Wednesday, December 9, 2015

My Favorite Moment - By Intern Clay Marsh

Clay Marsh is a senior majoring in Political Science. He is currently interning in D.C. for Senator Harry Reid.  He is the Mountain West Regional Director of College Democrats of America and he works in the USU Student Sustainability Office. Clay is also on the USU Government Relations Council and is a staff writer for the USU Statesman.



My Favorite Moment
By: Clay Marsh

My favorite moment of my internship so far has to be when Pope Francis came to give a speech to a joint session of Congress. I was able to stand outside on the west lawn of the capitol when His Holiness came out to bless the crowd after his speech. I know that it isn’t common to have a pope visit happen during an internship but it was one of those rare moments where the educational side and the occupational side of my internship collided to create a really special moment.

I can remember feeling as if I didn’t want to attend the event knowing that it was going to be a hassle trying to fight the crowds. I have always been the type of person to give up on trying to attend fun things when I know that it would require standing in lines or being surrounded by tons of people at the same time. It took some time but I finally realized that if I didn’t fight that inclination and do what I could to see the pope I would beat myself up for missing that chance for a very long time.

I loved listening to Pope Francis explain the need for greater cooperation and a common sense approach to immigration. His message of compassion for others deeply resonated with me and is something that I won't soon forget. Hearing Pope Francis commit himself to working with world leaders to solve the issues of our times is what really impressed me the most about him. I’ll also remember how his message resonated with liberals and conservatives and created an environment where sides could come together to govern effectively.

Being at the event and getting to see the Pope bless the large crowd after his speech is what helped me realize the incredible amount of diverse individuals that you're surrounded by in Washington. Where other opportunities to network and meet people usually involves meeting people from very similar backgrounds, in DC you meet and get to know people from all different walks of life that gives you interpersonal skills that are almost exclusive to the area.

Getting to be here for that occasion and the many other times where I had to chance to meet so many incredible and different people has been the motivation behind me trying to find a job so that I’m allowed to stay in this environment and hopefully build a happy and effective career in policy.

Being a student that was close to finishing I thought I wouldn’t do an internship in DC. But after some prodding from close friends within the IOGP I am incredibly grateful for not only the chance to see the Pope but the chance to be here and learn in-depth how the federal government works. With everything I’ve learned here I feel that my career opportunities have grown exponentially and the things that I’ve learned became more than just another class on politics but a first-hand, incredible chance to be a part of the process.

Monday, December 7, 2015

D.C. Intern Orientation


Deciding to do an internship can be overwhelming, especially when it involves moving across the country. But don't let that stop you from taking the opportunity of a lifetime.

Before each group of interns heads out to take on D.C., the IOGP holds an intern orientation to give them all the information they are going to need to be successful during their time out there. 


We have an excellent team to help you get all your questions answered and to give you their advice, including:
- Jashon Bishop and Madison Maners, two previous D.C. interns 
- Brandee Spackman, our intern and housing coordinator 
- Damon Cann, our co-director 
-Neil Abercrombie, our director 
-Jeannie Johnson, a professor from the political science department 


Among the topics covered during the orientation are:
-Professionalism
-Your role as an intern
-Life in D.C.
-How to use the Washington D.C. metro
-Safety
-How to get up to 12 credits for your internship
-Housing information
And any other questions the group might have.


The IOGP wants you to be successful during your internship, and to represent yourself and Utah State University well. Our office is always accessible during your time in D.C., ready to help you with whatever we can.

This is our group of spring 2016 D.C. interns.
 From left to right: Ethan Swenson, Camille Mindrum, Jessica Thompson, Anna Meppen, Hailee Housley, Christian Lippert (Lisa Chidester and Lily Wachtor not pictured)

Ethan: History Major, Interning for Senator Hatch
Camille: Political Science Major, Interning for Senator Hatch
Jessica: History Major, Interning for Congressman Simpson
Anna: Political Science Major, Interning for the State Department
Hailee: Art History Major, Interning for Senator Lee
Christian: Global Communications Major, Interning for Congressman Bishop, 
Lisa: Marketing Major, Interning for Tim Stewart
Lily: Political Science Major, Interning for the Financial Services Roundtable

All of our new interns seem excited for the chance to get involved in government.

Christian Lippert told us why he decided to do an internship.

"I expect that this internship will open my eyes to how government functions, the real detail of it. I have a broad understanding of what a congressman does, but I want to see the specifics of it, like how they fill their every day, the kind of issues the deal with and how constituents have a voice. I look forward to finding all that out and experiencing that first hand. In general, it will provide me with a lot of positive experiences as far as meeting people and learning how the United States government works, as well as give me some professional background experience."

Check back for intern spotlights throughout the spring semester for updates on their experiences in D.C.!

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Intern Spotlight: Austin Ashcraft




Meet Austin Ashcraft.
  • Major: Political Science
  • Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Favorite Ccereal: Cinnamon Life
  • Last Movie He Watched: Rudy
  • Intern For: Congressman Rob Bishop
IOGP: What has been the highlight of your internship?

