August 14, 2015

Former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson has plans to inform the FBI, National Security Agency and Department of Justice that he will sue them if the agencies don’t respond to claims of privacy violations connected to an alleged dragnet surveillance program during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The program allegedly monitored texts, emails and phone data. What are the chances that Anderson’s domestic spying case may move forward? Law professor Wayne McCormack can offer commentary on the merits of Anderson’s potential lawsuit. The suit, says McCormack, “would have some chance of success because the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act had not yet been interpreted to allow bulk record gather by NSA at the time.” He noted that defenses would include “good faith immunity,” “state secrets” and “emergency national security interests.” The case could make for some interesting arguments over who knew what and when, says McCormack. He is available for interviews on the subject.
Phone: 801-581-8494 | Email: wayne.mccormack@law.utah.edu

June 19, 2015

Matthew Burbank, associate professor of political science, has done research on mega-events, such as the World Cup and Olympics, and how these events impact the host communities. He’s available to comment about the impact of mega-events, as the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada continues.
Phone: 801-581-6313 | Email: mburbank@poli-sci.utah.edu

June 19, 2015

After receiving support and guidance from the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the U, MBA graduate Cam Cameron started a company designing high-quality and performance soccer cleats at a fraction of the price of name brands. Cameron and his ambassadors travel the world donating soccer cleats and supporting the growth of soccer. They focus on supporting and developing institutions and players most in need so that anyone who wants to play soccer has the opportunity. Students like Cameron will soon have a new venue to spark creativity and entrepreneurship in 2016, when the new Lassonde Studios debuts on the U’s campus. Lassonde Studios will be a place for young visionaries to have an around-the-clock environment to bounce ideas off of others who also are working through plans that may one day become the next cutting-edge technology. The 160,000-square-foot Lassonde Studios will have a 20,000-square-foot garage on the main floor of the residence hall, complete with 3-D printers, laser cutters, prototyping tools and company launch space. Above will be four floors of housing, with students allowed to choose between pods, lofts and traditional rooms. The U is currently in the midst of recruiting the 400 best students nationwide who will comprise the first class of students to live in the unique environment. Contact Thad Kelling for more information.
Phone: 801-587-8811 | Email: thad.kelling@utah.edu

June 5, 2015

The soccer world has been turned upside down this week, as news of vast corruption among top officials in FIFA—including allegations that millions of dollars in bribes were accepted in exchange for awarding South Africa the 2010 World Cup—has spread following an indictment of 14 FIFA officials by the U.S. Department of Justice. These officials are charged with various counts of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. Paul G. Cassell teaches criminal law, criminal procedure and crime victims’ rights at the U’s S.J. Quinney College of Law and is available to offer commentary on the case. Cassell served as a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Utah from 2002 to 2007. His career has included involvement in prosecuting other high-profile corruption cases.
Phone: 801-585-5202 | Email: cassellp@law.utah.edu