BY RYAN GAINOR

ASST. NEWS EDITOR

A new book may help students make the most out of their internship opportunities.

Political science professor Grant Reeher and Mack Mariani, a political science doctoral student and chief of staff for the Monroe County Legislature, have edited “The Insider’s Guide to Political Internships,” a new book to help students involved in political internships.

Mariani said he gained experience as an intern himself with U.S. Rep Jack Kemp (R – Buffalo) in 1988 and U.S. Rep. Bill Paxon (R -Buffalo) in 1993.

“I remember how frustrated and isolated I felt,” he said. “They would say ‘write a letter to a constituent’ and I knew how to write a 10 page paper but I would sit there wondering how to write a constituent letter.”

Besides teaching the reader about writing letters to constituents, the book also includes information about what research staffers often do and other aspects of being an intern to make students feel prepared for their experience, Mariani said.

“Students aren’t going to learn everything from any book but this will give them a head start,” he said.

Reeher said he and Mariani chose people who had experience as interns or supervisors to write the chapters in the book.

“We thought about the kinds of things that would most be able to benefit students to do a good job and get the most from the learning experience,” Reeher said.

Reeher said the last chapter of the book comes from two focus groups of students in the political science department at SU who had completed internships.

“It turned out really nicely,” he said. “It’s almost like the focus groups were working with the writers of the chapters because they reinforced what was said.”

Mariani said he hopes the book will help students shorten the normally long learning curve that accompanies their political internship.

Reeher said the book is a good tool for students to use before they begin their internships but is also designed to be a handbook they carry with them to the internship and consult as necessary.

Bob Fiato, a junior political science and public relations major, said he has read the book and thought it was very helpful because of its focus on political science internships.

“It was definitely very explanatory,” Fiato said. “It gave a lot of useful information as far as research and Web sites to consult.”

Published on January 21, 2003 at 12:00 pm