acase@tulane.edu / Natural systems can be altered, over a wide range of time scales, through changes in environmental conditions. In the Mississippi Delta, which has been shaped by changes in sediment deposition and sea level at the land-ocean interface over the Holocene, changes to environmental conditions lead to state changes that can be observed in both modern ecosystems and the depositional record. Alluvial strata (which comprise the bulk of the world’s sedimentary record) can provide insight into past triggers for ecosystem state changes and can be compared to modern monitoring data to paint a fuller picture of system response to environmental change. Given the large potential impact of anthropogenic climate change on natural systems, this combination of modern and paleo-environmental information may improve our ability to predict future conditions. This dissertation explores coastal and delta plain ecosystem responses to environmental change, particularly relative sea-level rise over annual to millennial timescales (Chapters 2 and 3) and rates of carbon storage by organic and clastic deposits in the Mississippi Delta (Chapter 4). Chapter 2 describes the results of an analysis of how subsidence and relative sea-level rise affect modern wetlands in coastal Louisiana. Using 274 rod surface-elevation table – marker horizon records, GPS measurements, and satellite altimetry data from the Gulf of Mexico, this chapter assesses present-day wetland vulnerability given current environmental conditions. Chapter 3 describes an analysis of how changes in past environmental conditions, specifically variable rates of relative sea-level rise, impacted marshes in the Mississippi Delta throughout the Holocene. Using 355 sediment cores, this chapter identifies relative sea-level rise tipping points that lead to marsh collapse and a state shift from marsh to open water. Using 14C dating, foraminiferal assemblage analysis, and stable isotope geochemistry, this chapter also estimates the time necessary for reestablishment of terrestrial conditions after an initial marsh collapse and conversion to open water at one selected location. Together, these results provide a framework for projecting likely marsh response to future increased rates of relative sea-level rise in coastal Louisiana. The combination of these studies provides a more complete picture of modern and future wetland vulnerability in coastal Louisiana and provides unique insights into the limitations of short-term observational studies of marsh conditions for projecting long-term outcomes in response to environmental change. Chapter 4 describes the results of a comparative analysis of carbon storage rates in organic and clastic deposits within the Holocene sedimentary record near Bayou Lafourche in the Mississippi Delta. Using 14C and OSL dating, elemental analysis, and bulk density measurements collected from three sediment cores, this chapter calculates carbon storage rates to determine the relative carbon storage efficiency of these deposits. This chapter provides an important comparison to similar work in deltaic deposits of the Wax Lake Delta. Furthermore, the high rates of carbon storage within the dominantly clastic deposits, which are interpreted as a proxy for planned sediment diversions in the region, provide an estimate for future carbon storage potential by these coastal restoration efforts. / 1 / Krista L. Jankowski

Having constructed a plantation economy in the Yazoo Mississippi Delta, white Delta planters struggled to retain control of African-American labor after the start of the Civil War. In their effort, the planters manipulated the Freedmen's Bureau; passed the Black Code; sought out foreign labor; and condoned extralegal intimidation. The Civil War disrupted the plantation economy of the Yazoo Delta, prompting the planters to pursue innovative means to preserve the status quo. To achieve this end, they fought with the Confederate government for control of the militia, attempting to stabilize an economy rocked by military incursions, deserters, and outbreaks of lawlessness. Emancipation, the ultimate disruption to the plantation, precipitated a struggle between these former masters and African-Americans seeking to find the meaning of their freedom. The United States government also attempted to restructure the plantation economy of the Delta after the Civil War, but planters often manipulated federal authority to their advantage. Charged with protecting the interests of the freedmen, the Freedmen's Bureau, for example, frequently accommodated the labor needs of Delta planters, even transporting labor to the plantations when necessary. Similarly, Union military commanders frequently supported the planters in their attempt to control black labor. Delta planters, however, wished themselves entirely free of outside governance. Thus, in 1865, they helped formulate the Black Code, seeking to limit the labor options of the freedmen. When Congress negated this code, the planters sought foreign laborers to force African-Americans into economic desperation. Under congressional patronage, moderate Republicans, led by Delta planter James L. Alcorn, attempted to build a party led by white men and supported by African-American votes. When this moderate "Alcorn Republican" system failed in 1873, the planters aligned themselves with the "straight out" Democratic party, rather than support the pro-black Republicans led by Adelbert Ames. Using a system of fraud and brute violence, the white planters ultimately seized power from the Republican party in 1875. This "Mississippi Plan" allowed the planters to remove labor from politics, free the state from authority inimical to their interests, and ensure continuation of the plantation economy.

