Event Recap: 2024 Aleph URW Editor/Author Panel

Writer: Mandy Tang

Editors: Alyssa Schmidt, Natalie Ralston, and Nora Wang

Aleph hosted the annual Editor/Author Panel on May 24, featuring active members as part of the 2024 Undergraduate Research Week. The event included student authors Connor Lee, Eunsu Lee, Ethan Lee, and Nenita Alexa Mugol, who shared insights into their diverse research topics, motivations, and experiences with the Aleph submission process.

ALEPH: Tell us about your research. What motivates you to explore this particular topic?

Connor, Philosophy student: My research article, “Chinese Archaeology as a Function of Politics,” was motivated by a Chinese archaeology class in the anthropology department. Discussions with my professor about the interaction between politics and archaeology inspired me to write my final paper on the topic. After the class, I continued these discussions during office hours and eventually felt confident enough to submit my paper to a journal.

Eunsu, Psychology and Classics student: I wrote a research paper on “Black Classicism and the Ownership of the Narratives.” This explores African American receptions of classicism and how notions of classics, such as Greco-Roman antiquity, have been reshaped and subverted by individuals of various backgrounds, especially those who historically haven’t had access to this area of study – particularly in the United States. I wanted to observe different literary works and poems from various angles. My professor, Professor Bryant Kirkland from the Department of Classics, piqued my interest in this subject through a class on classicism’s receptions by authors and poets such as Rita Dove, Frederick Douglass, and W.E.B. Du Bois. I really loved the course content because it introduced me to socio-historical modes of analysis, and my research was largely based on literary analysis derived from the readings we did in class.

Ethan, Anthropology student: I submitted “Transcending Boundaries: Blood Writing as a Catalyst for Transformation,” which is about blood writing as an aesthetic practice in Chinese Buddhism. I wrote it as part of a course on the anthropology of extreme human experiences, and it is largely based on readings we did on ascetic practices in Japanese Buddhism. For my final paper, I chose a topic related to the class material. I was interested in blood writing because it’s a unique Chinese cultural practice among other Buddhist cultures. I found it fascinating to explore its background and how it has transformed Chinese society.

Alexa, Psychobiology student: My project looked at different menstrual products and their associations with attitudes toward sexuality, menstrual stigma, and knowledge. It’s about reproductive health more broadly. My major is psychobiology, which led to my interest in this topic. I was always going back and forth between studying science, psychology, and other fields like gender studies, anthropology, and communication. I was really interested in a lot of different things. I joined the Sex, Gender and Evolution Lab, run by Dr. Martie Haselton, which looks at gender, women’s health, and reproductive health from various perspectives, including evolutionary psychology and health communication. This lab provided me with a space to explore these interests outside of classes. So, I was really excited to dive into this niche topic that involves multiple academic fields.

ALEPH: When doing research, sometimes sources don’t align. How do you handle discrepancies between sources, and what steps do you take to resolve them?

Ethan: My paper was based on course materials, so I had access to sources that were already provided by my professor. I also used EBSCO Research Databases to get background information. It was difficult for me to find sources specific to my topics, so I used a lot of relevant sources for general background on Buddhism and Chinese society. I looked at what I could learn from those to come to conclusions specific to my topic.

Connor: A majority of what I got was either scrapped off JSTOR or from the UCLA library, coming from the recommendations of my professor, who suggested primary and secondary sources, textbooks, and first-hand accounts. Honestly, I have a lot to thank my professor for, as their mentorship was crucial for this paper.

Eunsu: Like Ethan and Connor, I analyzed class readings and spoke with my professor for additional material that he was not able to include in the course due to the abundance of material surrounding this burgeoning area of study. For those new to humanities research, it might seem less intuitive than STEM research because works in the humanities have already been established (for example, you may excavate a historical site, but everything to be discovered has already been extant! The ‘causal’ relationship we seek to establish in STEM studies through the manipulation of variables is difficult to do in the humanities because we cannot manipulate certain variables). As someone who has had a background in both STEM and humanities research, this difference was a difficulty to reconcile at times—but upon further introduction and guidance from my professors, I began to further explore reception studies, which focuses on how people from different backgrounds reinterpret antiquity. I found that scholars are rewriting and reinterpreting texts like the Iliad and Odyssey to reclaim their own backgrounds, social identities and histories.

