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Individual presentations With Audio-Visual

[SPOILER=List of presentations]Ref#: 1
Oh No! Music Programs are Being Removed from our Schools. Duane Beckles, Florida Memorial University

Have you ever done a music course in elementary school? If you have, I am sure you remember the fun times learning to play an instrument and the joy it brings to you and others. But sadly, music programs are presently being cut from our schools because they are considered to be less important than other courses. In my presentation, I will discuss what is currently happening today, how music benefits students, and what can be done to prevent this decline from continuing.

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Nutrition Is Cool: A Comparison Study of Bag Lunches, BMI, and Self-Perception in Middle School Children. Ashleigh Collins, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Childhood obesity has become an epidemic and negative effects extend beyond the physical. The purpose of this study was to relate observed contents of bag lunches to BMI and self-perception. Thirty- two bag lunches of Middle School students were observed for content, serving size and nutritional values. Data collection for this quantitative project included height and weight, the Susan Harter Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents. Findings validated the relationship between high fat/high cholesterol lunches, higher BMI and risk for being overweight. The relationship of nutrition to self-perception was statistically significant with high fat and high BMI producing poorer self-perception of physical appearance (p<.05). This in turn was related to more negative psychosocial perceptions (friendships, social acceptance, self-worth; p<.01). Bag lunch contents are a window into relationships among nutrition and overall health?both mental and physical. Continued emphasis on ways to reduce childhood obesity is a priority for health.

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Ensley: Pittsburgh of the South. Bonnie-Kim Hang, University of Alabama in Birmingham

A City-As-Text project is defined as a project that focuses on researching a certain entity and documenting it in essay format. Our City-as-Text focused on Ensley, a community in Birmingham, AL. We focused on the economic and social issues through interviews, research, and pictures. This project has a personal connection to a member of the group. Her father called Ensley his first home in the U.S. as a 14-year-old Vietnam War refugee. Researching her father?s history strengthened the bond between father and daughter. Ensley has a painful stigma; its social and economic level has been extremely low and stagnant since the 1980s. However, Ensley was once a very successful steel-producing town in the 1950s. The research we conducted became vital to understand this major transition. Visiting Ensley, speaking to locals, and researching Ensley?s most prosperous days were important to fully appreciate Ensley?s development and downturn over the past fifty years.

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Can You Feel It? (The Use of Contemporary Praise Music in America). Ryan L. Melvin, Birmingham-Southern College.

The idea of contemporary worship runs through America?s religious and musical history, as Christians have sought to reach individuals by adapting worship to popular musical methodologies. For example, as various contemporary music styles emerge in a particular era, the Christian church seeks to make use of those styles in order to make worship services more accessible and to encourage participation. The Christian Church has sought to find appropriate forms of worship for nearly two millennia -- since Christ?s admonition to worship in spirit and truth (John 4.23-24 ESV). This paper will trace the Christian Church?s struggle to understand worship in spirit and truth through the last three centuries of American history.

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Biblical Allusions in Political Campaign Songs. Katie Sack, Birmingham- Southern College

With the upcoming presidential elections, it is interesting to examine the use of political campaign songs throughout history. More specific than the use of campaign songs is the use of Biblical imagery in these songs and the historical change from explicit to implicit Biblical allusions. This change is due to a rise of non-religious spirituality in response to the religious far-right?s appropriation of Biblical language for political purposes. The allusions discussed in this paper were established through the analysis of political song lyrics and Biblical text. The connections were drawn from a study done on people of moderate to liberal political persuasions and their reported movement away from organized religion. The conclusions show that while Biblical allusions are now only used explicitly by the far right in politics, moderate and liberal candidates still speak to the same desires, but with implicit allusions. This leads to a hypothesis that people of moderate to liberal political persuasions have moved away from organized religion while still holding onto a belief in God, so they still respond to implicit Biblical allusions.

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Traffic Light. Dana Smith, Florida Memorial University

In today?s society, the traffic light has impacted every day life, making life efficient and effective. The world?s first traffic light was made by the engineer J.P. Knight in London. However, it failed as well as Police officer William L. Potts of Detroit who decided to make another form of the traffic light. Garrett Morgan of Cleveland, Ohio realized the need to control the flow of traffic and invented the electric, automatic traffic light. If it was not for this great invention, our daily lives would not flow effectively as we move to our various destinations.

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The Psychology of Music: The Role That Instrumental Participation Plays in Learning and Intelligence. Kendra D. Spearman, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Music or instrumental participation and its correlation to intelligence and other cognitive skills have long fascinated researchers. This research study evaluated and compared the mathematical and grammatical analysis of a group of musicians and non-musicians. Eighty-eight students from The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff participated, of which forty-four were musicians and the other forty-four were non-musicians. A sixteen-question survey was distributed to each participant that assessed pertinent skills that are vital in learning and cognition. Due to the level of difficulty or rather the facade of difficulty that the questionnaire exhibited, participation was limited. However, my results comply with several research studies that suggest that musical and instrumental participation has a direct correlation to cognition and the acquisition of vital learning skills necessary for academic development.

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An Improbable Nexus: Tupac and Shakespeare, Agents of Change. Randall C. Wilkerson, The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

The ability to create art is one of the key characteristics that distinguish each individual human from other creatures on earth, including other humans. Through it, we have the opportunity to establish ourselves as unique beings and connect ourselves to history. The appreciation of art stimulates a sort of ?recycling? effect on existing art work. For example, appreciation for classics such as ?Starry Night? by Van Gogh or Michelangelo?s ?David? inspires new artists to create. The new work is based upon the old; thus causing a recycling effect, the product being a new masterpiece based on existing art. One of the most intriguing examples of this effect is that of historic British playwright William Shakespeare and deceased American rapper Tupac Shakur. With my presentation, I will introduce you to many shared characteristics of the two including longevity, universal appeal, and a blatant truthfulness expressed in their writing.

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Achilles? Rage Against the Machine: Liberal Education in a Technocratic World. Billy Phillips, Augusta State University

Contemporary life is becoming increasingly dominated by rapidly evolving forms of communications and entertainment media. In this technological age, classical liberal education is threatened by pragmatic concerns, as well as personal resistance on the part of students?more concerned with The Apprentice and their iPhone than Odysseus and the Norman Conquest. Rather than simply ranting against the unjust technological machine however, liberal education must make itself understood as a potent and important force in human life. Taking a clue from the 19th century critic and poet Matthew Arnold, this presentation will advocate the importance of liberal education for anchoring and informing culture, and equipping people to understand themselves and their world in a more complete manner.

Ref#: 10
Oxidative Stress in 3D Cardiac Tissue Cultures. Shreya S. Acharekar, Winthrop University

During a myocardial infarction (MI), ischemia and hypoxia cause a loss of cardiac function through apoptosis and necrosis, which is further complicated by inflammation and an immunological response. To understand how cardiac tissue responds to injury independent of the in vivo complexities, a 3D cardiac tissue culture system was used to model a MI by exposing the cultures to hypoxia and hyperoxia. To determine if they mimic in vivo tissue, we measured the release of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and myocyte cell death (cTnI) after exposing the cardiac tubes to 21% oxygen (hyperoxic), 6% oxygen (normoxic), or 1.5% (hypoxic) conditions. The cTnI and IL-6 cytokine levels for the 21% tubes were significantly different than the 6% tubes. Overall, the results indicate that different cellular pathways are associated with the oxidative stress under hypoxia as compared to the stress associated with hyperoxia.

Ref#: 11
Silence Around! Meme Koudy Adj, Florida Memorial University

People are paying little attention to noise pollution. Human beings are exposed to different kinds of noises, sometimes of one?s own desire and sometimes against their will. However, hearing and heart problems are major consequences to noise pollution. To that, annoyance and depression can be added. Animals also have their habitats disturbed. Some activities are as much mandatory to society as it contributes to destroying it. How long are we stilling to accept our different harmful activities with all their fatal consequences?

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The Role of Psychology in the Practice of Feng Shui. Meredith Besecker, Winthrop University

While feng shui has been accepted and practiced in China for centuries, it has only recently started to permeate Western civilization. It is known as the Ancient Chinese art of placement, and primarily is concerned with the effect surroundings have on an individual. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between feng shui and psychology, and ultimately uncover a more scientific basis for the thoughts and concepts proposed in feng shui.

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The Classification of Microorganisms Found in Soil. Madelaine Bowie, Miles College

Classifying bacteria takes numerous steps. First, cultivation of the bacteria must occur until colonies are erected on either liquid or solid media, then, PCRs must be set up to extract the ribosomal RNA (r RNA) from the bacteria cell collected. After the PCR samples are run through the PCR Thermal Cycler, they are then injected in an Agarose gel on an electrophoresis machine which will allow for the amplifications to be verified through a picture In this study nine microorganisms are isolated and purified before they are sequenced. After each sample was sequenced, it was processed through NCBI BLAST where the results were further analyzed to link each sample to closest relative.

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The Power of the Woman: Who?s Really in Control? Danielle Bradford, Florida Memorial University

In my opinion, there is absolutely nothing wrong with letting a man be the head of the household as long as he respects and understands that control woman has in every decision he makes. It is not about ego, but the mere fact that women have learned and perfected the art of persuasion. In using this craft, women are able to reach excellent heights for and through men by taking them along for the ride.

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Help Me, I?m Suicidal. Xavier Brice, Florida Memorial University

There are many things we face in life and among them, death is inevitable. My study will aim to highlight why men and women between the ages of 18-25 commit suicide and the alternative measures one can administer to aid in minimizing this social ill. For this youth bracket, suicide is the third leading cause of death in America and results in an estimated 4,600 deaths a year.

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Ice-Binding Proteins: Enhance Survival of Human Embryonic Kidney Cells after Freezing. Brittany M. Brooks, James Raymond, Michael G. Janech, Tennessee State University

Ice-Binding Proteins (IBPs) have recently been identified in Antarctic sea-ice algae, cold-adapted fungi, and bacteria binding on the surface of ice and inhibit recrystallization. The objective of the study was to determine if recombinant IBP expression can enhance survival of human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) following freezing. It was hypothesized that HEK293 cells expressing IBPs would result in a higher proportion of live versus dead cells following freezing and thawing. HEK293 cells were stably transfected with IBPs from Antarctic sea-ice algae (Navicula glaciei), enoki mushroom, or shiitake mushroom. Transfected cell lysates were isolated to confirm IBP activity. Cells were grown to confluence, isolated by trypsin, separated into cryotubes at equal cell density, frozen for 24 hours in liquid nitrogen, thawed, and the percent alive was quantified. Results from two freeze/thaw experiments were not conclusive, although one experiment showed a significantly higher survival in all cells expressing IBPs which may enhance the survival of mammalian cells when held at low temperatures.

Ref#: 17
Silence from the People, Roar from the Dragon: Censorship and Propaganda in the People?s Republic of China. Christopher D. Brown, University of Tampa

Peacefully rising China is watching the west with interest. Deng Xiaoping's Perestroika like economic reform has transformed China from an atypical victim of western imperialism into a powerhouse destined to rival the best of the Americans and Europe. Nevertheless, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to assert an Orwellian level of control over the media, internet, and social affairs of China. This presentation details how the CCP used propaganda to subjugate Chinese subjects from 1949 to 1989 and how continued efforts to maintain this control may affect the global economy and the environment.

Ref#: 18
The Jena Six. Rashaeda Bryant, Bianca Ingram, Odette Bryant, Miles College

In September 2006, a group of African American high school students in Jena, Louisiana, asked the high school permission to sit under a "whites only" shade tree. Although the school said they did not care where the students sat, there was an unwritten rule that blacks could not sit beneath the tree. The next day, the students arrived to school to see three nooses, in school colors, hanging from the tree. The boys who did it were only suspended from school for a few days. The noose hangings led to violent disruptions within the school and community; so, the school brought the District Attorney in to address the black students. He told the students he was able to "end their life with a stroke of the pen." On December 4th, a fight broke out between white and black students that led to six black students getting charged with attempted murder. To his word, the D.A. pushed for maximum charges, which carry sentences for eighty years. Four of the six are being tried as adults and two are juveniles. What are the implications of such overt racism in 2007?

Ref#: 19
The Benefits of Catered Learning in First Year Experience Courses: A Focus on Honors. Bryant Chase, University of West Florida

First year experience type courses are designed to assist students with their transition from high school to college. Students lives are changing at a rapid rate and traditional students can benefit greatly from the help of the course. At the University of West Florida we have a great FYE program, but there has never been a course for honors students. In fall 2007, as part of an Honors student's thesis, the first Honors freshman year experience class was added to the UWF course selection. Honors students can benefit greatly from a course like this because they go through everything that new college students go through, but they have additional needs that should be addressed. I will be presenting on the development and implementation of an honors freshman year experience course as well as the benefits our program has realized in the process.

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Hydrogenation of Aromatic Ketones, Aldehydes, and Expoxides With Hydrogen and Pd (0) EnCatTM 30NP. Mayra Cini, Florida Memorial University

The purpose of this presentation is to discuss a research paper done by Steven V. Ley, Angus JP Stewart-Liddon, David Pears, Remedios H. Perni and Kevin Treacher, on the formation of alcohols using hydro-genation and Pd(0)EnCATM30NP (a trademark catalyst) from aromatic aldehydes, ketones, and epoxides using economical and environmental processes which replace wasteful complex hydride reagents with moreweight efficient reductants. Also, to produce a series of benzylic alcohols that can serve as biological precursors or agents/reagents for drugs medicines and therapeutics.

Ref#: 21
Is ?Welfare? in America a Four-Letter Word? Kevin Clark, Michelle Sharperson, Miles College

Welfare in America, designed as a safety net, has mostly received negative press. Politicians score points when they talk about erasing all types of welfare from the books. This research seeks to find out the facts about welfare. Has it really helped anybody? Is there anything like a proper use of welfare and abuse of welfare? What about welfare for the rich? Why is that not generating as much negative feedback?

Ref#: 22
Sex Education: What is it Good For? Nancy Clark and Ellen Buckner, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Despite federally-funded sex education in public schools, statistics show problems with the continued high incidence of sexually transmitted infections and risky sexual behavior. The purpose of this study was to identify specific parameters of a sex education curriculum (abstinence-only or comprehensive) that were perceived to be effective in reducing sexual risk behaviors by young adults. This qualitative, descriptive, IRB-approved study included guided interviews with young adults who are full-time college students. The investigator-designed interview guide was reviewed by educators and researchers. Young adults have the unique ability to describe factors affecting sexual decision-making skills. Most participants (83%) identified comprehensive sex education as optimal. This type of sex education includes discussion of methods of protection from sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy. Elements identified which could improve sex education were state certified sex educators, peer grouping with case studies emphasizing healthy decision making and continuing programs that are progressively more thorough.

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Power of Our Imagination. Nathan Crock, St. Petersburg College

This presentation is about the Innovative Engineering Club?s project, the hydrogen go-kart, and will focus on research and other creative ideas from great thinkers of our time as a means of shedding light on the power of imagination and its impact on the world today.

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Instructional Pedagogy: Multiple Learning Styles, Intellectual Development and Curriculum Design. Julie D. Dockery, Southwest Tennessee Community College

This presentation will identify and define multiple learning styles/ intelligences as a preface to the objective of emphasizing the relationship between stimulating a range of students? learning orientations as a way of triggering critical thinking and advanced learning. The results of infusing multiple learning styles by means of instructional pedagogy and curricula design, in relation to Bloom?s taxonomy of intellectual development and behavior, can stimulate both instruction and advance learning and can be observed in honors students? scholarship and research. Thus, the honors students? metamorphosis is increasing their intellectual development (changing the way they learn and think) by stimulating multiple intelligences while learning.

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Integrating Wikis into Collaborative Class Projects. Philip L. Frana, University of Central Arkansas

In January 2008 knowledge economy analyst Jonathan Spira declared information technology-related noncollaboration and indiscipline a half-trillion dollar annual sinkhole, representing 28 billion hours of lost productivity each year. Yet honors students persist in the belief that the optimal class group size is "one person" because of past personal frustrations and failures in assigned projects. In this presentation I'll examine one technology -- the wiki -- as a potential remedy for communications failures, information bottlenecks, and lack of accountability in such projects and demonstrate that careful, ongoing knowledge engineering can result in high quality and innovative products that extend beyond the classroom.

