This research project delves into the effects of Arizona's 'English-Only' law on education and the socioeconomic landscape, with a specific focus on linguistic minorities. By examining language acquisition, cultural identity, and access to public services and opportunities, this investigation sheds light on the unique challenges faced by emergent bilingual students. This study holds particular significance given Arizona's status as one of the few states maintaining such legislation, prompting critical reflections on its impact on linguistic minorities. By examining the constitutionality and legislative intent of ‘English Only” laws, the research seeks to unravel the motivations underlying their implementation. Furthermore, it evaluates the societal repercussions of the law, exploring its influence on the experiences and opportunities of linguistic minorities within Arizona. In the educational domain, the study assesses the law's effects on language acquisition and educational access for linguistic minorities, offering comparative insights with other states' approaches. Ultimately, this research aims to comprehensively analyze the current landscape and provide recommendations for future language-related legislation in Arizona. Given Arizona's distinct position as one of the few states upholding such legislation, this investigation raises critical questions about its implications for linguistic minorities within its borders. The research offers insights into the 'English-Only' law's background, including its constitutional examination and legislative motivations. Additionally, it evaluates the law's societal impact, considering its influence on the experiences and opportunities of linguistic minorities in Arizona. The study investigates the law's consequences on language acquisition and educational access within the academic sphere, drawing comparisons with alternative approaches in other states. Ultimately, this research seeks to provide policymakers and stakeholders with informed recommendations for navigating future language-related legislation in Arizona.

At the start of this honors thesis project, a new telescope called the deca-degree optical transient imager (DDOTI) needed assistance to help it gather photometric data about Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs). Contributions to help DDOTI produce scientifically ready reductions will be discussed.
First, performance assessment tests were run in order to prevent data backlog and optimize the way in which DDOTI reduces the data it collects. The results of these tests yielded a general framework regarding how DDOTI should reduce collected images depending on how many computer cores can be used. These tests also indicated that DDOTI’s alignment portion of the reduction code (ddoti_align) should be completed after every image is collected, while the other parts of the reduction software (ddoti_stack, ddoti_phot, ddoti_summary) should be run after every four images are collected.
Second, reductions created by DDOTI were inspected to determine if the telescope’s reduction software was working properly. Reductions were observed and indicated that two reduction related problems needed to be corrected by the research team before DDOTI would be ready for future scientific work. The first identified problem was that DDOTI’s reduction code was not properly correcting optical distortions for one of DDOTI’s two functional cameras. The second problem was that the reduction code was not correcting for atmospheric refraction. As a result, below zenith distances of approximately sixty degrees, ddoti_align was unable to align detected sources to their catalogue equivalents due to their distorted positions.
Third, code manuals were produced in both English and Spanish so that English and Spanish-speaking researchers working on DDOTI could understand how its reductions software reduces images. Functional flow chart diagrams were also produced only in English to graphically describe the flow of information through DDOTI’s reduction software.
These three contributions helped DDOTI to more accurately be able to observe GRBs. DDOTI’s improved reduction abilities were confirmed by a produced report about GRB 190129B after a 10-hour observation, and by the fact that DDOTI could accurately observed asteroid fields. In addition, code manuals and functional flow chart diagrams were all produced by the end of this project.