Washington, D.C. interns describe energy in city ahead of election

This fall, a group of Roanoke College students are learning to navigate the nation's capital. As interns with the Lutheran College Washington Semester Program, they are handling digital communications for Senate campaign committees, helping with events for the U.S. Justice Department, updating catalog records for the Library of Congress, working at non-profits and more.

Along with challenging internships, these students are gaining a unique perspective on the presidential election by living and working in the country's political epicenter. Some shared their experiences interning in Washington, D.C., in the midst of an important and storied election season.

Addison Whittington '18: Intern at the U.S. Department of Justice's Programs and Events Group

Whittington, a political science and criminal justice major, helps to manage recipient and guest lists, reviews and edits scripts for ceremonies and programs, attends meetings and more. She works under Glenn Kivlen '01, who supervises the Programs and Events office.  

"Participating in the LCWS program during an election season has been interesting. While here we've gotten insight into different things involved in the election. For example, we participated in the Washington Ideas Forum where we got to hear Speaker Paul Ryan and John Kerry. In addition, I also observed a Black Lives Matter protest centered on community policing and police brutality, which has quickly become a key issue in the election."   

Mitch Alexander '17: Intern at Democratic Senatorial Campaign committee

Alexander, a criminal justice and political science major, works in digital communications. He manages member correspondence, tracks email and social media analytics, and assists with other tasks.  

"My office does not coordinate in any way with any presidential campaigns, but I have seen lots of anti-Trump protests around the city. In my free time, I have volunteered to help register voters in addition to phone banking to ensure people show up to the polls. I've gained many specific skills related to campaigns that I never could have imagined I would learn. It's amazing to be in such an energetic environment during election season."  

Shannon Yard '18: Intern at Horton's Kids, a nonprofit that provides tutoring and other services to Wellington Park Ward 8, one of Washington, D.C.'s most at-risk neighborhoods.

Yard, a psychology major, is a health and basic needs intern. Her jobs include researching and contacting providers who can help meet certain children's needs, such as therapy and hearing and vision screenings. She also works in the organization's Community Resource Center, where she distributes certain goods to families and helps them to access an emergency food pantry.  

"I'd describe the city as being quietly anxious. When talking to coworkers or friends, the election typically comes up in conversation, and people's nervous ticks start to come out. They'll start messing with their clothes or biting their nails, but they'll continue to talk to you about politics. There are more protesters in the tourist-heavy areas like the White House and Lincoln Memorial. The city is speeding up construction projects to make the place more presentable when the election and inauguration happen."      

Kerri Taylor '18: Intern in the National Archives Education Department

Taylor, a history major, primarily works in the Boeing Learning Center, which offers hands-on activities and programs to engage visitors, such as school groups and others. She also is doing research to develop an interactive virtual tour of the National Archives as well as other learning programs.  

"There are gift shops everywhere that sell Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump paraphernalia, so that's a definite change from what I'm used to. Personally, I don't engage much in political conversation because my organization takes a nonpartisan stance on politics. I have noticed however, that at least one reference to either candidate is made during any one of my [LCWS] classes. The LCWS program is going to have us volunteer for a campaign event of our choice in the next few weeks so that's definitely something new for me." 

Katie Simmons '18: Intern at the Smithsonian's Discovery Theater

Simmons, a literary studies major, has a variety of tasks, including setting up the theatre's shows, assisting in rehearsals and creating program and learning guides for shows. She also travels with and assists the cast with its shows at elementary schools.   

"Interning in D.C. during the election season is very exciting. Since my internship is in a children's theater, the only time I encounter it is just discussion among coworkers. Walking around the city however, in the months leading up to election day, I have encountered a lot of people working to register people to vote. This happens in metro stations, at crosswalks, in  apartment buildings - you name it. They're everywhere. There are also protesters everywhere, expressing their views on the candidates."               

Hayley Moe '18: Intern at the Steinbruck Center at Luther Place, a nonprofit that educates people about poverty and homelessness      

Moe, a religious studies major, works at different kitchens and food banks for the center, and she prepares for and leads groups when they stay at the center's hostel or come for programs.  

"It is a very crazy and wonderful time being in DC during this election. I definitely find myself between a rock and a hard place working where I do and having politics all around me. At work we are constantly focusing on how to humanize people's stories in order to get the general public to understand that not every person in poverty is there because of drugs, laziness and to take advantage of others. We learn to listen to everyone's story and treat them as a human and not as a stereotype or statistic. However, with politics, a lot of the time I am seeing people doing the exact opposite. We forget that everyone is more than what they stand behind in politics. We don't always stop to listen to the reasons we believe what we believe."       

Alice Keith '18: Intern at the Library of Congress Rare Book and Special Collections Division

Keith, a history major, works with the Lessing J. Rosenwald Collection to update online catalog records. She also works for the reference desk in the European Division Reading Room and with the Geography & Maps Division to create catalog records for maps.   

"I will see political buttons on the Metro. All the gift shops are exploiting the fervor, creating split displays of Trump and Clinton paraphernalia, and Democrat and Republican branded objects from socks to chocolate bars to shot glasses. There was a small protest outside the new Trump hotel our first week here, saying they didn't want him or his business there. (I remember a couple years ago when our papers covered the search for new ownership and use of the old Post Office Building, and when Trump won the bid, and the coverage of the plans when they were announced a while back. It's curious how there's so much more hubbub now than there ever was then). I've seen a fellow a couple times by the Capitol South metro station with his mouth taped shut carrying a sign detailing Clinton corruption and government cover-ups. You'll overhear conversations about the election every now and then - including jokes, asides, references to late night comedy sketches' parodies and lots of wishes for it to be over."