Scientologists Included in White House Internship Program

A recent group of W&M in Washington participants. Courtesy of University Relation After one and a half successful semesters in Washington D.C., the College is eager to continue to expand the internship program, W&M in Washington.

While students in the fall 2006 semester have little but praise for the program and faculty are lining up to be the professor of choice, many students still seem unaware of the advantages of living, working and studying in Washington D.C.

During the week, students work 35 hours a week at an organization whose specialty is in sync with the theme for the semester. Class schedules are different each semester, but currently students attend classes two nights a week and Friday afternoons. Then the weekend is free.

To many students, the opportunity to go and explore Washington D.C. is priceless.

"Challenging but illuminating," said senior Michelle Treseler about the workload of the program. "Adrenaline will carry us for a bit, and then we'll see."

The philosophy behind this program is to offer “practical learning in ‘real life’ settings,” and the program more than fulfills its promise. While gaining immeasurable work experience and reputable references for the future, students also earn 12 credits towards their degree. There are two four-credit classes, plus four credits earned from work relating to an internship.

Program participants live in historic townhouses on Capitol Hill. Through the Washington Intern Student Housing (WISH) program, students lease townhouses for $850 per month and are within three blocks of the Supreme Court.

WISH is one of the reasons that W&M in Washington is so advantageous. While the College overall offers a variety of internships and study abroad programs, the D.C. program is billed at the regular tuition rate, plus a $500 program fee and the housing cost.

While there are other Washington programs available, they can cost up to $18,000. This program opens up the opportunity to study in one of the most culturally diverse and politically active areas in the world without breaking the bank.

This semester, the theme is production of national culture in Washington D.C. Professor Anne Rasmussen of the Music Department is leading her students on an investigation of the role that “expressive culture plays in our nation’s political theatre on the national, federal and local levels.”

Interested students can look forward to a range of themes in the future from business to religion. The theme for fall 2007 will be “Religion and the Federal State” with Professor Marc Lee Raphael and the spring semester will be all about national security in the U.S. with Professor Amy Oakes.
Even the internships themselves are held at an array of institutions. Internships already secured for fall span from the Church of Scientology to the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

“We started with the idea of creating something that was a substantial notch more intellectual and educationally more ambitious and justified,” said Adam Anthony, Director of the College’s Washington Office, summing up the idea behind the program.

This semester there are 18 students in Washington D.C. and the College hopes to send 20 students this upcoming fall semester. While the deadline for fall applications has just passed, spring applications can be found at the program website: www.wm.edu/wmindc

Refs:

• http://www.dogstreetjournal.com/story/3647
• Church of Scientology Washington, D.C.
  

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