Cal in the Capitol Gives Students a Bird’s Eye View of State Politics and Public Policy

By Kyle Samia
Reporter
California Progress Report

UC Berkeley offers students, curious about the goings-on of state government and public policy, the Cal in Sacramento Internship Program. More than 30 years old and originally a student run back in the 1970s, the program puts students in the mix of the state politics; students receive academic credit for the direct experience of working in the Capitol political scene.

Ethan Rarick is the main administrator and coordinator for the program. The program falls under his purview as the director of the Center on Politics at UC Berkeley. “A lot of what is learned of political science is theoretical,” said Rarick. “Cal in Sacramento combines learned theory, what’s been learned in the classroom, with the real world experience with how government and public policy actually works out at the Capitol.” Rarick said that the response from legislators and departments is entirely positive. He’s proud of Berkeley students: We get really smart, dynamic young people and it’s a positive experience for students to be part of the team and for the offices to get these bright people willing to learn and work hard.

Rarick commented that students, through the years, are able to intern for any entity as long as it’s in Sacramento and relates to politics and public affairs. Students this year have interned for the Governor’s Chief Of Staff’s office, Senator Romero’s office, and Assemblymembers Protantino, Ma, and Brownley’s offices to name a few. Students can also intern for non-profit organizations, such as CANOW (the state affiliate of the National Organization for Women and largest women’s organization in the state) and Friends of the River, California’s statewide river conservation organization.

It is said that the relationship between the UC system and the state is often distant. Rarick said, “I’d be very happy if the program improved the relationship both ways for policy makers and the UC system. It’s not why we do the program, of course, but it shows policy makers our students are interested in what they do and how they work while providing students the opportunity to find out for themselves.” Rarick himself commented that if he were a student, he’d be interested in interning in a legislative office. “But really, there’s no bad job, and it’s going to be exciting no matter what you do,” he said.

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