Some students refer to it as an abroad program, others consider it a semester college-swap program, and some refer to its official title, The Washington Semester Program at American University. But no matter what you call it, I know it has changed me forever. Although many AU main-campus students will never know the 400-plus students who roam the campus from time to time to take advantage of the gym or library, the institutions and businesses in the area do. Students from other continents and even within this country have come to take advantage of what American University and Washington, D.C., have to offer. The program requires you to obtain an internship and attend a seminar in a specific subject area. As I am an International Relations and Communications double major from the University of Southern California, foreign policy seemed like a natural choice.
I am currently interning for U.S. Rep. Edward Royce (R-Calif.), who until recently was the head of the House of Representative's African Subcommittee. After doing extensive work with Royce and seeing his efforts to end the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, it has become quite apparent that there is a lack of action within the international community to ensure human rights when a country's interests aren't at stake. Sudan is a hot spot for oil as far as China is concerned. With thousands dying and being displaced each day, how long can the international community sit back and do nothing? Royce teamed up with "Hotel Rwanda" lead actor Don Cheadle to shed light on the genocide in Sudan: "Many Americans have been concerned by the killing in Sudan for years: Over 2 million died in southern Sudan over the last 20 or so years. Today, we have a humanitarian interest in stopping genocide in Darfur."
I came to D.C. unaware of the influence human-rights issues have on foreign policy. In the classroom, guest speakers were brought in from all sides of the political spectrum to make the argument that human rights should somehow influence policy on moral grounds. Our class has met with many foreign-policy and human-rights experts and has attended several events on the situation in Darfur. ÿMany of our classmates now wear green wristbands symbolizing the thousands who have died or whose lives are in jeopardy in Darfur. These students are taking up the challenge that our course speakers, such as Salih Booker from Africa Action and Omar Ismail from Darfur Peace and Development, suggested.
Our professor, Dr. Beverly Peters, who has done extensive work in southern Africa, tells us that human-rights violations plague the international stage due to the inability for nations to sacrifice their interests for the sake of ensuring the basic interests of all human beings: their god-given rights. Through my experiences with Royce and with speaking with experts in the field, it has become quite apparent that the genocide in Sudan is a conflict with which the entire international community should involve itself instead of looking the other way.
This program has provided me with numerous opportunities to meet and speak with experts in all realms of foreign policy, and has given me the chance to work on Capitol Hill and get hands-on experience with viewing policy creation and implementation.
On a deeper level, it has taught me to challenge what I know and that government, in regard to foreign policy, requires passion to enact change. This program may fall under different names and titles but definitely provides more than a typical college semester. It allows students to find their voices and to be open to different views and experiences that will ultimately change the way they see the world.
Amanda Lean is in the public affairs Washington Semester Program.
