VCU news

By Mike Porter

Virginia Commonwealth University students learned about the legislative process this spring by participating in VCU’s Virginia Capital Semester program, in which students served as interns for Virginia lawmakers.

The  L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs launched the Virginia Capital Semester program in 2004 to provide students with practical experience.  Students work a minimum of 20 hours per week through the Virginia General Assembly session while maintaining a full schedule of VCU courses.

The Capital Semester program provides interns with a hands-on environment that allows them to see how bills become law and experience how negotiation contributes to the process.

“Learning how lobbyists maneuver around the general assembly was fascinating and insightful,” said Dekalaha Baptiste, a senior majoring in political science and criminal justice who worked with Sen. Mamie Locke, D-2nd.  “This experience allowed me to see the good, bad and the ugly aspects of the legislative process. Before this experience, I had no idea about what went on in the General Assembly during session. It was eye opening, I am now aware of how the legislative system actually functions.”

Students were paired with senators and delegates across the state and attended committee meetings and floor sessions to track various bills. The experience allowed them to form friendships with other interns and with staff.

“I applied for the Virginia Capital Semester Program for numerous reasons, but my main motive was to build a network,” said Dina Ayad, a junior studying criminal justice who worked with Sen. Stephen Martin, R-11th. “Throughout my time as a legislative intern at the General Assembly, I have met many new people, whom I consider to be great mentors. They are helping me to grow professionally, and because of them, I now have a role model in my field of study.”      

Students who participated in the program this spring said the experience helped them develop a better understanding of the Virginia General Assembly and a better idea of how different political leaders play a variety of leadership roles in the process.

“The greatest experience that I had while interning through this program was having the opportunity to watch legislation happen,” said Monika Merk, a senior majoring in political science who worked with Sen. Emmett Hanger Jr., R-24th. “Of course, committee meetings are open to the public; however, there is something to be said about tracking various pieces of legislation for your office, having your questions answered by the senator who patroned them, and growing to appreciate the proposed legislation with each passing week. I can honestly say that I do not believe that my college experience would have been complete if I had not taken part in this program.”  

Participating in the internships allowed students to add to their classroom learning to better understand the inner workings of the General Assembly.

“I wanted to learn more about our government and law,” said Rowina Akberi, who worked for Sen. Chap Petersen, D-34 and is a senior majoring in homeland security and emergency preparedness and political science with a concentration in international relations.  “I am extremely satisfied with the experience that I gained from being a part of Capital Semester.  The amount of work that gets put into a law and the processes it goes through is more than what people think.”

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