What Is WUPR Up To?

The summer is winding down and the WUPR staff is beginning to prepare for the new school year. For many of us, the summer of 2013 will hold a special place in our memories. So what exactly was our staff up to this summer? Read some of the profiles below to find out. (And feel free to contact any staff member whose interests align with yours!)

SONYA SCHOENBERGER

My name is Sonya Schoenberger and I am a rising junior studying history, economics, and earth and planetary science. I spent my summer at the Stimson Center, a global security think tank, where I worked with the South Asia and Space programs. My work focused on regional terrorism, nuclear deterrence, India-Pakistan security dynamics, and the militarization of the space domain. Also, sometimes I moved chairs.

GABE RUBIN

This summer I worked in risk management at MB Financial, a bank in Chicago. I’m also studying for the LSAT, which is less painful than you might expect. A lot of the logic games are surprisingly fun, though the test’s impact on my future can put a damper on the festivities. Beyond all that though, spending a summer in Chicago after 10 years being elsewhere was been a wonderful experience as this city has more to offer than anyone could possibly conquer in a single summer.

MOIRA MOYNIHAN

Though I have been involved with WUPR for the past three years, I am the most excited for this, my senior year, as I take on the role of co-Editor-in-Chief. Having always been interested in politics, I hope that WUPR will continue to be an outlet for myself and others to express their views and voice their opinions. While I am passionate about many issues of social justice, I have spent my past two summers interning for distinctly feminist organizations. Last summer, I was the Media and Communications Intern for Planned Parenthood, MN, ND, SD, and this summer I interned at the National Organization for Women in New York City. It’s both great and eye-opening to work at a feminist organization in such a progressive place, but especially viewed in the context of my previous internships, it also inspired me to continue the real, tough work that needs to happen in the “fly-over country” that is so near and dear to my heart. When not at my internship writing letters to the editor or protesting misogynistic candidates, I spent my time enjoying the city, studying for the LSAT, applying for Teach for America, and heading up this crazy team known as WUPR.

NICK HINSCH

I spent my summer in St. Louis. I currently worked as an intern for a local start-up through the Skandalaris Center’s summer internship program. The internship component of the program ran Monday through Thursday, and on Fridays the interns visited businesses and organizations around St. Louis. I also moonlighted as a tutor and worked on the World of Politics pre-orientation program and the Washington University Model United Nations Symposium, both of which will be tons of fun! In my free time I like to bike around the city and visit interesting neighborhoods.

RAJA KRISHNA

I spent my entire summer in various parts of China. I began with a one-month backpacking trip through the mountainous (and gorgeous!) western provinces of the country before ending up in Shanghai to take a summer long language-intensive course at Fudan University. This course was the equivalent of two semesters of third-level Chinese at Washington University. This was easily the most thrilling and formative trips I’ve ever taken. I had the chance to see the Himalayas, Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’An, and Hangzhou, all while staying in international youth hostels along the way. I met some truly spectacular individuals from around the world, and made lasting friendships with my classmates, who I hope to see on campus this upcoming semester. On another note, I can’t wait for fall semester to get rolling. I will be participating in the Civic Scholars program at WashU and developing my education-based startup, Gateway to the Globe.