Understanding of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors toward health issues, such as physical inactivity, within certain populations are often studied to design programs and interventions specific to communities. A total of six elementary schools were chosen in the Mississippi Delta, two elementary schools within three school districts, to provide a deeper understanding of barriers to physical activity. Fortyour parents and guardians of elementary aged children participated in focus groups to discuss current physical activity levels and factors impacting and limiting local children’s physical activity levels. The most frequently reported barriers were environmental issues such as fear of children’s safety, lack of resources, and individual and social constraints such as time, parental influences, and television viewing. Concerns about safety and violence were the most frequently mentioned issues among participants. Collection through other methods of research is needed to further understand and assess the problems faced in this region.

archives@tulane.edu / Over the past two centuries, coastal wetlands have become increasingly threatened by accelerated relative sea-level rise and anthropogenic modification. Engineered structures such as sea walls, levees, and drainage systems prevent natural processes of sediment distribution, reducing the resilience of coastal ecosystems. Land subsidence and shoreline erosion combine with global sea-level rise to make low-elevation coastal zones increasingly vulnerable to submergence. This dissertation examines processes of sediment accumulation, compaction, and relative sea-level rise in coastal wetlands and assesses strategies for restoration. I find that organic content strongly controls sediment compaction in wetland sediments. At least 80% of compaction happens quickly, largely within the first 100 years after deposition and in the top 1 m of the subsurface. This rapid shallow compaction is generally not recorded by traditional methods of measuring relative sea-level rise in low-elevation coastal zones (i.e., tide gauges and global navigation satellite systems). As a result, tide gauges generally underestimate rates of relative sea-level rise in low-elevation coastal zones and these areas may be at a greater risk of flooding than previously realized. However, despite accelerated rates of relative sea-level rise and rapid sediment compaction, coastal restoration efforts such as river diversions can be successful in building new land in some areas. I find that sediment deposition responds non-linearly to water discharge, reaching a maximum at moderate discharge. Wetlands are more likely to keep up with relative sea-level rise if hydrodynamic conditions are optimized to retain mineral sediment in targeted restoration areas. / 1 / Margaret Keogh

Alcohol and drug use are common among middle school students, but drug use intervention programs in schools can decrease the number of youth participating in such behaviors. More than half of Mississippi’s youth self-reported that they had tried alcohol and cigarettes, and over a third of them had tried marijuana. The Delta Council implemented its 2010-2011 D.A.R.E. program in 33 Delta middle schools and administered pre- and post-test surveys to participating students. Survey items were broken into five domains and responses were assigned a numerical value. Data were divided into subgroups, and t-tests were used to determine if the mean differences between pre- and post-test were significant from zero. Students scored the highest in the areas of active and passive decision making and substance use expectancy which indicates that the program was beneficial to some students.

