COLUMN: "How Much Would You Pay?"

From Caren Lissner's "Storm and Stress," Fall '92 NBC's popular show "Late Night with David Letterman" offers internships year-round. Working for Dave, or for NBC in general, is many a Communication student's dream. The requirements are clear. "All internships require that students be here on a full-time basis, Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and are non-paying. They must also be an undergraduate and receive credit from your school for participation in our program." Hmm?Not only do you get to work for free, but you must work a 45-hour week. According to David Grossman, the assistant director of Career Planning and Placement Service, non-paying internships are an "important link to finding [paying jobs] later on." He added that some employers, especially non-profit organizations and communications-related companies, see the training they offer as a fair trade for pay. Granted, but it seems unpaid jobs could really set a student back financially. It also seems some employers ask too much, probably because they can get it. And then there's the matter of credit. According to Marlene Daniels, NBC's internship coordinator, there are labor laws stating that companies can't hire help without offering compensation. Insurance and union agreements also play a part. The problem is, it's difficult to get University credit for internships. Grossman, who is in charge of internships and summer jobs, said this has something to do with "Penn seeing itself as an academic and research institution." Often, students must take a seminar along with the internship to receive credit. This means that since students must pay for courses, one is actually paying $2,137 -- the price per course -- for the internship. The way it works out, a student ends up paying $142.47 per week to work for David Letterman. "Late Night" internship coordinator Susan Shreyar was asked if working with Dave was worth $142.47 per week. "I'm not going to answer that," she said. Well! Perhaps tensions are running high at "Late Night" due to the rumors Dave might leave. Too bad his staff isn't as willing as he is to shrug off silly questions and simply throw the phone through a window. So since Ms. Shreyar probably wouldn't have been able to supply one, here, from the home office in wonderful West Philadelphia, are the: TOP 3 REASONS TO WORK FOR DAVID LETTERMAN FOR FREE 3. See if NBC Commissary is better than the one in Quad. 2. Might bump into someone famous in elevator, like "Pat" from "Saturday Night Live." 1. Get to learn new simile: "Poor as a peacock." Despite the job's high cost, I'd gain experience in the show's art, talent and writing departments. Wow! Unfotunately, the rest of the job description does not sound too promising: "Responsibilities of interns consist of Xeroxing, answering phones and running errands." Un-wow. At least I could put NBC on my resume, rather than Philly 57 or something. Grossman said he had heard of students taking jobs in fields such as public relations, and then ending up word processing and filing. You know, the stuff that a temp agency might pay you $12 an hour to do. But Grossman added that he has heard of students excelling and being given more responsibility. It depends on the company and the industry, he said. According to the Communications binder in CPPS, "Lovett Productions, Inc., a small video and film production company handling documentaries, television specials and video news releases, is looking for a Production Intern." Sounds like it's right up a fledgling film student's alley. The intern can work from 20 to 40 hours per week. And unlike Dave, Lovett actually offers a "stipend," according to the CPPS form. You gotta "Lovett!" But at the bottom of the sheet it reveals exactly how big a stipend -- $10 per day for food and transportation. Has someone misplaced a decimal point? The company is in New York City. The subways, taxis, buses and/or trains could cost $10 per day alone. Maybe an intern could work the other 20 hours per week at a paying job, but there aren't many paying jobs that run from, say, 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Many students give up a lot to gain experience and make connections through internships. While looking through internships in marketing, advertising and the government, I found several "iffy" jobs. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials offer an internship in Washington, D.C., with a $50 per week stipend. Sounds like a fun bunch, but they require a "500 word essay on how the internship will further [the interns'] career, and three letters of recommendation." Great. I think I'll ask for the letters at exits 8, 9 and 10. ART IN MOTION needs a production assistant, non-salaried, for up to twelve hours per week. But the form doesn't really state what ART IN MOTION is. Wasn't that the name of the theme song from "St. Elmo's Fire"? Internship coordinator Rob Stoller said AIM is "a video and film production company working in the arts and entertainment field." He also said if students employed there had trouble finding some paid work elsewhere, he would help them find a second job. And, if Stoller was working on a project he was getting paid for, he said he would pay the intern too. Stoller seemed genuinely concerned about helping students. A little research can reveal who might be good to work for. A sophomore friend of mine was going to work this summer at both an unpaid internship and a paying job, but tossed the two opportunities aside when she found out a much bigger name was hiring unpaid interns -- a popular and well-respected radio station in New York City. She now wonders if she made the right choice, but she knows the company's name may be worth it. The fast-paced environment was exciting and the powerful connections were great, she says, but in an industry with high turn-over, a former supervisor might be fired and the intern's best connection could disappear. The former intern recommends choosing an internship carefully, choosing when to do it carefully and making sure you can afford it. Other former unpaid interns said they found their experiences invaluable, but one described working for free as "slave labor." Perhaps alternatives exist, but they are hard to find. NBC offers a salaried program for college graduates to work as pages. And there are companies that offer regular paid internships. Naturally, the competition is extremely intense. Students must choose their job carefully. Certain workstudy jobs or extracurricular activities could provide good resume experience as well. While we're on the subject, I would like to announce that I am offering an internship. It's known as the "Lissner 1992-93 Living-Learning Internship Program," and it gives you the opportunity to gain invaluable research experience. The intern's responsibilities include accounting (balancing my checkbooks and standing on line at the bank), publishing (typing my papers, resumes and letters), advance work (pushing the elevator button a few minutes before I leave my room) and sorting and filing (doing my laundry). If the experience alone isn't enough compensation, I will provide a stipend to cover expenses. Whatever transportation up Locust Walk will cost you, I'll pay. Caren Lissner is a senior English major from Old Bridge, New Jersey. "Storm and Stress" appears alternate Wednesdays.