AA: There have been a lot of incredible things that I have been able to see and do out here. One of my favorites was being able to watch the floor vote that confirmed Paul Ryan as Speaker of the House. It was great to be there and see the gavel pass from one speaker to another. It was a powerful experience.
                                             Arlington National Cemetery

IOGP: What is it like working for Congressman Bishop? Have you been able to interact with him?

AA: I have loved working for Congressman Bishop. He has a great staff that has really made me feel like I was not just an intern, but an important part of the staff. That has really been a bright spot of my internship. They are great people who work hard and enjoy what they do. That attitude really helps. Congressman Bishop is great as well. He has a relatively small staff, and we get to see and interact with him quite regularly.


IOGP: What are your plans post-internship?

AA: I plan on trying to get involved in the non-profit sector. It is something that has always interested me, and seeing the interaction between non-profit organizations and government has made me want to learn more. 

IOGP: Which classes really prepared you for this internship?

AA: Strange as it might sound, one class that has really helped me is National Security Policy, taught by Jeannie Johnson. I am not dealing with national security out here, but in that class we learned how to analyze a certain group or culture, and identify elements of their culture that help us understand the best way to work with them. Everyone is different, and looking for the best way to work with certain groups has helped me understand better the processes that are involved in politics.

                                           The Ferris Wheel at the National Harbor

IOGP: What do you like most about DC?

AA: Washington DC has so much to offer. Whatever you like to do, odds are you can do it out here. The metro system is really nice for getting where you want to go. If you want to get super involved politically, you can do that. If you want to learn about history, there is so much to see here, from monuments to free museums and everything in between. If you want to discover different cultures, you are just a metro stop away. If you want to spend time outdoors, you are very close to some beautiful areas. If you like sports, DC has professional teams for all five major sports. Whatever you want to do, you can find it here.

                                 Shaking Abraham Lincoln's hand at a Washington Nationals game

IOGP: Any recommended sights to see in DC?

AA: The National Mall is great, with all the monuments. It is really fun to see them at night when they are all lit up. There are free walking tours that are great. You meet a guide at a specific spot, and walk around with them talking and telling stories. The Smithsonian Museums (all 19 of them) are all really cool and they are free! Arlington National Cemetery is a must-see. The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is very powerful. If you are able to get out to Gettysburg (about 2 hours away), I would also suggest seeing that. They have a great museum there, and you can walk around the battlefields. It is a very profound experience. Make sure you see the movie at the museum. It is a couple dollars more, but it is completely worth it. There is so much to see and do out here. I have been here almost three months and feel like I have just barely scratched the surface!

                                                                     White House Gardens

IOGP: What advice would you give to current students thinking of doing a political internship?

AA: Do it. An internship is not something I really even considered doing until Jashon came and asked me about it, but it is a decision that I definitely do not regret. The experience has taught me a lot about the political process, about what I want from the future and about myself in general. It has been a great opportunity.

Monday, November 30, 2015

#GivingTuesday




The Institute of Government and Politics, in conjunction with Utah State University, has joined #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving on Tuesday, Dec. 1, that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and celebrate generosity.

We have the goal to receive 25 donations on #GivingTuesday. Former interns and alumni are encouraged to give back by donating something to the IOGP tomorrow. You don’t need to give a lot to make a difference! Donations of $5, $10, $20, $100 or $250 are equally appreciated. Plus, your donation will go even further thanks to a generous donor who will match the first $2,500 donated! To donate, go here https://www.usu.edu/advancement/givingtuesday/, and choose Institute of Government and Politics from the drop-down menu.

So why give back to the IOGP?

1. Students rely on you. Many students worry that internships are an investment they simply can't afford. Many phenomenal internships are unpaid and the cost of living back east can be a struggle for students. Your support can help students feel confident in accepting internships that will better their lives.

2. You support exceptional students. Your donations are going towards some of the brightest students on campus. The internship process is competitive; as a result, top tier individuals are selected to represent Utah State in Washington, D.C., and Salt Lake.

3. With your help, minds are expanded. Internships are the most beneficial and influential part of a student’s education. For many students, these are essential steps to finding a job after graduation. Outside the walls of Old Main, Aggies are able to gain a broader view of who they are, how they can give back, and a better understanding of future opportunities.

4. You affect America’s future. One-fourth of the interns we place are majoring in Political Science; the rest come from a variety of majors across campus. Students understand the impact of government in every industry. Participating in an internship expands understanding of government processes, allowing our Aggies to become better-informed citizens and better-equipped leaders in their careers.


5. The IOGP depends on you. IOGP scholarships are limited to the amount of donations received. Only with your help can the IOGP fulfill its mission to enhance understanding of government institutions and the political process with opportunities that bridge practical skills and academic learning.

So where does your donation go?

The average cost of a D.C. internship with 12 Credits is $8,430.

That’s the same as buying:
-1,686 pizzas
-1,405 Big Mac Combo Meals
-13,090 pounds of copy paper
- 15 iPhone 6’s
- 120 textbooks

And for a college student, that’s a lot. That’s 1,162 hours at a minimum wage job. This kind of financial burden can be a deterrent for some of our brightest prospects. That’s where you come in.

