Harvard College Democrats

Dem Summers: Tori Wenger’s Parliamentary Power

Posted 8/21/11 by Christine Hurd

The Dems have been busy over the summer: interning, working, volunteering, traveling, and of course, indulging in some leisure time not oft found in Cambridge (leave it to a Harvard student to be busy spending leisure time.) This is part VI of an indefinite series. If you’re a Harvard Dem (or rising pre-frosh with interest), we’d love to hear what you’ve been up to. | E-mail communications@harvarddems.com.
 

 
I spent the majority of my summer living in London while interning for Luciana Berger, who is the Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament for Liverpool-Wavertree. During my time in her office, Luciana was leading Labour through the committee stage of the Energy Bill in her role as the Shadow Minister for Climate Change. This meant that I was tasked with doing research on various amendments that Labour was presenting in committee and preparing notes and speeches for debate (and then literally running them to the committee room in time for Luciana to speak).
 
While Labour’s position as the opposition party to the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition government put the party at a disadvantage for getting any amendments passed in committee, a highlight of the Energy Bill’s committee stage was when Labour was able to pass it’s first amendment in committee (for ANY bill since the Coalition took over). The amendment ensured that a green apprenticeships program would be instated as part of the legislation, providing jobs and skills training for youth across the UK. While, for sake of full disclosure, the amendment only passed because the Conservatives weren’t paying attention when the vote was called and it passed by their abstention, I was nonetheless giddy to see some of my work payoff – even if only by mistake!
 
As the Energy Bill’s committee stage concluded, the News of the World phone hacking scandal hit the airwaves and entirely consumed Parliament’s agenda leading up to summer recess. I spent my final days in the office trying to juggle my daily tasks of scheduling meetings and sorting mail while fixating my eyes and ears on the coverage of the Murdoch committee hearings.
 
Needless to say, it was overall a very interesting time to be working in UK parliament. While I savored my experiences engrossed in UK politics – watching Prime Minister’s questions and laughing at the comedy of the tradition heckling on the Commons floor (something that would never be permissible in either of our government’s Congressional chambers), working in an office with only one other staffer and direct access to my MP (something that would never happen even in the office of the most junior Congressperson in the US), and chillin’ with the Queen (okay, that part didn’t actually happen), I certainly came home with a thirst for jumping back into American politics. Lucky for me, I’ve got another year ahead with the Dems to quench it!!

Dem Summers: Christine’s Community Craft

Posted 8/16/11 by Christine Hurd

The Dems have been busy over the summer: interning, working, volunteering, traveling, and of course, indulging in some leisure time not oft found in Cambridge (leave it to a Harvard student to be busy spending leisure time.) This is part V of an indefinite series. If you’re a Harvard Dem (or rising pre-frosh with interest), we’d love to hear what you’ve been up to. | E-mail communications@harvarddems.com.
 

 
Aledo, Texas: It’s everything you expect from a small-town, grain-solo-is-the-tallest-building, Sonic-loving, pick-up-driving village of 2,500. We recently had a 40 day streak of over 100 degree weather, so naturally I also spent 40 consecutive days at Wal-Mart, walking around being Texan.
 
It’s basically a post-apocalyptic universe where tumbleweeds roll by yellowing lawns.
 
But in this harsh environment I call home, there is a community newspaper — The Community News! We’re a weekly paper with Sports, Local News, and Community features, mostly focused on Aledo ISD, my Alma Mater. I had an excellent time writing articles about Cotillion, Facebook and Aledo ISD, Camp Hope, the Clothes Closet, Team Ella, Bobby Rigues, the STAAR, and everything under the sun (that didn’t set until 9:30 sometimes!)
 
Then, of course, I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II a grand total of three times. End of an era. All in all, it was an excellent summer, and this girl is super-excited to get back to Cambridge for some cool weather, classy times, and of course, Dems. =D

Dem Summers: Jonathan Newmark’s Magnificent Manhattan Market

Posted 8/10/11 by Christine Hurd

The Dems have been busy over the summer: interning, working, volunteering, traveling, and of course, indulging in some leisure time not oft found in Cambridge (leave it to a Harvard student to be busy spending leisure time.) This is part IV of an indefinite series. If you’re a Harvard Dem (or rising pre-frosh with interest), we’d love to hear what you’ve been up to. | E-mail communications@harvarddems.com.
 
Jonathan Newmark’s Magnificent Manhattan Market

 
This Summer I’ve been working as an intern at a New York based “alternative investment” firm called SecondMarket. As a member of the “Corporate Development” team, I explore new markets for our company to intercept and help with internal projects that will improve SecondMarket’s day-to-day operations. Because the firm is both an investment institution and tech start-up (check out the online platform at www.secondmarket.com!), I’ve learned more about finance than I will ever need, while dabbling in the “Silicon Valley” culture.
 
When New York gets to be too muggy (my curly hair serves as an accurate barometer of the humidity index), I’ve been escaping out to Long Island and south Florida to enjoy the beaches and ocean, while spending time with family and friends.
 
With only a few days left at SecondMarket, I’m sad to be saying goodbye to Manhattan. Thankfully, my family and I have an exciting trip planned to Italy and Croatia before I head back to school. Furthermore, I’m looking forward to heading back up to Cambridge, meeting some (hopefully) future members, and gearing up for a great semester of the Dems!

Dem Summers: Simon Thompson’s Maine Mayoral Managing

Posted 8/09/11 by Christine Hurd

The Dems have been busy over the summer: interning, working, volunteering, traveling, and of course, indulging in some leisure time not oft found in Cambridge (leave it to a Harvard student to be busy spending leisure time.) This is part III of an indefinite series. If you’re a Harvard Dem (or rising pre-frosh with interest), we’d love to hear what you’ve been up to. | E-mail communications@harvarddems.com.

Simon Thomposon’s Maine Mayor Managing
 
My summer has consisted of an eclectic mix of political activities. Although I had originally planned for a somewhat laid-back summer with my efforts focused on a full-time internship with the OFA finance team in Boston, I was asked in late May to manage a mayoral candidate’s campaign in Portland, Maine- an offer I couldn’t refuse.
 
So, I’ve had a balanced mix of national politics and local politics.
 
The mayoral campaign, however, has proven to be the most interesting and intensive political experience I’ve had yet. This is the first time voters in my hometown are electing their mayor in 90 years (it used to be a ceremonial position passed between councilors), and the race has attracted a dozen and a half candidates- quite an impressive number for a city of 60,000.
 
The candidate whose campaign I’m managing, Jed Rathband (www.jedformayor.com), ran the campaign to create the elected mayor position but had not ever before run for elected office himself. Thus, boosting his name recognition in a crowded field of former state legislators and current councilors has proven to be the primary objective. But we’re doing good, and I’m optimistic about his chances.
 
Though I don’t plan on spending much time coaxing Harvard Dems into volunteering with the mayoral campaign, I do look forward to working on a variety of other campaigns this fall. With an array of municipal elections occurring in the greater Boston region this fall, at least two monumental elections next year, and a variety of issues-focused campaigns attracting the attention of the Harvard campus, we have plenty of democratic (small and large “d”) work ahead of us, and I look forward to getting started!