Fall 2000 Hinckley Institute Reaches Many Milestones in its 35th Year Ph.D. in U.S. Political History and is an interns to serve in Britain’s Parliament in Adjunct Assistant Professor of Political London and in the French Parliament in Science. Paris. The Institute seeks to meet the Over the years, the Institute has seen challenge of the new global political a change come over our students. As the world by providing more internships and world goes global in business, trade, and expeditions of students to study politics politics, more and more of our students in foreign lands. are asking to serve in internships and Recognizing the need to continually experiences relating to the international refresh the $7.5 million Hinckley endow- world. As such, the institute is deeply ment, the institute will begin a capital grateful to former University of Utah campaign next January with a targeted Political Science Professor Sam Rich. goal of $2 million. Businesses, individu- Sam has generously contributed money als, and former students will be con- to launch the Sam Rich Program in tacted to assist the institute in reaching International Politics. this goal. As new opportunities are pre- The institute, under the Rich sented; such as, the need for interna- Program, has begun international intern- tional experiences for students, the ships. Ernestine Johnson served in the Institute wishes to increase its revenue Pat Ryan and Ted Wilson Tibetan Government in Exile in base to make sure all students are Dharamsala, India for a semester assist- included. ing the Dalai Lama’s government with As we move into the 2000-2001 aca- communications. Four students, demic year, the Hinckley Institute stands From the Director Sheridan Sullivan, Nicholas Mark, prepared not only to meet our traditional Lindsay Krantz, and Sunny Stringham, goals, but also to expand our opportunities The Hinckley Institute has reached many have served in Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem, to learn politics in ever changing ways. milestones in this, its 35th year. Israel. Unfortunately, because of vio- Pat Ryan, our Intern Director since lence and terrorism in Israel and sur- 1990, decided to retire July 1st. Home, rounding areas, we asked the students to family, and opportunities await Pat. As return from the internships before the Pat leaves the institute, she can be end of the semester. We are sure, how- assured the many students she served ever, they learned a great deal from the over 15 years will always look to her as experience. an important part of their lives at the In addition to preparing two students University of Utah. Pat capably managed to serve as interns in New Delhi, India, as over 200 internships a year including 90 part of our International Seminar – The to 120 in Washington, D.C., 35 at the Utah Kotwara Project, we will send 15 to 20 State Legislature and the rest in local students to India next Spring Semester to internships. Pat handled this great continue the work done by 12 Hinckley responsibility with dignity, poise, and Institute students who traveled to India with a true love for each and every stu- last December and January. The dent with whom she came in contact. We Kotwara Project has blossomed into a will miss her greatly. new program that will consist of 8 weeks The Institute was extremely fortunate of intensive academic work, 3 weeks of to recruit Dr. Tim Chambless to replace academic and service travel in India, and Pat Ryan as Intern Director. Tim has 4 weeks back on the university campus served on the institute’s advisory board to de-brief the experience and write aca- and has been an enthusiastic participant demic papers. in Hinckley Institute activities. Tim has a Plans are also developing to send Tim Chambless 1 always felt needed and accepted at the Life on the Hill — Six Students Chosen Judiciary Committee. The Committee was dedicated to making sure that her as Outstanding Interns intern experience was the best it could be. Over the summer, she learned more about politics and the work and effort that goes into every piece of legislation, than she could possibly have learned elsewhere. Pat Moench, a junior studying philos- ophy, spent the summer of 2000 intern- ing for Senator Orrin Hatch. Moench was assigned to work and assist with the functions of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I did whatever they asked me to do, which got to be pretty inter- esting,” said Moench about his job on Capitol Hill. “It was a hands-on work experience with some of the most com- pelling issues in national politics.” Moench’s primary responsibility was to help Senator Hatch plan and prepare for Judiciary Committee hearings. The Committee’s summer schedule was filled with Senate hearings on a variety of Bob Bennett asnd Kenneth Jackman Amy Akerlow Kenneth Jackman, a senior majoring in served her