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Does Assembly Size have any Effect on the Probability of Reversing or Affirming Lower Court Decisions? Meghane Gainey, Miles College

This paper compares the probability that ?even? and ?odd? assembly sizes have to pass proposals. In a recent theoretical work, Dougherty and Edward (2007) argue that odd sized assemblies are more likely to pass proposals than adjacent even sized assemblies. I test this claim by using data from the US Appellate Courts 1948-1978. Unlike legislatures, the US appellate courts make decisions to affirm or reverse lower court decisions rather than passing proposals. In both cases, these are decisions to maintain or overturn the status quo.

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An Global Outlook on Vegeterianism. Christine Guzman, University of Tampa

Vegetarianism, more than just a diet, has become a lifestyle. Now, people are looking for alternative ways of living. People who make this choice are influenced by many facets including environmental concerns, animal rights, and overall health. This presentation will give a detailed explanation the various aspects of vegetarianism on a global scale.

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The Social Production of Art. Ashley Hicks, Armstrong Atlantic State University

This presentation will provide a literary critique of the book ?The Social Production of Art? by Janet Wolff, which examines the ideology and sociology of art. Many of the questions that form the base of the book?s material will be addressed, such as ?where is the artist?s place, in or out of society?; ?does society influence the artist or is it vice versa?; and ?does the artist really have creative freedom?. The presentation will also provide the points and counterpoints offered via an interview with an art teacher, who is also an artist of more than 30 years. Marxist views will be compared to pre 18th century art to find in depth reasons and answers for the questions. Finally, a power point presentation will be shown to compare and contrast art pre- and post- 18th century.

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Bankruptcy: Outcome, Performance, and Turnover: A Continuation. Tequeada Huntly, Miles College.

This study will continue to look at the following questions: 1. Does stock market reactions differ at time of bankruptcy for firms that made CEO changes, and 2. Can stock market reactions, at the time of bankruptcy, predict a firm?s eventual outcome? Previously, our findings illustrated considerable stock price decline for acquired firms who changed top managers one year prior to bankruptcy. Among other results, we notice a comparable difference in stock market reactions for bankruptcy outcomes. In this research, we hope to bridge the gaps between bankruptcy outcome, performance, and turnover.

Ref#: 30
Life Insurance. Michael Ivie, Clayton state University

Life insurance has remained a complex and many times misunderstood part of life. All forms of income protection should be considered in regards to the overall financial position of an individual. This presentation will cover the many types of life insurance and the tools necessary to not only distinguish between them but also help individuals learn how they work. When it comes to life insurance, knowledge is power and this presentation is aimed at empowering individuals to make smart decisions.

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Poetic Interpretation of Painting. Ben Jackson, Freed-Hardeman University

My paper seeks to explain what can be gained by study of ekphrastic interpretation of painting. The poem ?Peele Castle? by William Wordsworth after a painting by Beaumont exemplifies this. Wordsworth moves from an idealized castle, to a hypothetical painting of the castle, to the reality of what is actually happening in the painting. The painting is one of a castle on a beach in a storm. Wordsworth?s poem is about life. He transcended the original work and the path he followed leads to interesting conclusions about human life.

Ref#: 32
The systematic risk change of the video rental market due to the launch of Blockbuster's online subscription model. April Junk, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The video rental industry has displayed immense growth and profit over the last decade. There have been many changes within the industry, largely the role of the internet and online subscriptions. Presumably, this would greatly affect the major companies with in-store locations. The scope of this paper is to evaluate the effect Blockbuster had on the systematic risk of the video rental market by launching their own online subscription model. Monthly stock price data from Blockbuster, Netflix and Movie Gallery can be analyzed before and after the initiation of Blockbuster?s online service to determine the significance of the difference between the two. The data shows that there is an insignificant difference between the two sample groups. The results conclude that the start of Blockbuster.com did not have a definite effect on any of the major competitors in the video rental industry.

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Poor Socio-economic Measurements, Poor Socio-economic Results. Adam Goch, St. Petersburg College

In the globalized world of international lending institutions and vast "free" markets, it is important to be able to step back and truly evaluate the socio-economic well being of nations ? developing and developed.
Current indices do little to serve the world community; the use of Gross Domestic Product and Gross National Product when assessing the well being of a nation is detrimental in many ways. This presentation will examine the myriad ways in which these indices are poor measurements, how they can be detrimental to societies, and explore other alternatives for measuring the wealth of nations.

Ref#: 34
Metamorphosis of Science Practice and Application through Nanotechnology. Patrick Lomenzo, Indian River Community College

Nanotechnology is leading to a metamorphosis of several fields of study and research into a specific science that involves structures from .1 nanometers to 100 nanometers in size. Nanotechnology itself is concerned with building structures on the atomic and molecular level. Studying these structures has led to discoveries of properties of substances that have never before been seen. Many of these characteristics are not deducible from atomic and molecular observation alone, but are due to indicative properties such as structural, chemical, electrical, biological, and magnetic distinctions in nanomaterials. These discoveries have led to new technological approaches to solving many dilemmas that society is now confronted with. Nanotechnology draws upon all of the natural sciences, which will lead to its widespread applicability in many different areas of research. Possible applications and changes in how science is applied will be discussed.

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The Effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome on the Brain: Implications for Creating New State Laws that Protect Fetuses. Yolanda Artina Lucas, Kentucky State University

After describing the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome on the brain (and the corresponding functional problems), I will show how there is a need to protect fetuses under state laws and the problems/implications associated with this task. My power point presentation is divided into three parts. The first part is a brief introduction to my topic and why it is important. The second part covers FAS, how it is diagnosed, clinical features, and the effects FAS has on the human brain. In the third part, I look at the US Constitution and several Supreme Court cases to show the difficulties related with this task, and to make suggestions on how this task might be executed. I also discuss the positive and negative consequences of creating new state laws that protect fetuses.

Ref#: 36
The Impact of Microcredit on the Economy of Bangladesh. Farah Majid, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Microcredit is the practice of extending small, collateral-free loans to the extreme poor. This concept was founded by Mohammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Prize winner for his groundbreaking work in alleviating poverty in the country of Bangladesh. This paper attempts to determine the effect that microcredit has had on several distinct sectors of the economy of Bangladesh. Specifically, this paper determines the changes experienced by a sample group of citizens located throughout the country who received microcredit loans. The differences in these individuals? economic status are measured in several areas of daily life. By calculating the net changes in status, an effect of microcredit on alleviating extreme poverty can be assessed.

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The Synthesis of Spyropyrans: H-abstractions in 3 Cycloalkenyloxybenzopyran. Dejon Maloney
Florida Memorial University.

Spiropyrans are compounds that exhibit photochromism due to the photo-equilibrium with their open chain analogues merocyanins---a property that makes them a material of choice in digital storage technology. The methods available for the synthesis of spirogyrans include enamine eliminations, reductive/thermal cyclisations, and [4+2] cycloadditions, which being specific in nature for a particular spirocyclic compound, offer limited synthetic utility. Furthermore, it is my duty to demonstrate the H-abstraction route of synthesizing these spiropyrans, and ultimately communicate the environmental-friendly materials that these compounds can produce.

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The Subliminal Self-Governance of the Aesthetic Ideal. William Joseph Maye, Winthrop University

The purpose of my study is to demonstrate the dictatorial control that personal and social aesthetics wield within human interaction. My research will address major understandings of social interaction from prominent thinkers such as Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, Michel Foucault and other major theorists. Through a careful analysis of their sociological, political and philosophical epistemologies, I will demonstrate how aesthetics serves as the most fundamental basis for human society and the individual.

Ref#: 39
Identifying Emotional Differences by Gender Using Physiological Emotion Measures. Janece L. Maze, Miles College

Identity and emotion have intrigued human beings since the beginning of time. Likewise, popular beliefs have often linked identity to the emotional response of individuals as a by-product of their gender. The proposed study explores whether gender shapes emotional responses to social feedback. Specifically, it addresses two main questions: do genders react differently to evaluative social feedback and do genders exhibit emotions differently? The research uses data from a laboratory experiment that systematically manipulates the nature of social feedback while measuring emotional response using both questionnaires and physiological devices.

Ref#: 40
The Depth of Huntington?s Disease. Brandie McCullough, Clayton State University

Recently, researchers and scientists have closely tracked Huntington?s disease, a disease that does not show evidence of existence until later in a person?s life. The disease is fatal, and little can be done to slow the progress of the disease. The current research on Huntington?s disease focuses on identifying the genetic mutation and its cause. Since the disease is congenital, scientists are trying to find a way to fix the problem in the brain before mutation occurs later in life. Currently, the only medicines available to those with Huntington?s disease are medicines to help control the muscular movement. The effects of the disease are psychologically devastating. Therefore, this disease has unimaginable effects. My paper will discuss the details of what the disease is, the research of the disease, and the overall effects of the disease.

Ref#: 41
Change of Views or Change of Strategy? The Shift in Ethnic and Socioeconomic Appeals from Radical Right-Wing Parties in France. Sebastian Meyer, University of West Florida

This research project explores the question of whether radical right-wing parties in France are undergoing a genuine crisis of identity and subsequent transformation in regards to those issues and characteristics for which they are best known, or whether recent shifts in party platforms and constituent courtship are merely a political move to attract more voters. Some of the questions examined include how the parties' stances of xenophobia and anti-immigration have been manifested, how their electoral results reflect these views and changing socioeconomic and political conditions in France, how and when these stances began to change, and what factors may have accounted for these changes. The argument will be made that the French radical right-wing is actually changing some of its views on select ethnic groups, immigration and other issues, and the possible reasons for this transition will be presented.

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Uncovering spaces of neglect in Atlanta, Georgia. Daniel S Miller, Georgia State University

Varying levels of socio-political power among residents of the city of Atlanta, Georgia, have a direct impact on their everyday geographies. Visible manifestations of this uneven landscape of socio-political power include the presence of abandoned houses, illegal dumpsites, and roadside trash in neighborhoods throughout the city. This paper maps multiple indicators of dereliction and abandonment at the census block group level. These data highlight a lack of the city's enforcement of various ordinances. This failure of the state shifts the burden of environmental upkeep onto the individuals living in the places affected, frequently individuals who are members of marginalized groups. Using this data, this paper argues that the manipulation of the flow of public resources can be mapped, revealing places ('spaces of neglect') that have been ignored by the state.

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Developments In The Photovoltaic Industry Make Solar A More Viable Green Energy Source. Barry Miller, Indian River Community College

With the growing concern over Carbon Dioxide emissions, and our ever expanding population, a plan for wider adoption of renewable energy resources in the United States is necessary. A general overview of problems that the renewable energy sector faces will be presented, along with a discussion of advances in the photovoltaic industry that will make solar energy a more viable and reasonable resource for green energy. How the institution of such programs will make solar energy available to a wider community, and the effects that solar distribution will have on adoption of hydrogen as a mobile fuel source will also be addressed. What emerges is an economically viable proposition that will drastically reduce the United State's dependency on fossil fuels.

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The Metamorphosis of Women Filmmakers. Cathy Miller, Columbia College

Based on a South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) research grant, this honors project focuses on the history and metamorphosis of international Women's cinema. Women have contributed substantially to mainstream film, but their contributions have continued to go unnoticed. In the 80-year history of the Academy Awards, women directors have been nominated for best feature film only a few times, and a woman has never won the category (however, women have won for directing documentaries). I will analyze women filmmakers' contributions and assess what ways the movie industry needs to continue to morph to adequately represent our worldwide diverse population and movie industry.

Ref#: 45
A Method to Compare the Effectiveness of Different Washes on Removal Rates of E. coli from Plant Roots. Mario Muscarella, Armstrong Atlantic State University.

Public concerns on vegetable contamination have been rising due to the many recent outbreaks of pathogenic E. coli (E. coli O157:H7) on commercial vegetable crops. Ineffective rinsing has been suggested as a possible explanation for the large increase of recent outbreaks. We hypothesized that pathogenic E. coli has the ability to adhere more tightly to plant surfaces than non-pathogenic strains. In order to provide evidence for this hypothesis, we developed a method to investigate the effectiveness of different washes on pathogenic and non-pathogenic E. coli strains. This method was a successful tool in evaluating our hypothesis; it included various quality control features; the results were clear and easy to interpret; and it provided a method to determine the effectiveness of the wash without damaging the root tissues in the process. We are currently using this method in our investigations into the attachment of pathogenic E. coli to plant roots.

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The Revolution of the Video Game: A Psychological View into the Correlation Between Violent Video Games and Human Aggression. Nathan Nandkishorelal, University of Tampa

The video game revolution began over 30 years ago with the creation of the first video game, Computer Space. Over the past decades the technology and the culture of entertainment have advanced video games into a multi-billion dollar industry. Over 75 percent of video games on the market contain some form of violence. The video game has complexly evolved into a medium through which aggressive thought patterns are primed into the minds of young children. Today violent video games provide a forum for learning and practicing aggressive solutions to conflict situations. This presentation will provide an in depth look into the correlation between playing violent video games and aggressive behavior; the psychological aspects of video games.

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Dracula, Sesame Street, and Count Chocula: How Vampires have Become Domesticated. Kaitlin Nobles, Birmingham Southern College.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the many ways in which vampires have become less-than-scary in today's society. This domestication is explained by the human desire for dominance and control over anything that instills some type of fear in oneself. The domesticated vampire is exhibited through television shows such as The Munsters and Sesame Street, juvenile literature such as Bunnicula and The Vampire Joke Book, and vampire-related products such as greeting cards and breakfast cereals. The domesticated vampire also exists as a result of parodies of, and comedic plays and films about, Bram Stoker's Dracula, as well as among Dracula-inspired tourist attractions in Transylvania.

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Metamorphosis: Changing Fuel Design and Sources. Chivas Owle, Indian River Community College

The topic of what constitutes a practical energy source is a complicated one. Concerns exist as to pollutant potential, fuel efficiency, cost of production, supply meeting demand and so on. There are many proposed "solutions" to America's energy needs. Perhaps the most misunderstood proposed solution to America's dependence on foreign oil is using biodiesel fuel. This presentation will explore the various types of biodiesel fuel and their practicality as primary fuel sources for a nation with a demand for energy as high as the United States.

Ref#: 49
Building the Devine. Melinda Thackrah, St. Petersburg College.

This presentation is based on the evolution of architectural styles of the Christian church and how these styles have changed through centuries to serve the needs of the church and its worshippers. In addition to being beautiful, religious architecture is connected with modern thoughts and demands of the society.

Ref#: 50
The South African Political Evolution: Analysis of the Political System in South Africa. Shaunt? Randall, Miles College

In the past fifteen years, South Africa has experienced many political movements throughout the country. This project will give an in-depth breakdown of the evolution of the political system from apartheid to neoliberalism. In relation to South Africa, one must ask the following questions: (1) why did these changes occur? (2) who benefits the most from these political changes? And (3) if the current system remains intact will the country flourish or meet its demise?

Ref#: 51
Evolution of the Literary Underworld. Jennifer Renner, St. Petersburg College

Each successive underworld experience in Western literature, predominantly those found in the epic genre, provided a more detailed and more meaningful explanation of what one might expect in the afterlife with the focus shifting principally to Hell in later representations. The author?s unique vision of the underworld was often representative of the morals and values associated with the corresponding civilization. This presentation will explore the various conventions of the underworld established in Gilgamesh, as well as discussing the unique innovations contributed by Homer, Virgil, Dante, and Milton, all leading to the modern representation of Hell found in the work of Jean-Paul Sartre.

Ref#: 52
Purple: The Degree of Polarization in U.S. Pop Culture as seen through Pearls before Swine and The Family Circus. Alexandra Sack, Birmingham-Southern College.

