Volume 2, Issue 1
Rhode Island College
Fall 2014
idea noun \ī-ˈdē-ə, -ˈdēə also ˈī-(ˌ)dē-ə or ˈī-dē\: a thought, plan, or suggestion about what to do; an opinion or belief; something that you imagine or picture in your mind polis noun \ˈpä-ləs\: a Greek city-state; broadly: a state or society especially when characterized by a sense of community
Start Planning Early: DC Internship Opportunities Each spring, the Political Science department announces the availability of six weeklong internship opportunities in Washington, DC. The winning students intern with a member of the Rhode Island congressional delegation in DC and receive $800 from Student Community Government for travel and lodging. Political Science majors Adam Fague and Morgan Whittier write about their experiences this past summer: I interned in Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s Washington, DC office. Much of Senator Whitehouse’s work deals with climate change and environmental issues, so the bulk of my work focused on those areas. I was able to read constituent mail, attend a Senate Finance Committee hearing and write a memo for the senator, assist with a climate change event at the Capitol Visitor’s Center and attend a climate change rally that included speeches from Senator Whitehouse, Senator Warren, Senator Boxer, Representative Waxman, and Senator Sanders, among others. Near the end of my week, Senator Whitehouse spoke with all of the interns about how important it is as a lawmaker to act in a professional manner and to recognize that people benefit from a government that is not gridlocked. Working with the Senator and his team of people who are dedicated to legislative efforts to fight climate change was a great experience. Adam Fague '15 DC was the best experience of my life! Not only did I fall in love with the atmosphere, I found a new home. This experience alone confirmed my feeling of interest in moving there after graduation. Working on the Hill has opened so many opportunities for me. In the political science field of study, when you are applying for positions, having an internship with Hill experience sets you above those who do not. The experience alone was amazing. I was responsible for dealing one-on-one with constituents who were calling, faxing, emailing, or physically visiting to express their concerns. I was also able to attend Congressman's Cicilline's committee hearings, which was awesome. I saw first-hand what is going on in the country and even with foreign affairs. This experience was life-changing and taught me a lot about politics, what it takes to succeed, and what job opportunities in this field entail. Morgan Whittier '15 1