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Show The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice Since 1890 The Daily Utah Chronicle ©2004 www.dailyutahchronlcle.com Vol.114 No. 8 6 Thursday, January 13,2005 Bridging the religious divide Making differences, big or small Supreme Court Justice urges law students to discover pro-bono work Caltlln York Staff Reporter Supreme Court Justice Ronald E. Nehring visited the U law school to speak to the law students about the importance of pro-bono work. Three law students also talked about their personal experiences with probono work A particularly touching story involved that of Monique Veralde, a third-year student. Veralde talked about her first case, when a family was in the process of losing its home—and eventu'ttJJy did. While she lost that first case, she said the family appreciated her efforts. In all of her cases, Veralde said it was the way in which she handled and presented herself that made all the difference—regardless of the outcome. "Integrate pro bono work now and you will end up living that life. It is therapeutic and neutralizes the anti- bono part of life," says Justice Nehring. Nehring was appointed by Gov. Michael Leavitt in May 2003 to the Utah Supreme Court He also served as a member of the -Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct. Because of his experience with pro bono work, he was chosen to share some of his thoughts about how effective pro bono work can be in his life and the lives . of others. He spoke of his brother-in-law and an experience he had that had a deep effect on him. While his brother-in-law was doing pro bono work, a Tibetan family came to him pleading for help. The mother of the family had been in a serious car accident that had put her in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. The mother of seven and her husband had been working to bring in food and shelter. She could no longer work, and so the husband had to be the provider. With the cooperation of IHC, Nehring's brother-inlaw was able to help the family and donate fees so they could have some extra money for themselves. The U School of Architecture was also there to help provide a design for a home for the family that was wheelchair accessible. Salt Lake City came up with the land for the home and the family was able to have a second chance thanks to the hard work of Nehring's brother-in-law. Nehring said he wanted to express to students that a difference, large or small, can be made through pro bono work. Veralde is a third-year law student who volunteered with Martin Blaustein and Utah Legal Services. Because of her experiences in pro-bono work, she is now teaching an advanced Spanish class for lawyers. This class is designed to show the relaxed manner in which situations can be handled. Kristin Erickson is the associate dean and director of the Pro-Bono Initiative. This is the fifth year that the University has been running this program. "Volunteers have completed 2,350 hours of pro-bono work during just this last year meaning that first year students alone have contributed 900 hours in one semester. Out of the 2004 graduating class, SEE PRO BONO PAGE 3 he said. "There is a lot of tension that I have seen resulting from religious differences." Anderson said that not only is Concerns over a religious divide between Utahns prompted Mayor religious hostility apparent among Rocky Anderson to address com- the people of Salt Lake City, but esmunity members at a religious dia- pecially at the U. logue Wednesday. "I saw it when I was at the U and As the second of three forums in I still see it when I talk to students," the "Bridging the Religious Divide" he said. series, Anderson said people must To remove the antagonism comfirst have respect and compassion munity members must first get to toward those of different faiths. know one another, Anderson said. "I have lived in Utah all my life," "People here really hang out with Shalee Llston Staff Reporter Welcome mat those of the same faith," he said. During the dialogue citizens were encouraged to speak from the heart. and contemplate how they could create a more respectful community and discussed their personal roles in that community. Community member Michael Shirt said tolerance of different religions is a big factor in building a respectful community. "We are all children of the same God," he said. "Mormon communities are very tight and we all need to care for each other." ' Latter-day Saint Institute of Re- • ligion Executive Associate Director Gary Poll said he believes religion will only divide students if permit-' ted. "As students get to know each' other, religious differences tend t o : not matter," he said. ' Poll said students should teach and learn from each other about religious differences. SEE DIVIDE PAGE 3 Peter HNIyard and John Song, a second year graduate student of mathematics, sit and watch an NBA game on the big-screen TV In the newly renovated section of the Union Wednesday. Song said he thinks it is a nice place to come and relax, It looks great and Is a good place for students to hang out. Researchers get grants for devices to help paralyzed people Christina DeVore Staff Reporter "We hope [we] will someday help blind individuals see, allow paraplegics to stand and eventuIn June 2004, scientists implanted ally walk, and let people with vocal a Utah Electrode Array into a para- cord problems speak," said Richard lyzed human patient for the first Normann, a professor of