9:00 RECONSTRUCTION OF SUBSISTENCE PRACTICES AT THE COFFERDAM (22LO599) AND KELLOGG VILLAGE (22CL527) SITES: AN ANALYSIS OF OCCLUSAL DENTAL MICROWEAR

Brody Fredericksen* and Marie Elaine Danforth, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

A dental sample from the Cofferdam and Kellogg Village sites in northeast Mississippi was examined for patterns of microwear in order to reconstruct dietary practices. The sites date to the Late Woodland (A.D. 600-1000) and early Mississippian (A.D. 1000-1200) periods, respectively, during which time populations in the region underwent a transition from a foraging- to a horticulture-based economy. This subsistence shift has been well documented at larger centers, but its characteristics at small hamlets such as these, where more continued reliance on wild resources might be expected, has not been extensively examined. A total of 28 mandibular second molars was cleaned ultrasonically, and occlusal surfaces were viewed at 500 to 1500x magnification using environmental scanning electron microscopy. Comparison of enamel topography between the two samples showed general similarity in patterns of pits and grooves. Both had numerous medium to large striations present, suggesting consumption of abrasive materials, which might result from food preparation methods. Cofferdam did display more compression fractures, most likely caused by nut hulls. Although there was somewhat more polishing seen in the Kellogg series, suggesting some reliance on vegetable materials, the inhabitants most likely still had a mixed economic base compared to that seen at more densely populated Mississippian centers.

9:15 HEGEMONY IN A CAPTIVE LEMURIDAE POPULATION

K. Chimène Gecewicz, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

The main focus of this research is aggressive agonistic behavior exhibited by four communally housed species of Malagasy primates of the Lemuriformes superfamily. The study group consists of ten captive born, male prosimians from the family Lemuridae: four red ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegate ruber), two black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegate variegate), two black lemurs (Lemur macaco), and two ringtailed lemurs (Lemur catta). This group was observed for a total of 840 minutes (150 of which involved feeding periods) over the course of seven weeks. Data collection focused on displays of aggressive agonistic behavior. The results of this preliminary study of Lemuridae behavior indicate the presence of a dominance hierarchy which is related to resource access. 192 aggressive agonistic encounters were recorded of which 170 were dominated by V. v. ruber (88%), 21 were dominated by V. v. variegate (11%), one was dominated by L. catta (1%), and none were dominated by L. macaco. A general increase in aggressive agonistic behavior was observed during feeding periods. While an increase in aggressive agonistic behavior was expected during feeding periods, other behavioral patterns emerged which are not consistent with research involving free or semi-free ranging populations. For example, during the course of this study the two L. catta did not exhibit characteristic intraspecies aggressive agonistic behavior. On the basis of observed inconsistencies this study calls for further research on the social behavior of captive Lemuridae.

9:30 SLAVE SUBSISTENCE PATTERNS AT A NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI ANTEBELLUM COTTON PLANTATION: EVIDENCE FROM ZOOARCHAEOLOGICAL REMAINS

Michael W. Tuma, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

In an attempt to better understand the lifeways of African-American slaves on Deep South Antebellum cotton plantations, including subsistence practices and patterns, archaeological testing was performed on the Saragosa plantation grounds in Natchez, Mississippi during July, 1997. Twenty 1 m x 1 m units were excavated in an area where former slave houses once stood, and a total of 497 animal bones and bone fragments were recovered. A significant portion of the sample was unidentifiable large mammal remains, which accounted for over 58% of the number of identifiable specimens (NISP), and over 20% of the total sample by weight. Identifiable remains from the sample were predominated by domesticated pig, which accounted for over 15% of the total NISP, and nearly 40% of the total sample by weight. Other domesticated animals included in the sample were cow, sheep/goat, and chicken. While domesticated animals accounted for 66.18% of the identifiable NISP and 73.09% of the weight of identifiable bones, hunted or collected wild resources made up a significant portion of the slave diet as well. Aquatic resources (identifiable sample %NISP=23.53, %weight=21.10) included river clams, aquatic turtles, gar, catfish, and sucker. Hunted terrestrial resources (identifiable sample %NISP=10.29, %weight=5.81) included deer and opossum. These data confirm that African American slaves at Saragosa plantation supplemented their diets significantly with wild resources, a strategy which allowed them to successfully overcome nutritional deficiencies and diversify their diets.

9:45 THE EFFECTS OF GENDER, RELIGION, AND URBANITY ON STUDENT SUBSTANCE USE

Janice R. Lewis* and Marlene Setze, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217

Alcohol and other drugs have been more frequently used among individuals, ages eighteen to twenty-five, than among individuals in other age groups. The purpose of this study is to examine the use of alcohol and other drugs by college students. Six hypotheses were tested relative to the use of alcohol and marijuana: (1) the relationship between gender and alcohol use, (2) the relationship between religion and alcohol use, (3) the relationship between hometown residence and alcohol use, (4) the relationship between gender and marijuana use, (5) the relationship between religion and marijuana use, and (6) the relationship between hometown residence and marijuana use. The subjects involved were African-American males and females. The subjects were college Freshmen enrolled in Guidance courses at a small university in the South . There were 148 subjects involved in this study. The instrument used was a questionnaire inquiring about the students' attitudes toward and uses of marijuana and alcohol designed by the Interdisciplinary Alcohol and Drug Studies Center. The questionnaire consisted of thirty-five questions with a completion time of up to thirty minutes. The professors administered the questionnaire during the class period. The results showed: (1) females were just as likely to drink alcohol as males, (2) students in conservative religions were just as likely to drink alcohol as students in liberal religions, (3) students from rural areas were just as likely to drink alcohol as students from urban areas, (4) females were more likely to use marijuana than males (p<.05), (5) students in conservative religions were just as likely to use marijuana as students in liberal religions, (6) students from rural areas were more likely to use marijuana than students from urban areas (p<.05). This research was supported by NIMH-COR Grant MH-16926.

