The discussion will also examine Jesse Owens's response to the performance and its impact on the world, including on Adolf Hitler. This topic is relevant because it shows the relationship that often occurs between sports and politics and how one athlete’s performance may have global implications. This research also has implications for contemporary discussions around race, equality, and athletes’ social change capabilities. My research question is: How did Jesse Owens’ success at the 1936 Olympics counter the Nazi ideology of racial supremacy?

Presenters

Wyatt Unser

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Faculty Mentor

Damir Kovacevic

Political Science, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Centennial Room (320A&B) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA

From FYE to HIE: High Impact Experiences for First-Year Students

Department Political Science
College CoHHS

2:00pm CDT

The Political and Social Forces Behind Athlete Protests and Their Consequences in 2020

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

Davies Center: Centennial Room (320A&B)

This research examines the events that led to athletes kneeling during the national anthem in 2020, focusing on the Black Lives Matter movement and the death of George Floyd. It also analyzes the short and long-term impacts on athletes who kneeled and protested. This topic matters because it shows how platforms such as sports can start broader conversations on society and politics. My main aim for exploring this topic is understanding what led up to this and how broader conversations were influenced because of athletes' protests, which helps us better understand how a public figure can influence serious conversations. I will conduct my research by using a quantitative case study to analyze data such as public opinions, sponsorship changes, league responses, and media coverage. This study will contribute evidence on how athlete protests in 2020 influenced public opinion and broader political and social conversations. This matters academically and politically because it helps us understand how athlete protests can influence public opinion, government responses, and larger conversations about social issues.

Presenters

Addison Hutton

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Faculty Mentor

Damir Kovacevic

Political Science, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Centennial Room (320A&B) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA

From FYE to HIE: High Impact Experiences for First-Year Students

Department Political Science
College CAS

2:00pm CDT

The Surge of Sports Betting in Collegiate and Professional Sports Today

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

Davies Center: Centennial Room (320A&B)

I will be diving into a research project involving the surge of sports betting in collegiate and professional sports today. I find this intriguing because I, myself, do sports betting as well, and many around me do too. I would like to further my research in this poll because of the many betting scandals that have occurred, and how it has affected lawmaking policy in sports at the collegiate and professional levels. For example, Tim Donaghy was an American NBA referee and had officiated games in which he provided insider information to gamblers before the games, in other ways, throwing the game. This scandal occurred during the 2005-2007 NBA seasons, and it was during games in which he personally officiated. He directly corrupted the games and manipulated the games by calling more fouls to cover point spreads for people who put a bet on that. This study is expected to contribute to how certain scandals have influenced collegiate and professional sports today, and the effect of lawmaking policy on these events. This matters a lot because of the widespread use of sports betting today and how it can affect athletes, normal humans, and the government in certain scenarios. So, how has the surge of sports betting in today's world affected the collegiate and professional levels of sports?

Presenters

Jackson Gindt

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Faculty Mentor

Damir Kovacevic

Political Science, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Centennial Room (320A&B) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA

From FYE to HIE: High Impact Experiences for First-Year Students

Department Political Science
College CAS

2:00pm CDT

Uniform Inequality at the Olympics

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

Davies Center: Centennial Room (320A&B)

Gender inequality in sports has been a major issue over time, even with women’s athletics having majorly grown. The criticism that went around regarding the track and field uniforms at the Olympics highlights that women are often judged on their appearance rather than their performance. My question for this project is, how does the inequality women face in sports, shown through controversies like the 2024 Olympics uniform backlash, limit their opportunities for recognition and achievement?I will be using a qualitative case study to conduct this research to further elaborate on how uniform policies are one of the many ways inequality is shown in sports, influencing how female athletes are perceived.This study is meant to contribute awareness to the recurring issue that is gender inequality. This matters politically because it represents gender politics. The Olympics are a major international event where women have the ability to represent their country, yet the way uniforms are created for women shows that no matter the scale of an event, they are still judged and treated differently than men. The backlash against the uniforms reflect femininity and control over women’s bodies, making it a bigger issue than just sports, it shows the struggle for equal treatment.

Presenters

Elizabeth Repavich

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Faculty Mentor

Damir Kovacevic

Political Science, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Centennial Room (320A&B) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA

From FYE to HIE: High Impact Experiences for First-Year Students

Department Political Science
College CAS

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