Due to the 2008 presidential election, much of the present media culture seems seeped in the concept of red versus blue states. The media make it seem that red and blue are clear cut categories, but how much is really red versus blue. Instead, the idea of red and blue might be a matter of perspective. Depending on the way that certain concepts are examined, the result may be neither red nor blue but purple. Two comic strips are used in this presentation to examine pop culture: Pearls before Swine, representing the blue states and The Family Circus, representing the red states. Examples from both comic strips are compared on such divisive issue as family values, religion, and patriotism. The result is that political dichotomies in the media, as seen by extension from The Family Circus and Pearls before Swine, are not as definite as it first appears, but instead, similarities underlie both sides, and it is the definition of issues, such as family, God, and patriotism that causes the division. The definition and the details involved in such issues are what cause the disagreements; by looking at the underlying value of supporting family, the place of God, and pride in one?s country one sees what is purple and equally shared by both sides.

Ref#: 53
Correctness 2 Effectiveness: English Pronunciation, Grammar, and Usage. Stacy St. John, Kentucky State University.

English seems to be moving toward communicating effectively rather than correctly. I shall look at some tendencies in English pronunciation, grammar, and usage that portray this shift. Concerning pronunciation, we will look at simplification and slurring. The discussion of grammar is also concerned with simplification. The section on usage deals with simplification in two digital forms of language, texting and leetspeak, as well as changes in word choice. I will conclude with a brief discussion on how this transition is slowed down.

Ref#: 54
History and Future of the Wine Industry. Janusz Suzdorf, Jennifer Ridenour, St. Petersburg College

"Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used? (Shakespeare), and it has been used for thousands of years throughout the world. This ancient beverage has had great social power along with great influence on nations? economies and politics. This presentation will focus on wine economics in the United States throughout time, with special emphasis on its importance for the northwestern region of the country. It also will include speculations about future direction of wine industry with correlation to the steadily warming climate and technological advances.

Ref#: 55
Stem Cell Research and Its Benefits to the Health Care System of The United States. Icelyn Sweeney, Florida Memorial University

The purpose of this presentation is to inform the audience of the benefits of stem cell research so far has provided the health care system in America. This will be an interactive presentation where participation of the audience will be implemented.

Ref#: 56
Role of Vesicular Trafficking in Migration of Pancreatic Cancer Cells. McAnthony Tarway, Debbie Hardee, Chuan Hu, Tennessee State University

Invasion of pancreatic cancer cells into surrounding tissues or organs is a primary step in tumor metastasis. This requires chemotactic migration of cancer cells, steered by protrusive activity of the cell membrane on the extracellular matrix. Recent studies suggest that SNARE (Soluble N-ethylmalemide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) proteins may play an important role in cell migration. In this study we examined the function of four vSNAREs in migration of pancreatic cancer cells. PANC-1 cells were transfected with GFP-tagged cytoplasmic domain of vSNARE proteins (VAMPs 2, 3, 4 and 8), wild type and dominant-negative mutants of Rab proteins (GFP-Rabs 5, 7, 9 and 11), then analyzed by a Transwell cell migration assay. Overexpression of the cytoplasmic domain of VAMP3 and VAMP8 inhibited cell migration. Expression of wild type and dominant negative mutants of Rab5 also inhibited cell motility. Treatment of PANC-1 cells with 10 ng/ mL of TGF-β resulted in scattering of cells and cell-cell dissociation. These results will provide new insights on molecules involved in pancreatic cancer cell migration and may lead to new therapeutic strategies that inhibit cancer metastasis.

Ref#: 57
Effects of Individual Differences on Willingness and Ability to Fake Responses on Personality Inventories. Sarah Teague, Auburn University

Proper employee selection is a major determinant of organizational success. Employers have utilized many different methods to maximize the effectiveness of their selection processes, over the years, with a significant emphasis placed on determining accurate, consistent predictors of future work performance. Personality inventories were initially very widely accepted as valid selection tools with the added benefit of imposing little to no adverse impact on protected groups. However, these assessments have been proven to be susceptible to faking. This faking has been shown to significantly influence the relative order of selection of employees from an applicant pool. The specific purpose of this study was to determine the individual differences that influence one?s willingness and ability to fake responses on personality inventories in employee selection settings. Understanding the forces behind an individual?s motives and capacities for faking will promote more informed selection decisions, which should lead to an increase in organizational efficiency.

Ref#: 58
Chemotherapeutic Induced Changes in Nuclear Morphology in Prostate Cancer
Chrishona Thomas, Miles College.

Prostate Cancer strikes 1 in 6 American men. There will be an estimated 218,890 new cases of prostate cancer and 27,050 deaths in the United States for 2007. Ca2+-indpendent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2) are enzymes that cleave cellular phospholipids. As such they are suggested to mediate cell growth and cell death. Nuclear morphology will be determined using the DNA dye propidium iodide (PI) and florescence microscopy. Alterations in nuclear morphology include nuclear condensation, chromatin condensation or nuclei fragmentation. Successful completion of this project will yield insights into the role of iPLA2 in prostate cancer. Further, these studies will suggest mechanisms by which iPLA2 inhibitors can be used to mediate prostate cell death.

Ref#: 59
Preaching Gender: How Religiosity Affects Gender Role Attitudes. Meryl Thomson, Samford University.

Research regarding gender roles can be used to advance both women and men?s rights and challenge stereotypes. This study examines the effects of religiosity on gender role attitudes. The hypothesis examined was as follows: As religiosity increases, support for egalitarian gender roles will decrease, indicating support for traditional gender roles. Data from the 1998 General Social Survey yielded a sample size of 1493 and 1499. Two dependent variables were used to examine a possible disparity between structural attitudes (Men run country/women stay home) and familial (women staying home is best for the family) attitudes. Three religiosity variables were examined: church attendance, strength of denominational affiliation, and fundamentalist perspective, economic and demographic variables were held constant. Logistic regression analysis showed that both weekly church attendance (B=1.11*; B=1.16***) and fundamentalist perspective (B=1.40*; B=1.51*) increased the likelihood of supporting traditional gender roles, supporting the hypothesis.

Ref#: 60
How Governments Make Decisions in a Transnational Organization: The Transition to Economic and Monetary Union in the European Union. Adrian L. Thurstin, The University of Alabama at Birmingham

In an astounding sacrifice of state sovereignty, several European countries within the European Union (EU) agreed to transition to full scale Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in the 1993 Maastricht Treaty. Several theories on European integration seek to explain why the countries chose to advance from a simple trade union to a full scale monetary union involving a single European Central Bank. The current presentation seeks to analyze three integration theories ? intergovernmentalism, supranationalism, and constructivism. Through analyzing the theories within the context of the decision to transition to the EMU, a better understanding of how certain policies are developed and enacted is revealed. The decision making process has future implications for the EU that should be considered ? will the EU become a full fledged government or will it mainly stay within the economic realm, staying away from other issues that have been traditionally considered state-level?

Ref#: 61
"Talking Without Words: A nonverbal study of Telenovelas and Soap Operas." Tara Titcombe, Greensboro College

The purpose of this study is to observe and analyze the similarities and differences in nonverbal communications in the Mexican culture and the American culture by examining television shows of each country's popular culture. This study is conducted by comparing and contrasting Mexican telenovelas and American soap operas, two popular television melodramas that mirror people, emotions and events of each culture.

Ref#: 62
Design and Implementation of an Algorithm for Accurate Multi-Environment Position Tracking. Ryan L. Tonini, University of Alabama in Huntsville

A need exists for a product with which users can track individuals within and outside of buildings. GPS devices require signals from satellites in order to produce an accurate calculation of position. Buildings obstruct GPS signals. This is undesirable in situations where, for instance, emergency response teams are required to enter a hazardous situation occurring inside of a building. The goal of this presentation is to develop an algorithm that can create tracking devices that are not only usable outside, but indoors as well. Following the development of this algorithm, a system will be demonstrated that utilizes this algorithm. With this system, named DRS, many individuals can be tracked simultaneously, allowing for the tracking of soldiers in Baghdad, firefighters in a burning building, or parolees in our cities.

Ref#: 63
How the Hip Hop Culture Influences the African American community? Chayla Waters, Renita Williams, Erline Daniels, Miles College

This presentation will address the hip hop culture and its influences on the African-American culture, especially the youth. There have been many stigmas placed on the hip hop culture and its influences on the African American youth. This presentation will review opinions from several people and sources on this subject and offer suggestions on how to mitigate the negative effects of hip hop culture

Ref#: 64
Heterotopic Wonderlands: Anxious Identities at the Chicago World?s Fair. S. Alana Wolf, Georgia State University

This paper will identify the World?s Columbian Exposition of 1893 ? paying particular attention to its Midway - as the site of what Michel Foucault described as a heterotopia. The heterotopia is a site in which both time and space are not bound by normally experienced parameters. At such sites, visitors may experience multiple times and/or spaces simultaneously. The Chicago World?s Fair was a seminal event in American history. This paper will explore how the displays at the Fair offered visitors a heterotopic experience which reflected common cultural anxieties and played a key role in shaping American identity at the end of the nineteenth century.

Ref#: 65
I'll do it tomorrow. Lisa Zarick, Winthrop University

"Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday" (Don Marquis). This art can be practiced by anyone, but college students seem especially adept at its practice. And, while professors often complain about student procrastination, economists have begun modeling it as a perfectly rational behavior. Using such concepts as salience cost, task aversion, and belief about future behavior, the economic literature develops hypotheses about why people procrastinate and what can be done to avoid it. According to economists, differences in perceived costs and benefits across individuals and across time can explain who procrastinates and under what circumstances they procrastinate. Using survey data collected from Winthrop University students and faculty members, this thesis will attempt to test some of these hypotheses.
[/SPOILER]

Individual presentations Without Audio-Visual
[SPOILER=List of presentations]
Ref#: 66
The Twins Paradox. Nicolas Smoot, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Special relativity is based on two postulates: First, the restricted principle asserts that all physical laws and phenomena behave according to the same laws, regardless of velocity. Second, the invariance of light asserts that light travels at a fixed speed, regardless of velocity. These two principles appear incompatible at first sight, but do not contradict each other provided that neither space nor time is absolute. It turns out that velocity of one observer relative to another indicates a form of time dilation, which gives way to the Twins Paradox: In theory, one observer can, through accelerating to a high speed, travel into the future of another observer. Contradictions raised by this phenomenon can be resolved through the use of integral techniques to the equations of special and elementary general relativity.

Ref#: 67
A Transition from South Africa?s Apartheid: Desmond Tutu and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Natalie Ausborn, Birmingham-Southern College

The word apartheid literally means ?apartness.? The Nationalist party in South Africa applied this term to the foundation of government that existed from 1948 to 1994 by separating races both socially and geographically, leading to the suppression of the Black race and perpetration of violent acts. Following Apartheid, South African President Nelson Mandela advocated the need for forgiveness and reconciliation among the races. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was established to accomplish this purpose. Though some criticize the effectiveness of the TRC, the liberating truths and spirit of forgiveness that it revealed cannot be ignored. Had it not been for the TRC, a number of victims would have remained unheard and suppressed, just as they had been throughout Apartheid. Though the commission may have not achieved complete reconciliation among the races, hopefully it did in fact promote an end of the ?apartness? among South Africa?s citizens.

Ref#: 68
Sirens, Succubae, and Seductresses in the Body of Men. Kaytlin Bailey and Kaylee Rogers, College of Charleston

Anai?s Nin struggled to combine the intellectual and the sexual. As a female artist traveling in male dominated intellectual circles, she wrote from a self-consciously ?feminine? perspective. The Erotica Nin wrote in the 1940?s, published in the late 60?s, is the best source for exploring her complex philosophy about the fluidity of gender. Within Nin?s artistically contrived sexual world, the male and female bodies reveal themselves to be imperfect beings for containing societies gendered expectations.

Ref#: 69
The Dead Man Walking Experience: An Actor's Perspective of Theatre as a Social Commentary. Amber Baragona, Winthrop University.

I will discuss the 2007 Winthrop University production of the play "Dead Man Walking" and analyze how theatre can serve as a form of social commentary and how an actor prepares for performing such a work at the collegiate level. Components include background research of "The Dead Man Walking School Theatre Project" and the book "Dead Man Walking." I will analyze the initiatives of the Death Penalty Discourse Network and its work as a national project to raise awareness of the use of the death penalty in America. Rehearsal reports, actor journals on the rehearsal process, line notes, a meeting with the author, a visit to a prison and other informational events will be referenced. A look will further be given at how Winthrop University used this show as a collaborative project with the Peace, Justice and Conflict Resolution Studies to create the Death Penalty Awareness Series at Winthrop.

Ref#: 70
Faith and Feminism. Acasia Barrett, Spelman College

The purpose of this paper is to survey and analyze the various contextual functions of spirituality as it pertains to women characters in literature of the African Diaspora. More specifically, this paper will look at the examples of the use and application of spirituality in literary works of women authors of the African Diaspora. By looking at these examples, I will analyze how spirituality applies to the construction of identity among the women characters of the novels and written works. I will look at how the female authors have used spirituality as an application to character development and identity of the main female character(s) of their novels. The selected works of Toni Morrison, Zora Neal Hurston, Alice Walker and Octavia Butler, along with novels by Nigerian and Caribbean authors will be used to provide examples and supporting details.

Ref#: 71
Liberation Theology. Jessica Bean, Winthrop University.

This paper will examine the theology of liberation found in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Included in this study will be an analysis of the influential texts of Gustavo Guti?rrez on liberation theology. I also will study the implications of this theology in the church and the movement this theology has spawned towards a commitment for social justice actions in favor of the marginalized.

Ref#: 72
'Brown Baggin? It. Douglas Branch, Southwest Tennessee Community College.

We recognize ?community building,? with that phrase?s various implications, as an essential element for any successful honors program, and we understand how vital it is that our students both contribute to and benefit from resources in their communities. Hear how the Brown Bag Luncheon Series at a two-year commuter college, Southwest Tennessee Community College, in Memphis, uses the NCHC Place-as-Text pedagogy to help build community within the honors program itself, between the honors program and wider institution, and between the ?town and gown.? Hear as well how a thematic approach to the program and the Brown Bag Luncheon Series helps build community ties. Handouts will be available.

Ref#: 73
Comparison of Ratemyprofessors.com and Official Student Evaluations. Shante Breitenbach, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Ratemyprofessors.com (RMP) is a website where students rate the quality of their professors. This study compared the university course evaluations and the RMP quality ratings. The RMP quality ratings were significantly correlated with the university course evaluation ratings of overall teaching effectiveness, r(95) = .74, p < .01. Other universities have also compared RMP with student evaluations and have come to similar conclusions. RMP may be a soapbox for students to vent but the site does contain valid information about students? opinions of educators.


Ref#: 74
"The Guilty Shall Bring the Guilty to Judgment": Tolkien and Capital Punishment in The Lord of the Rings. Rebekah Clark, Georgia College and State University.

The paper explores The Lord of the Rings for JRR Tolkien?s views on capital punishment as Tolkien believed that myths reflect elements of moral truth. The paper examines the influences of Tolkien?s Roman Catholic beliefs. Lord of the Rings reveals Tolkien?s strong position for mercy because of the value of life, man?s inability to judge wisely due to finite knowledge, and the hope of redemption for those who are sinful. The paper investigates Tolkien?s advocacy of preventing further destruction and his belief that evil can be used for good in a providential plan. Finally, the paper studies Tolkien?s belief that dealing out death in judgment is beyond human authority and that God will bring ultimate justice to the wicked. The paper concludes that Tolkien strongly cautioned against the use of capital punishment.

Ref#: 75
"Nietzsche Sees Jesus." Brad Cone, Georgia College & State University

The paper is an exploration of what philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche thought about Jesus Christ. Two questions serve as the basis for this exploration. First, what did Nietzsche think of Jesus as an individual? Second, how does Nietzsche's view of Christ compare with his view of Christians? In The Antichrist, we see what Nietzsche thought about about Christ's psychology and how he compared Christ to his own philosophical ideals.

