Liberal Arts and Sciences Symposium (LASS)

LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES SYMPOSIUM

A Celebration of Academic Work and Commitment to Service

April 17, 2026

This year鈥檚 event will include sessions from 1 – 2 p.m. on Monday, April 13 – Friday, April 17, with multiple sessions all day on April 17. Sessions provide a forum for students to present and discuss their outstanding endeavors. Papers, roundtables, oral and poster presentations, art exhibitions, and scholarly musical presentations will showcase undergraduate research across the curriculum.

Students are required to submit a proposal or abstract of their work for consideration for a presentation at LASS. Proposals should not exceed 200 words.听

The deadline for student proposal submissions was 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2026.听

Poster printing deadline: The deadline for guaranteed poster printing in time for LASS is Friday, April 10 by 5 p.m. to the Poster Printing Hub.

LASS 2026 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

more events coming soon

Wednesday, April 15

1 – 2:30 p.m. – The Core Self

Turner Lynch Campus Center (TLCC) Room 221 (Trustee Room)

Thursday, April 16

1 p.m. – Key note address by Alexandria Ree Hadd, Ph.D.

TLCC Room 221 (Trustee Room)

Friday, April 17

TLCC 221 (Trustee Room)

Student presenters:

Gabriella A. L贸pez-Sandoval
“200 Million Affected: Treatment, Stereotypes, and Marginalization in Endometriosis Diagnosis and Care”
Sebastian Martinez Ramirez
“The Male Loneliness Epidemic: Its Effects and the Reality”
Rachel Williams
“Sexual Violence Against Trans Women in the United States: Intersectional Inequality, Institutional Failure, and Structural Vulnerability”

8:00 - 9:15 a.m. - Communication Studies panel

TLCC Room 225 (Fish bowl)听

Student presenters:

Angel Wildman
“RuPaul鈥檚 Drag Race: Queer Culture on a Global Stage”
Erin Jarrett
“From Broadcast to For You Page: The Differences in Olympic Media Coverage in Paris 2024”
Marshall Davis-Hancock
“When A Film Fails: An Analysis of Astro Boy (2009)”

9:00 - 10:00 a.m. - Poster session I

TLCC Atrium

9:00 a. m. - 12:00 p.m. - Student art exhibition

TLCC 106A and 106B

Students will be available to discuss their art projects.听

9:25 - 10:40 a.m. - Student paper session (McCulloch)

Room 221 (Trustee Room) TLCC

Student presenters:

Sabelle Adams ’27, Film and Media Studies major
“The 鈥楿wU Girl鈥� and Her Pedophilic Origins”
Faria Chowdhury ’27, Psychology major, Philosophy minor
“The Quickest Path to Happiness”
Ryleigh Hixon ’27, Philosophy major, Women鈥檚, Gender, and Sexuality Studies minor
“The Merkin: The Double Bind of Bodily Self Expression”
CJ Rona ’27, Chemistry major
“The Virgin”
Eden Rowell ’27, Film and Media Studies major, Art & History Dual minor
“The Myth of the Powerful Female Sniper”

10:30 - 11:30 a.m. - Poster session II

TLCC Atrium

10:50 a.m. - 12:05 p.m. - Meaning and Making: OU student perspectives on the filmmaking process

Room 221 (Trustee Room) TLCC

Moderated by Division I faculty, this session will include student presenters from the 2026 Last Looks Film Festival:听

Session Participants:

Paul Danner, First Overall/Audience Favorite, “Dog Problems”
Kaylee Kula, Second Overall/Capturing Culture – Second, “From Her Hands to His”听
Ethan Snipes, Third Overall, “Please Only Take One”听
Vasilina Kolesnikova, Best Narrative, “My Life is a Movie”听
Lia Kusky, Best Documentary/Capturing Culture – First, “Hair”
Eden Rowell, Best Experimental, “Xin Liu: Hope and Reflection”
Nina Melo, Best Promotional, “P.O.V. Trailer”听
Evan Williams, Capturing Culture – Third, “A Republic, If You Can Keep It”听

10:50 a.m. - 12:05 p.m. - Student panel session I - The human experience: Work and art

Room 225 (Fish bowl) TLCC

Student presenters:

Isabella Reid-Broadie听
“The Propagandist Tendencies of Roman Art and Its Influences”
Elliott Horton
“Help yourselves, and Heaven will help you.: British Imperialism in Ireland and Historical Narratives of the Great Famine”
Mason Hill
“Walking Across Pages- Traveling vs Tourism in Intercultural Understanding”

Lunch

Students can pick up box lunches at 12:05 p.m. (one per student) in the Cousins Center Atrium.

