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Show SUSC THE THUNDERBIRD MONDAY, MAY 14, 1990 PAGE 3 Student entrepreneurs find success in Cedar City BY JAMES SPAINHOWER Speaking before the entrepreneurship 221 class on two separate occasions, he believes that he has helped others proceed in fulfilling their dreams. He tells budding student inventors, Theyve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. Theyll never know if their ideas are functionable or patentable unless they try. Perhaps Metters was destined for business. As a child he spent years working with his mother as she bought Indian jewelry on the reservation and retailed it all across the nation. He said that he learned to deal with people from all walks of life through his experiences. himself, and with the help of a patent review officer in Washington, to D.C., and his brother-in-laovercome a mountain of technicalities, Christian breathed life into his dream. The rest is history. By May 23, 1989, I was informed that I had a patent. Ive sold several of these items in Texas, California, and Utah. Ive been in contact with Sunwest, one of the largest distributors of R.V. parts in the West. I would like to see my product on the market within five years. Christian shares his story as an apostle might spread the gospel of success. Many have listened. w What does it mean to be an entrepreneur? Is it something you can learn from school, or is it a case of natural talent: You either have it or you dont? If you were to ask two of Cedar Citys fastest rising young businessmen that question, Doug Christian and Michael Metters would probably say they got started while still attending school. Both Christian, an SUSC alumnus, and Metters, a senior currently attending SUSC, said that it has not been easy following the road to success, but they agree that with determination and original ideas, theres no reason why anyone else can't make it big as a entrepreneur. As the inventor and patent holder of the Grease ball, a device that automatically lubricates the socket and ball on a trailer hitch, Christian, a 1986 business school graduate, said he thought of the idea for a ball while to his brothers wedding reception. When people say that necessity is the mother of invention theyd be right in my case. I ran all over Salt Lake City looking for some lubricant to grease a squeaky ball on my trailer. Three days later it came to me in a dream. When I told my father about my idea he laughed saying that it would work. I went out, bought a ball, and put it all together, Christian said. After spending $450 through an attorney for a patent search the worst thing I couldve done, said Christian, he took the initiative upon , - $ -- . $ - , I T s t i'JJ ' .1 ' " "Mj, I full-tim- - ' ju'is js I t' f! f '4ij en-rou- ' ,ll, r. 24-fo- . ' ' 4 .' um. f,- Senior theatre student Michael Metters, owner of Thumbthings, business a way to support his future. Since high school, however, Metters knew what he wanted to do with his life. He views his endeavors as an end to a means in pursuing his passion acting. Ive always been ambitious. When I was in high school I told a friend that Id never work for anyone I refused to be a starving actor. It was my intent that being a success in business would help me in my acting i career, he said. If appears as though Metters ambition has paid off. As owner of Thumbthings, a retail outlet for Nintendo rentals and used books, e theatre student, he is and a enjoying the best of both worlds. But it hasnt been easy. It is tough between theatre time, keeping the store open nine hours a day and going to school structure of time is essential, Metters said. Appearing in such campus productions as True West and Forum, Metters believes that his dream of theatre acting in the in Seattle can be achieved through mail order. Right now Im doing mail order multi-levmarketing. I do seminars at the some to plan Holiday Inn by Metters will tell you that there are risks. Take last year, for instance. Youve seen these poster-size- d maps of Cedar City? I was the salesman and the owner. I thought it would be something to help the community, you know, the Festival City. I used a student artist who tried to finish the artwork in two nights, so it had a child-lik- e look. People said it looked nice but the public didnt take to it like I thought they would, he said. ' i - finds owning his own Senate discusses line items, allocates PBL funding BY KATHLEEN MIDGLEY The ASSUSC Senate allocated its remaining spring well as deciding to quarter monies to PBL Monday, as fall quarters of additional $500 club an the give budget. The funds will be used for the club to participate in a national convention in Washington D.C. this summer. The fall money will be allocated after July 1, when the next fiscal year begins. Last week the senate alloted club $1,600 to PBL for air fare and registration, but the needed more money to pay additional travel costs, said Sen. Peter Johnson. Johnson added that PBL held eight fund raisers this has been saved for year, and all of the money raised this national trip. ASSUSC Academic Vice President Mark Holy oak noted that if this quarters remaining funds were not allocated, the senate could use the money to purchase a video projector which could be used to show outside movies for campus activities. But, Holyoak said, Go ahead and give it to them if we feel good about it. Johnson said, We do understand how much (PBL) needs, and we understand the bylaws about matching of funds, but we should remember how they paid out their own pockets. If we dont give them money its going to come out of someones pocket and its only going to hurt students. Sen. Dave Clarke noted that competitions are also and that the five-da- y parties for students who attend, We students. for the all work be will not trip shouldnt just give them everything and say here s a on student government. Senators did allocate spring quarters remaining $131 as well as an additional $64.27, which was returned to the senate from Alpha Chi Honor Society. The money was allocated for honor cords, but the society didnt free party need as much as it originally thought. ASSUSC President Julie Stuart asked the senate to approve Joe Shenk as the attorney general, but senators noted that according to the school constitution, no person can hold more than one position whether appointed or elected. As a result, senators could not approve Shenk for the position unless he decides to resign his position as administrative assistant. A The senate shouldnt tell PBL heres a free party on student government said Sen. Dave Clarke. decision has not been made as yet. Senators also reported their findings from investigations of general fund activity line items. Sen. Shawn Kirby suggested the senate drop the 14 cent line item for the inactive Challenge Club. There were 15 club members when the line item was given, but now the club has only four members and the money isnt really needed, said Kirby. The club and Project Alta are federally funded programs which serve as tutoring systems in English and math for economically unstable students. The line item was used for the handicapped students not federally funded. Senators agreed to cut the line item, thus returning 7 cents of the allocation to open recreation and intramurals and 7 cents to the senate. Kirby suggested that if club members need funds, they approach the senate on an individual basis. Clarke asked senators to continue the 50 cent line item given to the Music Arts Association. Clarke quoted Music Arts officials, Youre contribution is better spent with Music Arts than any other of organization in the community because 100 percent of the the costs donate to dollar pay goes you every performances. The main goal of Music Arts is to bring an awareness of the arts to Cedar City, he read. Thats why we all Iron County provide these cultural events free to students from elementary to college age. Clarke said that without the line item, students would have to pay 0 per ticket. Senators unanimously agreed to continue the funding. The cheerleader line item remains the same for now, fund although the group asked for additional monies to scholarships for the squad. The cheerleaders were recently placed under the athletic department s jurisdiction and may receive funding from it, said Sen. to determine if Paul Speirs. Senators will and a final line the need still item, cheerleaders the decision will be made in todays meeting. Senators approved the Waukeenyans continued line item of 25 cents without much discussion. The drill team performs at eight events each year. Investigations and any changes to other line items from the senates general fund will continue during todays meeting. $7-1- half-tuitio- n |