Alexa: My project is a follow-up to research I worked on with my graduate student mentor. She was studying people’s perceptions of menstruation, comparing men’s and women’s views. One aspect she included was how different menstrual products might associate with the attitudes she was studying. Many of my sources came from her original study, and I identified gaps for further niche research. I explored Google Scholar and found a small amount of research on menstrual products, specifically menstrual cups, which have recently gained popularity. The sources were scarce, but that also provided a sense of comfort, knowing that what I found covered most of what was available.

ALEPH: What does your research tell us about our current social movement and how do your findings contribute to the current conversation in your field?

Alexa: My research project adds to the ongoing conversation around reproductive health and the current landscape, including the attacks on women’s bodies or non-men’s bodies. A lot of the conversation usually centers around abortion, contraception, and pregnancy, but reproductive health has many facets, including menstruation, maternal health, and postpartum care. My research shows that looking at menstruation is crucial because people’s attitudes around it and menstrual stigma are connected to their attitudes about sexuality and their knowledge of female reproductive health. These attitudes can significantly affect reproductive health policies, including those on abortion and contraception. So, considering reproductive health more broadly, beyond just pregnancy and abortion, is essential. Even everyday experiences like menstruation play a vital role in shaping societal attitudes towards reproductive health.

Eunsu: Much of the media we consume derives influence from classical antiquity, and this intertextuality provides abundant scaffolding for social and political commentary by scholars in reception studies. However, because education has historically been a marker of social class, not all groups have had access to a classical education. In the United States, authors like Phyllis Wheatley, who was the first black female poet published in the U.S., used their classical education to subvert and reclaim narratives. This empowerment is evident in her writings and in the works of others who reinterpret classical traditions to fit their own identities. This process continues today with globalization and the intersection of different cultures becoming an increasingly prominent example. For instance, a course taught by a Vietnamese American professor this quarter at UCLA discusses Asian American receptions of classical antiquity. The conversation is ongoing, and I’m excited to see how the Classics Department embraces these diverse receptions and interpretations.

Connor: I think there’s not a lot of work done in examining foreign academic spaces, especially in the English-speaking world. We might not often look at how other people conduct their studies. Part of my project was driven by curiosity about how academic work is approached in different contexts. Specifically, in archaeology, politics plays a significant role in how studies are conducted, particularly in China. My project is essentially an examination of a foreign academic space and its cultural and societal influences.

Ethan: Blood writing is a practice where practitioners use their own blood from their finger, tongue, or chest to copy Buddhist sutras, taking months to years to complete. It’s taxing and controversial, practiced from ancient times up to the Cultural Revolution. Blood signifies loyalty and honesty, giving the practice significant religious and political power. My paper argues that blood writing allows people from any background to challenge rigid hierarchies, especially in ancient Chinese society, where social mobility was limited. It empowered marginalized groups to gain power and have their voices heard. Despite attempts to ban it, the practice enabled people to exercise bodily autonomy and seek social and political change. This perspective can be applied to how people use their bodies today to exert control and drive change.

ALEPH: What have you learned about the research and writing process in doing this specific paper? What kinds of advice would you give to a new researcher?

Eunsu: One of my biggest takeaways was on the more stylistic side of things. I tend to write in a flowy, verbose style that makes sense to me, but not always to first-time readers, especially those approaching it from a research perspective. They expect a structured argument with a clear format. Condensing my writing and being straightforward were both important lessons for me.Regarding starting research, I’d advise new researchers to explore any medium that interests them. Research doesn’t always need to be a new discovery. My research focused on well-established topics, like literary novices, and involved analyzing symbolism, myths, metaphors, and common tropes from both antiquity and the present day. Keeping track of these threads and bringing them together is crucial for a good research paper.

