Welcome to the e-newsletter for the new Robert T. Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service.

Our goal is to connect Cal students to the practical world of politics. Here are some of the highlights from our first few months:

• Matsui Interns are already at work on Capitol Hill, while others are making plans to spend the summer in Sacramento and in San Francisco’s City Hall.
• In the fall, our debate-watching parties and election-night bash drew crowds of enthusiastic students from both parties.
• We’ve hosted campus visits by political figures such as former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown; former Congressman James A. Leach; Secretary of State Debra Bowen; Gov. Schwarzenegger’s Chief of Staff, Susan Kennedy; and John McCain’s 2008 campaign manager, Steve Schmidt.

All of this serves as a fitting legacy for the Center’s namesake, former Congressman Robert T. Matsui. A Berkeley alum, class of 1963, Congressman Matsui spent 26 years in the

House of Representatives, pursuing serious policy achievements and bipartisan compromise in a way that made him one of California’s most respected public servants.

After his untimely passing in 2005, efforts began to create an ongoing memorial to Congressman Matsui, and one result is the Matsui Center, which was created within the Institute of Governmental Studies.

The Center was funded with a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, and two elected officials played crucial roles in establishing the Center. Congresswoman Doris

Matsui – Congressman Matsui’s widow and successor – authorized the use of his name. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, whose district includes the University, sponsored the legislation providing the grant.

Below are more details on the activities of the Matsui Center thus far, and a few highlights of things we have planned for the coming months. Through future editions of this newsletter, we’ll keep you updated about what’s happening at the Matsui Center, and we hope you’ll take a few minutes now to learn about what we’ve already done.

We’ve selected eight Matsui Interns so far: Four to work in Washington, three in the state Capitol in Sacramento, and one in local politics in San Francisco.

Each of those students receives financial

assistance to help defray the costs of their internships, ensuring that those experiences are open to all Berkeley students, regardless of family background.

Most of the interns are busy

looking for placements. But our four Congressional Interns are already working in Washington, interning with Representatives Grace Napolitano, Zoe Lofgren, Mike Honda and Senator Christopher Dodd.

Since being chosen as the Matsui Local Government Intern, I have had the opportunity to work closely with the Center’s staff to explore where my interests might place me after graduation, and with their assistance I have secured a full-time internship with Supervisor Bevan Dufty in San Francisco.

I intend to use my internship as an opportunity to explore the inner workings

of local government. As a Peace and Conflict Studies major, I appreciate exactly how central the local government is in responding to the needs of the diverse populations that exist within community.

My internship in Supervisor Dufty’s office will provide a unique lens with which I can examine the role of local governments and conflict resolution in the future.

The most exciting aspect of this internship is the promise of reciprocal growth and transformation. I will certainly bring my passion, knowledge and energy to the office to effect change, just as working with Bevan’s staff, local organizations, and citizens in the community will undoubtedly change me as well.

We’re taking advantage of our home in the Institute of Governmental Studies to build on existing programs. One program that’s been expanded through the Matsui Center is Cal-in-Sacramento.

This year we surpassed expectations, with the highest number of applications on record. We were able to expand the program to include three Matsui State Government Interns in addition to the existing Cal-in-Sacramento Platinum Fellows.

This means more students will have the opportunity to get practical experience in California politics.

Platinum Fellows are recognized in honor of Darius Anderson. Anderson is the chairman of the Institute of Governmental Studies National Advisory Council and a generous benefactor of the program. Fellows are spending this semester in a decal taught by former Senator Dick Ackerman and will be housed in Sacramento

for eight weeks during the summer while interning full time at the capital.

Each year the Matsui Center will name a Matsui Lecturer, a distinguished former public official who will spend one week in residence at the campus. We are proud to announce that the inaugural Matsui Lecturer was Congressman Jim Leach.

Congressman Leach served 15 terms representing Iowa’s 2nd district from 1976-2007. A moderate Republican, Leach gained media attention last year

when he endorsed Barack Obama for president and spoke at the Democratic National Convention.

As the Matsui Lecturer Congressman Leach delivered a major public address, met with Matsui Center interns and lectured in various political science courses.

Congressman Leach’s public address on March 18, 2009 was a successful event with a standing-room-only

crowd in attendance.

Leach discussed the State of American Politics, the Obama administration and the fate of the GOP.

The event was co-sponsored by the Institute of International Studies, Graduate School of Journalism, and the Undergraduate Political Science Organization.

Barack Obama is a historic president who took office at a historic moment, amid an economic crisis at home and a lingering war abroad.

After exactly three months in office, our panel of experts assesses the new administration. What has the president accomplished? Where has he failed? And has he laid the groundwork

for a successful first term, or is the administration already adrift?

This year’s panelists include Theda Skocpol, Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology at Harvard University, Maria Echaveste, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton, David Frum,

former economic speech writer for President George W. Bush, and Kathleen Parker, a nationally syndicated columnist with the Washington Post Writers Group.

This event is co-sponsored by the UC Berkeley Extension.

One of the most exciting new events for the Matsui Center is the Matsui Forum.

The inaugural Matsui Forum looks at the 2008 presidential election and the unprecedented surge in the registration of young voters and asks if young people

will stay involved after this election and what difference their involvement may make to our country.

The panel for this event will include Meghan McCain, contributor for the Daily Beast, Randi Zuckerberg, spokeswoman for

Facebook and in charge of media operations, Heather Smith, executive director of Rock the Vote, Mike Connery contributor at Future Majority, and Nicole Lapin, news anchor for CNN.com and host of Young People Who Rock.

There are many ways to become involved with the Robert T. Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service.

For students, or student groups interested in any of our internship programs or events please stop by the Matsui Center and we will be happy to discuss these with you, or else please send us an email and we will add you to our mailing list.

The Matsui Center also works closely with many organizations on campus and we would be interested in hearing

about any events related to politics and public service that we may be able to co-sponsor.

If you are an employer and wish to host an intern, please email information on your institution, the duties and responsibilities an intern will assume and what they can expect to gain from working in your institution, along with all necessary contact information.