The Washington State Legislative Internship Program provides an opportunity for Junior/Senior standing college students from all over Washington State to learn about the state government by serving as nonpartisan interns. While each intern works for different members or offices of the Legislature, the program itself allows them to collaborate across political and ideological differences (such as through mock budget and bill committees), learn from keynote speakers, and engage in various discussions.
Since the start of the legislative session, the internship program has promoted the values of nonpartisanship in an effort to reduce the partisan tension as well as foster respectful civic discourse among interns.
To the program’s directors and staff, nonpartisanship has been an essential value throughout the program to uphold respect in public discourse. As part of the program’s commitment to remaining nonpartisan, interns are encouraged to focus on the arguments, instead of the person making them, during debates and other group activities. During a time of an intense partisan divide across the nation, this internship programs calls on respect to remain at the forefront of every discussion, so interns could improve their listening skill and find common ground with one another.
Keeping nonpartisanship a priority also allows them to reduce polarization in conversations and the work environment. The current program’s staff and directors, who have been working for a few sessions or more, have identified this approach to be effective in not only reducing division among both staff and interns, but also in avoiding isolating the minority perspectives. Some of the interns themselves have expressed their appreciation for remaining nonpartisan as it allows for them to focus on the issues in hand and not the party lines.
When comparing the polarization in the Legislature to the college campuses the interns were from, the impact of social media was noted as a powerful influence in their universities over partisan topics, heated exchanges, and personal arguments, all of which exacerbate the partisan divide. Through social media, many students are exposed to national news stories, which have been found to be conflict-driven as opposed to local news that is more community-driven, extreme arguments, and little to no respect to people with opposing views. On the other hand, in the Legislature, while all 65 interns are similarly exposed to partisan arguments, they are taught and monitored to remain open-minded on engaging with diverse perspectives and experiences.
Beyond the internship program, universities are already creating efforts to implement the importance of civic discussion through their courses. For example, the University of Washington has previously taught an online leadership course that demonstrated examples of how two people with two different perspectives and backgrounds can come together to discuss their opinions.
One of the internship program coordinators also discussed creating a program that would teach elementary students about the government, encourage civic engagement, and provide accessible websites and resources to all counties in Washington, in an effort to provide learning opportunities and the betterment of civic discourse from an early age.
Being able to respectfully listen to and engage with those with contrasting opinions, beliefs, and thoughts is a vital skill to learn and utilize as everyone comes from different perspectives and backgrounds. Learning how to discuss differentiating perspectives over shared problems is important to finding solutions, and to lessening the current division in our nation.