Ref#: 76
It is Time for a Change. Megan Clare Culligan, Georgia College and State University

While some believe that we are in our own worlds, and cannot be held responsible for any world but our own, Peter Singer argues, and I agree, that we are interconnected in multiple ways, and that it is because of this interconnection that we are responsible for each other. Singer argues that we have moral and ethical obligations, as the nation which has polluted the most, to fix our mistakes by decreasing our pollution and assisting nations which have or would be affected financially. We have a duty to pick up the hypothetical ?pieces? before it is too late.

Ref#: 77
The Relationship Between Adolescent Involvement and Young Adults? Experiences in College. Brooke Currie, Winthrop University

Youth who are involved in extracurricular activities show a number of positive characteristics such as higher self esteem, academic success, and access to social capital (Larson, Hansen & Moneta, 2006; Fredricks and Eccles, 2006). My project studies young adult's involvement during early and middle adolescence in relation to their involvement and leadership in college as well as the relationship of involvement on self-esteem and academic experiences in college.

; the cognitive affects on adolescence; and the reproductions of inaction on a social level.

Ref#: 78
Exploring the Relevance of the Functionalist and Neofunctionalist Theories of Integration in the Context of the Early Development of the European Community. Atanaska Dobreva, Marymount University.

In the beginning of the 20th century, David Mitrany developed his functionalist theory of integration, which asserted that countries can address their problems ?outside the politicized context of ideology or nationalism.? (Dougherty and Pfaltzgraff, 422) The main points of Mitrany?s theory can be observed in the experiences of the European Community (EC) during its early stages of development. The neofunctionalist theory of integration, developed by Ernst Haas, reflected on the performance of functionalism in the EC and ?postulated that the decision to proceed with integration . . . [depends] on [pragmatic] expectations of [economic] gain or loss.? (Dougherty and Pfaltzgraff, 423) However, during the 1960s, events obstructing European integration brought to the surface that integrative efforts cannot be underlined by purely pragmatic motives and that nationalism and political issues cannot be left out of consideration in the integration process and in the building of supranational institutions to govern this process.

Ref#: 79
Fighting Prejudice through Literature. Laura Garner, Macon State College

Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Langston Hughes were American authors who sought to change the world through their writing. Each faced discrimination, and each endeavored to overcome such prejudice by pointing out its fallacies through their writing. Charlotte Perkins Gilman lived from 1860 to 1935 and was denied the right to vote for most of her adult life. Langston Hughes, who lived from 1902 to 1967, grew up under Jim Crow laws and only saw the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement in his twilight years. Although they lived at differed times and faced different issues, they similarly were able to write about prejudice because they experienced it firsthand. They both hoped that the eyes of society would be opened through their stories and poems. They wanted America to see that a person is not defined by his or her gender or color.

Ref#: 80
Is No Child Really Being Left Behind? Britney Gordon, Florida Memorial University

This presentation will focus primarily on our nation?s school systems and the successes and/or failures of their grading systems. I also will focus on its relation to the ?No Child Left Behind? act, its relevance, and factors that help influence this act. I will make reference to various Supreme Court cases, mainly Brown v. Board of Education, and their influence in today?s society. In addition to these court cases, I will explain whether or not the outcomes of these cases are active in our school systems, and the small ways that our school systems are demonstrating segregation.

Ref#: 81
No One Can Hurt Me but Me: Illness as Agency in the Pro-Anorexia Community and Its Impacts on Feminist Theory. Melanie Goss, Longwood University

Drawing on a variety of critical texts, this study shows how ?Pro-Ana?--the name given to the set of people who view anorexia nervosa as a lifestyle choice rather than an illness--challenges the foundations of Feminist Theory. Viewed through the Feminist lens, the Pro-Ana community uses the systematic destruction of the body to exercise personal agency. Using several of the most significant texts of the Pro-Ana community, this paper examines the cultural assumptions of feminine beauty, as well as the societal, religious, and biological ramifications of self-starvation. This research leads to the conclusion that because Pro-Ana is rife with contradictions, it allows anorectics to embrace both sides of several crucial binaries (masculine/feminine, aggressive/passive, Eve/Lilith, control/chaos, et cetera) thus challenging the traditional Feminist desire to invert the culturally established binaries and questioning the limitations of Feminist Theory.

Ref#: 82
Relationships Between Video Game Play Behaviors and Risky Sexual Behaviors. Kathleen Jocoy, Winthrop University

Experiencing community violence and video game violence often yields similar outcomes: deficiencies in school (Anand, 2007; Cummings & Vandewater 2007) and increased aggressiveness (Anderson & Murhpy, 2003; O?Keefe, 1994). This study aims to find another parallel, increased sexual risk (Voisin, 2005). Data concerning video game play behaviors, sexual behaviors, and self-reported callousness were collected and analyzed from 64 college students. Percentage of time spent playing violent video games predicted decreased condom usage b= .013, t(27) = 2.13, p < .04. Hours spent playing violent video games predicted heightened self-reported callousness b= .229, t(62) = 3.29, p < .002. Higher callousness scores predicted overall sexual risk, particularly having sex with new acquaintances b= .185, t(52) = 3.68, p < .001. These findings suggest that exposure to violent video games may subsequently influence sexual decision making by causing the gamer to hold more callous attitudes and disregard the importance of sexual safety.

Ref#: 83
Yellow Brick Road: The Boring (but Smart) Path to International Investment. Adam L. Kemp, The University of Tampa

Rapid globalization offers increased investment opportunities with lower costs. However, there have been a number of arguments against international diversification. These arguments are based on higher correlations between U.S. and foreign markets over the last ten years. These recent correlations are often overemphasized and misinterpreted. In fact, diversification of investment across borders produces less overall risk. Non-professionals must select individual investments cautiously. To help, there are many promising investment opportunities to be found in ADRs, ETFs and international mutual funds. Investors can use the latter two to capitalize on other?s competencies and maximize their own benefits.

Ref#: 84
?Passion and Resignation?: Awakening Sympathy in the Prefaces of Oroonoko, Uncle Tom?s Cabin, Our Nig, and Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Ariel Libet, Winthrop University

This paper is based on my thesis and examines four anti-slavery works by women: Aphra Behn?s Oroonoko, Harriet Beecher Stowe?s Uncle Tom?s Cabin, Harriet Wilson?s Our Nig, and Harriet Jacobs? Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. It is through the prefaces of these works that a conversation between author and reader begins about the evils of slavery. Through describing the function of prefaces, the appeal to sentimentality, the role of the female author, and cultural influences, I intend to reveal that all four women use their prefaces in combination with their works to fulfill their political agenda.

Ref#: 85
Fractal Verse: Encouraging the Study of Manageable Chaos. Lauren Lundin, Georgia College & State University

Scientists attempt to study the chaotic structures of nature to better understand the world in which we live. Because poetry has deviated from strict metrics into more organic forms, we should study the infinite structures and patterns devised by free verse. In order to study the subtle prosody of free verse, we must change the way we currently study patterns within a poem. Instead of focusing on a few conventions repeated throughout the body of free verse poetry, we must look for more unique patterns used within each particular poem to enhance its meaning. This essay will address topics in Alice Fulton?s essay, ?Of Formal, Free, and Fractal Verse? as they apply to the techniques of several modern poets, including Adrienne Rich, Li-Young Lee, Denise Levertov and Joy Harjo.


Ref#: 86
Fuguing Tunes and American Psalmody: A study of their influence on Sacred Music in America. Alex Masterson, Birmingham-Southern College

Through the centuries, music in the Protestant Christian church has taken many different turns and undergone many revolutions. The fuguing tune was one of the most influential types of sacred music in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The fuguing tune played an incredibly important role in arguments about sacred music in the United States. A study of this form of psalmody reveals some extraordinary details. By examining aspects of intellectual and musical criticism from experts like Richard Crawford, Irving Lowens, and Alan Buechner, the fuguing tune will prove itself to be an extremely influential form of early American music that shaped the transition of sacred music from ritual to art. Ultimately, a critique of fuguing tunes and other psalmody will lend supporting evidence to the argument that the rise of the principle of edification in American sacred music was directly affected by the fuguing tune.

Ref#: 87
Metamorphosis: Honors as an Agent of Change. Nicollette Maunganidze, Spelman College

The fact that the entitled theme has been selected as the motion for this year's conference mildly alludes to the societal problems that require immediate examination and rectification. This nation is replete with Honors Societies, which harness the potential that is required to implement the changes necessitated for the neutralization of these problems. The onus, therefore, lies with those to whom much is given. In this instance, the Honors community along with the programs, courses and initiatives that are at their disposal as well as with the other great individuals of this world. Society is in dire need of those who are able to lead. As per Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, what society is calling out for are compassionate leaders who cherish but who do not value themselves, those who can lead by positioning themselves at the back but yet seem to paradoxically find themselves, at the front.

Ref#: 88
A Portrait of a Young Narcissist: Stephen Dedalus and the Problem of Women. Mary Mishler, Georgia State University

Written from the perspective of Stephen Dedalus?s developing linguistic, psychological, sexual, and artistic consciousness, James Joyce?s novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man presents a problematic construction of women. The novel?s female characters exist on the periphery of the narrative and are portrayed through the filter of Stephen?s self-conscious perceptions. Despite their limited appearance, these phantasmal women disrupt Stephen?s characterizations. Feminist criticism helps to expose the shortcomings of Stephen?s narcissistic perception and how female characters resist objectification. In particular, Stephen?s artistic muse and love-object Emma creates a major textual tension. Despite Stephen?s attempts to control Emma by obscuring her identity, constructing her against unstable sexual binaries, or transforming her into an object d?art, Emma resists Stephen?s characterization and manages to puncture his false perceptions of her and other women. Emma?s presence in the narrative is limited, yet her autonomous actions frustrate Stephen?s reductive construction of her.

Ref#: 89
The Conscience of the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain. J. D. Money, Macon State College

Most people will agree that the choices they make affect the rest of the world in some way. The point most argued is to what degree such choices have on the lives of others. At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, Robert Owen made it his life mission to show the people of Great Britain the consequences of many of their choices. With three-fourths of Great Britain in the working class, the choices of those in power not only affected their own lives but perhaps an entire generation preceding them. At the heart of his reform, Owen focused on the horrific lives of children working in factories. With his extreme optimism and strong faith in the power of education, Owen had no doubt in his ability to create what he termed "a race of rational and superior beings."

Ref#: 90
Monologue from Electra by Sophocles. Alix Moses, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

This monologue is Electra?s rebuttal to the chorus of women who blame Electra for her indecision between her duty to her family-avenging her father?s murder-and her duty to her new king-the man who murdered her father. Electra also addresses the absence of her brother and her own inequity because, as a princess, she cannot take action herself.

Ref#: 91
Globalization in the Banking Industry: A Comparative Study of the U.S. & Germany. Laura Moss
The University of Alabama in Huntsville.

2007 saw significant activity in the realm of international banking. In North America, the United States' Compass Bank agreed to sell its shares to Spain's Banco Bilbao Vizcaya, while in Europe the auction of Germany's Landesbank Berlin opened the door to potential foreign presence in their public banking sector. A vital question for the industry emerged: "How will consumers feel about foreign-owned banks?" In the summer of 2007 I conducted one-on-one interviews in both the U.S. & Germany to probe for underlying factors that might influence consumer decisions about banking with a foreign entity. I observed that respondents discussed the subject in either terms of global trade or terms of banking services. I then created a schema based on these two categories of "cultural discourse" (Fischer 426). My findings suggest that we can expect individuals to choose their bank based on where their attitudes reside in this matrix.

Ref#: 92
Kicking Away the Ladder. Ernesto Ortiz-Ariza, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Based on the argument exposed in Ha-Joon Chang?s work Kicking Away the Ladder: Development Strategy in Historical Perspective. After their long climb in the developmental ladder the developed nations of today are on top of the world. In power of many essential international institutions they have the opportunity to give a recipe to the now developing nations on how to develop. Unfortunately, and often greatly overlooked, the recipe is flawed and the dough just will not rise. The catch is, developing nations in a historical perspective are not being honest as of how they themselves climbed the economic ladder of development and now that these nations have developed they only kick away the ladder that they used to achieve their present status. The argument opens eyes to what happening in today?s world and how the developing nations are using the wrong recipe.

Ref#: 93
Honor Codes and Modern Western Society: Relevant or Outmoded? Joey Phillips, Kentucky State University.

In our contemporary world with its consumer society and information technology are honor codes still meaningful? Examining two historical models?the Bushido Code of the Samurai in Japan and the Code of Chivalry in medieval Europe?we can argue for common features of honor codes. Remarkably, these traditional features of honor codes are found today among those whom author Jane Jacobs characterizes as ?Guardians.? However, a review of the cinema reveals in contemporary culture a deep ambivalence: both admiration for and mistrust of honor codes.

Ref#: 94
Responses to Hope and Desire in the Works of T.S. Eliot. Gloria Powell, University of Alabama in Huntsville

The purpose of this research is to examine the ways that the narrators and characters in T.S. Eliot?s works respond to hope and desire. These responses include violence, apathy, and productive action and suggest the possibility that T.S. Eliot?s understanding of a beneficial response to hope and desire matured in his poetry. To pursue that suggestion, a selection of T.S. Eliot?s work beginning with texts included in The Inventions of the March Hare and culminating in the Four Quartets will be analyzed. The analysis will also be aided by biographical information about T.S. Eliot and by his own correspondence and criticism.

Ref#: 95
The Changing Face of the American Presidency: A Comparison of JFK and Barack Obama as Rhetoricians. Trevonne Rush, Norfolk State University

Barack Obama has been compared with John Kennedy for his youthful idealism, his intellect and especially for his skills as a public speaker. This presentation analyzes speeches by both men to see if the comparison is a valid and useful way of understanding both men?s political philosophy.

Ref#: 96
Maria: The Cailleach of Her Nation. Lindsey Russ, University of West Florida

This presentation explores the character Maria from the short story ?Clay? by James Joyce. In response to Coilin Owens?s article, ??Clay? (3): The Mass of Mary and All the Saints,? my paper asserts that viewing Maria as a figurative sacrifice demonstrates also how she represents the Joycean concept of paralysis among the religious and superstitious Irish against the English colonizers. By first detailing how Owens successfully unveils the parallels between Maria?s plight and the details surrounding sacrificial practice from both the Christian and Celtic traditions, the discussion then moves toward Maria?s static, unfulfilled life as a reflection of the destitute Irish who are paralyzed to change their own fates.

Ref#: 97
Honors Opportunities Enhance the Learning Experience. Tiffany Schmidt, Jorge Piocuda. University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Out of class experiences, creative assignments and peer-led discussions are fundamental to the learning process. This approach to learning causes a sort of personal and academic metamorphosis. UNCP professor Dr. Kim Gunter teaches a themed Honors English Composition class. In the spring of 2007 the theme was capital punishment. Unlike most English classes, in addition to writing argumentative papers, students had to produce a print publication, and had the opportunity to go on a guided tour of the NC State Prison (including death row). Students were also able to hear several speakers (Sister Helen Prejean, Scott Langley) present information, stories, and personal experiences about the death penalty. Students were not just writing a paper for class, they were writing about something they felt passionate about. Ultimately, these opportunities enhance the learning experience and help link students? lives to their academics.

Ref#: 98
Title of Presentation: Field of Doppelgaenger: The Social and Political Critique of 'Shoeless Joe.' Thomas Scott, Longwood University

In W.P. Kinsella's 1982 novel Shoeless Joe, a subtext exists underneath the nostalgia and family drama, deriding the state of America. Many scenes, particularly during the main character's journey across the U.S., offer commentary on issues such as gun control, free speech, sex, religion, and abortion--issues which at the time stoked heated debate, with stances as varied from region to region as allegiances to baseball teams. Through the fabulous adventure of his character Ray, Kinsella critiques the economic and social failings of America in the early 1980s.

Ref#: 99
Metamorphosis: Honors as Agent of Change. Monika Scott and Christine Thomas, University of West Florida

The University of West Florida honors program has one core course that has the ability to guide who our honors students will be. The literature studied in ?Great Books? presents the ideals that uphold the University of West Florida Honors Program, Ar?te, Techn?, and Sophia, while showing the effect of following or not following the moral principles of life. The lessons the students are taught in Great Books can impact their character and help them answer the hardest question of all: ?Who am I and what will I become?? We will share the lessons that Great Books teaches about the consequence of not having good moral fiber and how knowing makes our students excellent, skillful, and wise.