10:00 Break

10:15 A JOKING MATTER: SOCIOLINGUISTICS AT WORK WITHIN SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

Valerie A. Plested, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78250, and University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39401

This paper focuses on client reactions to the linguistic strategies used by Southwest Airlines to create an informal, relaxed environment. These strategies contrast with the formal, quasi-military model that has dominated the use of symbols, titles, and modes of interaction with customers in the commercial airline industry. Southwest Airlines is unique in its promotion of the use of jokes and humor as part of the management philosophy to break the seal of formality in business interactions. This project was designed to assess the success of Southwest's efforts through the study of clients' reactions to the use of humor. Clients with previous flight experience with the airline were surveyed at the Southwest terminals of two international airports. Survey questions inquired about participants' frequency of air travel, observations of and reactions to Southwest employee behavior, and their impressions about the corporation. Male clients were more likely than female clients to have observed Southwest's more casual environment (91% vs. 44%), and 95% of those who observed the casual atmosphere attributed it in part to joking behavior. Male participants tended to be younger, more likely to be travelling on business, and more frequent travelers than females. Flight experience within the commercial airline industry allowed those participants a contrastive example to Southwest's tactics. The results of this study underscore the role of experience in structuring expectations, and therefore experiences of communicative practices.

10:30 A STUDY OF HIV PREVENTION AND TEST COUNSELING: THE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF CLIENT-CENTERED DISCOURSE

Ann Marie Kinnell, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

This study is about the work that both counselors and clients do in order to assess the client's risk for infection during HIV prevention and test counseling. From a conversation analytic perspective, I transcribe in detail audiotapes of twenty-six HIV pre-test counseling sessions. From the analysis of the tapes and transcripts, I find that counselors employ three strategies for doing risk assessment. My study has implications for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for HIV prevention and test counseling, which recommend that counseling be "client-centered," i.e., counseling should be conducted in an interactive manner responsive to individual client needs. Overall, I find that strategies that are more effective at obtaining information about risk behaviors from clients seem to be less client-centered and strategies that are more client-centered are somewhat less effective in getting clients to discuss their risk behaviors. By using each of the three strategies over the course of a counseling session, counselors can draw on the relative strengths of each one, gathering important risk information from clients while engaging the clients in a client-centered discussion of those risks.

10:45 A NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF RAPE STORIES IN "TRUE CRIME" NOVELS

Amy L. Chasteen, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

This paper investigates portrayals of rape in "true crime" novels. This genre has for decades used the printed form to re-tell stories of highly visible and often bizarre criminal cases. Regardless of the particular case examined, true crime novels share a common set of narrative characteristics. Since the nature of the crime, the criminal and the case itself are publicly known prior to book's release, true crime novels rely on a different formula than other genres to attract readers. Rather than compelling readers with suspense as they figure out who committed what crimes, true crime novels lure and keep readers by focusing on how and, more significantly, why people commit horrific acts like sexual assault. Through in-depth narrative analysis of a sample of 26 true crime novels about sexual assault, I educe four key processes used to explain how and why the rapes occurred, the processes of rapist development, criminal discovery, legal injustice and eventual retribution. These interrelated storylines together combine to create a picture of a dangerous world in which criminals prey on the rest of us while the law stands by, hands tied. Through this analysis, I reveal key narrative features of the true crime formula and provide insight into the relationships between this media form and larger social ideas about crime, legal responsibility and justice.

11:00 Divisional Business Meeting

2:00-4:00 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXCHANGE: STUDENT POSTER SESSION

J. Reid Jones* and Charles Alexander, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS 38733, and University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677

Research papers from undergraduates sponsored by Academy members were requested from all divisions of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences. Papers were accepted in three categories: (1) research proposals, (2) research in progress, and (3) final research reports. Undergraduate authors who were listed on the regular academy program were also invited to participate. Interdisciplinary discussion groups were organized by faculty sponsors. Names, phones, disciplines, post office, and e-mail addresses were exchanged to promote intradisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and intra-institutional networking and correspondence. Where possible, plans were made for data collection to proceed at multiple universities. Proceedings of the research exchange included a listing of presentations, authors, and abstracts. The Proceedings are made available from the authors.

9:00-11:30 WORKSHOP: ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF GENETIC RESEARCH

Darrel G. Degraw* and R.W. Rockhold*, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS 38733, and University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216-4505

Ethics have been receiving increased attention in all aspects of human endeavor. Genetic research is no exception, for where else can there be so much danger of misuse of information? Rapid advances in genetic research such as the Human Genome Project and "cloning" have raised many ethical, legal, and social questions. In response to these concerns, the National Institutes of Health has added requirements to bolster the research training of potential grantees. This workshop examined the following areas: (a) an overview of research ethics, (b) a historical sketch of ethics and genetics emphasizing issues raised by the Human Genome Project, (c) case studies illustrating possible ethical dilemmas, and (d) audience discussion and participation. An extensive bibliography on research ethics was distributed.