Marathon Semester

Luke ’10 runs us through last several months in Washington Semester Program

As a student in the Washington Semester Program, I gained some unforgettable experiences in the nation’s capital this spring semester. As a runner, I laced up my sneakers and took in as much of this dynamic city as I could. Come along as we race through the last couple of months.

Presidential Inauguration ’09
The inauguration and inaugural events, such as the “We are One” concert, were a highlight of my semester. The 15 Holy Cross students in the program, myself included, were lucky enough to join millions of others in watching a multitude of celebrities and performers on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and then witness history as President Obama was sworn into office.

Internship at NBC
At NBC, my writing and analytical skills were constantly tested. My duties included writing articles on an array of political topics, interviewing political figures, conducting polls, reporting on political events, and approving public comments on NBC’s First Read Web site.

All of these activities challenged me to keep an open mind while formulating my own ideas and skepticism surrounding different issues, and also allowed me to see that there are differing ideologies and opinions behind everything; nothing is as simple as it seems.

Highlights during my time at NBC included attending the Republican National Committee Chairman election, Conservative Political Action Conference, a National Republican Congressional Committee dinner hosted for Governor Bobby Jindal, and a live showing of Nora O’Donnell’s show and “Meet the Press,” in which I got to chat with David Gregory.

Tour of the Capitol
My NBC ID opened me to exclusive opportunities, including a tour of the Capitol, where I got to see the press galleries of the House and Senate and meet congressional reporters. 

I also used the pass to gain free access to the Newseum, a specialty museum with news artifacts dating back to the Magna Carta, Pulitzer Prize winning photographs, and educational journalistic multimedia. I also called on the pass to enter an exclusive environmental conference and the film set of Salt, starring Angelina Jolie.

Making friends from around the world
At NBC, I became good friends with Jade, an aspiring journalist from Germany. Jade and I tried out different movie theatres and ethnic restaurants (one at which we even saw political activist Howard Zinn speak), went to a Wizards basketball game, shopped at Eastern Market (a world-known, international flea market), took part in the Cherry Blossom and Kite festivals, and frequented different D.C. museums and night clubs.

Jade was studying with an international student program at American University, and introduced me to her friends from around the globe. By semester’s end, I had friends from France, Sweden, Africa and South America.

Taking in the political life
On the weekends, I made sure to see as much of D.C. as possible. Our Holy Cross group was fortunate enough to gain access to a highly coveted tour of the White House, as well as the Supreme Court building, where we met Clarence Thomas ’71, associate justice of the Supreme Court.

In January, I met up with friends from home to attend a pro-life conference in D.C. In March, I met up with friends and fellow teammates from Holy Cross to attend a youth action eco conference.

Sightseeing, sightseeing and more sightseeing
To explore on my own, I used my daily runs to see every corner of the city. On my runs, I saw the National Zoo, the National Mall, the Kennedy Center, Arlington Cemetery, Watergate, the Jefferson, Lincoln and Washington monuments, the Red Cross, the Pentagon, Old Town Alexandria, George Mason, George Washington, Georgetown and American universities, Embassy Row, the Pulitzer Center, the Botanical Conservatory, FBI buildings and Old Postal Tower.

After or before my runs, I would stop in different museums, such as the Spy, U.S. Naval, National Geographic, American Indian, Holocaust, Air and Space, National Building, American History, Natural History, Gallery of Art, Hirshhorn, National Archives and National Portrait Gallery.

Exploring my academic interests
The D.C. Program also incorporates intensive academics. Every Tuesday, following work, our group would report to the American Political Science Association for a public policy seminar. Here, we learned about the disconnect between socioeconomic issues and the way these issues are represented in policy. Additionally, each student was responsible for working on the D.C. thesis, which we also discussed during the seminar.

Because of my interest in international relations and human rights, I wrote my thesis on humanitarian intervention. Researching for this project occupied my international relations interest, which was encouraged by my knowledgeable NBC supervisors.

With their advice, my thesis research and knowledge gained from the displays at the Newseum, I explored the field of crisis reporting and came to see it as a field I am interested in entering. While in D.C., I was able to interview with a few crisis reporting agencies, including the reputable International Crisis Group, and was offered a position with the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting this upcoming school year as a liaison between the center and Holy Cross.

My semester in D.C. was a journey of endless exploration. Despite all that I experienced, there was still more that I wanted to take in. Visiting one museum or event inspired new curiosity and questions which could be explored elsewhere in D.C. Without a doubt, I will return to this international melting pot with more confidence in how the city and its agencies — from NGOs and lobbying groups to the media and Capitol Hill — function together.

By Claire Luke ’10

Pictured: Claire Luke ’10 with Clarence Thomas ’71, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.