Welcome & Opening Remarks Dr. David H. Magers, Chair, Academic Research Committee
Presentations
[Time Limit, 12 Minutes]
Sara E. Rogers, Art Stephen D. Cook, M.F.A., Introduction
The Spirit of Nature: Perceptions, Concepts, and Interpretations of Walter Anderson, Karen Kunc, and Mildred Wolfe and Their Realizations in Relief Prints
Research Director: Stephen D. Cook, M.F.A.
Investigating specific ideologies in history, along with the backgrounds and relief printmaking of Walter Anderson, Karen
Kunc, and Mildred Wolfe; this research expresses how these artists have perceived, interpreted and rendered art that is nature-based with a spiritual essence and how other artists can do the same
Lindsey E. Webb, Communication Cliff Fortenberry, Ph.D., Introduction
The Prevalence of Technology Use in Conflict Management
Research Director: Merle Ziegler, Ph.D.
The current research assessed 105 undergraduate and graduate students at a small, southern, liberal arts university regarding their use of technology mediated communication when managing conflict. It was anticipated by the researcher that
Generation Y students rely more heavily on computer mediated communication than face-to-face communication. Given the results of the survey, the hypothesis that Generation Y members utilize technology mediated communication more than faceto-face communication was not fully supported. The results provided that email usage was not a significant means to conflict management whereas, text messaging and instant messenger were for a good majority of the respondents. Future research is suggested by the searcher
Beth McKay, English David Miller, Ph.D., Introduction
Ian McEwan’s Edward and Florence: A Relationship Destined to Fail
Research Director: David Miller, Ph.D.
The novel On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan presents the lives of two young lovers—Edward and Florence. Partially set on their wedding night, the novel details the downfall of their relationship. There are several factors present such as time, class, gender, but above all, the ultimate demise of these two lovers directly results from their relationships with their parents.
Through Edward’s and Florence’s relationship and their relationships with their parents, McEwan demonstrates the lasting, negative effects of harmful, non-communicative parent/child relationships.
Katrina Lynn Dannheim, Law Mark C. Modak-Truran, Ph.D., J.D., Introduction
Would the Pope Be Proud?
An Examination of Justice Antonin Scalia’s Rulings on the Death Penalty and Their Alignment with the Roman Catholic View of Capital Punishment
Research Director: Mark C. Modak-Truran, Ph.D., J.D
This Paper addresses the inconsistency between the religious make-up of the United States Supreme Court and the Court’s rulings on the death penalty. In particular, the paper focuses on Justice Scalia’s opinions in Roper and Atkins , analyzing each in light of the Roman Catholic view of the death penalty.
Anthony Lobred Robert Hamilton, Ph.D., Introduction
Field Study Of Magnetic Susceptibility (Ms) Of Hydric Soils Within The Transitional Zone Of
Wetlands: A Year Long Study Of The Watershed Along Mayes Lake, Pearl River Basin, Hinds
County, Mississippi
Research Director: Robert Hamilton, Ph.D.
Magnetic Susceptibility (MS) within soils under anaerobic and hydric conditions have lower values than if the soil is not subjected to these conditions. One field test has been done on checking this phenomenon while delineating wetlands within
Illinois and North Carolina. However there are no tests on record to see if this activity will be reproducible over the annual hydroperiod of a wetland. This study was performed during the dry period of a wetland along Mayes Lake in Hinds County,
MS. Another function of this study was checking several common MS probes for feasibility of the instruments as accessories for the field investigator. All data indicated that the MS within the transitional zone will rise and level off during the dry months. This study can become a starting point into the correlation of MS between the existing condition of the wetland community and what it historically was.
Intermission – 15 minutes

Elizabeth Hall, TESOL
Perceptions of Sound:
Beth Stapleton, Ph.D., Introduction
Perceived Regional and Socioeconomic Differences in Female Speakers of American English
Research Director: Beth Stapleton, Ph.D.
There are many perceptions about dialect in American English today. This study attempted to ascertain the strength of these perceptions by asking participants to listen to a variety of recorded speakers from different regions of the United States and provide responses about the speakers including: regional origin, age, appearance, and profession.
Mitchell M. Shears, Education Ruthie Stevenson, Ed.D., Introduction
Educating the African-American Male
Research Director: Ruthie Stevenson, Ed.D.
Across the nation, scores of African American males can be observed wandering the halls of public schools, alienated from the educational process, searching for the making of their American dream. Their absence is often conspicuous in upper-level academic and gifted classes, while their presence is readily apparent in remedial classes. (Bailey, 1998) The information shared will focus on the current research regarding experiences of African American males in society and in the education system.
Kendra Sue Robinson, Communication Cliff Fortenberry, Ph.D., Introduction
Effect of Media Literacy on Pre-adolescent Children
Research Director: Cliff Fortenberry, Ph.D.
Volumes of research on the negative effects of media violence exist, however recent studies indicate teaching children to think critically about violent media reduces the negative effects. This study focuses on teaching media literacy to preadolescent children, or children between the ages of eleven and fourteen. It intends to show how they respond to violent television programming after exposure to training on media influences. Previous studies suggest that children who are taught to think critically about violent programming have a better understanding of how media influences them.
Juanmei (Sarah) Chen, Art Stephen D. Cook, M.F.A., Introduction
Flourishing and Transforming:
The Development of Japanese National Painting from Yamato-e to Nihonga
Research Director: Stephanie Busbea, Ph.D.
Japanese painters have continually adopted aspects of foreign painting traditions, molding and altering them to suit characteristics of the Japanese cultural environment, causing Japanese national painting to experience a complex and exciting evolution. Many of the economic and social forces active within the Japanese cultural environment parallel those found in other cultures, and in this sense it is far from unique. So, how did Japanese painting create its national styles? How did these indigenous styles keep on going, even flourishing? How did traditional styles adapt to the modern trend while still retaining their uniquely national features?
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Megan Sivils-Ainsworth, English David Miller, Ph.D., Introduction
Sylvia Plath: A Journey to Identity through Writing
Research Director: David Miller, Ph.D.
Sylvia Plath’s autobiographical fiction, The Bell Jar , as well as her journals and poetry show in detail a life plagued by mental illness, creativity, and loss and how those elements were necessary precursors to the inspiration needed for her writing. As a poet and author, Sylvia Plath used writing to create her identity and once her identity was determined, suicide was the only logical ending to her work and to her life. Her conclusions on feminism, authorship, and mental health provide profound ways of looking at not only Plath herself, but also the artists that would follow in her footsteps.