Washington, D.C.—As a self-professed “Scandal” fanatic currently interning in D.C., I can’t help but try and connect my experiences in the nation’s capital to those of Olivia Pope (the character played by Kerry Washington who solves political controversies). But Olivia Pope tackles high-profile government scandals, whereas I’ve just been sitting in a cubicle all day making edits to a website. Living and interning in D.C., however, is not without a few small-scale scandals of its own. Here are some of the ones I’ve encountered over the past two weeks.
Scandal #1: Tanning on the National Mall
The problem: Sitting inside an office all day offers an excellent escape from the D.C. heat. At the same time, it also ensures that you remain as pasty as you were during the brutal Boston winters.
The solution: Tan on the National Mall. You will get some uncomfortable stares from hundreds of tourists, but take comfort in the fact that people (a.k.a. me) have done it before.
The verdict: Participate in this scandal at your own risk.
Scandal #2: Being “That Intern”
The problem: Where do I begin with this one? “That Intern” is the person at work who thinks they are a full-time employee. They interrupt a conversation with other interns by saying, “Excuse me, I have a potential contact on the phone. I have to take this call”, and then proceed to fire off phrases like “Well, all of us at (insert company name here) are committed to blah blah blah”. Dude. I just can’t.
The solution: The best way to solve this problem is to avoid “that intern” whenever possible. More importantly, avoid being him or her.
The verdict: Steer clear of this scandal. No one wants to be the subject of employee (er, intern) gossip.
Scandal #3: Inter(n)-Office Dating
The problem: Olivia Pope would actually know all about this one (affair with the President of the United States, anyone?). Apparently most companies aren’t too happy about flirtation in the workplace.
The solution: Keep it professional, guys. We all know that single interns in a big city are full of raging hormones and sexual tension, but for the love of God at least save it for the bar after work. Besides, in a city full of powerful people, chances are you can aim higher than the intern in the adjacent cubicle.
The verdict: Avoid this scandal and keep it in your pants until the weekend.
More scandals to come…
xoxo from Washington
Read more in Opinion
Dog Days (Literally) of AtlantaRecommended Articles
-
PassNEW YORK, NY – A stack of manuscripts, hundreds of them. Pages of white computer paper, formatted in that neat,
-
Administration Makes Changes To Cope with Cheating ScandalCollege administrators are bringing in extra help and shifting their priorities as they seek to balance new responsibilities stemming from Harvard’s sweeping cheating investigation with their normal job duties in University Hall.
-
Faust Addresses Cheating ScandalIn the wake of the cheating scandal that rocked Harvard at the beginning of the school year, University President Drew G. Faust lamented the influence of current societal pressures and their impact on learning during an interview with The Crimson on Tuesday.
-
Yale Dean Discourages Take-Home Exams After Harvard Cheating ScandalAs a Harvard committee looks to examine the proper place of take-home exams in undergraduate courses in the wake of this fall’s massive cheating investigation, Yale administrators have discouraged their own faculty from administering take-home finals in response to the scandal at Harvard.
-
Alumnus Slams Harvard's Handling of the Cheating ScandalThomas G. Stemberg ’71, founder of the retail chain Staples and a prominent supporter of the Harvard mens’ basketball program, characterized the College’s handling of the Government 1310 cheating scandal as “Orwellian” in a personal letter addressed to University President Drew G. Faust.
-
'More Than Half' of Ad Board Cases Last Fall Led to Withdrawals, Harvard SaysRoughly 70 students, or approximately one percent of Harvard’s undergraduate body, were forced to temporarily withdraw from the College last fall in connection with the massive Government 1310 cheating scandal, Harvard indicated in an announcement Friday morning.
