As part of FIRE's efforts to educate students about individual rights at colleges and universities, we offer a ten-week Summer Internship Program. This internship gives current undergraduates the opportunity to assist FIRE in defending civil liberties on campuses all across the country.
Overview
FIRE offers its interns the opportunity to work with the organization's Defense, Education, Development, and Media programs. Interns will also participate in seminars with FIRE's leadership and other experts on civil liberties. The program will run from Monday, June 2nd through Friday, August 8th, and interns will receive a stipend of $2,000.
Qualifications
FIRE is looking for dynamic, energetic, responsible, and versatile individuals who possess an interest in FIRE's mission and work. Focus, organization, empathy, an interest in civil liberties, the ability to work under pressure, and a sense of humor are also important. All interns are expected to demonstrate excellent research, writing, and communication skills.
Responsibilities
Interns do substantive work on behalf of rights, liberty, and individual dignity. They will spend time between assisting a mentor from FIRE's staff, working with FIRE's Campus Freedom Network, and conducting research for FIRE's Spotlight: The Campus Freedom Resource. Interns may also help staff members with research and writing, case work, fundraising, public relations efforts, and administrative duties.
Application Procedures
The application period for Summer 2008 internships ends March 31, 2008. All prospective interns will be informed of a final decision within two weeks of the deadline.
Applicants should submit a cover letter, résumé, and writing sample. The sample should be a piece of writing (or an excerpt) no longer than five pages. While the style of the writing sample is your choice, please consider the type of writing done by FIRE. If you do not have an appropriate writing sample, we encourage you to write about your interest in our mission.
Please mail, fax, or e-mail application packages to:
Luke Sheahan, Associate Director
Campus Freedom Network of FIRE
601 Walnut Street, Suite 510
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Fax: (215) 717-3440
E-mail: internships@thefire.org
Testimonials
"At FIRE, I realized, they don't teach you what is an appropriate point of view and what is not. They set the cards up, and then give you room to challenge what you assumed to be correct... I believe there is no higher compliment of a person than to speak to his unapologetic approach to inquiry, and this is what FIRE taught me it was OK to pursue."—Sherri Geng, 2006 Intern, Harvard University
"This summer was the first time I worked at a job that didn't require an apron. I am glad that my first real work experience was in an internship program with such high standards of professionalism. The two months I spent working with FIRE were extremely rewarding."—Brian Chan, 2005 Intern, Penn State University
"My time at FIRE provided me with both the intellectual foundation and the practical knowledge necessary to become an effective advocate for basic individual rights on my college campus-and beyond. Set in a vibrant social environment that simultaneously encouraged serious inquiry and the open exchange of ideas, the summer internship program proved to be one of those rare experiential treats that can inspire as much envy among your classmates as it does dread among your administrators."—Anthony Dick, 2003 Intern, University of Virginia