Sept. 12, 2002

Contact: Burdett Loomis, Political Science, (785) 864-9033.

KU government intern programs in Washington, Topeka organize for spring

LAWRENCE -- The University of Kansas' Washington Intern Program will send its 20th "class" of interns to the nation's capital and to the state capital in Topeka during the spring 2003 semester.

Organizational meetings for both programs will take place at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16, in 204 Blake Hall and at 7 that night in 106 Blake Hall.

Begun in 1983, the Washington program has provided opportunities to work in Washington for more than 400 students from KU, Wichita State University and other state schools.

Although many students take positions in the offices of Kansas senators and representatives, most interns work for other legislators, in the White House, for political consulting firms, in the State Department, for political parties or within the Smithsonian Institution's wide variety of positions. Student from all majors and schools are welcome in the program.

Burdett Loomis, professor of political science at KU, has headed the internship program since its inception. He said, "Probably a majority of our students -- who are among the university's best -- report that the Washington semester experience was the highlight of their experience at KU."

The Washington program emphasizes high-quality internships, in which the students work with professional staff in legislative, administrative, media and interest group placements.

"Our alumni have run for office, become important congressional staffers, have returned to Kansas to take part in public life, among other things," Loomis said. "And even those students who do not engage professionally in public life obtain a sophisticated view of the political process."

For state government experience, KU sponsors an active internship program in Topeka. Most interns work part-time for Kansas legislators, although some students take positions in the administration or with interest groups.