Pirates of the Curriculum: Internship Fund auction raises money for non-profit internships

This year’s Internship Fund auction, which will raise money for SOM students interested in doing internships in the public and nonprofit sectors, is titled “Treasure Island.” But it’s the subtitle that’s more revealing: “Pirates of the Curriculum.”

Pirates have a reputation for murder and plunder, but Cher Jacques ’08 insists that this year’s Internship Fund crew represents the good kind of pirates, not the bad. “We wanted to do something that is a bit adventurous, since everyone here took a chance on the new curriculum, so we all see ourselves a bit as pioneers on the horizon of business education,” said Jacques, one of the two fund coordinators. “Yes, there’s the thievery aspect, but we were imagining more Robin Hood-esque pirates.”

The Internship Fund, which dates to 1979, exists to help students afford summer internships in the nonprofit sector, which often pay little to no salary. Each year students raise money through a student pledge drive, the Dean’s contribution, events such as a flower sale on Valentine’s Day, and the auction. The group hopes to net $172,000 this year, up 10 % over 2006. Of that, about $40,000 is expected to come from the auction.

Students, alumni, faculty, and local businesses donate items for the auction, often competing to raise the most money. This year the economics and marketing professors will fight for fundraising supremacy.

“I think the [Organizational Behavior] professors are going to get into the mix,” said Sherly Linsky, a member of the auction team. “And there’s bowling with the dean, which should be fun, and some great vacation home opportunities. There’s an opportunity to spend the week in the Virgin Islands, and another one is a house on a lake in Maine, and I think generally speaking students’ families have been really generous with their vacation homes.”

Other items expected to draw a lot of interest are cooking lessons from professional chef Max Mong ’08, a Michael Teperson evening bag, fly-fishing lessons, and ice-skating lessons from former competitive skater Edna Novak ’08 . One key addition to this year’s list is a set of items students brought back with them from the International Experience, where first-year students spent two-weeks studying abroad.

The auction takes place in three stages: an online phase, running through April 8 at 5:00 p.m.; a silent phase, which goes from April 8 to April 12 at noon; and the final, live auction, held that evening. Students, faculty, staff and alumni can bid on items.

Last year, the Fund helped 29 students intern for nonprofit organizations.