Ref#: 100
Harriet?s Daughter: Redefining the Black Woman of the African Diaspora. Maia Ve'lyn Sheets, Spelman College

?Life in the African Diaspora? is not a term that can be generalized in this day and age. As people of the African Diaspora have spread over the world so have their mindsets and their means of defining themselves. One cannot say that all African Diasporic people think the same way or that they have the same morals, goals, hopes, or dreams. Despite the fact that some elders of the African Diaspora have tried to keep the African Diasporic identity the same or destroy it completely, the younger generations have found ways to express themselves differently from their ancestors. In Harriet?s Daughter, Marlene Philip is simply telling a coming of age story about a young girl who is unsure of her identity as a woman, a Canadian, and as a part of the African Diaspora. By dissecting the novel on the basis of gender and race, one can discover Phillip?s true purpose through examination of different details she used to combat conventional ideas of gender roles and race in the African Diaspora.

Ref#: 101
Foreign Language Learning and Learning Disabilities: What can be done in schools? Allison Smith, Winthrop University

This project highlights essential teaching and learning issues related to foreign language acquisition and learning disabilities, specifically dyslexia. An overview of research on specific learning needs of individuals with dyslexia in this context provides a foundation for understanding the evidence-based strategies for foreign language teachers. These strategies provide a springboard for success in learning a foreign language in mainstream classrooms for students with dyslexia. These are essential in light of high stakes testing and an increase in college programs requiring foreign language course work.

Ref#: 102
Sorcery as Narrative on Greek Black Figure Kylix. Barbara Stubbs, University of Tampa

Sorcery as Narrative on Greek Black Figure Kylix is an examination of the cultural and spiritual values displayed on the Kylix or ancient Greek drinking cup used traditionally at the all-male symposiums. The image of the goddess Circe painted in black figure on the cup is an illustration utilizing the concept of metamorphosis.

Ref#: 103
An Interdisciplinary Look at Self Control. Cassie Sulfridge, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Self control is a behavioral issue that affects all people, regardless of age, ethnicity, or other differentiating features. A majority of personal problems come from issues with self control, these issues, to name a few, include; weight problems, drug use, sexual activity, motivation, and learning. Self control is defined here as inhibiting an immediate gratification from an automatic, habitual, or innate behavior, urge, emotion, or response, for a future, more valuable reward. Self control issues and ways to cope with them are examined through a nursing, psychological, and sociological lens to discuss how multiple disciplines can work together in helping people.

Ref#: 104
Japan's Drive toward Constitution Revision. Amanda Tuttle, The University of Tampa

This paper discusses the factors that play into Japan?s consideration to amend its constitution and Article 9. Specifically, it examines the following question: To what extent does North Korea influence Japan?s drive toward constitutional revision? This paper concludes that other variables such as the long-term threat of China, and Japan?s desire to reassure the United States that it will uphold its end of the alliance and engage in collective defense play a significant role as to why Japan is considering making revisions. Research has only partially confirmed the hypothesis that Japan?s discussion to amend is motivated by North Korean threat and nuclear development. Analysis of the data concludes that the Security Dilemma Theory can be applied to East Asia and that mistrust in the region creates a prime environment to exacerbate tensions among adversaries. Analysis also shows that outside actors cannot change relations among states to ameliorate security dilemmas.

Ref#: 105
Legal Language and Language Registers. Christina Williams, Winthrop University

This paper asserts that the effort to eliminate ambiguity in an otherwise imprecise language creates lexical, syntactic, and semantic peculiarities that make legalese a redundant and protracted deviation of Standard English that has been the target of debates regarding language register and reform. A discussion of linguistic evidence and judicial actions illustrate these peculiarities. Further consideration may even prove that the very problems of legal language are sustained by the dependency and flexibility of these three language components to interrelate with each other on multiple levels.

Ref#: 106
And the Two Shall Become One: One-ing in Julian of Norwich?s Shewings. Whitney Williams, Birmingham-Southern College

The motif of oneing plays a central part in Julian of Norwich?s Revelations of Divine Love. Just as she desires oneing with Christ, other concepts, too are unified: pleasure and pain; darkness and light; and physical and spiritual. These concepts which seem to present dualities, are shown to be more similar than not, as they become one. While I found no evidence that Julian consulted Heraclitus, I believe the opposites presented here follow the Heraclitan model, which I will demonstrate through Julian?s images of Mother Christ and Father God.

Ref#: 107
Charles Dickens and the Discourse of Victorian Femininity. Erin Wooten, College of Charleston

This presentation will discuss what the female characters in Charles Dickens? anti-utilitarian novel Hard Times reveal about Victorian gender roles. Dickens reveals that even the notion of femininity is subjective and is shaped by economic factors such as class position.

Ref#: 108
Anti-Arab Sentiment in a Post 9/11 America. Cassandra Zuluaga, University of Tampa

September 11th was a catalyst in the realm of political and social consequences. Mayhem followed as the United States was thrown into war, first with Afghanistan then with Iraq. Many people, however, did not acknowledge the war going on at home on American soil, a war between American and Muslim identities. Antipathy against Islam and Muslims in the days following September 11th was widespread. Hate crimes, racist cartoons and biased government policy, are all examples of unwarranted hostilities against Muslims. Issues of imperative patriotism, imperialism, and the ever-powerful media, helped weave a tangled web of conflicts. I will discuss aspects of these conflicts and how they have contributed to a cyclical and ever-growing problem centuries in the making. It is time we acknowledge the other victims of terrorism, the Muslim people.


Poster Presentations
[SPOILER=List of Presentations]
Ref#: 201
Use of Quantum Dots to Localize protein Expression in Lung. Shruti Agarwal, University of South Alabama

The goal of this study was to determine whether quantum dots could be used to localize protein expression in rat and human lung. Frozen sections (80 μm) of fixed rat lung were immunostained with rabbit anti-rat TRPV4 and a secondary antibody conjugated to Qdot?565 (5 nm fluorescent/electron dense quantum dots). TRPV4 immunofluorescence was observed in the alveolar septal wall, airway epithelium and in extra-alveolar vessels. In sections of rat lung processed for TEM, TRPV4 was localized to the basal plasma membrane of capillary endothelial cells and in type II alveolar epithelial cells. We also evaluated the utility of quantum dots for detection of proteins in archived sections of human lung, using a primary antibody targeting CD40, a receptor implicated in acute lung injury. CD40 was expressed in macrophages and alveolar septal compartments. We conclude that quantum dots will be useful in localizing protein expression in human and rat lung.

Ref#: 202
Suburban Sociology: A Look at Suburbia's Impact on Urban Society. Lauren Bohn, Winthrop University

Throughout the decades following World War II, the field of urban sociology has observed a mass migration of the American population from the inner city to the furthest?and ever expanding?reaches of the suburbs, thus creating a uniquely American phenomena: the greater metropolitan region. The suburbs were formed to encompass the American ideals of individualism and upward mobility; today, they essentially represent the American middle class lifestyle. Suburbia has impacted our country in countless ways but has it truly provided America with a higher standard of living? This paper explores the type of society that suburbia creates?both in the suburbs as well as in the central cities. How is the suburban way of life different from that of the historical city? What is required for a city to sustain its vitality and what can the city offer society?

Ref#: 203
Structure and Stability of CpG-oligonucleotides that Induce TLR9 Mediated Cellular Invasion. Sonja Brooks, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The focus of this research is to discern the structural and biophysical properties of small DNA oligonucleotides that induce Toll-like 9 (TLR-9) receptor mediated cellular invasion. Cell invasion (metastasis) is a significant problem in the control and treatment of breast cancer. Research in our laboratory has demonstrated enhanced cellular invasion in MDA-231 breast cancer cells by ODN-362, a 25-base (CpG) deoxynucleotide, The mechanism(s) for this induction remain unknown; however, our studies reveal key insights into the structural and sequence requirements for DNA activation of this cellular invasion process. The deoxyoligonucleotides that are effective in eliciting an invasion response have been shown to adopt multiple structural motifs including stem-loops, hairpins or duplex structures. Sequence modifications were designed to discern sequence, structural and stability properties required for initiating TLR-9 mediated cellular invasion. Our results demonstrate that these small deoxyoligonucleotides play a key role as a biological response modifier in this invasion process.

Ref#: 204
USA Honors Program: An Opportunity to Transform Freshmen Into Researchers. Jordan Ciza, Mohini Agarwal, Heather Landry, University of South Alabama

For the past six years, students of the USA Honors program enrolled in the General Chemistry Honors laboratory section have been outsourced into the labs of the research faculty within the Department of Chemistry. In August of 2006, we engaged in a dry-lab which involved a literature search on electrophilic aromatic substitutions. An analysis of product formation in the electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction of disubstituted benzene derivatives was conducted. A total of 2,579 reactions were surveyed starting from 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-disubstituted benzene derivatives consisting of electron-releasing and electron-withdrawing groups. The predicted reaction product was confirmed using SciFinder Scholar. In all nine reaction templates, the literature search matched that of our predicted model. This detailed analysis surpasses those found in mainstream organic textbooks. The zeroing in method offers students and lecturers alike an opportunity to advance the concepts of electrophilic aromatic substitution in the formation of trisubstituted benzene derivatives.

Ref#: 205
The Role of Thrombomodulin in Angiogenesis. Amanda Clark, Winthrop University

As tumors increase in size, the cells within them become starved for oxygen and nutrients carried by blood. These cells begin to release cytokines that stimulate angiogenesis in an attempt to correct the shortage of blood supply. Angiogenesis, or the formation of blood vessels, requires several steps to complete. These steps include the reception of the cytokines by the endothelial cells making up the blood vessel, followed by proliferation, invasion, migration, cell-to-cell adhesion, and microtubule formation. Endothelial cells possess a receptor, thrombomodulin, which may be involved in this process. Our study focuses on cell-to-cell adhesion and microtubule formation in an investigation of a possible role of thrombomodulin in angiogenesis.

Ref#: 206
Localization of L7/SPA Immunoreactive Neurons in the Brain of a Song Bird. Carla Dams, Kelli A. Duncan, Laura L. Carruth. Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and the Dept. of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303.

The courtship song of the Australian zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) is only produced by males. Similarly, zebra finches also show sexually dimorphic patterns in brain morphology where males develop robust song control nuclei and females do not. The mechanisms responsible for the development of sexual dimorphism in the song control nuclei of zebra finches are not understood yet. In other vertebrate models, gonadal hormones act to initiate the development of male and female typical brains. However, in zebra finches, experiments on the manipulation of these hormones fail to completely reverse the developmental path of sexual dimorphism. Studies show that cofactors, like the protein L7/SPA, are involved in the development of sex differences in the brain. L7/SPA serves as a coactivator of estrogen receptor-α. Previous research in our lab identified sex differences in L7/SPA mRNA and protein at different points of development. In this study, we used immunohistochemistry to localize protein L7/SPA in the song nuclei of males and females at P1, P10, P30, and P90 (1, 10, 30, and 90 days post-hatch). L7/SPA was located in areas of the song nuclei from P1 to adulthood confirming the sex differences of L7/SPA in the brain. These results support our hypothesis of the role of L7/SPA for the masculinization of the song nuclei in zebra finches.

Ref#: 207
The Healing Way of Life. Casserly Daniels, Winthrop University

The traditional Native American way of life has all but diminished into the past. No where is this more evident than in the healing and religious rituals of the tribes. This paper will investigate the relationship between Shamanistic healing rituals and religion of the Eastern United States? peoples. Drawing on in-depth interviews and a short questionnaire, the specific focus will be on the Catawba Nation of South Carolina. With this paper I will try to discover the presence and/or place for traditional healing practices and religious rituals in the modern Native American?s life.

Ref#: 208
Collagen mRNA Expression in Human Fetal Lung Fibroblasts. Dixon Dorand, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Ascorbic acid is known to promote collagen growth in the extracellular matix both in vivo and in vitro. The current study examined the effects of ascorbic acid concentration on the collagen growth patterns for human fetal lung fibroblasts. Also examined was the effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1). The mRNA expression of collagen chains I α 1, I α 2, III α 1, IV α 1, IV α 2, and VI α 3 were all measured using Taqman PCR method. Ascorbic acid was found to modulate collagen gene expression in HFL fibroblasts. TGF-β1 increased collagen gene expression differentially in the six chains tested. PGE2 inhibited all collagen chains.

Ref#: 209
A Bridge for Sula. Maria Fernandez, Brenau University

In Toni Morrison's famous novel Sula, one of the major absences in the plot occurs between Part I and Part II. Based on close reading and critical research, I have written a creative bridge to close the 10-year gap that exists when Sula adventures beyond the Bottom. Using material found in both Part I and Part II, these additional adventures add more credibility to the ending of the novel while still maintaining Morrison's powerful characterizations of Nel and Sula. This poster session explains these adventures.

Ref#: 210
Polymer waveguides for explosives detection. Rena Hammer, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Spectroscopic ellipsometry detected changes in refractive index for films of either polycarbonate, poly(1-vinylimidazole) or poly(2-vinyl-4,6-diamino-1,3,5-triazine-co-styrene) on silicon wafers when 4-nitrotoluene entered the films. The changes in refractive index were much more than adequate (Dn > 0.003) for use in an explosives sensor based on a Mach Zender interferometer. In the case of the poly(1-vinylimidazole) and the poly(2-vinyl-4,6-diamino-1,3,5-triazine-co-styrene) the refractive index changed after only 4 seconds exposure to a saturated atmosphere of 4-nitrotoluene vapor. These results suggest we can build a very sensitive, fast detector for TNT based explosives.

Ref#: 211
The Assessment of Chagas? disease (Trypanosoma cruzi) prevention in Guatemala. Josna Haritha
The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Chagas disease commonly known, as sleeping sickness is a preventable disease that affects approximately 18 million Latin Americans with over 730,000 of those infected residing in Guatemala. Chagas disease is a vector-borne disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. In Guatemala, the main vectors of transmission are Rhodnius prolixus and Triatoma dimidiata bugs. These deadly parasites transmit into humans via the feces of these infected bugs. These bugs are associated with the adobe walls and palm thatch roofs common to Mayan inhabitants. Efforts to eradicate this disease include the spraying of homes and the construction of new homes out of concrete. This past summer I spent three months in Guatemala traveling to regions throughout the Highlands where I collected bug samples and surveyed inhabitants. I also worked in the lab performing Polymerase Chain Reactions to determine the identity of the insects. These findings will be used to determine whether prevention methods are effectively eliminating infected bug vectors throughout Guatemala.

Ref#: 212
A laboratory study of the behavioral interactions of the Antarctic keystone sea star Odonataster validus with the sympatric predatory sea stars Labidiaster annulatus, Diplasterias brandti and Perknaster aurorae. Christina Ho, University of Alabama at Birmingham

The sea star Odontaster validus is abundant and widely distributed in shallow benthic environments that surround Antarctica. Despite its ecological importance, little is known of its behavioral interactions with other common sympatric sea stars. To examine these interactions we employed time-lapse video analyses conducted in a large laboratory tank. In each experimental trial, 34 adult O. validus were placed in a tight circular grouping on one side of the tank, and one adult individual of one of three common sympatric species of predatory sea star (Labidiaster annulatus, Diplasterias brandti or Perknaster aurorae) was placed on the opposite side of the tank. Digital images of sea star movements were captured and subsequently analyzed. Our results indicated O. validus had elevated levels of activity in the presence of Perknaster aurorae (chemically mediated response), and displayed a distinct ?flight response? (change in direction and doubling of speed) upon tactile contact with this species but displayed virtually no chemical or tactile behavioral responses to the other predatory species. Moreover, an ?alarm response? was detected when stationary individuals of O. validus that encountered a fleeing conspecific also fled. These contrasting patterns of behavioral responses provide an important predictive framework for future field-based evaluations of how interspecific sea star interactions impact the ecology of the Antarctic marine benthos.