There are three funds your donation could go to:
1) The Circle of ’88: With an annual donation of $1,000 or an ongoing monthly draft of $88, you automatically enter our Circle of ’88. The Circle brings together those whose generous giving advances USU’s founding principles – teaching, research and service. By joining the Circle of ’88, you can ensure that future generations of students continue to have the chance to learn and grow through internships. 

2) Housing Fund: USU provides subsidized housing, but interns still pay $800 monthly, several times the cost of housing in Logan. Your donation to this fund ensures this expense doesn’t prevent a student from pursuing an internship. 

3) Travel Fund: The average round-trip flight to D.C. is $900, and once there, commuting expenses may cost several hundred additional dollars. These expenses are large enough to keep many students from even getting off the ground. Your donation to this fund ensures students are able to reach their intern destination.

Why I Give

We have had many charitable alumni supporting our interns, and they told us why they give to the IOGP.

     

Tim Stewart, founding partner of American Capitol Group, Interned for Senator Bennett in 1992: “The USU internship program has produced some of the brightest people I have worked with in politics and government over the past 20 years. The program has a unique talent for identifying the brightest and puts them on a path to success. In the long-run, we all benefit from this and that I why I support the IOGP financially."







 
LJ Godfrey, VP for Government Affairs, AT&T, Interned for Senator Jake Garn in 1987: “I support the IOGP because I can directly trace my entire career working in government affairs to my internship as a student at USU. I can’t emphasize enough how important internships are for a student interested in a career in policy or politics.”







Douglas Foxley, Foxley & Pignanelli, Interned for Congressman Burton in 1967: “Aggies owe it
to help other Aggies. As a student, I benefited from generous donors to the university and great mentorship. I value opportunities to give back to the next generation of USU interns, and that’s why I support the IOGP. Join me in paying it forward!”




Help us reach our goal of 25 donations, big or small, on #GivingTuesday. Again, to donate, go to this link: https://www.usu.edu/advancement/givingtuesday/

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Judge Kevin Allen: What We Learned




On Nov. 19, the Institute of Government and Politics held a forum relating to the court system and the mentally ill. Judge Kevin Allen of the First District Courts was the speaker at the forum. The following are a few of the things that Judge Allen spoke about at the event. Background information on Judge Allen and the mental health courts can be found in the previous post.

1) How He Got Involved with the Mental Health Court
When Judge Allen began the interview process to become a judge, he was asked at every step of the way if he would be willing to start a mental health court. He said yes, despite the fact that he didn’t know anything about mental health courts. At the time of his appointment, there was only one other mental health court in the state of Utah, and it was located in Salt Lake City. Judge Allen said running a mental health court in Cache County is very different than running one in Salt Lake because they have many more resources than he does. The other judges in the First District Court told Judge Allen that he could run the mental health court if he wanted, but that he would still be expected to do an equal amount of work in the regular courts. He agreed to this and assembled a team of mental health experts, prison officials, USU professors and police officers, and together they did the research needed to open the mental health court.

2) The Problem with Our Criminal Justice System
“It’s estimated that one in six prisoners has a serious mental illness,” Allen said. “Not just a mental illness. I’ve read studies that indicate that half of the prison population has a mental illness. But one in six is a serious mental illness: schizophrenia, major bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder. These are serious mental illnesses that, without treatment, cause people to act out in very destructive ways. The problem too is that in prisons, they don’t get any treatment. There are so many rules and regulations at the jail, and they have to have them to maintain order over there, but often times they are really detrimental to those who are mentally ill.”

Judge Allen also spoke about the extreme costs of incarcerating people. He said Cache County alone is spending about $1 million on housing the current mentally ill inmates. According to Allen, if Cache County would instead spend that money on helping these people get treatment, it’d be amazing what that $1 million could do.

3) The Purpose of Mental Health Courts
“The purpose of mental health courts is very simple,” Allen said. “What we try and do is have the person recognize they have a mental illness. By the end of their time with us, I want them to be able to talk about their mental illness to anybody, anywhere, anytime. They have no shame attached to their mental illness. Because that’s one of the biggest problems we have, is that they won’t talk about it or get the help they need. After they recognize it, they have to accept the treatment we are going to give to them.”

Judge Allen then proceeded to share his go-to analogy about mental health. He explained that when someone gets diagnosed with diabetes, that person’s doctor prescribes to them some medication and explains that they will have to change their behaviors. They can no longer survive off of a diet of fast food and soda. If they don’t take their medications and change their behaviors, they will die. According to Judge Allen, mental illness is the same way.

The theory is that if these people can recognize their illness, and accept the treatment the court is going to give them, they will not go back to jail.

4) Why Mental Health Courts Work
“We have the power of the robe,” Allen said. “I have the power in mental health court to immediately remove someone’s liberty. I have complete 100% discretion.”

