“You have an office. Four walls. No windows. One door. What do you put in it?”

This is the question that the Corp Accounting department posed to their fall applicants last September.  The question is, of course, designed to stimulate the interviewee’s imagination, prompt a creative response, and generally get them thinking outside of the room-shaped box.  This spring, though, CFO Vidur Khatri was inspired not only to answer this question, but to bring his answer to life.

Until recently, the Accounting Office, though usually filled with very wonderful people doing very important work, was not much to write home about.  As the question implies, it’s an office.  Four walls.  No windows.  One door.  Some computers, some chairs, some stacks of paper.  Those attributes remain intact, but now they have a whole new look.  For as long as most current Corpies can remember, the members of the Corp Accounting team have been particularly taken with eagles, independence, Bruce Springsteen, and the good old U. S. of A.  Vidur had a dream, a dream that this could be taken to a whole new level…

You probably know where I’m going with this.  We painted the office like a giant American flag (and we threw a Corp logo in there, too).

I know I speak for everyone involved (Stephanie Wolfram, Andrew Logerfo, Rashaad Eshack, Andrew Morrison, Brooks Birdsall, Vidur and myself) when I say it was amazing to take part in this project.  Not only did we all learn a lot about a pretty ubiquitous life skill (I’ll never have to hire a painter!), but when the project was finally finished, it was clear we had made a significant difference for this branch of the Corp.  And of course, it was crazy amounts of fun.

Stars and stripes 4eVa

Stephanie demonstrating her phenomenal stenciling skills

Vidur sporting the latest in room-painting fashion masks

For the record, though Vidur was the man behind the makeover, he has another idea of what the correct answer to our opening question is.  ”You have an office. Four walls. No windows. One door. What do you put in it?” A window.

Ellie DiBerardino bought Vidur a pet bald eagle for his birthday.  Shh, don’t tell!

A dollar may make me holler, but I just finished an unpaid internship and I want to cry. Well, not quite, but I was sad when I left my internship at the Phillips Collection, a modern art museum in Dupont Circle, last Tuesday.

Don’t get me wrong, working an extra 15 hours a week (again, unpaid, a looming omen of my life after graduating with an Art History degree) was a lot. Between class, the Phillips, and Snaxa, I’m glad to have 15 hours back that I am not wearing a pencil skirt, archiving exhibition files, and clutching my extra shot Red Eye I buy at UG before I leave.

That said, something about the Phillips Collection gripped me.  I would come home every day and tell my roommate about all that I had learned that day.
“I sat in a curatorial department meeting and they have exhibitions laid out til 2015! I know what is coming for the next three years at the museum! Isn’t that crazy?”
“We just got a new piece in the contemporary section and its all about eliminating depth perception and it’s this really cool artist that takes a computer program to generate an image kinda like those screensavers on old school computers and….”
Let’s just say she wasn’t as into it as I was.

I am sad that I don’t get to go pretend to be a real person three days a week. I didn’t know if I was going to like this internship – I only declared my Art History major in January and only thought to apply to internships in December.  But walking into the Phillips three days a week armed with my badge, my laptop, and my roommates nice dress, I have never felt more like I was doing what I am supposed to do.

That is what I believe internships are for: learning about whatever field it is and learning whether or not you actually want to be in that field.  I learned SO much about the day to day goings-on of a Curatorial department in a museum, and now I know I could definitely have a career in the museum field.

It was a lot. I didn’t sleep much this semester. I clung to my Snaxa salary for dear life when I realized I’d have to eat out three days a week. But I got the confirmation that I needed that Art History is exactly what I want to do. Now go in peace to apply to internships that are in the field you really care about!

Photo: Elizabeth Parker, Incredible Wampum, via iwampum.wordpress.com

Beth Anne Kadien is Director of Marketing at Hoya Snaxa, and is a prime example of those who can’t do art, do Art History.

For this year’s MUG Scholarship, we asked applicants to tell us what made them international. After reading through all the fantastic essays, we’re excited to share the incredible stories and plans of our 8 winners.  Each was awarded an amount ranging from $500 to $1500.

