Page 3 Internships Add to Academic Work Medical students do _ it. Education students do _ it. Cosmetology students do it. Why shouldn’t students of politics and government do it? What they do is get thoroughly acquainted with their profession by working at it while they are in school. With this in mind, the Department of Political Science at Weber State has joined other departments on campus which provide internship opportunities for students. For the past several years the department has arranged internships for students at city hall, the State Legislature, and both houses of Congress so they can learn first hand about govern- ment while helping a city official, legislator, U.S. representative or senator. The first legislative internships were arranged in 1971 by Dr. Jean B. White, a Political Science professor, who had been an intern to a Utah state senator while she was in graduate school. “T felt that there was substitute just no for this experience,” she recalls, ‘‘so I went down to the Legislature and arranged to work with the Hinckley Institute of Practical Politics at the University of Utah to provide interns for legislators.”’ She advertised the program across the campus (students need not be political science majors but should have some basic knowledge of government) and soon attracted a number of well-qualified applicants for the positions open. Shortly afterward, Rod O. Julander lined up internships with Utah’s senators and representatives, giving students the opportunity to work for a quarter in Washington, D.C., or in a field office in Utah. “This has been a tremendous experience for our students,’ Mr. Julander, Associate Professor of Political Science, points out. ‘And when they come back to the campus they add a great deal to our classes by being able to relate first-hand experiences to their academic work.”’ Another internship program in city government was started by Dr. White when Ogden City Manager Richard A. “There is no substitute for Political Science intern experience. ”’ Larsen arrived. “‘I had been trying to get an internship set up with the city, and when he came he was enthusiastic about the idea,” she notes. For the past four years there have been from one to four interns working with the city — depending on the city’s needs and the financing available. Two students have also filled internships with Roy City. What do legislative interns do on the job? Whatever the legislator needs most — research on bills, answering mail, helping citizens with their problems with government. Most gain a broad experience. City interns are given a broad overview of city government and then fitted into a slot most suited to their talents and background. ‘Some of the internships carry a stipend; others are without pay but offer invaluable opportunities for the student to add to his or her experience. Student interns have gone on to jobs in government, graduate school, and law school — and virtually all of them consider their internships among the most valuable of their college experiences. ‘‘We wish we could get financial sponsorships so that we could open up more internship opportunities,” Mr. Julander says. “Tt would be a great thing for the students and the College.” Dr. White agrees, pointing out that she is currently trying to arrange more paid internships in state and local government. Intern Stresses Application “The greatest benefit of a political science internship was the application of what I was learning in poliitical science classes to what I was doing on the job,”’ said final During the internship he had experiences in taking opinion polls, working on grant applications and Grant Rex Frasier, intern from January to June of 1974. . Mr. Frasier, who had not had any experience in city govern- taxing structures. through a revenue bond.”’ ment prior to the internship, found that the program led not only to a job with Ogden City, but stimulated a desire to return to graduate ’ school for a master degree in public administration this fall. Making application through Dr. Jean B. White, professor of political science, Mr. Frasier’s selection was by Richard REX FRASIER, former political science intern from WSC, and Richard Larsen, Ogden city manager, discuss prelimimary work for the annexation of the Ogden Industrial Park, currently under construction. Larsen, city manager. “The public survey throughout Ogden City was to record attitudes of people regarding parking in the downtown area. People were generally dissatisfied with the number of parking spaces available,” he said. ‘“‘The survey was done in anticipation of the downtown mall. Final stages of negotiation are now underway. The mall will be a rennovation of streets 22nd through 24th, Ave. Washington It will to be possible Mr. Frasier pointed out that Ogden will be the first city in the nation to develop a downtown — area by public funds. He considered his. internship valuable in first-hand observance of the budgeting process and observing the city council function and delegation of authority. Mr. Frasier was studentbody president at WSC from June ’75 to June ’76 following his internship. “Exposure to city government aided me in studentbody ad- ministration,” he said. Becoming acquainted with the people involved in Ogden City government assisted him in gaining employment with the city after his graduation. While employed by Ogden City, Mr. Frasier did preliminary work for the annexation of the Ogden Industrial Park, currently under construction. Mr. Frasier and his wife, former Laurie Jordan, are parents of one daughter. the the