Students and faculty gathered on Apr. 11, 2026, for the annual John Wesley Powell Student Research Conference, where student-led research from multiple disciplines was showcased. Among the featured sessions held at the Center for Natural Sciences was “Movements and Re-Imaginings against Racism, Sexism, and Homophobia.”
Senior Valeria Suarez presented “Between Motherhood and the Motherland: Navigating Challenges to Rank Advancement of Women in the U.S. Army.” Her research examined the lack of representation of women in the U.S. military, focusing on the challenges they face in male-dominated environments, particularly in advancing and sustaining long-term careers.
Suarez identified three key factors contributing to women leaving the Army: motherhood, sexual assault and the burden of dependent care. A notable aspect of her work was her use of interviews with active-duty women, providing firsthand insight into these issues.
Suarez’s findings indicated that despite an increasing number of female officers, retention remains a significant issue. Despite policy changes intended to support women, many still feel the institutional structure does not adequately meet their needs. Suarez highlighted specific reasons why female officers at higher ranks (O4 to O6) left the Army in 2024, including dissatisfaction with job duties, lack of benefits, limited growth opportunities and concerns about retirement.
She also noted that many women enlist from low-income backgrounds, viewing the military as a pathway to upward mobility and stability. One particularly compelling insight from her interviews was the rejection of the term “accommodation.” Many women expressed a preference for gender neutrality, wanting to be treated simply as soldiers rather than being singled out based on gender. However, structural challenges persist, especially for those who choose to become mothers.
Suarez found that many women in the Army opt not to have children, as motherhood is often perceived as a disadvantage to career progression. One interviewee stated, “If I could see one person who had a successful army career and also had a family, I would stay,” highlighting the lack of visible role models and the difficulty of balancing career and family life.
The second panel featured senior LC Killian’s presentation, “Panthers in Pride: An Examination into Their Early Homophobia and an Explanation as to Why Their Influence Has Been Forgotten.” The presentation explored lesser-discussed aspects of the Black Panther Party, particularly its early opposition to women’s and LGBTQ+ rights. Killian explained that although the organization initially held exclusionary views, its ideology evolved over time, eventually contributing to the broader gay liberation movement of the late 1960s.
The presentation included a quote from Malcolm X: “I have to point out that I am an American Negro, and I live in a society whose social system is based upon the castration of the Black man.” This was used to contextualize how some Black communities historically viewed homosexuality as a form of repression within an already oppressive system.
In contrast, Huey P. Newton offered a more progressive perspective, stating, “Sometimes we want to hit a homosexual in the mouth because we are afraid we might be homosexual. We should be willing to discuss the insecurities that many people have about sexuality.” His statement emphasized the role of fear and insecurity in shaping homophobic attitudes and called for more open dialogue.
As the Black Panther Party shifted its stance, discussions surrounding LGBTQ+ rights expanded across the United States, supported by organizations such as the Gay Activists Alliance and the Gay Liberation Front. However, the presentation also noted that the Party’s support was not fully inclusive. Gay women, particularly women of color, continued to face marginalization, even within movements aimed at combating oppression. The organization’s relatively short lifespan limited its ability to fully transform its internal policies and perspectives, ultimately falling short of addressing the full diversity of the queer community.
The final session presented by Aman Brown focused on ‘Afrofuturism,’ a subgenre of science fiction. The term was first coined by Mark Dery in his essay “Black to the Future,” and has significantly influenced African American pop culture. While rooted in science fiction, Afrofuturism seeks not to replicate traditional sci-fi narratives but to center the unique cultural experiences of Black individuals, highlighting the complexity and depth of their stories.
Brown’s presentation included a character analysis of Storm, an African American and Kenyan character from Marvel’s X-Men series. Although Storm is one of the most prominent Black superheroes in popular culture, she was originally created by Dave Cockrum and Len Wein, who are both white writers. Brown argued that this lack of cultural perspective influenced early portrayals of the character, which often relied on stereotypes and exoticized her African heritage, depicting her more as a deity than a fully developed human character.
Additionally, because Storm’s powers are tied to her emotions, her anger has often been portrayed as dangerous, reinforcing the “angry Black woman” trope rather than being understood as a natural response to adversity. Brown suggested that meaningful progress in representation can be achieved by giving more Black artists and writers the opportunity to tell their own stories. This approach would allow the media to better reflect the diversity of the African diaspora with greater authenticity, depth and relatability.
The conference panels provided insight into how systems of inequality intersect across gender, race and sexuality. Each presentation highlighted distinct challenges while pointing to a broader issue: the ongoing need for representation and inclusion. The discussions underscored that progress in these areas is often gradual and uneven, and emphasized the importance of amplifying marginalized voices within institutions, social movements and media.