He gave an example of one woman in the mental health court that was late to every doctor’s appointment she had. Allen finally took the action to tell her he would put her in jail if she was late even one more time, and she hasn’t been late since.

“I have the ability to hold them immediately accountable,” Allen said. “It is a powerful tool.”

5) Mental Health Courts make a difference
“Mental health courts work. We have about a 70% success rate, and we measure success by a lack of recidivism. Lots of them go on to live happy, meaningful lives. You sit in something like this, and you see someone’s life totally change.”

Allen then shared the following parable:

A man was walking along a deserted beach at sunset. As he walked he could see a young boy in the distance. As he drew nearer, he noticed that the boy kept bending down, picking something up and throwing it into the water.

Time and again he kept hurling things into the ocean.

As the man approached even closer, he was able to see that the boy was picking up starfish that had been washed up on the beach and, one at a time he was throwing them back into the water.

The man asked the boy what he was doing. The boy replied, "I am throwing these washed up starfish back into the ocean, or else they will die through lack of oxygen.”

"But", said the man, "You can't possibly save them all, there are thousands on this beach, and this must be happening on hundreds of beaches along the coast. You can't possibly make a difference."

The boy looked down, frowning for a moment; then bent down to pick up another starfish, smiling as he threw it back into the sea. He replied, "I made a difference to that one.”

Allen said the mental health courts teach him the same message as this simple story.

“We are not changing the world, but if we can help out one person, then it’s worth it,” Allen said.


Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Mental Health & the Courts - With Judge Kevin Allen


On Thursday Nov. 19, Judge Kevin Allen will be speaking at the Utah State Alumni House at 5:30 p.m. He will be discussing the evolving relationship between the courts and mentally ill, the mental health programs expanding across the country and the importance of these problem-solving courts.

Things to Know About Judge Allen:
·         Grew up in Cache County, Utah
·         Graduated from Brigham Young University as an undergraduate
·         Graduated from law school at the University of Oklahoma
·         Served as the President of the Cache County Bar Association
·         Was a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association and the American and Utah Bar Association’s Litigation, Real Property and Estate Planning Sections
·         Was appointed to the First District Court in March 2008 by Gov. Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.
·         Was instrumental in establishing the Intermountain Mental Health Court Conference held annually at USU
·         Serves as a member of the Utah Sentencing Commission and is serving on the Board of District Court Judges
·         Established and presides over the First District Mental Health Court

Things to know about the First District Mental Health Court*:
·         It is located in Logan, Utah
·         It is a diversionary court and a innovative method to jurisprudence that holds mentally ill offenders responsible for their actions without imprisonment
·         The court allows individuals with mental health problems, who have committed a nonviolent, nonsexual crime, to receive court-monitored treatment
·         It uses a narrow set of mental disorders like schizophrenia, major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder to decide a defendant’s eligibility
·         Judge Allen reached out to mental health experts and faculty members in the Utah State Department of Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology to help him when he was starting the court
·         For individuals who enter the program, their sentencing is postponed until they successfully complete it – a process that takes an average of two years

Free pizza will be provided at the forum. Follow or tweet the event using #iogpforum

*Information was taken from Liberalis, The Alumni Magazine put out by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. To read the full article, “Changing a Life,” written by Kristen Munson and Jeremy Pugh, go here: http://liberalis.usu.edu/2014/spring/changing_a_life.php

Monday, November 16, 2015

Intern Spotlight: Rachel Evans


Meet Rachel Evans.
  • Major: Political Science
  • Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Favorite Aggie Ice Cream Flavor: Aggie Blue Mint
  • Place She's Dying to Visit: Australia
  • Intern For: Senator Orrin Hatch
IOGP: What has been the highlight of your internship?

RE: The highlight of my internship has been witnessing history. From John Boehner resigning as speaker, to the Pope visiting DC, to another possible government shutdown, something exciting happens every day. It is an incredible feeling to be in the same city at the Pope and be only a building away from the new Speakership election. I wouldn't trade my first-hand account of today's history for anything.


IOGP: What is it like working for Senator Hatch? Have you been able to interact with him?

RE: Working for Senator Hatch is a one-in-a-lifetime experience. It is hard to find another Senator in Congress that does as much as Senator Hatch has done for so long. The people in his office are driven, kind, intelligent, and professional. The Senator himself is sharp and quite funny. Despite his extremely busy schedule, he makes it a point to say hello to the interns when he sees them in the office and checks in often to make sure that we are having a good experience. I am the intern for the press team. Occasionally the press secretary asks for my help when recording videos of the Senator for press releases. This allows me to interact with Senator Hatch quite a bit.


IOGP: What are your plans post-internship?

RE: Post-internship I am hoping to get a job and stay on the Hill. I am close enough to graduation that I can finish my degree online and get started on a career out here. I hope to work on the Hill because it allows me to be a part of the legislative process in many aspects. In my opinion, it is easiest to transition straight from an internship into a full time position, so I am hoping to make that work. Long term I might go to law school or just try and make a career out of working on the Hill. Other than that I am just going with the flow.