1:15 - 2:30 p.m. - Student paper session (Ziering)

Cousins Center 330

Student presenters:

Emy Anderson
“The Devastating Power of Rumors: Consequences of Relying on Lies, Reputation, and Public Opinion in Lillian Hellman鈥檚 The Children’s Hour“
Asante Allwood
“Truth vs. Lies: Interpretation, Performance, and Queer Possibility in Lillian Hellman鈥檚 The Children鈥檚 Hour“
Lydia Bowling
“The Indomitable Spirit of Queer Love in the Face of Restriction: Perseverance and Agency in Ann Bannon’s Women in the Shadows“
Elliot Horton
“The Problem with Twink Death: Aging, maturity, and queer temporality in Ann Bannon’s Women in the Shadows“

1:15 - 2:30 p.m. - Honors session I

Cousins Center 335

2:40 - 3:55 p.m. Student panel session II - Making sense of life with modeling

Cousins Center 330

Student presenters

Naomi Wagner
“Dynamic Stability in a Flamingo Inspired Robot”
Adir Ali Yerima
“The Winning Strategies for the Sparse Ruler Game”
Ethan Snipes
“IP-Attached Films”

2:40 - 3:55 p.m. Senior Exhibition (ART490)

Cousins Center 335

Lia Kusky
“A Serial Hobbyist’s Path to Character Design”
Kaleigh Gillette
Selected works from 2019-2026
Naomi Stamper
Selected works

4:05 - 5:20 p.m. - Student paper session (Collins)

Cousins Center 330

Student presenters:

Made Gunty
“Archaeological Artifacts and their Role in Determining Supernatural Beliefs”
Rumi Rumjhum and Beyoungtis Tarver
“Methods in Dsicovering Archaeolgical Sites”
Katya Ozerkov
“Ancient Ink: Symboism and Prfeservation.”

4:05 - 5:20 p.m - Honors Session II

Cousins Center 335

4:05 - 5:20 p.m. - Music performances

Lupton Auditorium

Set 1: Americana

Declan Robinson: Almost Like Being in Love from Brigadoon (1947) by Lerner and Lowe
Dr. Andrew Schmidt: This is the Moment from Jekyll & Hyde (1990) by Wildhorn & Bricusse
Destiny Sutton & Simon Qualls: Guess Who I Saw Today by Murray Grand (1919-2007)

Set 2: Impressionists

Komang Ardani: 脡tude No. 8 by Ernesto Koehler (1849-1907)
Danae St. Hill, Harp: Chanson De Mai by Alphonse Hasselmans (1845-1912) & Premiere Arabesque by Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Devlynn Miller & Olivia Else: Due des Fleurs from Lakm茅 by L茅o Delibes (1836-1891)

Set 3: From Classical to Romantic

Thomas Reininger: Lieder Ohne Worte VI, Op. 67: II. Allegro leggiero, MWV U145 “Lost Illusions” by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Brianna Nedelcu: 脡tude in A-flat major Op. 1 No. 9 by Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Dr. Nico Gutierrez: Waltz in E-minor “Posthumous” B56 by Fr茅d茅ric Chopin (1810-1849)

Set 4: New Voices

黑料吃瓜网 Chorale:
The Storm is Passing Over by Charles Albert Tindley (1851-1933) arr. Barber听
Giver of Stars by Joan Szymko (b. 1957)
Temen Oblak by Christopher Tin (b. 1971)

Frequently asked questions

What is LASS?

The Liberal Arts and Sciences Symposium (LASS) is an annual event that brings together 黑料吃瓜网 students and faculty in a celebration of exemplary scholarly work produced by 黑料吃瓜网 students under faculty mentorship. The symposium鈥檚 sessions provide a forum for students and faculty to present, discuss, and learn from outstanding student endeavors. Panels, roundtables, oral and poster presentations, art exhibitions, and scholarly music presentations present the fruits of both 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 liberal arts curriculum as well as science, technology, and math research. You can explore programs and schedules from prior years below.

Is attendance required?

The university strongly encourages attendance at LASS. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the 黑料吃瓜网 campus community and experience our motto 鈥淢ake A Life. Make A Living. Make A Difference鈥� up close. Your instructor may require attendance for a particular class, so please check with your individual professors.

How do I know if my work is appropriate for LASS?

If you鈥檙e interested in your subject and proud of your commitment to the topic, that will show in your abstract and proposal. Any course-related subject with a faculty mentor is open to consideration by the LASS committee.听

How do I write an abstract or proposal?

Proposals should not exceed 200 words. For discipline-specific guidance, speak to your faculty advisor.

Resources for writing an abstract or proposal can be found below:

搁别蝉辞耻谤肠别蝉:听

How do I print my poster for LASS?

**Any posters submitted post deadline are not guaranteed to be printed on time for LASS**

What is the deadline for submitting my proposal?

The Liberal Arts and Sciences Symposium (LASS) Committee invites student proposals for participation. Students who wish to present are required to submit a proposal or abstract of their work. The deadline for proposal submissions is March 22, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. A committee of faculty from a variety of disciplines including the humanities and sciences will convene to review proposals and abstracts. Notification of proposal acceptance will follow shortly thereafter.

Do I need a faculty mentor?

Yes, you must work with a faculty mentor to write your proposal or abstract and to prepare for your presentation.

What's the dress code?

Business casual. Formal wear, party clothes, or clothing with slogans are generally not appropriate unless relevant to the content or tradition of your presentation.

听

Students who need professional attire can find resources at support at the Career Closet.

How will LASS help my career?

LASS participation puts you ahead of your peers in graduate school and in your profession when it comes to conference skills. Attending symposia and conferences and presenting research or speaking in your chosen field is a part of professional life. According to the ASAE (American Society for Association Executives), there are nearly 100,000 different in the United States alone. Graduate students routinely speak and present at academic conferences throughout their course of study.

Can I invite my family and friends?

Yes, this is a public, free event.