Anthony Rascati ’15 remembers watching a news story a couple of years ago on CNN about the rise of hydraulic fracturing in the United States. Figuring it was a hot topic, he did some initial research and found it’s an issue that also hits close to home; in 2011, the U.S. Geological Survey discovered potential oil reserves underneath Westfield.
Rascati decided to focus his senior honors thesis on the subject of “fracking,” a type of drilling that uses pressurized liquid to extract oil or gas. The project fell under the direction of Economics and Business
Management Professor Hillary Sackett, Ph.D., in the fall of 2014.
Research by Rascati included surveying faculty and staff opinion on hydraulic fracturing. His goal is to present his findings—that the majority of those questioned do not support fracking—to the Westfield City Council and recommend councilors pass an ordinance banning future attempts at the practice.
“This was an interesting and relevant topic to study because it could have a direct impact on the Westfield community,” says Rascati, 21, who graduated in May with degrees in criminal justice and economics. “I didn’t want to just write a large research paper, turn it in and walk away. I wanted my work to have a lasting impact.”
Dr. Sackett says, “Anthony’s thinking long term and outside of himself and the goals of this single thesis project.”
Rascati presented his research in April at the Northeast Regional Honors Conference in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and then again in June at the Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association meeting in Newport, Rhode Island. Dr. Sackett says promoting research and presentation skills “is a core facet of Westfield State’s mission of a quality education.”