IOGP: Which classes really prepared you for this internship?

RE: A few classes in particular have prepared me for my internship; one being Dr. Lyon's Legislative Politics class. It was so helpful to understand a part of the legislative process before I started working for an actual lawmaker. However, I think that each class I took in college helped me get to where I am now. Knowing even a little bit about a wide variety of things allows one to ask questions and spark interesting political discussion.



IOGP: What do you like most about DC?

RE: There are many things about DC that frustrate me. This morning, for example, my commute that normally takes 25 minutes, took 50 because there were so many high school tourists flooding the Metro. However, there is nothing quite like working in the Nation's capitol. For years in school I studied the process that happens here, and now I am living it. I love seeing the Capitol building and the Washington monument every day. There is history and energy in every part of this city. 

IOGP: Any recommended sights to see in DC?

RE: I highly recommend going to the Jefferson memorial at night. It is gorgeous. The Newseum is another one of my favorites. Also, there is an incredible bookstore/cafe at Dupont Circle that is a must-visit for locals.


IOGP: What advice would you give to current students thinking of a political internship?

RE: As far as advice for potential interns goes, I can only recommend that they go for it. For me, a political internship in DC seemed intimidating and maybe even boring. Now, I don't feel like that at all. My internship has taught me about real-world professional experiences and has opened doors to me. I am so grateful for the opportunity that Senator Hatch gave me and I can't believe I ever second-guessed it.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

15 Ways To Stand Out as an Intern


Taking an internship can seem intimidating. To be one of the youngest and most inexperienced employees is overwhelming at any local business, let alone in our nation's capital. But don't let your worries get the best of you! An internship is a great way to learn, network and build your resume by getting first-hand experience.

Whether you are interning in DC or in Salt Lake with the Legislature, you can use some of the same strategies to be successful. Business Insider published a wonderful article about ways you can stand out as an intern. To read it, Click here!

Monday, November 9, 2015

Intern Spotlight: Caleb Carroll


Meet Caleb Carroll.
  • Major: Political Science
  • Hometown: Evanston, Wyoming
  • Playing on His iPod Right Now: Hello, by Adele
  • Favorite Movie Quote: "I believe there's a hero in all of us." - Aunt May, Spider-Man 2
  • Intern For: Senator John Barrasso
IOGP: What has been the highlight of your internship?

CC: I actually work here indefinitely now. My internship lasted for about four weeks, at which point in time Senator Barrasso recommended me for a position on the Indian Affairs Committee. I applied for it and actually got the job. So the highlight would be getting an actual job from my internship. There are other highlights as well like getting to see a lot of people that have ran for president, or are running for president, you get to go to lots of galas and receptions, and DC is just a really cool place to live.

 

IOGP: What do you like most about DC?

CC: My favorite thing about DC is probably all the activities that there are to do here. A couple weeks ago, they did a movie in the park, we've gone to a food festival, we've gone to the beach and there are all the monuments you can go to. For Halloween, we trick or treated on Embassy Row and went to a party in the woods with a whole bunch of people. There are so many things to do and people to see.

                                                                                On Halloween

IOGP: What is it like working for Senator Barrasso? Have you been able to interact with him?

CC: I saw Senator Barrasso almost every day he was in the office. He is a great guy, and working with his staff was really nice. There were only two of us, two interns, in his office, so we got to do lots of different things. He gave me a present just the other day. Working with Senator Barrasso is fantastic.

IOGP: What are your plans post internship?

CC: This job is a stepping stone. I still have grad school that I definitely want to go. I am either going to go to law school or get my Master's in Business. I haven't decided yet. This is a good launching point, a good way to get my name out there. I get to meet a lot of different people that will definitely help me in my future endeavors. This is my starting point for future jobs.


IOGP: Any recommended sights to see in DC?

CC: 
  • Capitol Hill, obviously. But if you are an intern out here, you're going to see that regardless.
  • Dupont Circle, they've got lots of cool shops
  • Lincoln Monument
  • Jefferson Monument
  • U Street, there are lots of cool clubs where you can go dancing, and I really enjoy that



IOGP: What advice would you give to current students thinking of a political internship? 

CC: I would say, do it! I was offered an internship last year in Senator Hatch's office, but I turned it down. But then I got out here and it's absolutely fantastic. So just do it! Other than that, I would say save your money. There's a lot of fun stuff to do, so you'll want to come out here with a bit of pocket change. Learn your major political figures, and the rest of the stuff you can't learn in school. They'll teach you here, and you'll learn as you go.

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Why Local Government Matters

On Oct. 29, the Institute of Government and Politics held a panel discussion called, "Why Local Government Matters." 

Panel members included State Senator Lyle Hillyard, Bountiful City Manager Gary Hill and Logan City Mayor Craig Petersen. These three men discussed the importance of state and local politics and the influence your involvement can bring to your community.

In case you missed it, here are a few of the things they talked about at the event. 


