Exeter Cancels Spring Washington Program
Exeter’s Washington Intern Program, which allows students to work in Congressional offices in Washington, DC for the spring term of their senior year, has been cancelled this year due to lack of interest.The Academy has a policy that off-campus study programs with a residential director must have eight students enrolled, and the Intern program did not meet this requirement in their number of applicants, despite the fact that the selection committee extended the application deadline.Michael Golay, history instructor and chair of the selection committee, was disappointed that the school did not make an exception to their policy.“We were hoping they could consider waiving that policy, but we were told that couldn’t be done,” Golay said. He added that the cancellation was “unfortunate,” since “it’s been a venerable program. It’s been around for close to 50 years.”
“It’s been a venerable program. It’s been around for close to 50 years.”
Faculty members founded the program in 1966 with the goal of giving students “more exposure to life outside the academic community,” according to a 1967 article in the Exeter Bulletin. Since then, hundreds of students have spent their springs on Capitol Hill, working in House and Senate offices, meeting with guest speakers and getting to know the nation’s capitol.Golay noted that the expanded term abroad and off-campus study options may have affected the number of applicants. He cited the “proliferation of study programs elsewhere” and “programs competing against each other.”Other off-campus study programs are running this year which have not run in recent years, which may have affected the number of DC applicants. For instance, the term in Taiwan for students studying Chinese did not run last year but will this winter. The term in Rome for Classics students runs every other year and falls this winter.Senior Dave Berlin decided to apply to this year’s program (before its cancellation) because he was interested in what a few months in DC had to offer.“After attending the info session, it seemed that this program would be able to offer me a lot of experience that I probably wouldn't have at Exeter,” Berlin said. “I've never worked as an intern before, so this program seemed like the perfect way to have that first experience.”After he learned that the trip was off, Berlin was saddened to learn he would be spending the spring in Exeter instead of the nation’s capitol. In addition, the change affected plans he had made for his spring with the trip in mind.“When I found out the program was cancelled, I was definitely upset,” he said. “I had planned on the trip running, and had skipped an audition for an all-state music festival in the spring that I thought I wouldn't be able to attend because I would be in Washington. Still, I know that spending spring term in Exeter will be fun as well.”Golay expanded on what makes the Intern program special and what students will miss this year due to its cancellation.“[Students are] missing the opportunity to see the political system up close, live, work in Washington and explore the national capital,” Golay said. “They like being in the kind of workday world, [which is] so different from their normal routines in school, the excitement of being in centers of power. They have made friendships and connections that have been important to them. There is a certain éspirit among the students who have done the trip.”Andrea Conde ‘14 participated in the program last year and was upset to hear that students from this year’s senior class would not be able to experience it.“I think the decision to cancel the program is very unfortunate. I can honestly say that the program was one of the highlights of my Exeter career, and I wish I could go back and do it again,” Conde said.She thought that the timing of the trip might have been a deterrent for some Exonians. Conde herself, interested in but not fixated on politics, applied to the program on whim. “I think people favor other abroad trips, not realizing how different the world of DC is from Exeter,” Conde said. “There is the beacon of ‘senior spring,’ which I hear still has the same tests, papers and finals as the others terms at Exeter. The program was such an amazing program that many people underestimate.”Conde added that coming out of the Exeter bubble was well worth missing the much-anticipated senior spring.“Being in the midst of the political process really illuminated so much for me. Learning how legislation is made, interacting with the leaders of the country and witnessing the newest policy debates was so refreshing from the Exeter bubble. Also, getting to talk to alumni in DC who work in government agencies, publications or think tanks was an amazing learning experience. Not to mention getting a tour of the West Wing, a privilege few people will ever experience.”