Sarah Henningsen
“Internationalism has little to do with the number of countries you ultimately check off the list, and more about the depth of the relationships you make with the people you meet along the way.”
Sarah will be spending the next year teaching in Honduras with Bilingual Education for Central America (BECA) and Central American Children’s Institute (CeCi). The scholarship will help support her stay as well as fund new Spanish books for the under-resourced community where she will be living and teaching.

Madhuri Vairapandi
“Being international, being between worlds, the possibilities are greater. The world is bigger than a single culture would suggest.”
A self-declared woman of two cultures, Madhuri’s experiences as a woman in India have broadened her views of women’s rights in comparison to other cultures. She plans to use the scholarship towards travel expense to return to India and work with women’s rights groups.

Amanda Lanzillo
“I found myself learning an unexpected lesson about the importance of adaptability, and eventually finding a passion that I hope will continue to drive me through graduate school and beyond.”
After spending two years abroad in India during high school and finding her niche studying Persian, Amanda’s journey has led her to develop a passion for the Mughal Empire. She plans use the scholarship to continue her studies by learning Urdu or Hindi so she can eventually pursue her academic interests at a PhD level.

Arianna Pattek
“I was taught from a young age that not only was I a citizen of America, but I was a citizen of the global community as well, and this came with certain responsibilities to my peers around the world.”
After teaching abroad in Kenya two summers ago, Arianna plans to continue her passion for education and will be using the scholarship in preparation to spend the next 27 months living and teaching in Madagascar with the Peace Corp.

Kelly Souls
“Being international means pushing myself to identify with and explore new countries, peoples and cultures. “
Kelly will be doing a Princeton in Africa Fellowship next year in Kigali, Rwanda working with a nonprofit called Indego Africa: an innovative social enterprise that partners with women artisans on a fair trade basis. She’ll be using the scholarship to fund her travels in Rwanda and as well travel to surrounding destinations in Africa.

Alex Baumann
“It’s the realm in which I feel the most at home, even while it sends others from my same background running for cover and taking up arms against those they do not or will not understand.”
Alex will be spending the fall semester in Tanzania working for GIZ or Deutschen Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, the German version of USAID. He’ll be conducting an overarching health systems review for the country. He plans to use the scholarship money to learn Swahili and to purchase a camera to document his travels.

Derek Buyan
“Where nothing else can break down international barriers, acknowledging, sharing, and addressing the vulnerability of an “other” builds some of the strongest bands of community humanly possible.”
With a developed passion for international diplomacy, Derek will be putting the money toward the travel expenses associated spending next year abroad studying at the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, Germany.

Nicole Banister
“Being ‘international’ in my mind expands beyond where I’ve lived and my family history though. It means being a member of lots of different types of communities.”
Nicole plans to use the scholarship fund to cover commuting to her summer internship in Anacostia with Extra Help Tutoring; an undeniably different community than the Hilltop, she’ll be teaching classes to middle and high school students to keep them on track for graduation.

Patricia Watkins, the Jamaican songbird of Lau, wants all students to know that she truly loves them. She knows that many students see her as go-card demanding dictator and we want to help her clear the air. “I love the students with all of my heart, I am always willing to talk,” she says with a wide grin.  “People call me terrible names but I just let it run off…I’ve made beautiful friends over the last 35 years”. She wants all Lau-goers to know that in life, someone will always be telling you what to do; there are rules to follow. She argues that she is just doing her job. She also said that she would still work if she didn’t love the students. Pat’s favorite color is blue, she loves detective movies, and she dreams of traveling the world. We know you’ll be seeing quite a bit of Pat during finals, so take the time to introduce yourself! You will be pleasantly surprised and who knows, maybe she’ll serenade you!

Below you can vote for one of the ideas that we brainstormed or submit your own idea. Over the summer, our Board and Upper Management team will be working on a proposal to present to the University. As our shareholders we will keep you updated and seek your feedback along the way. Thank you for helping us on this exciting project and good luck with exams!

Finals are upon us, and this spring they’ve struck with such a vengeance that I swear I saw no fewer than four people get so comfortable in their Lau cubicles today that they straight up took off their shoes.  This is real, folks.  Take 30 seconds to look at Midnight MUG’s FML wall and you will witness the collective campus struggle.  But fear not, because there’s no better cure that I know for the finals flu than a fresh batch of delectable study songs, so we at BTC have hobnobbed with the wisest of musical highbrows (read: Wil Curiel, Jen Leahey, and Keaton Bedell) to whip up a little audible treat for you.