       From left to right seated at the table: Bountiful City Manager Gary Hill, 
Logan City Mayor Craig Petersen, State Senator Lyle Hillyard

On Low Voter Turnout in Local Elections:

Mayor Petersen: Here in Cache Valley, there are a number of communities who have cancelled their elections. This is because the law doesn’t require an election to be held when there aren’t more candidates than there are open seats. In Logan, we have three seats available on the city council and four candidates, and so we will have the election. However, since it is only this single race on the ballot, people are less likely to come vote. The fact that they are non-partisan elections means that parties aren’t involved in getting out voters; it’s the individual candidates that have to do that. Those are maybe a couple of reasons for low turn outs.

Senator Hillyard: I know a lot of people who would be good legislators, who simply say, ‘I wouldn’t go through the process. I don’t want to pay the money.’ I think that turns people off in voting. The strategy gets almost to be, ‘I know my hardcore people are going to vote for me, there will be hardcore people to vote for the other side. I just want to get the middle people not to vote. So I’m going to say as many bad things as I can about Mitt Romney, or as many bad things about President Obama.’ I heard a saying once that it doesn’t matter whether you get bit by the dog or the cat. People look at the election and say, ‘It doesn’t matter if I like the Republicans or the Democrats, it’ll all end up the same.’ And they end up not voting. That’s really a sad commentary about our election process.

Gary Hill: I think that people don’t appreciate necessarily how impactful the local government is to your day to day life. I think if people appreciated how much your city and your county do and affect your life on a daily basis, they might be a little more interested. Sometimes there is no controversy and no voter turnout because people are just pretty happy with the way things are going.

On Zoning and Planning for Population Growth:

Gary Hill: You have to take the time to plan well. Your master plan should outline what areas of town you want to have homes, what areas of town you want to have commercial development, how you are going to get people to and from those, how wide your roads are, and what you are doing for trails and parks. The planning is the first step. The second piece of that is don’t get behind on your infrastructure. If you get behind the curve, and you don’t start replacing your infrastructure as you need to, you are just going to have to pay much more later. It costs about 10 times as much to replace a road as it does to maintain it. It’s extremely expensive. You also have a policy decision to make about new growth. Do you put that burden on the existing taxpayers, or do you put that burden on the people who are demanding the growth? In other words, who pays for it? There’s a very big mix of what you can do, but it starts with planning.

Mayor Petersen:  Growth depends on the nature of the city. Logan City doesn’t have a large amount of area within our city limit to expand. So our likely growth over the next 30 years isn’t going to be as rapid as it might be in North Logan or some of the other communities. So the planning for growth really has to be considered in light of what your capacity for growth is.

Senator Hillyard: A number of years ago, there was a push in the state that we would have state planning for all of this. The threats got so heavy to the legislature that we had to make sure we had guards at the doors. People were so concerned that the state was going to plan it, and thought it should be left to the counties. So no one has ever dared even talk about that anymore.

Advice to Students Wanting to Get Involved in Local Politics:

Senator Hillyard: On the local level, candidates don’t run by political party. So if you want to get involved, what you need to do is pick a candidate and go say, ‘I’d like to help you, what can I do?’ There is plenty of good work for volunteers to do and it’ll get you the type of information and knowledge you’ll need if you want to run yourself.

Gary Hill: I would suggest, at the local level, go in and talk to your mayor. The mayors would love to tell you some of the things that might be interesting to you. At the legislature, I would strongly suggest that you find a bill at the beginning of the session on a topic that is of interest to you and just follow what happens. Call the bill sponsor and talk to them. They are so accessible. You will learn so much about the legislative process.

Mayor Petersen: If you’ve never been to City Council meetings, it is an interesting process. You ought to see a little bit about how the system works. It doesn’t work perfectly, but it really is designed to get people’s input and to be transparent. 

Former Interns on the Value of Internships

If you need any convincing that doing an internship is a good idea, look no further. These former interns tell you why internships are a great addition to your resume.




Monday, November 2, 2015

The Best Restaurants in Washington - On a College Budget

One of the best parts about doing an internship in Washington D.C. is getting to live there! Our interns have reported that the Washington D.C. experience is unlike anything else.

While you're there, you will get to try some fantastic food. Whether you prefer Cuban, Japanese, Mexican, Ethiopian, Italian, Thai, or Persian cuisine, there is something for everyone in this city! But where should you start?

Washingtonian posted a list of The 25 Best Inexpensive Restaurants in Washington. Check it out by clicking here!

Which restaurant sounds the best to you?

For our alumni:
  • Have you been to any on the list? 
  • Do you agree with their choices?
  • Which places would you add?
Let us know in the comments below!

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Alumni Spotlight: Kirsten Rappleye, Assistant to the Utah Senate Majority Caucus



Kirsten Rappleye is a Utah State alumni, and the current Assistant to the Utah Senate Majority Caucus. She graduated in 2012, with a degree in Law and Constitutional Studies. As a student, she was the USUSA Student Advocate.  

IOGP: What do you do in your career today?

