With prominent advertisements springing up across campus, the Les Aspin Center for Government has been gaining more attention from students this semester than ever before. Widely seen as merely an internship in Washington, D.C. for Political Science majors, the Les Aspin Center is actually open to all majors and offers a program in Milwaukee, an exchange program in Africa and summer internships in D.C.

Previously known merely as the Marquette Washington Intern Program, The Center was renamed in honor of its benefactor, Les Aspin, after his death in 1995. Les Aspin was an assistant professor of economics at Marquette University before his election to the United States House of Representatives. He was named the Secretary of Defense in 1993 under the Clinton administration, where his term was racked with problems, including the infamous fiasco in Mogadishu.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense Web site, as a result of his refusal to send tanks and armored vehicles to the U.S. forces in Somalia, enemy “forces in Mogadishu killed 18 U.S. soldiers and wounded more than 75 in attacks that also resulted in the shooting down of three U.S. helicopters and the capture of one pilot.” Aspin claimed that the request had been made in the context of humanitarian aid, which had prompted his refusal. He resigned shortly after in 1994, citing personal reasons and returned to Marquette University as a professor of international policy. Due to his influence in creating the internship program, Marquette decided the Center should be renamed in his honor.

Although the Les Aspin Center is focused on students with an interest in public policy, it does not limit programs to political science majors. According to Kathryn Hein, the Assistant Director of the Center in Milwaukee, the number of communication and journalism majors in the program is rapidly increasing. Over the past few years, the Center has sent approximately 10 biomedical engineers to Washington per year for internships at the Food and Drug Administration. Communication majors often intern in press offices or at local newspapers, such as the “Washington Post”.

While in Washington D.C., students take 15 credits of classes two days per week, then intern three days per week. Internships are matched to the students’ interests and political views, and allow them to be a part of day-to-day activities in the Capitol.

Kyle Mayo, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Aspin Council, a committee of program alumni, said, “I went to committee hearings, wrote memos…I wrote amendments to the federal budget!”

Kevin Seifert, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, alumnus of the Washington program and co-founder and chair of the Aspin Council, said he gained immensely valuable experience, while at Les Aspin. As an intern in Congressman Tom Petri’s office, he gave tours of the Capitol building, attended hearings and worked alongside the congressman.

“It got my foot in the door for a lot of opportunities for after graduation…You need that in Washington,” Seifert said.

In addition to the Washington D.C. program, the Les Aspin Center sponsors a program based in Milwaukee, placing students in local, city and state government offices for a three-credit internship. The Kleczka Internship Program is also available to all majors and targets students with financial need, allowing them a stipend of up to 1500 dollars, so that students can focus on the internship and not a job.

The Center also sponsors an exchange program with Africa, which brings approximately 18 students from East Africa for six weeks and 18 from West Africa the following semester also for six weeks. Participants spend five weeks in Washington, D.C., learning about the American process of government and American culture and another week in Milwaukee on the Marquette campus. Over winter break, about 18 Marquette Students spend a week in Africa meeting with government leaders and talking to graduates of the Aspin Africa Program.

The Center’s programs take student needs into great consideration to allow them a glimpse into the workings of the country. Marquette is beginning to accept applicants from other universities to partake in this opportunity to work in the Capitol as well, including students from Loyola, University of Wisconsin- Madison and University of Pittsburgh.

“You are in the power hub of the country,” Mayo said.

Popularity: 14% [?]

Marquette students searching for a great science degree often overlook Clinical Laboratory Science, which might possibly explain its size as one of Marquette’s smallest majors. According to the College of Health Sciences, there is a “critical shortage” of CLS professionals in the field. However, despite this shortage, Marquette, as evidenced by the huge engineering and law school initiatives, does not seem to be interested in curbing this deficiency.

CLS students are not just at work in the lab to earn a money-making degree, but are performing millions of tests they will someday use to answer the question,

“What disease can this be causing?” At only about half its capacity, Marquette’s CLS program is striving to decrease the shortage in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences industry and step up recruitment, according to CLS department chair, Linda Milson.

“I think the university does a good job in recruitment for all majors,” said Milson. “But I think alerting more faculty advisors and the student population that the major exists would be successful in recruitment.”

Because of the serious industry shortage, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services aims to train 138,000 new laboratory scientists by 2012. However, according to Clinical Laboratory Science associate professor, Dr. Linda Laatsch, this is proving to be a difficult task.

“We’re nowhere near where we need to be by 2012,” said Laatsch.

The important role Clinical Laboratory Sciences (CLS) plays in the medical profession, points to the necessity for more recruitment by the university. Although the CLS department currently runs a young scholar program for students to come in and work in labs, earning college credit over three Saturdays in the summer and the major is also a part of the university open houses, students feel Marquette could do more.

“I believe that it is my responsibility to help promote the field,” said Caitlin Knapp, a Clinical Laboratory Sciences sophomore.

“When I reply to the question, ‘what is your major?’ I just receive blank stares. If we are trying to promote this field, then I believe that more students on campus should understand the field even if they don’t want to be a part of it,” said Knapp.

According to College of Health Sciences Dean, William Cullinan, Marquette is in the process of pushing recruitment initiatives and plans to intensify high school recruiting efforts, revamp the Web site and “create an electronic newsletter from the college that can reach our alums and friends,” said Cullinan.

The College of Health Sciences a p p r o x i m a t e s that, “between 70 and 80 percent of all diagnostic information used by physicians comes from labs.”

Because these CLS professionals often work behind the scenes, a lack of awareness and knowledge is a big factor in the industry shortage.

“Clinical lab scientists perform critical functions, and I think the profession suffers a bit by lack of exposure because much of this takes place behind the scenes,” Cullinan said.

According to the Abbot Diagnostics “Labs Are Vital” Website initiative, clinical laboratory scientists, “analyze bodily fluids and tissues to identify anemia, infections, toxic substances in the blood stream, cardiac and cancer markers and strains of infectious diseases.”

The Web site also breaks down the shortage, as for every two new scientists entering the field, there are seven facing retirement. And although, according to Milson, Marquette is one of five Wisconsin universities that offer Clinical Laboratory Science, with Marquette’s upcoming capital c a m p a i g n , Marquette will continue to have the edge.

C u l l i n a n said raising the university’s overall e n d o w m e n t through the capital campaign would bring in students to Marquette’s program.

“It will benefit the CLS program by making us more competitive as a university,” said Cullinan. “The program is already incredibly strong, with outstanding faculty, an excellent job placement history and board exam passing rates that are nearly perfect.” Along with a close to 100% CLS certification exam, hands-on lab activity and the seven-month clinical option for seniors with a virtual job guarantee are also features that draw students to Marquette’s program.

“I first wanted to study a hard science, but I was disappointed that most programs do not include the fun lab techniques until the senior year. [At Marquette] I can actively participate in diagnostic medicine and learn practical lab skills,” said Clinical Lab Sciences sophomore Jenny Simenauer. “The shortage motivates me in some way, because I know I will have a job after graduation, but I am more interested in the medical skills it offers.”

Although many CLS graduates choose to go on to Medical School, there are several career opportunities. According to the College of Health Science, CLS grads can go into healthcare administration, dentistry, health radiation science, optometry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine.

“It is an exciting field, and as importantly, a noble profession,” said Cullinan.

Popularity: 4% [?]