Connecticut College CELS Internship Blogs 2007

Well, summer is over. I go back to Conn on Sunday, and I finish my internship today. I guess I enjoy cutting it close! So did I learn a lot? Would I do it again? Would I recommend working here in the future? The answers are yes.

I must say, this internship was fantastic, and worth having just to meet the staff. Every single person in the office works very well together and genuinely like each other's company. It was such a positive experience to be able to work in this environment. As a rising senior, all of a sudden the real world seems so close. You hear all of your friends that graduated last year complaining about how terrible the working world is, and to appreciate your last year at Conn. It all seems so daunting. By working in a place like this, I realize that some people do in fact find a job that they can enjoy! Graduating from college is not the be all end all! If nothing else, I learned that I would love working for a small program much like this in the future.
On my last day, I am finishing up the Literature Review that I have been working on for the past couple of weeks. Unfortunately, every search conducted turns up say 300 or so articles in each database. Therefore, I haven't been able to get through the review as quickly as I had hoped. The good news is that there are in fact 300 or so articles for each search. The Human Rights and Health field is growing so quickly right now. The Literature Review was originally conducted about 2 years ago, and each search only turned up about 60 relevant articles, a rather large change! Professionals are noticing the correlation between GBV and HIV/AIDS, and doing their best to contribute to the research. It is rather exciting to see the work that such a small program like PIHHR has been doing expand so rapidly. The program currently has projects working with UNAIDS, UNFPA, and Merck, all HUGE organizations! PIHHR has about 6 or so people directly employed at a time. It is crazy to think that such a small organization can be considered so important in the Human Rights field. I am extremely lucky to have been included in this circle for the summer, and hope to keep in contact with the organization to continue any small tasks that they need done throughout the year!

Posted by Emily Ricketson at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It is currently Friday, and I am sitting at my boss's desk, covering her phone line...but generally I am being quite idle. It is shocking to realize that I have only 3 days of work left...where has my summer gone!?

I have put these three months to good use, and I am very proud of myself. I am going to have an honest confession right now...as far as jobs are concerned, I have a hard time sticking to things. I could show myself in a positive light and call it ambition...but really, I am too restless to deal with a minimum wage job at a coffee shop or retail store. I just get bored easily.

Although this internship has had its boring moments, especially on slow Fridays where it is raining outside, I have looked forward to work every day and have been excited to return to my weekly schedule on the weekends. What does this show me about the future? Maybe I have found my true passion: magazines. One those days at work where I did read various magazines all day, I was still stimulated. I wasn't idly flipping through the pages...I was examining. I looked at advertisments, their placement, and had a growing appreciation for their aesthetic properties. I read the articles, noticed the threads that run through publications each month. It was really surprising to notice how all these competitive publications cover and write about the same things. In July alone, The White Stripes were on the cover of about 6 different magazines and graced Interview's cover the following month.

I am not at the point where I can reflect upon all that I've learned during my internship, mainly just the fact that I learned a lot more than is apparent to me. Sure, I can talk about all the technical things I learned, but I think the results are set a little deeper in my mind. It taught me how to look at, understand, and appreciate magazines as a whole...editorial (my main interest) and advertisments (my focus this summer) together.

There is one thing about Interview that I feel the need to gripe about. Connecticut College has a very environmentally conscious side to it...reflected this summer through Alex's internship and through some of my closest friends at Conn. I would not consider myself to be incredibly educated in environmentalism or a dedicated environmentalist, but I do what I can. Especially recycling. Brant Publications has no recycling program whatsoever. Not even a bin where people can put their water/soda bottles. With all the paper that is used through printing, photocopies...MAKING A MAGAZINE...there is no system established for recycling office paper. It is incredibly wasteful. I spent the first week covertly seeking some sort of recycling bin...and finally, I asked my boss Marie about it. As a Conn alum, she was very sad to inform me that there was no recycling program at Brant. They used to have it apparently and got rid of it.

This bothers me. A lot. Mainly because it is not hard to recycle and it is just so wasteful. Maybe in my last week, I will put in inquiries and requests for getting the recycling program back. I'm sure Connecticut College will support my ambitions!

Posted by Claire Dowd at 01:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

And all of a sudden, I'm done with my internship. Funny how the summer zipped by so quickly. I now have a week and a half, then it's back to school for orientation stuff (I'm one of the coordinators) then, two weeks after I arrive, classes start. Jeez.