internship over the summer Political Science, interned with Senator of 2000 for Senator Orrin Hatch on the Robert F. Bennett (R-Utah) both Spring Judiciary Committee. During the first and Summer Semesters 2000. Jackman half of her internship, Amy worked in the worked in a wide variety of areas includ- front office answering phone calls from ing, education, immigration policy, high- concerned voters spanning across the technology issues, and defense. He was nation. “I really felt as though I knew responsible for tracking legislation, con- what was going on with legislation and ducting research, writing and presenting judicial nominations,” Akerlow com- issue briefs, and responding to con- mented, “I loved being able to help oth- stituent mail in these; and other, areas. ers understand the process of getting a On different occasions, Jackman had the bill passed, explaining that all subjects of opportunity to draft language that was to legislation are important to Senator be introduced as an amendment on the Hatch and the Committee, and each bill Senate floor. He said, “It was rewarding receives careful consideration.” to do real, substantial work that was Midway through her internship, Amy good public policy.” Another highlight of was transferred to the crime unit on the his internship was drafting talking points Committee. This unit deals with various for Senator Bennett as he gave a speech areas of legislation from post-conviction Pat Moench commemorating the sesquicentennial of DNA testing to flag burning and drug the University of Utah. related bills. “I think this is where my Jackman commented, “Senator internship really picked up, when I could issues that included post-conviction Bennett has a very knowledgeable, com- actually see the work that went into mak- DNA testing, international terrorism, and petent staff working with him that really ing a bill into a law,” Akerlow said. In this investigations into campaign finance try to do what is best for the citizens of office, she helped answer constituents’ misconduct. Utah. My eight months working with letters and helped the counsels research During the recent controversy sur- these individuals taught me much about certain topics for upcoming legislation. rounding the sharing of MP3 files over public policy and effective government. Akerlow understood the importance of the internet and online companies; such This experience was definitely an inte- legislative work when she began working as Napster, it was Moench’s responsibil- gral part of my college education. I in the crime unit. “It hit me when I ity to find potential witnesses for a con- gained knowledge that could not be started working in the crime unit that I gressional hearing. An effort that yielded gained solely in a textbook or lecture was working with the people who con- testimony from online music and record- hall. Without this internship, my degree structed future laws. Never before had I ing industry executives; as well as, in political science would not have been been so close to something that really artists from the rock group Metallica and complete. I am grateful to Senator affected my future, and the generations the Byrds. Bennett’s office and the Hinckley that follow me. The detailed process of Other aspects of Moench’s work for Institute of Politics for making my intern- drafting amendments and bills is incredi- the Judiciary Committee involved ship possible.” ble. I was excited to give my input and obtaining written testimony for the Amy Akerlow, a junior majoring in views as to how victims of crime should Senator in an ongoing espionage investi- Political Science and Communications, be treated,” Akerlow commented. She gation at Los Alamos, New Mexico, and 2 the review of nomination hearing proto- ship were meeting the Speaker of the McOmber commented, “The col with the federal judicial nominees. House, Dennis Hastert, and having her Congressman’s staff consisted of five “It was a very rewarding experience, picture taken with him, getting a behind very intelligent, professional individuals Moench offered, “My expectations at the scenes tour of the White House, and who enabled me to become a part of all first were optimistic—but even those being able to listen to and observe the the duties and functions in the expectations were exceeded.” proceedings of Congress. Also, while Congressman’s office, and helped stretch Sarah Gilbert was selected to do an helping at a fundraising dinner for my personal abilities. The internship internship with Congressman James V. Congressman Hansen back in Salt Lake added a unique dimension to my under- Hansen for Spring Semester 2000. Gilbert City, Gilbert was able to meet Charleston graduate education, which would not said that the opportunity she had to Heston. Gilbert came home from D.C. in have been possible without the Hinckley work in Washington D.C.