Category Archives: Division News

Students Intern For The Washington State Legislature

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This year, the Washington State Legislature selected four UWT students to participate in its Legislative Internship Program. About 60 students statewide are selected as interns who then work directly for members of the Senate or House.  All interns work full time for the Legislature over the winter quarter, earning 15 credits in the process.

Jasmin Randhawa is a Senior majoring in Politics Philosophy and Economics.  She served as a Policy Research Intern for the Senate Democratic Caucus. What stood out for her about this internship is the exposure it gave her to role models.  “For someone who comes from a marginalized community, this is a really great way to enter the world of politics. I met a Senator who speaks the same language as I do and it’s like “wow!” that that could be me.”

Alexandria Steele, a senior majoring in Psychology, interned with Reps Berry, Frame, and Senn. She too found that the experience changed her.  “As a student from a working-class background, I hadn’t thought that much about how to prepare myself for post-graduation.  I just focused on my grades, and now I realize not that many people care about grades.  I’m so grateful for this opportunity.”

Dalton Stephens, a senior in Law and Policy, interned for Senator Sam Hunt of District 22 representing Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater.  Dalton found the internship offered a unique professional opportunity.  “It’s exciting to be in political circles and to understand what everyone is saying. It’s amazing how well interns blend in.  I’ve probably learned more during this internship than in two years of college.”

Jonathon Church, a senior in Politics Philosophy and Economics, interned for Reps. Barkis, Klippert, and Sutherland. He seconded the unique educational value of this internship:  “It helped orient me toward the job market and got me to apply what I’ve learned in fields that I’m interested in.”

In addition to interning, students also take part in Civic education, which includes a mock debate, guest speakers, and educational lectures designed to enhance their internship.  This year’s mock debate was overseen by Lt. Gov Denny Heck playing the role of President of the Senate, a role he plays in real life. Remarked Jon Church:  “It is hard not to take it serious when you hear the Lt. Gov. Call out your name with the word Senator before it!”

All four students agreed that this unique internship opportunity is a rigorous one. “It’s one of the most challenging learning experiences I’ve ever had,” summed up Jon Church.

Go here to listen to an interview with the four students.

First Economics and Policy Analysis Major Accepted into UW’s Evans School

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Congratulations to Michael Price, UWT’s first student to graduate with a major in our new Economics and Policy Analysis degree.  Michael was recently accepted into the University of Washington’s Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, where this fall he will begin its Master of Public Administration (MPA) program.  The Evans School is ranked as one of the top graduate MPA programs in the nation.

Michael grew up spending time between New Jersey and South Florida, but has found his home in Washington state. In returning to college, he dreamed of gaining the skills to allow him to contribute to solving social problems. For this reason, he was drawn to UWT’s new Economics and Policy Analysis program, which just winter quarter began accepting students. (See this interview with Michael.)

“Because of my success in the EPA major, I wholeheartedly recommend this major for any students interested in either Economics or Policy, as they go hand in hand,” commented Michael after learning of his admission to the Evans School. “The faculty here at UWT has supported me along the way. I’m excited to begin  this new stage of my academic career.” So are we Michael. Best wishes!

Prof. Hanneman’s Book Spotlights Tacoma’s Unique Japanese Community

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Professor Mary Hanneman’s new book, Becoming Nisei: Japanese American Urban Lives in Prewar Tacoma (written with UWT Prof. Lisa Hoffman) is receiving significant attention in the local community.  Becoming Nisei explores Tacoma’s prewar Nihonmachi’s (Japan Town) vibrant and close-knit community, one consisting of first- generation Japanese immigrants and their second-generation American children. Prior to World War II, Tacoma was filled with Japanese businesses, homes, hotels and churches.  The Tacoma Japanese Language School, located in Tacoma’s current downtown core, was a central institution in the lives of Tacoma’s Japanese population.  Influenced both by the transnational connections to Japan and by the spatial components of the city itself, the book tells the story of the world they built, one destroyed then erased by incarceration and the passage of time.

On February 19th, the Day of Remembrance of Japanese American Incarceration During World War II, Prof. Hanneman and Prof. Hoffman gave a presentation on this history to the Washington State History Museum’s series Scholarly Selections. Their talk, entitled “Structural Erasure: Remembering Japanese Americans in Prewar Tacoma,” focused on the unique features of Tacoma’s prewar Japanese community, including its single, secular language school, prominent school leadership, and the size and spatial layout of the community.  The book is based on interviews with 42 Nisei who grew up in Tacoma as well as archival work in the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections. 

Thanks to Profs Hanneman and Hoffman for bringing this important period in our past to light, and highlighting the human stories behind the tragic treatment of the Japanese during World War II.