Ref#: 213
Effects of Anger Management Style Congruency on the Perception of Pain. Kathleen Jocoy, Winthrop University

Research on the effects of Anger Management Style (AMS) on the perception of pain has yielded contradictory findings. It is possible that the methodologies, which occasionally require the participant to use an AMS that is not congruent with his/her own, may explain the differences in the findings. We expected that participants using their natural AMS would report lower ratings of pain and endure the pain for longer than the group of participants using an incongruent AMS. Participants were required to use an AMS (suppression or expression), via anger recall, that was either congruent or incongruent to their own. Participants then performed the cold pressor pain task. Differences in blood pressure reactivity, pain ratings, anger ratings, pain threshold and tolerance were recorded and analyzed. Data provided moderate support, suggesting that requiring a congruent AMS in research is only important for those who suppress their anger.

Ref#: 214
Impact of Temperature and TRPV4 Activation on Hydraulic Permeability of Lung Endothelial Monolayers. Pavan Kapadia, University of South Alabama.

The activation of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) results in a Ca2+ entry-dependent increase in endothelial permeability in intact rat lung. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of the nitric oxide (NO) donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) on the lung endothelial permeability response to TRPV4 activation in rat pulmonary microvascular (PMVEC) and arterial (PAEC) endothelial cell monolayers. Hydraulic conductivity (Lp) was measured as an index of permeability. An increase in temperature from 27 to 33 ?C increased Lp in PAEC, but not in PMVEC. At 33 ?C, the TRPV4 agonist, 4α-phorbol didecanoate (4αPDD), did not alter Lp in PMVEC. Further, neither SNAP alone nor the combination of SNAP and 4αPDD had any effect on Lp in PMVECs. We conclude that TRPV4 activation at 33 ?C, in the presence or absence of an NO donor, does not alter Lp in PMVECs.

Ref#: 215
Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents. Ashley Lamphier, Brenau University

Everyone suffers from stress, and we become moody, lose sleep, change our eating habits, develop fear, and more. Though this may seem like an "adult" problem, evidence of it in children and adolescents grows. Children have anxiety over separation from loved ones, school, and social performance. Adolescents also suffer from similar anxiety-induced stress. This poster reviews my research showing some of the causes and effects of anxiety in children and adolescents.

Ref#: 216
Hair Care: Advocating for Women?s Health and Supporting Cancer Patients. Chelsea Lee, Angela Maselli and Jessica Merten, Columbia College

Project Hair Care, a year-long service project advocating for women?s health and supporting women undergoing cancer treatment, was initiated by the Columbia College Honors Student Association. Sponsored by companies such as Budwieser of Spartanburg, Sodexho, Coca Cola of Columbia, and the SC Association of Cosmetology Salon Professionals, this event encompasses a community hair donation drive and multiple education events promoting cancer awareness. Our poster will display information about the student-led event and ways for people to learn more and participate.

Ref#: 217
John Cage and Chance Music. Kayla Lisa, Radford University.

The purpose of this investigation is to discover the aspects of Indeterminacy, or chance music, and it?s most influential composer, John Cage. As an experimental composer John Cage defied the musical norms to which society adapted in the early twentieth century. His music, with unique uses of instruments, radios, turntables, and silence, produced sounds that led to an uproar in the conceived wisdom of the musical status quo. My presentation will discuss the impact John Cage created on the world through his works with indeterminacy and its influence on traditional music.

Ref#: 218
An Investigation into the Socialization of Children from Family-Owned Businesses Compared to Children from Non-Family-Owned Businesses. Jessica Merten, Columbia College.

Current research suggests that the dynamics of families who not only nurture their children but also nurture businesses provide socialization experiences different from other families. These differences are evident in the following outcomes: loyalty to family and family responsibilities, sex role divisions, an emphasis on self-sufficiency and independence, respect for providing service to others, career expectations, and confusion relating to sibling rivalry and coworker competition. The current investigation is proposed to explore some of these outcomes comparing input from families who own and operate businesses with input from families who do not own and operate businesses regarding their business life and their family life. The research also explores the efficacy of computer technology in both data collection by utilizing online survey and also in data analysis by using content analysis software.

Ref#: 219
A Study on the Changing Remittance Patterns of Kenyans in Birmingham.
Dena Mwangi, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Remittances are growing increasingly important to developing countries whose workforces are migrating to western countries, such as the United States, in search of stability and better opportunities. Mexico, one of the most studied countries on remittance patterns, reported remittances at 2.84% of GDP in 2006- and growing (remittances.eu). African countries are no exception with remittances flowing to some, far outnumbering aid and FDI. This paper will take a micro approach and study Kenyans in Birmingham to determine both their motives in sending money to Kenya as well as what methods they employ to do so. All the while, looking for any changes in either the why or the how of remittances in this small community.

Ref#: 220
Malaria vaccine development: Genotyping Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein 6 in the Peruvian Amazon. Aaron Neal, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Malaria is responsible for 1-3 million deaths annually, mostly in children under age five. With drug resistance on the rise, a vaccine seems to be the best solution to combat the most lethal form of the disease, Plasmodium falciparum. This study focuses on P. falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein 6 (PfMSP6), a promising vaccine candidate present on the surface of the P. falciparum parasite. Utilizing samples from P. falciparum infected patients in the Peruvian Amazon, PfMSP6 genotypes were tracked over four consecutive transmission seasons. The longitudinal nature of the study enabled us to compare PfMSP6 genotype frequencies between transmission seasons, villages, and consecutive infections in single individuals. The results of the study will establish the predominance of PfMSP6 genotypes and indicate any immune-related selection pressures; important factors when selecting genotypes to target in a vaccine. The data generated will provide important information to advance a PfMSP6-based malaria vaccine.

Ref#: 221
Behaviors of Gentoo and Rockhopper Penguins. Jennifer Payne, Winthrop University

My research focuses on comparisons of social interactions in Gentoo and Rockhopper penguins. Data were gathered by observing the 9 Gentoo and 13 Rockhoppers at the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC. The penguins have a shared enclosure that also contains 2 King penguins. In nature, these two species sometimes live sympatrically. There will be around 30 hours of observations taken using many focal animal samples. Preliminary analysis suggests that Rockhoppers start nesting earlier and spend more time protecting their nests.

Ref#: 222
Coral cover and growth rates as indicators of coral reef health along a gradient of environmental quality. Ashley Cedzo, University of North Carolina Wilmington

Caribbean coral reefs have been declining in health, and increased urbanization may be largely responsible. This may partly be due to increased nutrient and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) levels of coastal waters near areas of higher human development. The objective of my study was to investigate the effects that humans are having on coral reef communities along the southern shore of the island of Curacao, Netherland Antilles. Three approaches were used: (1) a comparison of the benthic community structure at various sites along the coast of Curacao including sites with less and more immediate development and human activity; (2) a coral growth experiment along an environmental gradient to test the hypothesis that local water quality affects coral health and growth rates; and (3) a laboratory experiment testing the effects of two anthropogenic factors proposed to be causative of reef decline, elevated nutrients and elevated DOC levels on short-term coral growth.

Ref#: 223
Design of Death. Amanda Swinton, Sean Kelly, Anna Queen, University of North Carolina at Pembroke

We will be performing an in-depth analysis of the death penalty in North Carolina and comparing it to other states? methods of execution. Our research will determine if lethal injection, used in many states, is the best deterrent of serious crime, or are alternative methods still in use by other states better for the job?

Ref#: 224
A comparison of fish species, abundances, and relative condition at two beaches in Wilmington, NC to test for possible impacts of beach nourishment. Thomas Tascone, University of North Carolina Wilmington

Beach nourishment is a common practice used by today?s coastal resource managers to restore developed beaches. The inspirations for this practice are vast and interdisciplinary, but the most common reason seems to be for continued recreational use of the shoreline. Controversy exists, however, over whether of not the techniques used in beach nourishment are environmentally sound. Surprisingly, despite this debate, research on the impacts of beach nourishment are limited and spread over a wide variety of scientific fields. This study is aimed at assessing possible effects of beach nourishment on surf-zone fish populations using various condition indices. The populations of fishes were compared between two adjacent beaches in southeastern North Carolina, one of which is an undeveloped wildlife sanctuary and the other a known site for beach renourishment projects.

Ref#: 225
Fluctuations in Affect and Activity Among College Students. Sarah Waldrop, Radford University

The CDC recommends moderate levels of physical activity each day in order to improve one?s health (USDHHS, 1996). As of 2005, the CDC reported that 40% of adults over the age of 18 do not engage in daily physical activity and only 16.7% of adults report being highly physically active on a daily basis (CDC, 2005). Adults and children who engage in exercise experience higher self-esteem, more positive moods and exercise has even been used to treat depression (American Heart Association, 2007). The current study examines the relationship between normal daily activities and daily positive and negative affect fluctuation in college students. The level of activity, length of time engaged in the activity, and time of day the activity takes place are variables that will be measured in order to assess how these factors influence daily affect alterations. Palm Pilots will be used in this study to collect self-reported data of participants? daily activities and affect. Participants will answer specific questions on the Palm Pilot every 2 hours, from 8:50am-8:50pm for 5 consecutive days. The present research will supplement the current knowledge of relations between physical activity and affect through examining how everyday activities can attribute to affect fluctuations. The findings of this research will be beneficial and highly applicable to a wide variety of populations due to the commonness of such daily activities between all individuals.

Ref#: 226
Effect of an infralimbic cortex and basolateral amvgdala complex double-inactivation on cocaine-seeking rats following a reinstatement model. Kerranna Williamson, College of Charleston

Previous research explains the independent roles of the infralimbic cortex (IL) and the basolateral amygdala complex (BLA) as the ?stop? and ?go? mechanisms, respectively, during the process of drug addiction and relapse. My research involves a double inactivation of the IL and BLA structures in cocaine-seeking rats to further understand the behavioral and neurological mechanisms of drug relapse.

Ref#: 227
Revolution: the Tuareg rebellion as an agent of change in Niger. Jennifer Wysong, Longwood University

For centuries the Tuareg, a semi-nomadic people of Berber descent, have inhabited the harsh desert environment of Sub-Saharan Africa. Today their pastoral way of life is threatened by environmental disasters and restricted by the modern borders drawn arbitrarily by European powers. In the past, persecution of the Tuareg minorities in both Mali and Niger has driven them to rebel against the injustices of their governments in hopes of gaining equal representation and basic human rights. In February 2007 a new Tuareg group in Niger known as the Mouvement des Nigeriens pour la Justice (MNJ) took up arms once again in a desperate attempt to make their voices heard. This study reviews the history of the Tuaregs' struggle for justice, discusses the current issues facing the nomadic population in Niger, including government corruption and ecological destruction due to uranium mining, and evaluates the Mouvement's potential effectiveness in addressing these issues.

Ref#: 228
Public health system in modern Russia: death or survival? Violetta Yevstigneyeva, University of South Florida

My research is based on examination of the public health system in Russia and its transformational changes during post-soviet time. Russian public health has always been of special interest to me, first of all because I was raised in Russia in a family of medical doctors and in my everyday life I was surrounded with medical discussions on topics related to future of Soviet medicine and declining health of suffering through ?perestroika? time population. My research poster on the public healthcare in modern Russia will demonstrate weaknesses and some strengths of changing system in statistical graphs, photographs, and analysis of databases provided by WHO and Russian government. After reading lots of journals and statistics, and especially seeing it firsthand I and as a native have always had an interest in the health of different populations and how the public healthcare is organized. This topic has always been of great interest to me to me due to the many changes Russia has undergone in the last couple of decades.
[/SPOILER]

Short Panel Presentations With Audio-Visual
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Ref#: 301
Shakespeare Past and Present: Rediscovering Meaning Through Modern Re-Interpretation. G W Hitchcock II, Augusta State University

One undeniable brilliance in the body of Shakespeare?s theatrical work is its ability to be malleable, while still holding firmly to timeless and powerful meanings. This panel will present the idea of rediscovering meaning in Shakespeare?s plays by dramatically reinterpreting them. Using both a traditional paper presentation and a short film, I will present two drastic departures from traditional staging, highlighting points from both the research into and actual enactment of these new interpretations. This panel will address sensitive topics and sexuality, attendee discretion is advised.

Ref#: 302
Surface-Impact Collisions between Endohedral Fullerene Complexes and Graphene and Graphite. Victor V. Albert, University of Florida

Endohedral fullerene complexes provide a means for obtaining increased localized energy deposition when a fullerene collides with a surface at a specified incident velocity. We have performed classical molecular simulations of collisions between endohedral fullerenes He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe@C60 and sheets of graphene. We examine the fragmentation distribution of the graphene layers as well as the respective fullerene complexes.

Ref#: 303
Barrier Island Ecology: Policy, Perception, and the Possibility for Change. Dr. Bill Atwill, Ashley Cedzo, University of North Carolina Wilmington

Barrier Island Ecology is an Honors Enrichment course taught by Dr. Suzanne Dorsey, Director of the Bald Head Island Conservancy, where student research has helped shape public policy. Students learned about barrier island environments and the management issues facing them as a consequence of global climate change, and classroom discussion with two over-night field experiences on Bald Head Island. In the classroom and the field, students challenged each other to identify solutions to difficult management and policy issues. They were also required to conduct independent research projects on issues about development, construction, sand movement, hardened shorelines, and to present their topics and targeted suggestions to the community. Dr. Dorsey has since incorporated many of their suggestions into a consolidated barrier island program that Bald Head Island visitors and residence can view at the Conservancy.

Ref#: 304
Venus and the Maya: Velikovsky?s Cosmic Catastrophe Theory. Forrest Boughner and Brigette Chapman
Birmingham-Southern College.

In 1950, Immanuel Velikovsky published a theory concerning the 15th century B.C.E encounter between Earth and Venus. Along with other ancient cultures, the Maya recorded this event and incorporated it into their creation story, the Popol Vuh. The Venus symbol then appears on temples, lentils, and stelae throughout Maya history demonstrating the significance of the planet. As an astronomically oriented society, the Maya noted the positions of Venus throughout the year. The 584 day Venus cycle, in which the planet goes from morning to evening star and back, was used to coordinate many Maya events, including warfare and ceremonies. As a result of the planet?s violent beginnings, ancient cultures, including the Maya, associated Venus with distressing events. This presentation includes photographs taken during our two-week study trip to Mexico and Guatemala.

Ref#: 305
Schweitzer, Service, and Seminars. Katherine Bruce and Bill Atwill, University of North Carolina Wilmington

In 2002, our honors program inaugurated the Albert Schweitzer Honors Scholar awards to recognize an individual in the local area who exemplifies the attributes of Albert Schweitzer in music, medicine, or humanitarian efforts. This award has now become a tradition in our honors freshman seminar and led to our incorporation of a theme focused on ?how one individual can make a difference?. In this presentation we describe the origin of the awards, the Schweitzer freshman lecture, the use of Tracy Kidder?s Mountains Beyond Mountains as a common reading, the set of readings used to help the students learn who in the world Schweitzer was, and the impact this type of theme can make in a first-year experience for honors students. Discussion of similar freshman seminars will be welcome.

Ref#: 306
A Spring Break Well Spent: Feeling the Beat and Rubbing the Gel on a Medical Missions Trip to Guyana. Lauren Caines and Jessica Lastocy, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Why would anyone choose to spend their Spring Break in a developing country? As nursing and radiology students of AASU, we were given the opportunity to participate in Project DAWN (Donors and Workers Now), a study abroad medical missions trip to Guyana, South America. As we played a crucial role in the health care of the Guyanese people, we were also able to apply what we learned in the classroom by practicing skills for our future professions. Through a PowerPoint presentation, we will give you a firsthand look at our involvement in their health. We will also compare and contrast the American and Guyanese medical systems.

