C A R I. E. S A L I S B U R Y '98

The following feature story appeared in the campus publication MOSAIC in May, 1998.

BRINGING TRUE GRIT TO THE DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Most people are acquainted with the often gritty world of the criminal justice system solely through television. For Cari E. Salisbury '98, however, it's a different story. Salisbury matches the grit witnessed on television with mettle of a different sort. As a Trinity undergraduate, she has worked with people accused of and convicted of sexual offenses as an intern in Hartford Superior Court and in the Hartford Office of Adult Probation. Now, as her time at Trinity draws to a close, Salisbury plans to attend law school and is determined to fight injustice in the world, be it at the local level in criminal court or in the international arena of human rights abuses.

"As a woman, I feel that sexual assault is the most violent and terrible violation that any person can suffer," says Salisbury, who has been an active participant in Trinity's Sexual Assault Task Force. "That's why I choose to learn more about the people who commit these crimes and work to raise people's awareness about the issue. Yes, it's grim and very depressing. But at the same time I hope to utilize the knowledge that I gain in order to positively impact people's lives."

As part of her plan, Salisbury has double-majored in Spanish -- to enhance her communications skills -- and religion -- to better understand the ethical and cultural values of the environment in which she plans to work. She has consistently earned faculty honors, maintained an overall GPA of 3.7 and a 3.9 GPA in her major, been named the President's Fellow in the religion department for her outstanding academic achievements, and been elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

Salisbury's academic adviser, Associate Professor of Religion John A. Gettier says of her, "Cari is an outstanding person, possessing the winning combination of a warm, outgoing personality and a gritty determination which promises a brilliant future."

Salisbury put her career plans into action before her college life had even begun. A native of Marlborough, CT, Salisbury focused her college search on schools with excellent community service programs and strong urban connections. Trinity's location in Hartford provided her with the opportunities she was looking for -- the chance to help city children through the programs sponsored by Trinity's community service office as well as the resources available through Trinity's internship office.

As a sophomore, Salisbury interned in Hartford Superior Court, where she interviewed prisoners in English and in Spanish to learn their account of why they had been arrested. She then briefed their public defenders on the information she had discovered. As a junior, Salisbury interned in an organization affiliated with the court, the Hartford Office of Adult Probation, where she interviewed convicted sex offenders in both Spanish and English and wrote reports that were used in their sentencing.

Having become familiar with the punitive side of the judicial system, Salisbury set her sights on preventive measures for youth at risk. In the Youth Under Severe Stress organization, which works in concert with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, she tutored and spent time with children and young teens to provide them with a positive learning environment. "I think that you can really impact children's lives if you listen to them carefully and work with them to help them succeed," Salisbury explains. "For that reason, if I choose to enter the criminal aspect of law, I will work with children."

Realizing the importance of having fluency in Spanish, Salisbury traveled to Seville, Spain as a junior and participated in a program sponsored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In Spain, she lived with a family who spoke no English and immersed herself in the local language and customs.

Islamic studies

At Trinity, Salisbury has immersed herself in diverse academic pursuits. She began her academic career with the Guided Studies Program, a non-major interdisciplinary curriculum for selected first-year students which examines the evolution of Western civilization through history and literature. Her interest in religion grew out of the program. Her original focus on Christianity shifted as the result of her enrollment in "Trends in Modern Islam," taught by Visiting Professor of Religion Ibrahim Abu-Rabi'. She found herself fascinated with Islam and changed her academic focus. For her senior thesis she is exploring the ways in which modern debate on Islam and democracy are affecting everyday life. Her final paper, a review of Islam and Democracy by John Voll and John Esposito, was published in the academic journal edited by Professor Abu-Rabi', Muslim World.

Salisbury also has made time in her busy schedule to assist campus organizations. She has also been an active member of the Sexual Assault Task force since she was a first-year student. She chaired the group this year, organizing Sexual Assault Awareness Week, a week filled with speakers and a rally in support of awareness. She also has worked for the Admissions office as a tour guide, a student tour guide coordinator, and a senior interviewer.

What lies ahead for this determined student? Salisbury hopes to continue her work within the local judicial system or as an entry-level social worker in Hartford for a year before attending law school. However, her newfound love of the study of Islam combined with her experiences in Spain have prompted her to look into international law as well -- a field she will no doubt tackle with tenacity if she pursues it.

-- Jenica Parker Rogers '98