But my internship wrapped up quite nicely! On Monday I went in and rushed around, finishing up all my tasks, passing on information about what I'd done and where everything was to those who needed to know. At lunch time, I was presented with three gifts: a bag, a notepad, and a glass all with the CET logo on them. The coolest one was the glass, because it's made from the bottom of a recycled wine bottle. Pretty awesome. More poignant leave-taking comments below the fold.

I also borrowed the DVD of a movie Tomasin had seen this weekend, called What a Way to Go, a pretty grim and dire look at all the problems in our society and how they're converging to direct us toward a rather cataclysmic end to the American cultural empire. Not for the weak of stomach, said Tomasin. But sounds pretty interesting, I think. It also gives me an excuse to go back in to the office to return it.

I found out today that Peggy, my supervisor, wrote an email to my parents (whom she knows) with the most embarrassingly glowing praise of me and my time there. That kind of thing makes you feel really great.

It was sad leaving all these people who I've gotten to know. They're all so cool, and I won't likely see them much again. However, the office is nearby, and as Beth said as I was making my goodbyes, I'm part of the family now.

I am excited to go back to school, though. Very excited.

Before I bid this blog adieu, though, I'd like to just lay out all the projects I worked on throughout the summer:

• Green Audit folders (resources for homeowner clients)
• LEED binder (resources for builders)
• Newspaper Clipping Binder compilation and organization
• Office Literature Inventory (handouts, flyers, booklets, and brochures)
• ReStore mailing
• ReStore, EnergyStar, and LEED folder (putting together new copies; for clients)
• Renewables resources in other New England states (started)
• Research on the emissions effects of meat-eating (started)

Unassigned tasks that I did for my own interest:

• Compilation and analysis of numerous “10 things you can do for the planet” lists


• Research into the specific greenhouse gas reductions of various lifestyle changes


• Creation of my own list of recommendations for greening one’s choices (in general, and for students)

If you're interested in any of the materials I worked on, I have the files of everything I produced on my computer.

Well, I guess that's it (unless someone at College Relations of CELS tells me otherwise). It's been fun writing this, and I hope you've enjoyed reading it. If you have any questions about CET, CELS internships, or environmental stuff in general, I'd love to hear them. My email address is aekro (at) conncoll (dot) edu. You can also visit my homepage at http://oak.conncoll.edu/aekro. Thanks for reading!

Posted by Alexander Krogh-Grabbe at 02:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

After getting an introduction to computer code by helping update the website, (www.hsph.harvard.edu/pihhr) I am now returning to more familiar territory. I am currently conducting a literature review of articles related to HIV/AIDS and GBV, (gender based violence). Although a great deal of research has been conducted on each topic separately, the current literature review intends to find articles related to the interaction between the two topics.

In this case, I use the term GBV, but the majority of the time the articles are referring more directly to violence against women, (VAW). GBV can be a risk for HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS can also be a risk for GBV. For example, a woman may be afraid to use contraceptives because her husband will beat her at the suggestion, making GBV a risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. Once a woman contracts HIV/AIDS, she may be beaten or rejected from her house due to the positive test results, making HIV/AIDS a risk for GBV. It seems to be a cycle that simply does not make sense, women often cannot use protection yet are rejected if they contract HIV/AIDS by not using the protection they do not have. The literature review is covering articles in the past year and a half that have been published relating some of these issues. The complete list of topics to be included in the literature review is listed below.

1. Exploring the Linkages: General and Theoretical Examinations of the Intersection of GBV and HIV
2. Interrogating and interpreting the associated risks of HIV/AIDS and GBV
3. The role of men
4. GBV and HIV testing and disclosure
5. GBV as a risk factor for HIV
6. HIV as a risk factor for GBV
7. The increased susceptibility of sub-populations to the linked risks of HIV/AIDS and GBV
8. Effective approaches for addressing the joint risk factors of GBV and HIV/AIDS

I'm looking forward to adding to the review, and learning a great deal about the topic at the same time. Not to promote our website once again....butttttt if you are interested in reading up on some of these topics we have links to a lot of helpful websites and articles! Also, feel free to listen to BBC radio on Thursday evening, our program director will speaking about health and human rights, exact times and details coming soon....

