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Show f I'--;- , !4 1 'if'"" 1 -iwiiiiniu.iiiiiiiiiium . If : ' l I " v; 1 Rod Perry (right) and Utah Senator Jake Garn exchange greetings in Washington, D. C. Perry, an SUSC ; student, is on a three-month intern in Garn's Washington office. Perry says he is enjoying the work and gaining invaluable experience. , U intern reports I WASHINGTON, D.C. A Southern Utah State College student has discovered that a U.S. Senator is expected to deal with "everything I from the rising cost of I macaroni and cheese to J the impending demise of I the earth." I Rod Perry, son of Marilyn and the late Joseph Perry of Cedar City, is majoring in business administration with a political science minor, at SUSC and he is in Washington completing com-pleting a three-month internship with the office of Senator Jake Garn (R-Utah). (R-Utah). The 22-year-old Perry savs the senator receives a large volume of constituent con-stituent mail each day, which he reviews personally per-sonally or distributes to legislative assistants for additional attention. He is "amazed at the diversity of the problems" to which the senator and his staff are asked to respond. "Witnessing the government in action is a great revelation. It has been my observation that the senator and his staff are genuinely concerned with the welfare of the constituents con-stituents and every effort is made to assist them in their requests whatever their magnitude," Perry said. The intern program was instituted in the Garn office five years ago to give Utah students the opportunity to learn firsthand first-hand about the workings of the federal govern-1 ment. "Not only does the intern program provide a wonderful learning experience ex-perience and training ground for the students, but they make a real contribution to our office in such areas as legislative research and constituent communications. com-munications. Their general enthusiasm and idealism also are invaluable in-valuable resources," the senator said. Interns are selected on a rotating basis from all the major colleges and universities in the state, and they work with the senator and his staff for approximately three months. Robert Dibblee, intern program director for the Senator, says the program provides students with "invaluable practical experience." "They are involved in substantive work and seem to gain a greater appreciation for the government and our elected officials," he said. "The intern program is of great worth," Perry said. "I have enjoyed the opportunity immensely. The experience certainly could not be duplicated in a classroom." Rod said Washington, D.C. is his favorite city in ,the East , and he finds the Smithsonian Institute particularly interesting. "I especially enjoyed being here for the Presidential inauguration inau-guration and the homecoming of the former hostages these are historic events I will always remember," he said. Considering the high expectations people have of the government, it is highly efficient, Rod said. "I am amazed at its efficiency." Rod will return to SUSC at the end of the March. |