D.C. interns gain experience

Interns in Washington, D.C., engage in a variety of activities, both at their internships and on their own time in our nation's capital city. But whatever menial or exciting their experiences at the office are, several recent interns from IU agree that Washington is where it's at.\nAnd scandals involving interns and politicians had little effect on their experiences, with only the occasional friend making a snide remark about former White House intern Monica Lewinski, whose relationship with former President Bill Clinton eventually lead to his impeachment.\nSenior Ben Piper, who interned for Congressman Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), said "the Lewinski and Levy matters have hurt the images of politicians, not interns." \n"There are good people in government, but integrity isn't news. The Lewinski scandal didn't affect my internship," he added.\nThe day-to-day work interns perform is varied, from clerical tasks to research and policy development. \n"I wasn't just a lowly intern," said Mitch Mitchell, a SPEA senior who interned for the Health Insurance Association of America spring semester. "I was treated like I was staff. They put me on projects and sent me to meetings."\nEven among students working on Capitol Hill, one could spend her or his days attending committee meetings or doing legislative research, while another answers constituent letters, does the office's filing, and sorts mail. Each day tasks assigned are different for most interns: sometimes exciting, other times not so exciting. \n"Different offices have very different ways they treat interns," Piper said.\nMitchell said the highlight of his time in Washington was meeting the founder of Napster, Sean Fanning. Fanning was at a rally Mitchell attended the day before congressional hearings were scheduled on Napster's future.\nMitchell volunteered the morning of the hearings to pass out t-shirts and coffee to supporters, who marched from a restaurant to Capitol Hill before the hearings. \n"I got a t-shirt and badges saying 'Napster Staff,'" Mitchell said.\nBut most of a congressional intern's time is spent doing clerical tasks. \nLydia Roll, a political science senior who worked for Congressman John Hostettler (R-Ind.), said she spent a day going through old files in cages on the top floor of the Longworth House Office Building. \n"I learned how government really works, not how you read about it in U.S. history books," said Roll.\nShe noted the important role of congressional staff members on public policy. "Congress is not just 535 people. It's a lot more than that," Roll said.\nJunior Ricki Siri, a SPEA public finance major, said that his internship for Indiana Senator Evan Bayh (D), was a great experience.\nSiri said that his most exciting moment in Washington was shaking the hand of Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), who ran for vice president on the Democratic ticket last year.\n Washington, Siri said, is the center of the universe, because unlike his hometown of South Bend, people read about what happens in Washington every day. \n Many students who choose to intern in Washington face a tough economic situation: almost all are unpaid, and the cost of living in the Washington metropolitan area is one of the highest in the country. Rent alone for shared apartments can run as much as $2,000 per month. \nAdditionally, almost all interns receive academic credit for their internships, for which they pay the University regular tuition.\nOn top of full-time tuition, Mitchell paid $1,900 to live with three other interns in an Alexandria, Va., apartment for four months. That was money Mitchell had accumulated beforehand, anticipating a costly semester with no income. \n"Most (of the money) was from my savings from work," he said. Mitchell added that his mother helped him out with the occasional $50 when needed.\nPiper called the George Washington University dorm in which he lived -- just two blocks from the White House -- expensive. It was around $750 per month.\nDespite the expense, most students who take a summer or semester to intern in Washington, whether for government or another organization, say it was well-worth the time and money spent. \n"I racked up credit card bills, but it was worth every cent," Roll said.