Two students will be part of the action at Republican National Convention
Janel Shoun |
Vague and Smith are two of 150 students from across the nation selected to participate in a special Washington Center internship during the Republican National Convention, Sept. 1-4, in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Interns will come from 19 states and three countries.
As part of the Center’s Campaign 2008 program, Vague and Smith will get the opportunity to rub shoulders with political insiders, agenda shapers and the media to gain a unique, behind-the-scenes look into how the conventions work and to watch history in action – from the back rooms to perhaps even the convention floor!
“This is going to be a huge election, and I am so excited to be a part of it,” said Vague, a senior from Jasper, Ala. “I’m excited to learn about the media and how they decide what is important and needs to be brought to the attention of the public.”
Both girls requested fieldwork placements with the media and they have both been placed with CNN, where they will likely carry out tasks such as scheduling guest appearances, escorting guests and running information in and out of the convention hall, said officials with the Washington Center.
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars is an educational non-profit, non-partisan organization that provides specialized internship opportunities and academic seminars in Washington D.C. and abroad to promote civic engagement, professional achievement, and diversity.
“The opportunity to be at one of the national political conventions in an open election year usually happens only once in a generation,” Dr. Eugene Alpert, senior vice president of The Washington Center, said. “The Washington Center is pleased to be able to offer students and faculty a chance to be a part of American history in the making. It will be an experience they will tell their grandchildren about and will remember their entire lives.”
Charla Long, director of the Institute for Law, Justice and Society (LJS), learned of the opportunities at the Washington Center and nominated Vague and Smith, both law, justice and society majors, for spots in the Campaign 2008 program. Both girls participated in the LJS trip to Washington D.C. in February, and while both are still unsure exactly what area of law or politics they want to make their career, the trip inspired them both to pursue additional opportunities to learn about politics.
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“That trip was an amazing opportunity,” said Vague, who was one of several students who camped out to get into the oral arguments for the Exxon Valdez case before the Supreme Court. “Seeing all these people for whom politics is their life every single day, it was so interesting to me and I would like to learn more about it.”
“I am also interested in looking at politics through a media perspective,” said Vague, a Republican. “I think I’ll get to look at (the convention) through all the different areas. I want to see how (the convention) works for both sides (media and politicians), so I feel that by working with the media, you get to cover it all.”
Smith was exposed to political life from an early age as her family has a history of political involvement, she said. Frank Gorrell, the husband of her cousin, was lieutenant governor of Tennessee in the late 1960s and later a respected lobbyist. Her cousin was a judge, Smith said. Her mother has long encouraged Smith to go into law, she said, but the Washington D.C. trip gave her a new perspective on political careers.
“Ever since I went to Washington I have a different outlook,” she said. “We talked to so many people about what goes on behind the scenes, and deep down I think, most politicians have the best intentions in mind for citizens.”
Smith doesn’t subscribe to either major party, saying, “It’s not about the party; it’s about the person.”
Both girls expect their upcoming internship to shed some light on their preferred future career. Not only will they conduct fieldwork at the convention, but program participants arrive a week early on Aug. 24 to attend a week of academic seminars prior to the convention.
Preeminent scholars and guest speakers will discuss topics such as the convention process in democracy, the role of the convention, the electoral process, important policy issues in the election, the role of the president and Congress, and leadership. Guest speakers are not yet confirmed, but in the past they have included the likes of C-SPAN’s Brian Lamb, Bob Schieffer of CBS News, Sam Donaldson of ABC News, delegates, and past political party chairs.
Long is excited about the opportunities the internship can provide for the girls’ futures and for her other students enrolled in the LJS major.
“They will certainly be able to gain some networking connections they wouldn’t have any other way. Those can be a huge advantage for getting into graduate school or going to work in D.C.,” said Long. “I think they will also bring great lessons back into the classroom. They can truly say, ‘Let me tell you what the floor felt like when he stepped out.’”
The law, justice and society major was established in fall 2006 as the inaugural program of Lipscomb’s Institute of Law, Justice and Society. The program is part of a growing trend to create undergraduate legal studies programs to prepare to graduates to be legally savvy employees in a variety of fields from civil positions to corporate officers.