Ref#: 307
Honors Student Council?s Guide to the College Adventure: a Multi-faceted Approach to Student Involvement. Patrick Denning, Angel Greene, Alan Swistak, University of Memphis

The Honors Student Council at the University of Memphis strives to provide incoming freshmen and returning honors students with an honors community with which they can identify. On a commuter campus this community is extremely important to increase student retention within the honors program and within the university. The Honors Student Council has committed to creating this community through the areas of programming, intramurals, homecoming, communications, and philanthropy. These key areas provide unique opportunities for students to get involved. This presentation will focus on how the structure of the council plays an important role in accomplishing the goal of creating an honors community within a large state university. In addition, council members will detail the specific programs that were successful and provide ideas to other councils who are looking for new and interesting ideas.

Ref#: 308
Staying Fit and in the Know in an Honors Community. Missy Murray and Emily Zava, University of Memphis.

The Honors Student Council at the University of Memphis, through the restructuring of their council, wanted to give more attention to communicating with its members and giving honors students another outlet of involvement and social interaction through intramurals. This is important because in order to create a community of honors students the council found it necessary to communicate to them directly the opportunities for social, scholarly, and physical events, as well as honors program information. In addition, the council found there was no real avenue for honors students to get involved in intramurals on campus. In this presentation, the chairs of intramurals and publications would like to show how to retain honors members and keep them excited and proud to be a part of the program and its activities.

Ref#: 309
The effect of greenway establishment on human and ecological communities. Kealy Devoy, Davidson College.

A greenway is a corridor of land that usually flanks a stream, set aside for conservation and recreation. We explored the relationship between the Southeast Greenway (Davidson, NC), ecosystem quality, and environmental behavior. We investigated whether individual behaviors influence the environment, and how greenway use affects these behaviors. We examined the status of the stream along the greenway by conducting water quality and macroinvertebrate sampling. Additionally, a psychological study of the environmental attitudes of watershed residents was conducted through a survey. While no clear relationship could be established between individual behaviors and stream quality, distance of participants' residences from greenway entrances and usage frequency were significantly related to the intention to perform pro-environmental behaviors. Greenways are a form of local conservation that not only protect green space in urban and sub-urban neighborhoods directly, but may also influence the community?s intentions to perform pro-environmental behaviors.

Ref#: 310
Crossroads of the Intellectual Journey: The Story of Respondez!, a Student-Run Honors Research Journal. Simos Farrell, Brittany Friesen, Amber Robinson, University of Tampa

We will discuss all aspects of having a completely student-run Honors research publication, with a focus on the transformative potential of participation for authors and editorial staff. Topics will include organization and governance, collecting and editing materials for publication, publicity and campus involvement, and more. Attendees will learn about the benefits of such a publication in helping to foster traits of intellectual curiosity, cross-disciplinary inquiry and scholarly rigor common to all great Honors Programs. Suggestions will be offered for launching or improving an Honors research journal, and ensuring best practices in the production process. Copies of The University of Tampa's Respondez! will be made available.

Ref#: 311
Male Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program: DREAM: D-Developing; R-Renewing; E-Embracing; A-Aspiring; M-Men. Daniel Hibbert; Patrick Walker-Reese, Tennessee State University

MISSION: The purpose of this program is to foster and mentor inquisitive young men with the potential to achieve greatness. OBJECTIVES:a)To establish a group of students, faculty, and staff who volunteer to support and guide new students through the college experience; b) To attract and retain students at TSU until graduation thereby positively affecting the university, community, and the world; c) To connect students with the proper resources and materials on campus to improve their academic success. ACTIVITIES: 1) Student ambassadors who staff a drop-in center where mentees can come and get questions answered. 2) Have faculty and staff who will support the mentors with monthly meetings; 3) Have a mentor table in the cafeteria where students can ask questions; and 4) Mentors have bi-monthly lunch with mentees.

Ref#: 312
How Honors Facilitates Freshman Evolution. Abe Johns, Caitlin Brooks, Leah Hatem, & Amanda Krise, University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Easing the transition from high school senior to college freshman is a goal of many honors programs. In this presentation we share effective ways that honors student mentors and honors faculty and staff help promote the evolution of honors freshmen. Key topics include learning how increased freedom can translate into increased responsibility and community engagement; how to manage time effectively; how to develop business competency and interpersonal skills; and how to engage socially in the new campus community. The impact of unique programs in our honors program, such as the annual honors beach sweep and ?Seahawks at the Soup Kitchen?, will be described.

Ref#: 313
Words of World Leaders. Matt Palmeira and Jonathan Jack, Seminole Community College

This presentation will analyze and contrast speeches from two world leaders: Tony Blair?Former Prime Minister of Great Britain and Shinzo Abe?Prime Minister of Japan. The presenters will share information about these leaders but also the persuasive techniques that they use in their speeches. The analysis will provide insight into the values and principles that underlie the leaders? words.

Ref#: 314
Leadership Laboratory. Alona Stafford, Brittani Chavious, Daniel Hibbert, Tennessee State University

The leadership laboratory is designed to be an autonomous addition to the lecture, which supplements the material presented from the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Through internal and external development together with individual application, students will gain a greater and more personal understanding of leadership through opportunities for relevant experience and peer evaluation. From an academic perspective, traditional leadership courses often lack an environment conducive to personal relevance. The goal of the leadership laboratory is to mitigate the weaknesses by initiating a framework that meets the student where they are in their respective leadership journey. By providing an additional obligation, students will be held accountable for their personal development. Objectives: 1) Develop lasting relationships through mutual exchange and peer evaluation; 2) Become knowledgeable of their personal strengths and weaknesses; 3) Develop their own process of applying key leadership principles; and 4) Develop an enhanced global perspective.
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Short Panel Presentations Without Audio-Visual
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Ref#: 315
Sadomasochism: Pain for Pleasure. Joe Catlett and Rachel Caldas, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Traditionally, sexual behavior has been connected with childhood development. In the case of sadomasochism, it is generally viewed as a sort of post traumatic stress disorder associated with childhood sexual abuse. It is often stereotyped as unhealthy and detrimental the mental and social health of adults. There has, however, been evidence contrary to this stereotype that sadomasochism behavior is not necessarily a contributing factor in disruptions to adult mental health and social well-being. Here we intend to consider sadomasochism from both psychological and sociological standpoints as well as how the matter is viewed through the eyes of the law.

Ref#: 316
Metamorphosis: What Happens When Honors Students Study Abroad. Dr. Eric Daffron, Lauren Jee, Bridget McAdam, and Sarah Ellwein. Ina E. Gordy Honors College, Mississippi University for Women.

The Residential Honors Program at MUW is a two-year honors learning community that includes block-enrolled courses, an honors residence hall, and a study-abroad program. This presentation by the honors director and three honors students will demonstrate how study abroad can be effectively integrated into an honors learning community and how study abroad can enhance prior honors learning, sharpen characteristics typically associated with honors students, and enrich learning that occurs after the study-abroad program. The director will describe the program as a whole, while the students will share details from their honors study-abroad experience.

Ref#: 317
Drama and Debate - The Politics behind the Playbill. Skye Geerts, Hanah Hughes, Jessica Walston. University of Alabama at Birmingham.

In a country where free speech is enshrined as a necessary part of democratic debate theatre can become an important part of political discourse. Choosing where and when to stage a given work can greatly change its impact on the public. In the most idealistic of settings, a play can invite the audience members to reconsider their viewpoints and become agents of change. This presentation will discuss the decision to organize a student production of Robert Shaw?s translation of Fermin Cabal?s Tejas Verdes, about ?the disappeared? in Chile, in light of recent political debate related to torture. As a part of the presentation, a short excerpt from the work will be performed.

Ref#: 318
The Power of Service. Marcia Hotchkiss, Seth Beach, Regina Beale, Larissa Bryant, Whitney Elliott, Jamial Horner, Tennessee State University

During this panel presentation, five honors students and their instructor will discuss how service-learning impacted their classroom learning. The assignment in brief was to put into practice principles learned in an Honors Public Speaking course in a community service setting. These dedicated and motivated students did so in three different settings with children in ages ranging from kindergarten to twenty-one. Not only did the students discover that what they had learned in class applied to the real world, but they found that their lives, as well as the lives of those they taught, were changed along the way.

Ref#: 319
Abstract Ideas, Allocated Funds, and Attractive Events: Transforming Ideas Into Successful Results. Chelsea Lee, Angela Maselli, Jessica Merten, Homa Hassan, Columbia College

For advisory boards, the process of allocating time, funds, and energy to specific projects for a given time period can be a daunting task. Our presentation will illustrate the method used by the Columbia College Honors Executive Board to successfully prioritize which fundraisers, community service projects, education projects, and other activities will be accomplished. Additionally, we will discuss ways to budget for these activities, paying particular attention to the art of planning fundraisers to recoup activity costs. Our method of prioritizing, budgeting, and scheduling these events?emulating processes within the business world while cultivating professional skills?allows organizations to rank and select a choice group of events. The method transforms original ideas from diverse student groups into real world experiences. Adapting specialized techniques allows students to cultivate professional skills while improving the community around them. We anticipate a collaborative discussion between presenters and attendees to further explore this technique.

Ref#: 320
A Student Presentation: Apathy to Activism. Joshua Manuel, Mary McMillan, Curtis Box, II, Southern Arkansas University.

After observing our university community adopt an apathetic attitude towards students? academic life, our group of honors students has decided to take action. By hosting events that encourage students to actively participate in their education and, consequently, in the future of our university, we have and will continue to advocate active engagement in learning on the part of students, faculty, staff and the administration. This presentation places emphasis on the power of the student voice and the ways in which students can contribute to the advancement of the University as an institution. In addition, we will present the ways in which students like ourselves can create opportunities to communicate with the faculty, staff and administration about the importance of students taking their education seriously, the first step in promoting action and expelling apathy about learning.

Ref#: 321
Honors First Year Experience and Curriculum. Philip Whalen, Nelljean Rice, and Amelia Hammond, Coastal Carolina University.

Participants in Coastal Carolina?s first year honors Freshman Experience, Introductory Seminar and Student Mentor will discuss how the three are linked to provide a more comprehensive approach to building an honors first years experience, promoting retention, ensuring student success, and providing an introduction to multiple disciplines within the humanities all within the students? first semester.

Ref#: 322
Can They Really Be That Good? Deconstructing the Idea of Excellence in the Honors Classroom. Nancy Thomas, Ph.D., Tusculum College.

My title question, ?Can they really be that good?? is neither rhetorical nor facetious. I am concerned with our expectations of the excellence of Honors students. Conversely, are they expecting too much of themselves? They, for the most part, made above average grades in high school. Unfortunately, many of my Honors students tell me high school courses were often not challenging and their good grades do not accurately reflect their learning abilities. I believe that we must be cognizant of this when teaching freshmen Honors courses so that neither our expectations nor the students? jeopardize their ability to succeed in an Honors Program. This can be achieved by conflating the ideas of Aristotle and Obama which means we as professors must first define and demonstrate the importance of excellence for students, help them learn to internalize the concept, and teach them how to act on it so that it becomes a habit.

Ref#: 323
"The Freshman Fifteen": Eating Disorders in College Students. Lila Castellano, Courtney Lavender, and Lesley Ayla Barnhart, Macon State College

The ?Freshman Fifteen?--do college students drastically change their diets upon entering college, as popularly believed? Ramen noodles and other forms of fast food or junk food are commonly perceived to be staples in the typical college diet. However, is this conception a reality during the entire college experience or only at peak stress-level periods, such as exam week? After surveying college students over the period of one semester with 3-6 peak stress-level periods, we hope to show eating behaviors becoming erratic at stress periods and normal to semi-normal comparative to habitual diet during non-stress periods.

Ref#: 324
To Change the World You Are The Essential Piece. Olamiji Pearse, Brittani Chavious, Daniel Hibbert, Tennessee State University.

Student Leadership in Re-Envisioning Student Development at Tennessee State University: University Honors students utilize innovative strategy, leadership, and teamwork skills to redesign the Annual Student Leadership Conference at Tennessee State University. The students believe that they should demonstrate the leadership models, and create the real world organizational environments where leadership is critically needed and often practiced. They believe it is their responsibility to educate and involve students so that they can solve difficult problems with integrity and compassion in a multi-cultural, complex society. The students envision this strategic plan for the Annual Conference as not only a tremendous skill enhancement for their respective leadership skill set, but also their obligation to their university to provide a sincere and resolute legacy for those students that will attend their institution in the years to come.
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Long Panel Presentations With Audio-Visual
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Ref#: 401
Learning and Serving in Alabama's Black Belt: An Honors-Based Interim Travel Program. Dr. Lesa C. Shaul, University of Alabama

Black Belt Action is an action-oriented service learning experience for all University Honors Program members at the University of Alabama. For two-and-a-half weeks during UA?s Interim term, UHP students live in and learn about Alabama?s Black Belt, engaging in educational and cultural opportunities followed by improvement projects in elementary schools in western Black Belt counties. In 2007 students from the University of West Alabama?s Honors Program joined the UA group; honors students from several other campuses will be invited to participate in 2008.

Ref#: 402
Preparing students for research experiences: Hands on wins hands down. Alan Eberhardt, Ph.D., Mary Williams, Ph.D., Diane Tucker, Ph.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham.

As part of Science and Technology Honors students? preparation for their mentored honors thesis research, we developed two laboratory modules to provide hands on experience with foundational research methods. Each module was seven weeks long and offered as part of the freshman Research Approaches course. Students chose to participate in either the Biotechnology or the Engineering Design and Analysis module. The panel will discuss the design and implementation of each module. Student perspectives will also be presented.

Ref#: 403
Study Abroad Meets Honors Research: Studies in Negotiating Cross-Cultural Experiences. Heather Simechak Mullin, Shanna Boswell, Chelsie Noland, Amy F. Little, and Ellen B. Buckner, Ph.D., School of Nursing Honors Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham

International leadership develops through collaboration. This presentation describes how students, faculty, and mentors can, through collaboration, conduct international or cross-cultural studies building students? skills for future contributions to global scholarship. International student studies will be reported that investigated autonomy preference and Latina women, assessment of nurses? and students? beliefs and comfort in obtaining a sexual history in their practice, and nurses? motivations and burnout in two comparison countries, USA and Honduras. In another variation of a cross-cultural study, an honors student compared women?s perceptions of domestic violence in rural and urban settings. All studies received IRB approval. The processes of collaboration included deliberate stages. Students engaged with international mentors through sharing of ideas from literature documenting concerns, developing relationships by e-mail, developing research plans in honors seminars, utilizing instruments with universally recognized applicability, partnering with sponsors to provide the experience, implementing on-site projects and disseminating results to participating agencies.

Ref#: 404
Multitasking: The good, the bad, and the possible. Frank J. Provenzano (moderator), Sarah Tennant, Elizabeth Dicey, Alice Raff, Andrea Henao, Joseph Provenzano, Greenville Technical College

There is no question that technological advances, the explosion of information, and demands for achievement have often forced people to divide their attention attempting to accomplish more than one thing at a time, that is, multitask. This panel will present an overview of the pros, cons, and future of multitasking. Each presenter will speak to a different facet of multitasking: historical examples (the supermom), effects of multitasking on behavioral performance, effects of multitasking on cognitive performance, effect of multitasking on social interaction, and what multitasking may look like in the next 50 to 100 years. The panel will then open up a discussion to the general audience.

Ref#: 405
Written and Oral Communication courses for a Thematic Honors Program in Science and Engineering. Cynthia Ryan, Ph.D., Cecil Betros, Ph.D., Diane Tucker, Ph.D. University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Skills in written and oral communication are essential for students who aspire to careers in science or engineering. We customized the English composition and Public Speaking courses offered to students in the Science and Technology Honors Program to focus on scientific and technical communication. In addition, the course assignments in both courses were coordinated with a concurrent Science and Technology Honors seminar, increasing the quality of the students? work in both contexts. The presentation will describe the approach taken in these courses and include student perspectives on the experience which they provided.

Ref#: 406
Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia: Changing the Face of Medicine. Pratik Talati, Kelci Burckhardt, Emily Fledderman, and Shannon Lewis, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Physician assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia have become an important political issue in recent years with many states attempting to pass legislature to legalize either one or both practices. Oregon is the first state in the U.S. to legalize PAS, with its policy being similar to that in the Netherlands. The purpose of this panel is to explain the differences between euthanasia and PAS, to discuss the international legal status of both practices, and to show both sides of the debate over whether or not the U.S. should legalize PAS in all 50 states.