bioengineering and ophthalmology who is time. The electrodes, which poke into helping to spearhead the project. the part of the brain controlling To further develop that biotechmovement, allowed the patient to nology, U researchers will spend control a computer screen cursor about $6.7 million in federal grants. by simply thinking about it. Scientists at the U's College of The array is a silicon chip mea- Engineering and the U's Health Scisuring a quarter-inch in diameter, ences center received the money in the form of four grants from the containing 100 tiny electrodes. National Institutes of Health. The projects receiving the funding are intended to expand the Utah Electrode Array technology that Normann first developed in 1989. Now they are trying, to go wire- less, eliminating the necessity of 100 wires protruding from patients' skulls. It will also decrease their chance of infection, in addition to SEE GRANTS PAGE 3 A look at the $6.658 million in grants -$2,816 million over four years What It will be used for: To develop -$1,383 million over four years What It will be used for: To increase a wireless version of the array. Benefit: No wires sticking out of patients' skulls. the biocompatibiiity of the arrays. Benefit: Less chance of bodies rejecting the chips. -$2,048 million over four years What It will be used for: To develop an array that will come Into contact with more than just the nerve fibers at a single depth. Benefit: New applications, including enough nerve stimulation to allow paraplegics to stand and eventually walk on their own or provide bladder control for incontinence. -$411,000 over two years What It will be used for: To determine the feasibility of using an array to reanimate and give normal movement to defunct vocal cords. Benefit: Another practical use for the technology. Richard Normann, a bioenglneerlng professor, is the glad recipient of about $6.7 million in federal grants t h a t would help further develop wireless electrode technology. Whoa, Nellie! A&E How high? U grad, LoveSac founder wins 'Rebel Billionaire's' top prize Daniel Parker Staff Reporter Shawn Nelson, CEO of The Lovesac Corporation and now co-president of Virgin Records, strolls into a "Rebel Billionaire" party with his wife Tiffany at The Gateway In downtown Salt Lake City Tuesday night to celebrate his win. way Grand Hall. Nelson, a 28-year-old U graduate, was the 2003 Utah EntrepreLoveSac founder and U alum- neur of the Year after starting nus Shawn Nelson had to make the famed LoveSac brand. The a dramatic decision: Gamble a company now grosses $15 million position as president of the Vir- annually and expects continued gin Records empire on a coin growth with the nationwide toss or walk away with $i mil- publicity it has gained from the reality television show. lion. Nelson unexpectedly got "I can't even go to St. Louis both the cash and the powerful without being recognized. Not promotion on the season finale as Shawn, but as the LoveSac of FOX's Rebel CEO thanks to guy," Nelson said. Richard Branson, Virgin presiNelson landed a spot on the dent and host of the reality tele- nationally televised show with a vision show. Now Nelson joking- short video he admits was "very ly said he is already considering headstrong and cocky." In the the-marketing possibilities of video, Nelson begs Branson for merging brands "LoveSac" and just one chance, and spouts off "Virgin." the success statistics of LoveSac. Nelson's promotion will al- But his charismatic confidence low him to spend the next three stood out from the other 50,000 months traveling with Branson applicants, making him one of around the world and attending the 16 finalists. meetings. During the series, Nelson and "I want to learn from Richard the other contestants traveled Branson about the retail side of the world facing challenges things. Virgin MegaStores have that tested both their physical to reinvent themselves con- and mental abilities. As with stantly. I want to help with that," most reality television shows, said Nelson at the season finale one by one each contestant was celebration Tuesday at the Gate- eliminated until one was left \ page 4 standing with the grand prize. Nelson said the way things are depicted on television and what really happened are very different. "It's not easy having your whole life exposed on national television. The network has beaten me down. I didn't know how they would portray me. So I was nervous for that," Nelson said. But one U student thought the show depicted him fairly. "People looked at him and didn't know he was Mormon because of his [bleached, spiky] hair. But he seemed like a good guy," said David Anderson, a sophomore in mechanical engineering. But Nelson doesn't complain about the publicity the show has given the LoveSac brand. Already plans for UK franchises stem from exposure related to the show. Nelson and his wife Tiffany plan to remain in Utah for now and continue to expand the LoveSac brand worldwide. dparker@ chronicle.utah.edu Leo is back on top of his game, though his sanity is now officially suspect in Scorsese's "The Aviator." Opinion „> The Berlin Wall of marriage Opinion columnist Andrew Cannon asks where the logic is in the Legislature's attempts to eliminate no-fault divorce. Sports Back to boring? Tye Smith and Asad Kudiya debate the future of Ute football. Correction Greg Clark's title was misreported in the Jan. 11 article titled, "Vote delayed on Accommodations Policy." He is not a Senate member. |
