News

Students hired as D.C. interns

Four UMaine political science undergrads to serve in Maine delegation offices

By Jennifer Vincent

Posted on Nov. 17, 2010, at 10:45 p.m.

Four University of Maine students will take part in a spring congressional internship program that has a legacy of more than 50 years.

Third-year political science students Benjamin Goodman, Joseph Marro, Timothy Robbins and Nathaniel Wildes will move to Washington, D.C., and begin their internships in mid-January. Goodman will work with Rep. Mike Michaud, Marro with Rep. Chellie Pingree, Robbins with Sen. Susan Collins and Wildes with Sen. Olympia Snowe.

These congressional offices have a long-standing relationship with UMaine’s Department of Political Science and traditionally hold vacancies for accomplished students from the school. Senators and representatives will often hire multiple interns, but they always reserve space for a UMaine intern.

The interns, who submitted paper applications and were interviewed before being chosen, will receive full-time academic credit and a stipend for living expenses. They must make their own living arrangements in Washington, D.C. Wildes said making these preparations is the most stressful part of the program right now.

“We’ll all feel better when we have the lease signed and beds in place,” he said.

This year’s midterm elections produced some anxiety for the internship applicants whose partisan affiliations might have excluded them from certain congressional offices. Goodman, president of the UMaine College Democrats, said he was nervous on Election Day.

“I was disappointed by the governor’s race but happy to see that Mike and Chellie held on,” he said. “I’m excited to work in Mike’s office.”

Wildes described himself as a left-leaning moderate.

“I’m not a registered Democrat or Republican, and I’m proud to work for a senator who has done a lot of good for our university and Maine,” he said of Snowe.

Interns may have to set aside their political beliefs in order to better serve their senator, Wildes said.

“You must be what they believe. You’re representing them,” he said. “You’re not there to project your own agenda.”

Former congressional intern and fifth-year political science student David Jones urged the 2011 interns to appreciate all that Washington, D.C. has to offer. Wildes plans to take advantage of the culture and history that can be found in the nation’s capital.

“My goal is to dedicate one weekend for every Smithsonian or national treasure in D.C.,” he said. “I want to do one a weekend and do it well.”

“There’s a lot of natural and man-made beauty in Washington D.C.,” Wildes added.

Jones said some extraordinary moments of his internship were seeing Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown sworn in and the passage of the health care bill.

“These [are the] kinds of things that will be in a textbook in 10 years — that every student in the state will be studying,” he said.

Goodman and Wildes said they hope their internship will help them to determine a career path after graduation.

“My intention thus far has not been to be a career politician and I’m not sure what I want to do yet,” Wildes said.

He believes his experiences will be valuable, regardless of what area of public policy he finds a career in.

Goodman, who served as Tom Allen’s congressional page in high school, is looking forward to getting a new perspective on politics.

“The experience I never got was working in the office and understanding that side of the equation,” he said.

Wildes noted that this opportunity is especially beneficial because Maine’s congressional delegates are experienced and well respected in Washington, D.C.

“The opportunities are exceptionally well developed for the students who get to work with them,” he said.

Exactly what opportunities are waiting in Washington, D.C., Wildes could not say for sure.

“The best experiences shared with me so far are the ones that the interns never expected,” he said. “At the end of the day, we don’t know what to expect and that’s what I’m most excited about.”

This year’s interns have a responsibility to uphold UMaine’s reputation for producing quality student workers, according to Jones.

“I hope the interns continue to represent UMaine as hard workers on the Hill,” he said.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 17th, 2010, 10:45 pm. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.