Alexa: Research lets me explore beyond my major. My advice is not to feel limited by your major or classes. My research journey involved exploring topics I wasn’t learning in class. I started as a neuroscience major, then switched to psychobiology, and wanted to delve into the humanities and social sciences. You can choose what to study through research. There’s a network of grad students and faculty open to sharing their knowledge. For instance, I joined a lab focused on sex, gender, and evolution, combining many of my interests. Research allowed me to dive into topics I was curious about but didn’t get to explore in my major classes. Engage with your TAs and ask about interesting research. UCLA has great resources and knowledgeable people. Research has limitless possibilities, so take advantage of the community. Don’t be afraid to explore niche topics. I didn’t think I’d research menstruation or menstrual products, but I found opportunities to explore these interests. Pursue what fascinates you.

Connor: Since a lot of our papers come from final class projects, I think it’s valuable to keep in touch with the professor we originally consulted. This was especially true for me, as my paper surveyed the academic attitudes of China. It’s really helpful to have someone active in the field to provide their opinion, as I’m not part of that circle. They can review your work, suggest tempering big conclusions, and offer general paper suggestions. This was very valuable for me.

Ethan: As a transfer with limited time, proactively reaching out to faculty before starting helped cement my research skills. Joining their labs before classes and papers began was beneficial. For this paper, I relied heavily on UCLA library sources because it was difficult to find relevant information on the internet. Since my topic was niche, I started with general information and then looked through bibliographies to find specific sources. Going through every source in a bibliography to find useful information was very helpful.

ALEPH: What was your experience with submitting your paper, being accepted, and going through the developmental and copy-editing process with our team?

Eunsu: I thought the feedback provided was very comprehensive and constructive. One of my biggest hurdles was making the information clear and concise for every reader, and the team at Aleph was a great help. I also struggled with maintaining the meaning while making sentences more concise. I realized I could keep the original meaning and still make it clearer, and I sincerely appreciated the staff’s support throughout the process.

Ethan: I thought it was a good experience. The feedback from the team was really helpful in elevating the quality of my paper. It made me go back, look through it, and read it differently—more as something to be published than just a last-minute class assignment. The feedback was more helpful than what I’ve sometimes received from professors. It improved not just the paper, but also how I think about writing in the future.

Alexa: Submitting to Aleph transformed my approach to research. Coming from a STEM-heavy background focused on structure and reporting, I initially prioritized checking all the boxes—intro, methods, results, and discussion. However, Aleph’s feedback rounds emphasized the importance of narrative and logical argument. This shift from a structured STEM approach to a humanities perspective helped me understand my research more holistically. Redrafting my paper to ensure a cohesive argument highlighted the need for additional information and better connections between sections. Moving forward, I will view research as a narrative, appreciating the story it tells, not just the numbers and statistics.

ALEPH: For future authors looking at the submission form next year, can you share how it feels to become a published author and researcher in a field you’ve worked on? How does it feel to take that next step and become officially published?

Connor: I think it’s satisfying. Seeing that acceptance letter feels like the climax of a year’s worth of work, including all the editing and drafting. There’s a real sense of satisfaction in knowing that the Aleph Undergraduate Organization has recognized your work.

Alexa: I think it just made me feel really proud of the work I did and very happy that my work will be published for people to see. It’s exciting to contribute to the conversation in my topic, especially since research on it is limited. Knowing that my senior year research will be out there and potentially inspire others is really cool.

Eunsu: I was really excited because I had submitted to Aleph in the past and this previous manuscript didn’t get accepted! This year, I wanted to ensure my manuscript was something I was proud of and was valuable to others. It was surprising how far I could take this paper in terms of not only literary, but also historical and social. For new authors, the prospect of drafting a 10+ page paper can be daunting at first, especially with the page limit and with writing an abstract. But if you nurture your enjoyment for your area of research, diving into resources and speaking with your professors and other experts in the field becomes exciting as you find more to write about. It’s been a valuable experience, and I would recommend it to everyone.