The Washington Center staff traveled from Denver, site of the Democratic convention, to Minneapolis last weekend and began to prepare for the arrival of the interns. Monday the students spent the day getting acclimated to the campus, meeting their professors, and learning what the next two weeks would entail.

On Tuesday they heard from RNC Chairwoman Jo Ann Davidson in the morning and then took a bus tour of the Twin Cities metro area in the afternoon. The tour ended at the Minnesota State Fair for “dinner” on a stick.

Wednesday, the staff and interns were greeted by a quiet, dark Foss Center as several campus buildings were offline due to a power outage. Fortunately, the interns were still able to receive their fieldwork placement assignments and then leave for a tour of the RNC set-up at Xcel Center. Wednesday evening featured a networking for the students, the faculty, Augsburg staff, and some political guests at the Landmark Center.

This week we feature two more Auggie interns: sophomore and political science major Ben Krouse-Gagne (pictured left) as well as Leo Manuntag, a sophomore and secondary education major who came to Augsburg through the Augsburg Advantage at St. Kate’s (AASK) program. Go to Augsburg’s website for more student intern profiles and a schedule of events.

Ben Krouse-Gagne — Sophomore

Ben discovered his interest in politics two years ago when he visited the School of the Americas in Fort Benning, Ga. He is now a political science major who is very active in local politics. Last summer, Ben interned with an anti-war committee and worked with Jack Nelson Pallmeyer, who was running for U.S. Senate. He also attended the state convention with Pallmeyer and was amazed at how decisions were made.

At the RNC, Ben will be working with John McCain’s campaign group, and although he considers himself a Democrat, he is looking forward to seeing the different styles of campaigning. “Even if I don’t agree with them, I want to meet people. Some of the smartest people in politics will be there.”

Leo Manuntag — Sophomore

Leo is part of the AASK, the Augsburg Advantage at St. Kate’s, program and this is his first year at Augsburg College. He is a secondary education major and also has a minor in sociology. Even though Leo is not very active in the political race, he said that he and his family are aware of the different aspects in politics. “We share our ideas and beliefs when we are caught up hearing Obama, Hillary, or McCain on the television. I think at this point in time, my family, and more likely other families, are becoming politically active in a social manner.” The RNC will be a place where Leo can improve his resume and seek out a potential future career. His goal at the convention is to view politics through a non-conformist lens. “Today, we often hear about reform and optimism, which seemingly comes from the Democrats, and it would be interesting to see how conservatives tackle these situations.”

Want to Get Political?

Volunteers are still needed to assist staff and interns, particularly on September 2. Please contact Sara Schlipp-Riedel at 612-330-1323 or email schlipp@augsburg.edu to be added to the volunteer schedule.

Story by Amanda Symes, contributor

The post Auggie interns at the RNC — Part 4 appeared first on News and Media.

Minnesota’s participation in this aspect of the democratic process also brings opportunities to our Augsburg campus. Because of its commitment to civic engagement and service learning, Augsburg was chosen by the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars to host 250 students from across the country for a 2-week seminar in conjunction with the RNC. Twenty-three Augsburg students will participate in internships through the program, each working in the preparation and planning stages of this event to learn about the behind-the-scenes efforts involved with a national convention. Augsburg communication studies faculty Bob Groven and Kristin Chamberlain are serving on the faculty of the Washington Center Seminar.

This week we feature Feras Amr, a Weekend College graduate, and Meagen Swartzer (pictured left), a senior studying English and metro urban studies. Check back in a few days for more profiles<!–, and go to www.augsburg.edu/getpolitical for more profiles and the most current report on Augsburg’s role in the RNC–>.

Feras Amr — Graduate

Feras graduated this past June from the WEC program with a degree in organizational communication studies. He grew up in Palestine where party loyalty, or even participation, is very different than here in the US. “Party loyalty could get you in to trouble where I come from.” After coming to Minnesota in May of 2001, Feras began to look into American politics. When he heard about the Washington Center opportunity to be apart of the RNC, he put his name in. “Not all Americans get a chance to see a convention, so if I have the opportunity, why not?” Feras wants to meet the people in power and make a connection with them. Being a Communication major, the RNC will be a rich experience for him and will be a way to see what happens on the media floor. Because Feras speaks Arabic, Hebrew, and English, he will be working with Al Hurra, an Arabic language satellite television network for the Middle East that will be delivering news and information about the RNC.

Meagan Swartzer — Senior

Meagan (pictured above) is an English media writing major and metro urban studies minor. Last year, she worked as an intern at The Bridge, a Minneapolis neighborhood newspaper, and this year she will be interning at the RNC. Meagan says her father and older brother are strongly opinionated about politics. “I guess their influences have rubbed off on me,” she said. Attending the convention will be a way for Meagan to learn as much as possible about politics and the political process and to meet many interesting people. “I am starting to realize that if I want to make a difference I have to get educated and involved. Attending the Republican National Convention is my way of accomplishing both.” Meagan is grateful for this opportunity and knows that the knowledge she gains at the convention will “carry with me forever”.