BTC’s Final Exams Mix: 

1. Always Like This - Bombay Bicycle Club 
2. Trip - Vacationer 
3. I Wonder Who She’s Kissing Now - TV Girl 
4. Gun Has No Trigger - Dirty Projectors 
5. Pillow Talk - Wild Child 
6. Before the Dive – St. Lucia
7. Sitting on the Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding 
8. DNA – Darwin Deez
9. Origins – Tennis 
10. Hollywood (feat. Penguin Prison) – RAC 
11. Silenced by the Night – Alesso vs. Keane (Alesso Remix) 
12. New Theory – Washed Out  
13. Paper Thin Walls – Modest Mouse 
14. Coffee Break – Zeds Dead Omar LinX
15. We Are Young – fun. feat. Janelle Monae
16. Take Care - Florence + The Machine (Drake cover) 
17. Zimbabwe (Rufus Remix) – New Navy 
18. Hong Kong – Gorillaz 
19. Monolith – CFCF
20. Sunlight – Bag Raiders

 Ellie DiBerardino has wanted to use the word “hobnob” in the proper context for years.

For years Midnight Mug employees have been puzzled by the mysterious paintings hidden behind the soda machines. On a sunny Friday afternoon I sit in Midnight with the paintings in front of me, desperately trying to gain meaning from them – other Midnighters gather around and attempt to do the same. We focus our energy on one particular subject: the man dressed as a matador… or is he? Other guesses include Aladdin, American Colonist, and Napoleon. Fortunately, BTC had the opportunity to interview the artist himself, Ben Chan (SFS ’05), to get to the bottom of it.

Ben Chan (SFS '05)

BTC: Did you work at Midnight?

Ben: Yeah, I actually was hired in 2002 around November or December. The store opened back in January 2003, so I was one of the first people who started working there.

BTC: What was the original idea for the paintings?

Ben: The new UM really wanted to make the space more friendly and conducive to students. Before it became Midnight that space was just one of those quiet Study Rooms. And you know Lau can be really drab and ugly looking?

BTC: (laughs) Oh can it?

BTC: So how did you settle on the subject matter?Ben: (laughs) Yes it can. So we were trying to improve the atmosphere and appearance given the limited budget we had and the constraints with space. We decided we wanted to do something that would hang between the big glass wall so people wouldn’t have to look out and see a bunch of books. The mural idea came up and the UM basically asked me to paint it with the other co-director for marketing, Montana Ray (COL ’05).

Ben: Well we wanted to have as much fun with it as possible so we talked about a couple of ideas that we wanted to do. Eventually Emily Kilcrease (COL ’05), who was the director, suggested that we paint the portraits of the UM and we thought that was a great idea.

BTC: Can you tell me a little about the process?

Ben: Montana and I basically got photos of the Upper Management from the back office. We decided to have some fun by putting people in crazy costumes or putting mountains in the background instead of trees and a parking lot.

BTC: Oh that explains the matador outfit!

Ben: (laughs) Yeah for some aspects we were really kidding. The guy in the corner is dressed as Napoleon. His name is Nick Marinakis (SFS ’06) and he was the General Manager for Midnight Mug. He’s this little short guy who was kind of tyrannical so we thought it would be fun.

As you frolic out to the front lawn, ignore those pale, jealous souls in the reading room and take a second to review BTC’s tips on front lawn etiquette. I’m looking at you, shirtless 300-pound man.

Mack Basham practiced his interviewing pose especially for this video.

The Midnight MUG espresso machine is broken. On a scale of one-to-FUBAR, it falls somewhere between the Greek economy and that silvery prophesy ball that smashes to the ground in Harry Potter. Only a team of questionably-trained technicians stand between our beloved Simba (named for the mini lions on the machine) and my neighbor’s hunk-of-junk yard sale.

Midnight MUG and The Corp greatly appreciate the patience and understanding of our Lau-going customers. We understand that finals is a rough time, requiring lots of caffeine and deliciousness. While Simba’s revival date remains uncertain, we’d love to take this opportunity to introduce our customers, old and new, to some drink options we can still make! Until Simba is up and running completely, we will be unable to make espresso or steam milk.

