Top to bottom: Left to right: Prizewinner Ella Kirshbaum celebrates with friends; Librarian Sine Hwang Jensen and student Sharanya Sahu commemorate a victory. (Photos by Jami Smith/UC Berkeley Library)
Recognizing Excellence: The Charlene Conrad Liebau Library Prize for Undergraduate Research
The Charlene Conrad Liebau Library Prize for Undergraduate Research honors exemplary students who create outstanding academic works utilizing resources and materials from the UC Berkeley Library. This year’s winners showcased remarkable intellectual pursuits and investigative diligence, exploring fresh viewpoints on critical social issues. Their research spanned various topics, from challenging harmful stereotypes to revealing overlooked immigrant histories, advocating for vital societal changes.
Meet the Winners
Ella Kirshbaum
Lower Division Winner
In her paper titled “The Seductress and the Hag: The Demonization of Women as Witches in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible and Beyond,” Ella Kirshbaum meticulously analyzes the 1953 play, exploring Arthur Miller’s use of exaggerated female portrayals in 17th-century Salem to critique the dangers of stereotyping as a justification for persecution. Drawing parallels to the 1950s, she highlights the persistent echoes of villainization.
Xiyue Qin
Lower Division Winner
Xiyue Qin’s work, “Beyond the Screen: Deconstructing the Orientalism towards Chinese Women in Films,” critiques stereotypical representations of Chinese women in cinema while advocating for more diverse portrayals. Her research emphasizes the importance of highlighting a spectrum of experiences that challenge traditional identities, contributing to a more inclusive film landscape.
Ami Gandhi
Upper Division Winner
Ami Gandhi’s project, “Highlighting History, Cultivating Change: The Berkeley City Club’s Architectural Ingenuity, Preservation Ethos, and Activist Persona,” delves into a historic women’s club, tracing its role from the 1920s to present. Her research underscores the relationship between the club and the sociopolitical contexts that shaped its evolution and its significance in the community.
Cynthia Rahman
Upper Division Winner
Cynthia Rahman presents “Governing Empowerment: ‘Second-Wave’ Feminism and Population Control Post-1971 War of Independence in Bangladesh.” Her comprehensive analysis connects second-wave feminism in the U.S. with stringent population control policies in Bangladesh post-liberation, highlighting the intricate dynamics at play.
Sharanya Sahu
Upper Division Winner
Sharanya Sahu’s research, “‘Hindu Toilers’ and ‘White Workmen’: South Asian Labor during the Urbanization and Industrialization of the Bay Area,” utilizes historical archives and census records to shed light on the marginalized South Asian community in late 19th and early 20th century California, chronicling their contributions and struggles as laborers.
Alina Leticia Zárate
Upper Division Winner
In her paper, “After Cesar, Se Puede: An Analysis of UFW Political Advocacy and Farmworker Justice in the 21st Century,” Alina Leticia Zárate examines the impact of the United Farm Workers’ advocacy efforts after Cesar Chavez’s death in 1993, arguing for a reevaluation of contemporary farmworker struggles and union roles in advancing justice.
Honorable Mentions
Ariana Kretz
Upper Division
“‘We want you to listen to our words.’ A Case Study of Indigenous Parents’ Advocacy for their Children at the Carlisle Indian Boarding School, 1879 to 1918”
Kara Smale
Upper Division
“Diverse Pasts, Standard Futures: The Experience of Education in France from 1762 to 1789”