Research: Women respond to feedback more than men

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Congratulations to Prof. Anna Lovasz, whose article “Gender differences in the effect of subjective feedback in an online game,” was just published by the Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics.  

Prof. Lovasz and her co-authors used an online game with randomized messages to test whether responses to encouragement (You can do it!) and praise (Good job!) differ by the gender of the player. They found that women were more responsive to such feedback. When the feedback took the form of encouragement, women played more games and achieved higher scores, whereas when they received praise, they achieved lower scores. Among men, the feedback had less effect, although men with lower game-playing confidence responded negatively to encouragement. 
“These results don’t mean that men and women should be given different feedback based on their gender,” explained Dr. Lovasz. “Rather, more personalized feedback based on individual needs could help decrease existing gender gaps. However, providing personal attention is time-consuming and costly. This study supports investments in teachers’ pay and new technologies that allow teachers the time to focus on students’ individual and social-emotional needs.”

Senior Andre Jimenez pens Oped On Use of Force

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Congratulations to Senior Andre Jimenez, whose oped on a recent Use of Force study conducted by the Pierce County Sheriff’s office was just published in Tacoma’s News Tribune.  As a representative on the Pierce County Equity Review Committee, Andre was one of fifteen members asked to review this study, one commissioned to investigate racial disparities in policing practices by the Sheriff’s office.

Andre found some alarming findings in the study — Black residents experience police force five times more often than white residents, and Black youth experience force more than 10 times more frequently than white youth. Yet his oped points to the deficiencies in the data indicating that the report actually underestimates the magnitude of the disparities. Andre concludes that:

Real change requires independent sources of data on police use of force practices that are no longer dependent on officers’ self-reporting. We need a civilian review board with real oversight authority and independence from the sheriff’s department, ensuring that the police who investigate their fellow officers are held accountable. 

Thanks, Andre, for your commitment to making our officials more accountable and our community a more just one.

Alum Writes Oped On the Value of Inmate Education

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Should people serving a life term in prison be provided state-sponsored educational opportunities?  Rania Elbasiony (Law & Policy 2019) argues yes in her recent opinion piece published by Tacoma’s News Tribune.

During Winter 2019, Elbasiony interned with the Washington State Legislative Internship Program.  One day she read a letter from a constituent asking Elbasiony’s boss, Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, to reconsider Washington law prohibiting him from a state-sponsored education while in prison because he was serving a life-without-parole sentence.  Interested in investigating this more, Elbasiony read research on the effect education had on prisoner outcomes, morale, and prisoner management, and concluded that she agreed with the letter writer.  This oped explains how and why she reached that conclusion.

PPE Major Teresa Dennerlein Wins Two Scholarships

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Sophomore and PP&E Major Teresa Dennlein has gotten this academic year off to a great start, having been selected for two competitive scholarships!

Teresa is one of nine students selected in this year’s cohort of Dressel Scholars. The University of Washington Tacoma Dressel Scholars Program recognizes and rewards exceptional scholarly achievement, community engagement, and leadership potential for any student enrolled at UW Tacoma. The Dressel Scholars Program was created to honor the legacy of Melanie Jan LaPlant Dressel by creating a robust scholarship and mentorship program that affords our students the opportunities to develop their leadership skills and community connections while giving them the financial freedom to fully participate in their UW Tacoma experience.

Teresa was also awarded a Jennifer Dunn-Thompson Scholarship through the Washington Policy Center. The scholarship is for female students who are interested in policy-related fields, and named in honor of the late Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn.

If you are interested in these or other scholarship award opportunities, be sure to visit the Office of Student Fellowships and Awards to find out more!

Intern for the State Legislature: Info Session October 1st

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Interested in interning at the state Capitol next winter?  Attend an info session during the lunch hour (12:15-1:15) on Tuesday October 1st in WCG 110. 

The Washington State Legislative Intern Program offers a terrific opportunity for undergraduate juniors and seniors from all majors to learn the legislative process while gaining professional work experience. Interns are placed in the office of a state senator or state representative with similar interests.  Last winter session, 8 UWT students were selected to participate.

This is a paid internship, and you’ll receive 15 academic credits.  If your major is PP&E or Law and Policy, the internship satisfies your capstone requirement.

A program coordinator from the Legislature will be present at this info session.  More information on the program can be found on the program’s web page.  Applications will be due next October. Information on the application process is available on the program website.

WhLester-Burkesat:  Information Session about Washington State’s Legislative Internship Program

Where:  WCG 110

When:  12:15-1:15 Tuesday Oct 1st

internships-300x206Watch a 4 minute video on the program that features former UWT interns (go to link above and scroll down).