KR: Currently, I assist the majority caucus. Caucus meetings are held pretty regularly during the session and throughout the year. I work to do the organization for that, it’s mostly administrative honestly. I spend most of my time on the communications side of things. I do public relations and media relations. I spend a lot of my time, especially during the session, helping senators with their media contacts. I also do social media, and during the session I have a couple of communications interns who help me with that too. It really depends on the day. I do a lot of writing, a little bit of YouTube video creating and during the session I do pretty much every press conference the Senate does. The sky is the limit, we do everything around here.

                                         Kirsten and Stew Morrill, 2015

 IOGP: How did your internships help prepare you for your career?

KR: The internship is the reason why I’m here, to be honest with you. I don’t think I would have been interested in working in government, at least not in this capacity, had I not participated in the internship. You kind of fall in love with the atmosphere, the people and the fact that you’re helping to get things that really matter done while you’re an intern. I ended up here because the Chief of Staff over in the Senate, who I had kind of become friends with through my internship even though I was on the House side, was short a staffer for the 2012 session. He needed somebody who could kind of jump in quickly, on a moment’s notice, to help him out with the communications side of things for that session. Since I had interned twice, and we had loosely kept in contact, he knew that I was prepared to just jump right back in.

It prepared me for this career in the networking that was available. It prepared me for the career in that it helped me to understand that there is good in government still. There are actually people here who really are honestly just working to make a difference. I don’t have that stigma of what a politician is that a lot of people do. That’s not without exception of course.

The internship helped me to realize a lot of things about myself that I didn’t know before. It helped me to develop my own political opinions a little bit more and to learn how to be a better researcher. I was definitely a better student too, as a result of having been here.

                                                                      Kirsten and the 2015 Interns

IOGP: Who did you intern for?

KR:  The first time I interned with the legislature, I actually did it twice, was the 2008 session. I interned for my dad, Representative Frank, and then Representative Brad Winn. The second time I interned was the 2009 general session. That was my freshman year up at Utah State. I interned as a policy analyst for the conservative caucus, which was a group of 30, plus or minus, legislators who got together a couple times a week during the session to discuss different policy issues and work on projects together. It was a little bit of a different experience the second time around, but I kind of couldn’t get enough the first time, so I was happy to be invited back. I also interned in the summer of 2011 with Mike Lee’s office out in D.C.

                             From Kirsten's 2008 internship

IOGP: What were some of the highlights of your internships?

KR: The 2008 session was really awesome because I got to experience, for the first time really, firsthand what the legislative process is actually like. In the news, you read about the political side of things and interns who come here, years before me and years after me, all get to understand and watch the actual legislative process in an up close and personal way. In a textbook, for example, you can read about the committee process and things like that, but watching it was awesome. It made me fall in love with state-level politics.

Other things I loved about the legislative internship were the people that I got to work with. That was seven years ago, and I still actually regularly interact with a lot of the people who I interned with back then. Many of them are currently working in Utah political offices.

                                                            From Kirsten's 2008 internship

IOGP: What are some of the advantages of being an intern in Salt Lake with the state legislature?

KR: I’ll tell you what, if I had to pick looking back, while I loved my D.C. experience and it is completely unlike anything I’ve ever done, the value of the learning that you get in the legislative internship is actually higher. You’re kind of the chief of staff to the person who you’re working for because the legislative staff here is really small. Even right now we have 29 senators and something like nine full-time people. For us who work here now, we can’t even wait for the interns to get here and help the senators and help the representatives because they need it.

 Interns get to be part of policy discussions. There have been multiple times when different legislators have asked interns, “What do you think about this?” While interns shouldn’t express their opinions, and that’s actually looked down upon, it’s a really good chance for them to get to dialogue regularly and be relied upon by the legislator they work for.

I hear it all the time that D.C. interns get to interact maybe once or twice with the member that they are working for. Here, personal relationships are insane. As a staff member I grow strange attachments to the interns that work here. We stay in contact with them, and they come up and visit.

                                                                    Kirsten with the 2008 Interns

 IOGP: What is the role of interns during each legislative session?

KR: I can only speak for the Senate side, really, on that. I don’t know exactly how the House uses their interns these days. For us, we go through quite a process to match interns to Senators prior to the session. We spend a lot of time trying to make the right matches because different Senators use their interns in different ways. For example, a USU intern, Justine Larsen, was the Senate President’s intern two years ago. When we interviewed her, it was very clear that she was very good with research. She’d had a lot of experience there. Her manner was pleasant, quiet, and respectful, but confident. Once we got to know her, it was very apparent that she was a very good candidate to be the Senate President’s intern, because that’s the kind of person he needs.

The Senate President would use his intern for things like making sure his meetings go on schedule, keeping his schedule during the session, a lot of policy research and sitting in on meetings on his behalf. Other Senators use their interns to help them with their social media.

We keep our interns really, really busy. They are a really integral part of the process for us. I don’t know how the session would go without our interns, but I don’t like to imagine it because it would be something of a nightmare. I can’t even tell you how many times I have heard from Senators how important their interns are to them during that time. Many of them stay in touch with their interns for years to come.