Ref#: 407
Incoming Freshman Honors Retreat: Community Building Event. Justin Chuang, Toral Patel, Finn Perkins, Chris Stovall, and Sarah Worth, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Building a strong sense of community and helping incoming freshman adjust well to the university environment is a challenge for all honors programs. The UAB Science and Technology Honors Program developed an off-campus, overnight retreat that is held annually before the start of the fall semester to build a solid foundation for entering Science and Technology Honors students. The retreat is planned and facilitated by upperclassmen. Preparatory and wrap up sessions maximize the leadership training benefits of this experience for the students. The panel will describe the key components of the retreat experience, outline the planning process, and discuss the role of the retreat in the growth and development of our young honors program.
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Long Panel Presentations Without Audio-Visual
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Ref#: 408
Honors Living-and-Learning Communities and the Residential College Movement. Rick Scott, Phil Frana, University of Central Arkansas

Over the past year the Honors College at the University of Central Arkansas has learned that there is strength in a diversity of approaches to combining academics and student life. For one year we followed our university's residential college model with its focus on first-year programs. We quickly realized that this approach did not fully account for the needs of our Honors living/learning program. We no longer plan to implement an Honors residential college. Instead we are going to continue developing our living-and-learning community, and establish our own independent Honors Mentor program. In this presentation we will explain our renewed focus on excellence as the standard for "living" and quality supplemental instruction as the ideal for "learning."

Ref#: 409
How honors programs can enhance the undergraduate experience for adult students. Margret Skaftadottir, Catherine Griggs, Kelly Ackerman, Kristen Cabral, Juliet Carroll, Deborah Fischbach, Donna Knudson, Shantelle Smithson, Jonathan Tennis, Donald Thompson, Hart Turrell, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida

For over thirty years the Program for Experienced Learners (PEL) at Eckerd College has been a national and a local leader in adult education. In 2004, PEL instituted an honors program to offer outstanding students the opportunity to fully benefit from the liberal arts approach to education. In the PEL Honors Program, adult students have the opportunity to form an intensive intellectual learning community that focuses on exploring several major themes from a variety of perspectives and disciplines. For this presentation a panel consisting of the nine current members of the honors program will discuss how participating in the honors program has influenced their career choices, research interests, and sense of intellectual growth in light of their current studies and research.


Short Digital Films
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Ref#: 501
Reaching for the Stars. Karen Rodriquez and Gina Gonzales, Southwest Tennessee Community College.

The short documentary Reaching for the Stars was produced by students enrolled in Southwest Tennessee Community College?s Honors Inquiry I class, which focused on ?The Art of Film,? the program?s theme for 2007-2008. This ?docu-tell,? in the tradition of muckraking documentaries, will be shown and reviewed for its artistic value and social commentary. ?Reaching,? created by two students who are themselves Mexican immigrants to the U.S., is a ?docu-tell? on the educational travails of undocumented immigrants here in the U.S. The students hope that in this election year, with immigration a major issue, this film will provoke especially relevant dialogue.

Ref#: 502
Sins of the Blind. Michelle Sweeney, Southwest Tennessee Community College.

Sins of the Blind, a documentary produced for Honors Inquiry I at Southwest Tennessee Community College, in Memphis, is an eye-opening documentary about the devastating genocide occurring in the Sudanese region of Darfur. Witness heartbreaking stories of people attempting to live their lives under the most horrifying of circumstances. And also take a look at everyday Memphians--and their awareness and lack of awareness--of the deplorable situation in Darfur.

Ref#: 503
Ummah: A Portrait of Muslims in Birmingham. Jonathan Woolley and Mark Hutson, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Filmed in 2006 as a student project for a documentary film class, Ummah: A Portrait of Muslims in Birmingham offers audiences a glimpse at an Islamic community in the Magic City. In the course of a semester, filmmakers follow the lives of individuals in the community to gain understanding of Muslim identity.

Ref#: 504
Mixed Hope. Anamaria Santiago, Allen Hyde, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

After noticing the movement of people from the suburbs into the downtown area in order to revitalize and restore the city of Birmingham, the filmmakers became particularly interested in the Park Place community. They soon discovered Park Place?s status as a Hope VI project, a national mixed income housing project. They hoped to document community development and interaction in mixed-income housing by interviewing several participants. What they found was a wonderful and progressive concept that was not living up to its potential because of faulty communication and some elements of gentrification in the history of development. They noticed that there was a disconnect between the progressive idealism framework of the project and its actual application in that community. The film examines the community and the various feelings of hope from various occupants and administrative staff involved in the project.

Ref#: 505
Senegal: The Beat of Africa. Winsor Yuan & Miriam Abadie, University of Mississippi

This film follows a young honors student embarking on a trip through Senegal. As she learns about the creation and history behind the African djembe, she also explores the impact of music on the Senegalese people. Through her eyes, the audience is also able to learn what life is like as a Peace Corps Volunteer in a small isolated village. The forte of the film comes as she demonstrates the djembe making process and realizes that, while she had come to learn about Senegalese music. She had left with an experience of a lifetime.
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Music Performances
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Ref#: 601
Classical German and Italian Arias. Erica Daly, Lindsey Toole, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Se tu m?ami by G.B. Pergolese di Jesi is an 18th century Italian love song. This romantic piece is usually performed by a mezzo soprano as it demonstrates the soprano?s range with quick movement up the scale. Bist du bie mir by J. S. Bach shares the same time period and romantic theme. Bist du bie mir is often performed at weddings due to its spiritual explanation of love. It has a smooth and connected melody which contrasts with the staccato melody by Pergolese.

Ref#: 602
?The Dynamic Debussy: Golliwog?s Cakewalk." Gina Maddox, Augusta State University

Golliwog?s Cakewalk is the last piece in Claude Debussy?s Children?s Corner collection. Debussy was well-known for his unusual sounds and unorthodox compositions; this piece, which will be performed on piano, exemplifies one of many aspects of his versatility as well as the then-emerging style of ?cakewalk? song and dance. This selection has clearly been modeled after ragtime and jazz, but overall, Debussy's works are categorized as classical music.

Ref#: 603
Dream Theater?s "Overture 1928": Metamorphosis of Music. Harry Miree, University of Alabama at Birmingham

This musical demonstration will examine the drastic changes that musical concepts can undergo in a short overture. Written by Dream Theater, "Overture 1928" summarizes the musical concepts introduced by their 1999 album, "Scenes from a Memory". As concepts begin to settle in the listener?s aural perception, they are quickly replaced by newer concepts that relate to the original but bring about a structural change in some way, therefore inciting musical metamorphosis. The performance on drums will be accompanied by synthesized guitar, bass and keys.

Ref#: 604
Gradus ad Parnassum. Gertie Parker, University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum is a satirical piano composition by Claude Debussy, from his suite Children's Corner. Children?s Corner was published in the year of 1908. It is a part of his music that represents his transition from romantic to modernist music. Claude Debussy was born in St. Germain-en-Laye on the 22nd of August in the year 1862. He died in Paris on the 25th of March. This is a beautiful piece. I will need a piano!
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Art & Sculpture
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Ref#: 701
Adventure. Stephanie Balser, Armstrong Atlantic State University

The medium is acrylic paint on pre-gessoed canvas. Four animals poke heir heads through a hydrangea bush with blue flowers. All four are my pets. On top is Ebon, a three-year-old Labrador Retriever. Below him is Charlie, a thirteen-year-old Labrador Retriever cross. Below him is Albus, a six-year-old Siamese cross. Lastly, below him is Ginny-fur, a five-year-old half-feral former street cat. Insects and spiders crawl over the leaves of the bush. In the bottom two corners, my hands work to complete the final touches.

Ref#: 702
Administrative Assistants can have Hobbies Too. Sherry Cortes, Armstrong Atlantic State University

As a part-time graduate student and a full-time employee of Armstrong Atlantic State University, life is kept pretty busy. Not to mention the out of office work (happily) taken on for the Honors Program, including social, community service, and academic activities. It is difficult to believe that there?s a chance to sit down on the weekend and work on something that has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the obligations or even what you want to pursue professionally, only that it is a life-long passion. To be presented is a series of three paintings done in acrylic paint and graphite on stretched canvas. Their creation was simply a notion carried through by an administrative assistant during some few free hours. They are not for profit or show other than personal enjoyment and at the Southern Regional Honors Conference.

Ref#: 703
Artifact 1. G W Hitchcock II, Augusta State University

A 4? x 8? wall hanging. This piece was part of an assignment to construct a wooden sculpture. I wanted to reference man?s earliest construction technique, weaving baskets from strips of wood, while invoking the ideas of Charles and Ray Eames, functional beauty and simple design that could be mass produced for society-at-large.

Ref#: 704
"Abstract Progression." Barbara Stubbs, University of Tampa

This work is a realistic image of an artichoke that evolves into an abstraction. It is painted in oil on three 12" x 12" canvas panels. The work is directly influenced by the images seen through the microscope used when I assisted a scientist during a workshop at the Micrographia Exhibit at the Museum of the History of Science at Oxford University. This work not illustrates the theme of metamorphosis but also encourages the viewer to examine closely.
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Best Practices Panel Discussions
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Ref#: 801
When success is never enough: The Metamorphosis of an Honors Program. Lydia Lyons and Lauren Grinstead, Honors Institute, Hillsborough Community College

As with any outstanding ambassador program, continual analysis and evaluation are important to its lasting success. Our panel will present our evaluation of an existing program and our internal recommendations for metamorphose. The approach used to determine the recommendations is helpful when applied to an existing activity in an Honors program.

Ref#: 802
Reflective Learning Portfolios: Benefits and Challenges in Honors Education
Hannah Hancock, Katie Harsey, Cathy Miller, John Zubizarreta, Columbia College

Engaging honors students in continuous reflection about their work and the process of learning is a powerful complement to traditional measures of achievement. The portfolio is a compelling method of recording intellectual growth and involving students in a rich, critically reflective process that enhances their education at more sophisticated honors levels. We offer a quick primer on the value of reflective practice in student learning and an opportunity to hear students? perspectives on the benefits and challenges of portfolio development. We focus on portfolios as a process not only of collecting representative samples of work for evaluation or career preparation but also of addressing critical questions such as what one has learned; how it was learned; when it was learned; how it fits into comprehensive goals for learning; and why it was valuable to learn. We will present fundamentals, share models, and discover new ideas through interactive conversation.

Ref#: 803
Incorporation of Class Debates into an Honors Course. Jonathan Roberts, Erica Daly, Josh Coleman, Monica Kessler, Billy Jean Stalwart, Armstrong Atlantic State University

This presentation will discuss how class debates were incorporated into an Honors Introduction to Psychology course. The professor, Jonathan Roberts, will discuss the specific details of the debate format, including the materials handed out to the students and the use of a double elimination format. The students will discuss their involvement in the debates, how it enriched their Honors experience, and they will also recreate one of the debates they had in class.

Ref#: 804
TechnoBowl or How Technology Has Changed the Honors Experience. Joyce W. Fields and John Zubizarreta, Columbia College.

This experience is designed to follow the fishbowl format only students will be recruited at SRHC and asked to respond to questions regarding the use and impact of websites, blogs, threaded discussions, webcams, electronic portfolios, etc. on their honors experiences. As we move even more into electronic mediums to communicate ideas, the impressions, successes, and challenges for students will be of interest to all SRHC constituents.

Ref #805 (See BIH)

Ref#: 806
Metamorphosis: The Transformation from High School to Collegiate Honors. Hannah J. Hancock, Rebecca Friday, Columbia College.

The process by which Columbia College transforms high school students to collegiate honors students is unique in that it is student directed and is thereby individualistic each year. We will take you through the process of selecting the orientation committee, the initial brainstorming sessions, and how that leads to a fresh orientation for each year, reflective of the gifts and talents of the committee. We will share the differences of the past orientation programs in order to show the evolution of the orientation, exemplifying the originality of each orientation.

Ref#: 807
Resource Development in Honors: A New Initiative at Middle Tennessee State University. Philip M. Mathis, Middle Tennessee State University.

The 2007-2017 Academic Master Plan at Middle Tennessee State University calls for the university to promote its Honors College as a national leader among programs and academic units dedicated to educating highly qualified students. Even though current facilities, programs, and administrative support are outstanding, it is apparent that friends, alumni, and new private resources will be needed to permit MTSU?s Honors College to win recognition as a national leader. The purpose of this session will be to describe current resources and indicate how new resources, including the newly organized Honors College Board of Visitors, will contribute to the goal of providing enhanced excellence and recognition.

Ref#: 808
Best Practices in Honors Interdisciplinary courses. Homer S. White, Ph.D., Georgetown College.

The Honors Program at Georgetown College places a fairly high value on interdisciplinary experiences for students, primarily through an annual team-taught Interdisciplinary Seminar at the junior-senior level. There are also opportunities for interdisciplinary work in the one-credit Honors Reading Group, and through "loose links" established by individual professors teaching lower-level Honors Sections that are offered simultaneously. I can discuss a few examples of what has been done in the past few, indicate what seems to work best, and maybe conttibute a few general remarks to spark discussion on what constitutes "intellectually responsible interdisciplinarity." Sample Seminar topics from past years (with disciplines addressed): Evolution and Religion (biology, cosmology, philosphy, theology, literature, mathematics). Genius and Madness (psychology, art history, philology, mathematics, and many more). Some Honors Reading Groups: 19th century British Novels and Their Cinematic Versions. Why Is Sex Fun? (evolutionary biology, politics, history, theology, cultural studies).

Ref#: 809
Honors Week: Beyond the Classroom - A Dollars for Scholars Funded Project. Tracie L. Burke, Burton Bridges, Carolyn Fly. Christian Brothers University

The Christian Brothers University Honors Program received Dollars for Scholars funding to present Honors Week during the first week of school year in August 2007. The Honors Program sponsored one event each day of the week to introduce new freshman Honors students to the program and the university, to welcome back upper class honors students, and to raise Honors Program awareness on the CBU campus. This presentation will describe how the CBU Honors Program organized Honors Week and will also share the logistics so other programs can benefit from this exciting event.

Beginning in Honors Workshop
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Ref#: BIH 1
Beginning in Honors, 1. Getting Started as an Honors Director- Everything they didn't tell you when you took the job. Greg Lanier, University of West Florida (The Beginning in Honors workshop is designed to acquaint faculty, staff, and administrators that are new to honors programs or honors colleges with the nuts and bolts of honors administration. The workshop will introduce participants to all aspects of honors administration including budget, curriculum design, course and program evaluation, extracurricular programs, facilities and resources, and working with university administration)

Ref#: BIH 2
Beginning in Honors, 2. Administrivia and Budgets. Greg Lanier, University of West Florida. (The Beginning in Honors workshop is designed to acquaint faculty, staff, and administrators that are new to honors programs or honors colleges with the nuts and bolts of honors administration. The workshop will introduce participants to all aspects of honors administration including budget, curriculum design, course and program evaluation, extracurricular programs, facilities and resources, and working with university administration)

Ref#: BIH 3
Beginning in Honors, 3.Curriculum, Teaching, and Assessment . Greg Lanier, University of West Florida. (The Beginning in Honors workshop is designed to acquaint faculty, staff, and administrators that are new to honors programs or honors colleges with the nuts and bolts of honors administration. The workshop will introduce participants to all aspects of honors administration including budget, curriculum design, course and program evaluation, extracurricular programs, facilities and resources, and working with university administration)

Ref#: BIH 4
Beginning in Honors, 4. Students, Facilities, Extra-curricular activities. Greg Lanier, University of West Florida. (The Beginning in Honors workshop is designed to acquaint faculty, staff, and administrators that are new to honors programs or honors colleges with the nuts and bolts of honors administration. The workshop will introduce participants to all aspects of honors administration including budget, curriculum design, course and program evaluation, extracurricular programs, facilities and resources, and working with university administration)
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