Lu-A Kikuo Wins Annual PPPA Paper Prize Award

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Dilluchei (Lu-A) Kikuo (left) is a co-winner of the annual PPPA Best Paper for her essay “Republican Virtue and Klechibelau in the Face of Colonization: Machiavelli, Rousseau, the Belauan Civic Idea.” Lu-A wrote this paper as part of her work in Prof. Michael Forman (left) Senior Seminar course Winter Quarter, 2019.  Three faculty members (Elizabeth Bruch, Charles Williams, and Sarah Hampson) reviewed papers nominated this year, and selected Lu-A’s, as well as Lucas Waggoner’s, for this year’s award.

Lu-A hails from the island nation of Palau. Beginning in the 16th Century, Palau was the object of colonization by Spain, Germany, Japan, and the United States, all of which sought to obliterate its institutions, values, and culture. The Republic of Palau attained independence in 1981, though it maintains a close relationship with the United States.

Lu-A’s course of study at UWT was heavily influenced by political theory and ethnic and gender studies. Her award-winning paper reflects this trajectory. The notion of republican virtue has a long tradition in Mediterranean and European political theory.  In this tradition, liberty is understood in terms of laws oriented toward the common good and rooted in citizen action. But, the rule of law is a fragile thing and its main source of strength are public virtues such as the love of liberty and citizen engagement in the pursuit of the common good. Lu-A, however, saw something else in the idea of “civic virtue:” she saw the same core precepts found in Klechibelau, a very old idea in Palau.

Klechibelau literally translates into “the ways of Belauan life.” This “encompasses the mores, values, traditions, and customs of the Belauan culture and identity, all of which work together for the common good.” In her paper, Lu-A relies on canonical political theory sources (especially Machiavelli and Rousseau) to reconstruct the notion of republican virtue. She then argues that klechibelau, by offering similar resources, embodies Belauan notions of liberty and has played a role in preserving the Belauan way of life. While it has been much undermined by colonial practices, she argues for its renewal.  “Republicanism and Klechibelau in the Face of Colonization” brings together Lu-A’s course of study and extends it in a completely new direction not only for her, but for the field of political theory.

More importantly, “Republicanism and Klechibelau in the Face of Colonization” also offers something new to the people of the Republic of Palau: a way of rooting new institutions in traditional values.

PPPA’s Senior Seminar (TPOLS 480)  allows students to bring together with what they have learned in their course of study, and extend and deepen their knowledge into a new area. Lu-A’s paper is a superb example of this.

Senior Spotlight 2019: Rania Elbasiony

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Meet Rania Elbasiony, one of UW Tacoma’s seniors and legislative intern extraordinaire in the Washington State House of Representatives.  We caught up with her and asked us to answer some Internship program as a “really great hands-on approach to learning about our state’s legislative process”.  A professor’s recommendation brought her to the internship program which is fitting as the draw of “small class sizes…and greater access to…build closer relationships with both my professors and fellow students” was what brought her to UW Tacoma.  Rania describes loving the close-to-home downtown campus here as well as the quality education that with a much more affordable tuition.

A Law & Policy major with a minor in Business Administration, Rania has taken advantage of the urban-serving campus and its many opportunities.  “I think that being a law and policy major has really helped me gain a basic understanding of how our legal system works, which will benefit me when I look for jobs in the legal field as well as when I attend law school in the future.” In addition to the interning at the State Legislature, Rania has interned with the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office.  She has also worked directly with the City of Tacoma and the Tacoma Neighborhood Councils in the Fieldwork in Law and Policy class taught by her favorite professor, Lucas McMillan.  When asked how she picked her favorite, Rania said, “I’ve had several great professors during my time here, but he manages to be my favorite because no professor of mine has been able to match his level of optimism. He comes into the classroom with a positive attitude and knows how to get his students engaged. Additionally, you can tell that he truly cares about his students learning and always goes above and beyond for his students when they need his help. Not to mention, he is very knowledgeable in his field.”

When asked about what classes she drew most on for success in her internships she credits the Intro to American Legal System and Intro to American Politics for helping her come “to the job with that foundational knowledge of how state government works, which helped ease my transition into a new environment. My field work class and internship at the Pierce County Prosecutor’s office also helped me because it allowed me to strengthen my interpersonal and networking skills.”

On that note, Rania’s suggestion for others who might want to follow a path similar to hers is “volunteering and getting involved with different student groups and organizations. It’s a great way to start networking and meeting people who could potentially lead you to future employment. Additionally, volunteering is a great way to see if the career you are currently interested in is a good fit for you. Also, if you have room to do so, take classes you are interested in even if it doesn’t relate to your major. Last but not least, in the midst of the chaos that school can be, don’t forget to take care of yourself because your mental and physical well-being is important.”