Transforming Lives - Rockhurst University

Roc k Re p o r t 4 4 4 4 4 4Freshman Interns With Missouri CongressmanFreshman ZachWerkowitchis getting abehind-the-sceneslook into how the governmentoperates.Twice a week, Werkowitchspends his afternoonsinterning at the office ofRep. Emanuel CleaverII, from Missouri’s fifthCongressional district. Hisresponsibilities includetalking with constituentson the phone and findingand organizing newspaperand journal articles thatdiscuss congressional issuesor feature the congressman.Although Werkowitchhas yet to determine hisprofessional goals, he istaking this opportunityto explore his interestin politics. From thisexperience he has learneda great deal about thecurrent issues confrontingCongress, as well as theresponsibility of voters inthe democratic process.“I didn’t realize howmuch constituents had arole in a congressperson’sdecisions,” said Werkowitch.“Every call or letter ore-mail that is received isaccounted for and thecongressman hears aboutit. When people call, theirvoice is heard. It is veryuplifting.”The internship hasgiven Werkowitchan insider’s perspectivethat has allowedhim the opportunityto explore and assessCleaver’s policies.“I really think thecongressman is trying todo the right thing for thecountry,” said Werkowitch.“He stands strongly forspeaking for those whodon’t have much of a voice.”In addition to hisinternship and a full classschedule, Werkowitchvolunteers at OperationBreakthrough as a tutorand is a member of theexecutive board of RockhurstUniversity’s socialjustice group, VOICES forJustice. He is consideringmajors in both philosophyand history.An internship withRep. Emanuel Cleaver IIis giving freshman ZachWerkowitch an insideperspective into politics.Research on African-American Theater Earns FellowshipYou may have studied the work of early blackplaywrights in theater or literature classes, butyou’ve probably never considered it from areligious perspective. That’s because scholarsof religion have paid a lot of attention to African-American music and dance but have virtually ignoredthe theatrical tradition in African-American cultures.That’s about to change, thanks to the work of CraigPrentiss, Ph.D., associate professor of theology andreligious studies. Prentiss has been awarded a NationalCraig Prentiss, Ph.D., earned a fellowship from theNational Endowment for the Humanities for his researchon African-American theater.4 Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008