The primary purpose of the research study was to identify the most common discipline infractions and consequences for Grade 7 and Grade 8 students enrolled in a middle school located in the Mississippi Delta. In addition, the study sought to determine relationships among the common discipline infractions and student performance and the common discipline consequences and student performance on the statewide assessments for English/language arts (ELA) and mathematics by grade level. The study utilized existing data for the Grade 7 and Grade 8 students who had committed one or more disciplinary infractions during the 2017-2018 school year and had ELA and mathematics scores during the 2018-19 school year. The results of the study showed class disruptions, physical aggression, inappropriate language, disorderly conduct, and fighting were the top five disciplinary infractions. Out-of-school suspension (OSS) was the most common consequence for the students. For Grade 7 students, the results of Pearson correlations showed statistically significant relationships existed between grouped infractions (passing gas, being in the wrong location, falsifying notes, pulling a student by his/her leg, and putting a student’s tablet in trash) and ELA scores, and between the same grouped infractions and mathematics scores. For Grade 8 students, there was a statistically significant relationship between students refusing to comply and ELA scores, and students refusing to comply and mathematics scores. In addition, for Grade 7 students, significant relationships existed between 4-day OSSs and ELA scores, and between 4-day OSSs and mathematics scores. For Grade 8 students, statistically significant relationships existed between receiving corporal punishment and ELA scores and alternative school and ELA scores. Further, statistically significant relationships existed between receiving corporal punishment and mathematics scores, and alternative school and mathematics scores for Grade 8 students.

The purpose of the study was to determine students’ and faculty members’perceptions of the accelerated nursing programs at two colleges in the Mississippi Delta, Coahoma and Mississippi Delta Community College. The study centered on whether the age, race or gender of the students affected their perceptions of program support, key issues and challenges, and program limitations. The study explored differences in faculty and students’ perceptions of the accelerated nursing program in regards to local support, nursing faculty, most complicated areas of the program (which were clinical and exams), and barriers. A quantitative research design was used for this study. The survey was themethodological framework that was employed in this investigation to collect the data. The participants consisted of 13 faculty members and 33 students of the accelerated nursing program at two community colleges. The procedure to gather data for this study was two surveys developed by the researcher. The data in this study were obtained by using an Independent t-test, ANOVA and descriptive statistics. The following were findings of this study. No significant differences found in students’ perceptions of the accelerated nursing program by age or gender. Significant differences were found in students’ perceptions of the accelerated nursing program by race. The differences found were that Caucasians had a more positive perception than African Americans of salary attracting them to stay and work in the Mississippi Delta. Caucasians also had a more positive perception than African Americans that clinical is the most complicated area of the nursing program. In addition, Caucasians had a more positive perception than African Americans that transportation was a program barrier. Overall, faculty perceptions of the accelerated nursing program varied. Significant differences were found when students; and faculty perceptions were compared. The differences found were that students felt positive about the exams being the most complicated area of the program and the faculty disagreed. The other difference found was that faculty had a negative feeling toward their college lacking financial support from the local area, while students had a positive feeling.

The Mississippi Delta has been recognized for its poverty level and high rate of obesity. As an effort to combat the obesity issue while also considering the poverty issue of the population, a descriptive analysis was developed to understand what intervention might be beneficial. Focus groups were conducted to determine barriers to healthy eating behaviors for children, grades K-2. Focus groups (n=6) with parents or guardians of children from the six elementary schools in the Mississippi Delta were conducted in the Spring of 2007. The emergent themes included, perceived healthy foods, where diet information had been retrieved, and the efforts associated with meal preparation. Participants also voiced concern regarding the school policy on vending and coke machines that provide high-calorie non-nutritious foods.

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University.

In March 2010, parents and community activists in rural Sunflower County, Mississippi, organized and enacted a boycott of the local public schools, which led to a comprehensive accreditation audit by the Mississippi Department of Education and the subsequent takeover of the local education agency. This study examines the boycott's connections to local discourses of protest in the Black community, to local histories and contemporary quality of life, and to the circulations of power evident in the grassroots activism and in the state intervention. This work is situated in an interdisciplinary theoretical framework which draws on place studies, rhizome theory, Levinasian ethics, and Critical Discourse Analysis. Using ethnographic methods of data collection and Critical Discourse Analysis of data, I position the boycott in context and examine its rhizomatic roots and offshoots in discourse.