University revamps government internship program
■ POLITICS: Students have
the opportunity to learn
about Oregon legislature
By Laurie Phillips
Freelance Reporter
Students ready for a challenge
can learn about politics and earn
credit for their work while partici
pating in the newly redesigned
Legislative Internship Program.
The practice of placing Univer
sity students in governmental in
ternship positions is not a new
one.
During the 1980s, the Universi
ty put 60 interns to work in
Salem, comprising the strongest
program in the state among partic
ipating schools. About 25 law stu
dents and 12 other undergradu
ates are currently working as
student interns.
Leslie Gray, a senior political
science major, interns two days a
week through the Planning, Pub
lic Policy and Management De
partment. She serves on the Ore
gon Student Association, which
educates lawmakers about stu
dent issues and earns four credits
for her work.
Gray recommends the program
for students who are not easily in
timidated and are "able to stand
[their] ground.”
“[Ultimately] it’s an incredible
opportunity to learn about the
laws that affect your lives, and
have the power to change those
laws,” Gray said.
Carl Hosticka, associate vice
president for Educational Ser
vices and Academic Affairs, said
problems with the University pro
gram arose due to its very struc
ture. The majority of student in
terns come from the School of
Law, Political Science and PPPM
Departments, all of which have
different requirements.
The School of Law also func
tions differently from the rest of
the University both in its semes
ter system and its method of cal
culating credits.
Although the University pro
gram was strong as a whole, Ho
sticka said, connecting the three
groups “was not made a top prior
ity.” To solve this problem, Leg
islative Relations created a Pro
gram Coordinator position and
hired Judy Shioshi to fill it.
Shioshi considers the program
both an opportunity to gain “life
experience in the workplace” and
to “begin networking early.” She
should know: In 1989, Shioshi
served with the legislature as a re
searcher for the senate. Now it is
her duty to recruit, train and su
pervise all University interns, pe
riodically checking with them on
an individual basis and facilitat
ing group meetings at least twice
a term.
Students are now being recruit
ed for spring term, which Shioshi
believes is the legislature’s "most
fast and furious period.” Training
offered during this time will be
more intense, thus allowing stu
dents to begin working at the
same level of fall interns. The leg
islature reconvened two weeks
ago and will be examining a vari
ety of issues for possible student
involvement.
After interns are requested by
legislators, they are placed where
any openings exist. Opportunities
include work on committees and
in the governor’s office.
Kirk Baily, director of Legisla
tive Relations, feels the program is
about “making connections” on a
variety of levels. Structurally, uni
fying the three participating pro
grams makes logistics easier for
administrative purposes. Socially,
students enjoy camaraderie by
getting to know each other and
learning from shared experiences,
he said.
“[In the past] I’d go visit the in
terns in Salem, and people who
went to the same school didn’t
know each other.”
She hopes that by encompass
ing a broader focus the program
will be even more successful than
it was in the past.
Interns must commit to work at
least one day a week and arrange
for their own transportation to
Salem.
fit
[Ultimately] it’s an incredible
opportunity to learn about the
laws that affect your lives, and
have the power to change those
laws.
— Leslie Gray
Senior, Political Science
-33
All students are welcome to ap
ply, said Baily, given they demon
strate “a pretty high interest in the
legislative process and state gov
ernment.” In addition, they
should “have a desire to get in
volved” and be prepared to work
in a “high-energy environment.”
Interested students should con
tact Judy Shioshi for an informal
interview. She can be reached at
346-2169 and shioshij@oregon.
Applications can be picked up
in her office in 10B Johnson Hall.
Find out about employment opportunities and possibly set
up an interview. All students and disciplines welcome.
Bring copies of your resume.
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