After graduation, Meagan would like to work either on a community newspaper or with a city planner. She is also considering graduate school for city planning or library science.

Story by Amanda Symes, contributor

The post Auggie interns at the RNC appeared first on News and Media.

Minnesota’s participation in this aspect of the democratic process also brings opportunities to our Augsburg campus. Because of its commitment to civic engagement and service learning, Augsburg was chosen by the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars to host 250 students from across the country for a 2-week seminar in conjunction with the RNC. Twenty-three Augsburg students will participate in internships through the program, each working in the preparation and planning stages of this event to learn about the behind-the-scenes efforts involved with a national convention. Augsburg communication studies professors Bob Groven and Kristin Chamberlain are serving on the faculty of the Washington Center Seminar.

This week we feature Eric Franzen (pictured left), a graduate student in education, and Shannon Backes, a junior studying international business. Check back in a few days for more profiles

<!–, and go to www.augsburg.edu/getpolitical for more profiles and the most current report on Augsburg’s role in the RNC–>

Eric Franzen — Master’s in Education

After receiving a B.A. in piano performance from the University of Minnesota, Eric decided to pursue a master’s in education at Augsburg. Along with his love for music, Eric also enjoys politics. “I began my fascination with politics several years ago. I experienced some dramatic changes in my fundamental ways of living and soon began to question the rhetoric that we hear repeated so often around us.” This year, Eric has been involved in many different political events, including his neighborhood caucus, district convention, the state convention, and now the national convention. Eric is also a candidate for the House of Representatives in SD60a of Minneapolis.

“The process and power for the citizens of the United States to sway government and elect anyone they feel like is truly amazing.” Eric’s goal for the convention is to learn as much as possible about the process by immersing himself into it. “I hope to meet and learn from the respected leaders and thinkers of this country,” he said.

Shannon Backes — Junior

This Spring Lake Park native will begin her second year at Augsburg this fall. She began her college career as a PSEO at Bethel University and now studies international business at Augsburg. Shannon also has a minor in German and plans to study abroad in Mosbach, Germany in the spring of 2009. Shannon remembers her family’s tradition of discussing political issues at family gatherings. “I became interested in politics during long conversations with family members about controversial issues. When I heard different sides of an issue, I would research on my own in order to have my own opinion for the next debate.” While working in the summer, Shannon listens to talk radio shows, such as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, to hear the latest news in politics. “They have great insight among others such as Ann Coulter, Jason Lewis, Bill O’Reilly and Laura Ingraham.” After graduation, Shannon hopes to live in Germany while working for an international firm.

Story by Amanda Symes, contributor

The post Auggie interns at the RNC — part 2 appeared first on News and Media.

Twenty Augsburg students will be among those selected to participate in workshops, issue forums and, potentially, convention sessions, in addition to fieldwork assignments. Participants will be required to apply with their school’s approval and pay a fee, which Augsburg has agreed to subsidize.

The Washington Center is a nonpartisan, nonprofit educational organization that provides more academic internships than any other group in the U.S. It chose Augsburg for this honor because of the college’s commitment to experiential learning and preparing students as leaders and global citizens.

“Augsburg is thrilled to be selected by The Washington Center,” said President Pribbenow. “This is an unbelievable honor and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students and others across the country.”

A news conference related to the Washington Center’s selection of Augsburg will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 11 a.m. in the Oren Gateway Center lobby and Johnson Conference Room. Speakers will include President Pribbenow; Eugene Alpert, senior vice president of The Washington Center; and city officials from Minneapolis and St. Paul.Ìý

At a news conference on Dec. 12, Eugene Alpert, senior vice president of The Washington Center (pictured), said that the 250 student interns who come to the Twin Cities will “play their small part in the larger role of electing the next president of the United States.” The first week they will be in seminars at Augsburg, and then receive fieldwork assignments. Each day the students will begin with speakers who will brief them about what to expect that day on the convention floor.

Alpert explained that the internship will be part of an academic course for which students will keep journals, write essays, conducts interviews, and for which they will receive academic credit.

On Dec. 9, Dean Barbara Farley was interviewed on KSTP-TV’s At IssueÌýshow, with host Tom Hauser. She said that the experiential education student interns would receive at the convention would give them the “sense of a significant national event” with a focus on national leadership.

On Dec. 12, Pribbenow was a guest on the KSTP-TV morning show, and Farley was interviewed on WCCO radio.

LINKS TO COVERAGE:

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