Posted by Emily Ricketson at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

That is the name of the Interview sponsored event that took place in New York City (West Chelsea to be precise) on Wednesday, August 1st. I was lucky enough to work this event as an official greeter of guests.

The event was focused around a documentary about The Clash's enigmatic and iconic frontman Joe Strummer, entitled "The Future is Unwritten". Unfortunately, I cannot provide any feedback about how the documentary (directed by Julian Temple) actually was because I had to work throughout the entire film screening. Apparently, it was wonderful if you are a huge fan of The Clash (which I don't know how many people at the event were because many were leaving an hour into the film). The main complaint was that it was too long...extending a little beyond two hours. But Interview and our co-sponsors Skyy Vodka and Hugo Boss pulled out all the stops for this event.

It was a rooftop film screening, and all the guests had to take an elevator to the 8th floor and climb two flights of stairs, to be immediately greeted by cameras and the press. There was even a little stage set up for celebrities to stand for photo ops. It was all very swanky with an open bar, comfy sofas with large throw pillows, cutting edge music from DJs although they mainly played The Clash. The bar had Joe Strummer themed drinks...the whole nine yards.

My duty for a majority of the night, until about 11:30 when I got to go up to the party and enjoy myself for a few hours, was to stand in this long hallway on the 8th floor directing people to the stairs. It was a long time to stand in heels. My feet hurt. But I saw many glamorous people pass me, including a few celebrities. Most notably, Parker Posey of Christopher Guest mockumentary fame (Best In Show, Waiting For Guffman) and Moby, the electronic ambient vegan musician, were in attendance.

It was a great, amazing experience...although not as glamorous and star-studded as I had originally anticipated. I had a wonderful time getting to know the people that I work with outside of the office, and everyone is interesting, accomplished, and intelligent. My co-intern, Elise and I had a wonderful time together...we were greeters together. All in all, I give the event an A+! And the higher-ups (editor-in-chief and publisher) were impressed and very happy with the overall turnout. Interview, give yourself a pat on the back.

I only have two weeks left in my internship...I am sad to leave, but strangely, I am quite excited to head back to my life at school.

Posted by Claire Dowd at 02:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I only have two days left!

I am frantically trying to finish up these two big projects I've been working on: the Green Audit folders and the LEED resource binder. Yet even with the permanent deadlines fast approaching for these my lasting legacies, I find my mind wandering to Conn more than is productive. Normally, with the due date for an assignment so near, my productivity and focus skyrocket. But this time, they remain at a mellow buzz.

I love CET and everyone there, and all the things they do, but have deplored the drudgery of all my office work. I have learned so much here that I am exceedingly grateful for, yet about half of what I'm glad to have learned has come from procrastinatory projects, researching lifestyle improvements to help fight climate change.

But there was excitement today! I was interviewed! More ponderings as well as that story below the fold.

There's actually not much excitement to the interview story beyond the fact that I simply was interviewed. A young intern at the local newspaper came and interviewed me and Peggy (boss/supervisor) about what CET does, what people can do to help the environment, and about my internship. Also, there was a photographer there! The main photographer for the paper, whose name is at the bottom of all the big pictures! And he took pictures of me! Yay!

Sadly, this story is just pegged for the youth-written section at the back of the "Living" section (not the front page...oh well), and it won't come out until sometime in September. But it was indeed exciting, and maybe it will help promote CET, Conn, or environmental lifestyles to some extent.

I just ate a big bar of chocolate by myself. It was tasty.

So, regarding my projects: part of the reason I'm stalling a little bit is actually because they're nearing completion. The LEED binder (while still lacking resources for a number of sections) is quite full (one of those big 3-4 inch thick binders), which is good. The Green Audit folders are headed over to the main office in Pittsfield for approval and recommendations from the Directors of CET and some other people who are involved in the program. So really, there's not a whole lot left to do on those. I think.

On another exciting note, I asked Claire Dowd (she kept a blog here this summer too, and she's co-editor of the Voice, Conn's newspaper) if I could write an environmental column this year, and it looks hopeful. I'm really excited about it, I hope it will work out. I've already started stockpiling ideas. 'Twill be fun.

Okay, one more entry here (or so) and then you'll be rid of me! Until then.

Posted by Alexander Krogh-Grabbe at 09:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)