rnc121307
On the homepage
Vikings
Out There
Health care
Deer opener
Home | Politically Connected | National Politics | Political Conventions
Students to get look at politics in action
Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on Facebook
Share on DiggMore from Political Conventions
About 60 to 70 students and recent graduates of Minnesota colleges and universities will be able to volunteer for work during the Republican National Convention next summer under a program hosted by Augsburg College.
In all, some 250 young people from across the country will participate in the program announced Wednesday by Augsburg and the Washington Center, a nonprofit group.
Gene Alpert, center senior vice president, said that, during the Sept. 1-4 convention, students will be assigned to the Republican Party, state delegations, corporations, interest groups, the host committee, candidates' organizations and the media.
They will do everything from working in copy centers to carrying film canisters for the media, Alpert said.
The program, begun in 1984, is done in collaboration with both major parties and will also occur next year at the Democratic convention in Denver.
Students will be housed at Augsburg for 13 nights, starting the week before the convention so as to attend classes on it. The cost is $3,995 per student -- $250 less if a college nominates a student.
Students are also encouraged to find corporations, labor unions, Rotary Clubs and Chambers of Commerce to nominate and subsidize them. Alpert estimated 30 to 40 percent of participants will lean toward Republicans, 10 to 20 percent to Democrats and the rest, just "curious."
Paul Pribbenow, president of Augsburg, said that in 2004 when he was president of Rockford (Ill.) College, a student there was assigned to security inside the Democratic convention.
"He spent every day on the convention floor," said Pribbenow, and got a behind-the scenes look at the convention.
The deadline for applications is March 1. Interested students should go to www.twc.edu.
RANDY FURST
Recent Political Conventions stories
Intent on strong response to Gustav, Bush off to Texas to meet with relief workers, evacuees - December 12, 2007
Intent on strong response to Gustav, Bush off to Texas to meet with relief workers, evacuees - As Hurricane Gustav threatens the Gulf Coast, President Bush is out to show the nation that his government has learned the haunting lessons of Katrina and is ready to act. That includes a rapid response by Bush himself, who will be planted near the danger zone even before the storm hits home. More
The Whistleblower blog has moved
The Star Tribune is still blowing the whistle, but our look and location have changed. Click here to get to the new blog. If you want the actual URL, it’s www.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower.html. Our blog posts will now be easier to search on the web site, but you’ll need to register to post a comment. In the [...]
Recent posts
  No resume? No problem!Create a skills profile in minutes, let a recruiter match you to an open position. Click here to get started. Open positions!A new career awaits. Look through thousands of listings to find your new job. Start now! |
Win a ski trip for two to UtahWin a five-day Ski vacation for two to beautiful Utah! |
Comment on this story | Be the first to comment | Hide reader comments