                                                                                 Media Conference, 2014

IOGP: What advice do you have for students considering a legislative internship?

KR: Just do it! I know for a lot of people it is inconvenient to take a semester off. I know that sometimes the drive doesn’t seem very good, or the arrangements as far as housing don’t seem awesome, but these internships really do change the course of people’s lives probably more often than not. So for anyone who has inhibitions about it or who doesn’t like the inconvenience that it could present, I would just say forget all that and do it. People don’t regret coming and spending time here. It ends up being something that they’ll treasure for the rest of their lives. There is a legislator here for every type of intern.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

IOGP Profile: Jon Cox, Communications Director for Gov. Herbert

A Political Career: Jon Cox

Jon Cox, the director of communications for Gov. Gary Herbert, will speak to Utah State University students on Sept.10 about his career in politics, and how students can best pursue their own career. He will speak at 5:30 p.m. in Old Main 304.

Jon, 32, and his wife, Ellie, have three girls — all of which were born or adopted within a seven-month period. The two oldest girls, Epuri (7) and Nawook (5) were adopted from Uganda, where Ellie had previously founded an orphanage. The youngest girl, Eva, is 2-years-old.

Jon graduated from USU in 2006 with a degree in journalism and a minor in accounting. He also has a Master’s degree in history from the University of Utah. He was appointed as Gov. Herbert’s Director of Communications earlier this summer. Prior to that, he served as a member of the Utah House of Representatives.

Prior to his visit to campus, Jon answered questions via email for the IOGP.

IOGP: Can you explain your current position? 
JC: As the Director of Communications, I am a member of the governor's senior leadership team. In addition to serving as the governor's spokesman, I help craft all communications from the governor's office to the media. We also help oversee the communications of all state agencies with the media. 

IOGP: What has been the most surprising and/or difficult challenge about being the spokesperson? 
JC: I previously served as a county commissioner and state representative here in the state. Having won three different elections, I am used to speaking on-the-record and under pressure. The main difference is that then I was a free agent, and now I'm not. It's easy speaking for yourself, but making sure that your comments directly align with someone else (while still maintaining your personality) takes some work. 

IOGP: What do you enjoy most about being the spokesperson?
JC: I am a long view kind of person, and so strategy is what I enjoy most about my job. I like to think through various scenarios of how an issue could play out over time. Maybe it's still the historian in me, but if journalism really is the rough draft of history, I want to make sure I keep the day-to-day events of a news cycle in proportion. 

Photo Cred: "Governor Appoints Jon Cox to
Utah House" by KCSG.com"
IOGP: You were considered a rising star in the Legislature and had enough experience to make a move into major leadership roles. Why did you decide to leave the Legislature for the governor's office?
JC: I think most everyone in the Legislature assumes they are a rising star, so I suppose you never really know until the votes are cast in a leadership race. I loved my time in the Legislature, and I will always treasure the friendships that I made during those two years. But in the Legislature, I was 1 of 104. Now, with a handful of others, I get to be in the room with the governor when he makes major decisions. I'm guessing it must be the inner athlete in him, but Governor Herbert is very open to a competition of ideas among his senior staff. He encourages alternative viewpoints and appreciates being challenged. I have found that type of setting to be incredibly fulfilling as he makes critical decisions for Utah's future. 

IOGP: You served an internship with former U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, while at USU. How did your political internship help you in your political career?
JC: It opened up my eyes to the world of politics and led me directly into a four-year stint as a staff member for Senator Bennett. Without that internship opportunity from USU, I would have never pursued that path and likely not become involved in politics so early in life. 

IOGP: What advice would you give a college student considering a career in politics?
JC: Read. Politics is primarily a competition of ideas, and if you don't have many ideas you won't get very far in the field. The big, foundational ideas in my life that have motivated and guided me have almost always come from a book--usually one I read without being assigned by a teacher to do so. If you tell yourself that you'll begin reading recreationally once you finish a difficult semester, then don't be surprised when that day never comes. Difficult semesters turn into difficult jobs, which turn into marriages (hopefully not as difficult) and kids (definitely difficult). Having three kids in less than a year, I'm probably not the best resource for parenting tips — but I will say that reading has remained a priority for me even in the busiest of times because it was a priority for me way back in college. 

IOGP: What is your favorite memory from your time at USU? 
JC: We spent a lot of time playing practical jokes on each other back then. One of our favorites took place in the old Merrill Library. We would find a book with an embarrassing title and place it in a friend's backpack. When that friend would walk out of the library the alarm would go off, and they would have to explain to the library staff why they were trying to sneak out a book entitled, "Raging Hormones: Do They Control Our Lives?" A decade after the fact, I hope the USU librarians will accept my belated apology.

IOGP: Anything else you want to add?
JC: I loved my time at Utah State. Over the years — and especially as a college professor — I have tried my best to remember what life was like as a college student. Trying to sort through several major life decisions all at the same time can be a little overwhelming, but life as a college student is also a time of such excitement and possibility. You only get to be a college student once, and I believe I absolutely made the most of it. 

Interviewed by Josh Loftin.