Shostak, who works with the ASUC Municipal Lobby, said the program carefully interviews city agencies and commissions to determine their staffing needs so that students will not be committing themselves to glamorously packaged clerical jobs. City Officials have responded favorably to the program. As news of the internships spreads, more agencies are inviting assistance from Cal in Berkeley. The Police Review Commission, the Rent Stabilization Board, and the Berkeley Energy Commission are some of the groups presently supplementing their staffs with interns. Arranging for professors to sponsor a project has been more difficult.
Professors are reluctant to sponsor a project without knowing the individual interns.
Shostak plans to compile a list of interested professors who have expertise related to the internship task areas. Of the 22 interns participating this quarter, about two-thirds are working for course credit. All are taking a four-part seminar which requires some reading on the history of city politics. The seminar also provides an opportunity for interns to meet with each other and hear guest speakers. Interns are expecte dto work 8 to 15 hours a week.