Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Expressions of German-American culture in Indianapolis reached a high point in the first decade of the twentieth century. Social clubs such as the Socialer Turnverein and the Maennerchor enriched the city’s cultural life through musical performances and athletic classes and provided a social outlet for their members. During this decade, these clubs played a large role in organizing two national festivals held in Indianapolis: a Turnfest (gymnastics festival) in 1905 and a Saengerfest (singing festival) in 1908. Examining the planning and implementation of the Turnfest and Saengerfest sheds light on how club leaders responded to their social and political environment at the beginning of the twentieth century, how the respective clubs’ members conceived of their ethnic and club identities, and how they represented these identities in the festivals.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Undocumented immigration from Latin America is a heated and divisive topic in United States' politics. Politicians in Washington, D.C. are debating new legislation which would provide a pathway to citizenship for some 11 million undocumented immigrants. While several federal immigration reform bills were debated in the early 2000s, each one failed in either the House of Representatives or in the Senate. The Indianapolis Congregation Action Network (IndyCAN), a grassroots activist group in Indianapolis, is organizing the Latino community through faith and shared political goals. Undocumented Latino immigrants are utilizing IndyCAN as a method to influence progressive policy change. However, anti-immigrant groups challenge these efforts by attempting to define who can be considered an "American" and are attempting to block legislation due to their negative perceptions of Latinos. Debates about citizenship have racial discourses and reveal the embeddedness of race and ethnicity. Despite this, many Latino immigrants are forging their own identities in the United States and are engaging in a political system that refuses to grant them a legal status. Through an enactment of activism called la fe en acción [faith in action], these immigrants ground their political organizing with IndyCAN and attempt to appeal to the religious faith of politicians. I explore issues of race, political engagement, and religion in the lives of Indianapolis’ Latino community. In this case study, I demonstrate that IndyCAN is acting as a vehicle through which undocumented Latino immigrants are engaging in the political process. This political involvement occurs through religious strategies that seem apolitical yet are implicitly an enactment of activism. Ultimately, I reveal how undocumented Latino immigrants in Indianapolis are impacting the political process regardless of their legal status.

In 1990 the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) required that states provide a free and appropriate education to all children and youth with disabilities, no matter how severe the disabilities. This obligation was tied to federal funding and outlined in detail parental rights with regard to identifying and educating their child with disabilities. The 1997 reauthorization of IDEA stepped into school discipline, creating a complex process for addressing school misconduct of such students. This study determines how the 1997 IDEA disciplinary mandates, as they existed until May 2003, were interpreted and implemented in three similar, urban, public school districts and how selected staff members perceived that implementation. School board policies in the three, urban, K-12, public school districts were very similar and, in many cases, drew language directly from the IDEA law. In each district, additional documents were developed providing detailed instruction to school based educators working directly with students with disabilities and their families. The policies and guidelines reflect a clear commitment to compliance with IDEA mandates. It was not possible through this study to assess whether the spirit of the law is part of the district culture. Staff were knowledgeable of IDEA provisions and where to seek assistance within their respective organizations. Administrators and attorneys stated that their responsibilities have expanded since the 1997 reauthorization and that more of their and their staff members' time is used addressing disciplinary issues. School principals reported concerns about the length of time it takes initially to identify students with disabilities and application of the dual discipline system created by the 1997 mandates. A majority of the principals expressed concern about the dual discipline systems. It would be helpful to undertake a longitudinal study of teachers and their attitudes towards students with disabilities.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 168-173).

Several factors influence the social participation of rural migrants in urban structures according to previous studies: (1) origins, (2) education, (3) occupation, (4) auspices of migration, (5) age at migration, (6) length of residence, (7) previous migrations, (8) social mobility, (9) income, (10) geographic mobility, (11) community activities. These variables will be included in the research design of this present study. Review of previous studies indicates that there have not been any studies conducted on the factors associated with urban church participation of former members of rural churches.

The purpose of this case study was to determine whether the urban homesteading program in Indianapolis was successful. The hypothesis of this case study was, that if six criteria were met, the urban homesteading program was successful. The criteria were categorized according to internal success, external accomplishment, and cost effectiveness, as detailed in Chapter 3, Method.There were a total of 169 properties awarded between 1975 and 1979 during Phases I through VI in three neighborhoods. There were 151 properties awarded in the Forest Manor neighborhood, 8 properties awarded in the Highland Brookside neighborhood, and 10 properties awarded in the Fountain Square neighborhood.The conclusion of this case study was that the urban homesteading program in Indianapolis was successful because it met each of the criteria formulated. It was being operated and administered in an efficient manner with a minimum amount of paperwork and a maximum amount of attention by the rogram administrators. The program dispersed HUD owned properties and those homesteaders who had completed all the program requirements had received the deed to their property. The program did reduce, to an extent, abandonment and neighborhood deterioration, and in terms of cost, the homesteaders spent an average of $6,742 to own their properties, far less than if obtained through conventional methods. / Department of Urban Planning

This project researches the history of a demolished building and its material that was later salvaged to formulate suggestions for reuse and interpretation within a new structure. The specific case examined was Indianapolis's Oscar C. McCulloch School No. Five demolished in 1986. The architectural glazed terra cotta was rescued from the wreckage and is the focus of this study.This creative project traces the historical and architectural significance of School No. Five, including a discussion on the general history of terra cotta, its use and manufacturing and construction techniques, and how it specifically applies to School No. Five.Next the salvaged terra cotta from School No. Five were assessed in an eight step process. The results of the assessment show the type and extent of deterioration observed on each piece, including a discussion on the various causes of deterioration, general repair, conservation techniques, and finally specific recommendations for the salvaged terra cotta. The project concludes with several design options and interpretations of the reconstructed facade of School No. Five. / Department of Architecture

There is no abstract available for this thesis.

This thesis examines stained glass windows in Indianapolis churches built between 1865 and 1915. It studies the trends in Indianapolis stained glass windows and compares them with the national trends in stained glass design. The evidence contained within this thesis indicates that a wide variety of styles popular at the time are represented in Indianapolis churches. The evidence also suggests that some national trends in stained glass did influence the design of the windows in Indianapolis. However, most of the windows in the surviving Indianapolis churches from the period are not typical of the high style trends in church stained glass found elsewhere in the United States. / Department of Architecture

Thesis (M.A.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Geography Department or Field of Study, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.