The Midnight Mug staff apologizes for the inconvenience, and hopes that Simba will be steaming milk and pulling shots soon. To complete the list above, we are happy to prepare any of the following:

Iced: Coffee, tea, au lait, chai tea, chai lattés, half and half, Anna K, Alchemist, Daisy Buchanan, Don Quixote, mocha/caramel smoothies, The Grinch, fruit smoothies, Little Jenny That Could, milk, lemonade, Arnold Palmer.

Mention a drink recommendation from this article (and the article itself) to your cashier at Midnight MUG and you’ll receive a 10% discount on your order as our way of saying sorry – and we’re always here for you!  Offer lasts through Thursday, May 3.

Brooke Heinichen plans to get a masters in coffee-related mechanics after graduation; four years has destroyed her faith in restaurant repair services.

Capitol Hill is quickly becoming the most buzz-worthy neighborhood in the District. While many attribute this to gentrification, it may also be that with upcoming elections, Capitol Hill residents are looking to enjoy their time while it lasts. Whatever the reason, the Hill’s now a hangout for more than just the Occupy Movement, and as The Corp’s resident intern-about-town, I’ve found some things worth trying.

Food

Despite its reputation as the home of the D.C. “Power Lunch,” the Capitol Hill area is full of dining options that are easy on the average undergrad’s expense account. From food-trucks to hot-dog joints, here are your best bets:

Good Stuff Eatery
303 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20003

Like Shake Shack, but with more variety, Top Chef contestant Spike Mendelsohn’s shiny joint serves up creative burgers, hand-spun shakes, and some winning fries to lines of tourists, Congressional staffers, and the occasional President (Obama and his staff grabbed lunch here after this summer’s debt-ceiling negotiations). My suggestions: Get the Prez Obama Burger–Applewood bacon, onion marmalade, Roquefort cheese and horseradish mayo–and the toasted marshmallow shake.

Food Truck Land
L’Enfant Plaza
7th St & SW Maryland Av
ww.foodtruckfiesta.com/

If you walk out the L’Enfant Plaza metro stop at lunchtime on weekdays, you’ll find yourself in the middle of a fleet of food trucks lining both sides of Maryland Avenue. You’ve just entered “Food Truck Land,” where you can try all kinds of mobile meals from Sâuça, an international-themed health food truck, to Pepe, your source for chef Jose Andres’ Spanish cuisine on the go. My suggestion: follow the Red Hook Lobster Truck on twitter to find great Maine or Connecticut-style lobster rolls made fresh for only $15.

Fun

D.C. Ladies Arm Wrestling
American Legion Post 8
224 D Street SE
Near Capitol South Metro

For extreme fans of Title IX, Capitol Hill is home to D.C. Ladies Arm Wrestling. You heard me. For a $5 cover charge, you can bet on female arm wrestlers with names like Holly Gofightly or Capitol Punishment while you soak up the atmosphere (and the drinks) at DCLAW’s monthly competitions. Since all proceeds go to charity, there’s no reason to feel bad – at least until you realize half that the women in the room could easily bench-press you…

Rooftop Pool at The Liason Capitol Hill
415 New Jersey Avenue, NW, 2001

If you’re like your pool party with a little politics, head to the Liason Capitol Hill Hotel’s rooftop pool and deck overlooking the Capitol. Here you can swim laps with lobbyists or grab a drink from the bar and just soak up the rays. Best thing: the pool is open ‘till midnight five days a week.

Capitol Hill Golf
1741 A St SE
202-577-7310

Just before Obama’s September jobs speech, Vice President Biden, in a rare act of bipartisanship, took it upon himself to listen to Speaker Boehner talk about… golf. But as bad as the economy is right now, who wouldn’t want to hear John Boehner lie about shooting a 67? For those of us who lack the golf skills of the Speaker of the House (or the late Kim Jong Il, for that matter) there’s Capitol Hill Golf. Tucked away in a back alley to the east of the Hill, here you can take lessons with top PGA pro Bryan Huss, or test your skills on 36 different HD virtual courses (everywhere from Pebble Beach to St. Andrews) replete with missile tracking technology. If you’re not swinging like Bubba Watson by the end of the year, you can always head to their pro shop and buy your own green jacket.

Fearless

Cupid’s Undie Run DC
www.cupidsundierun.com/dc/

If you’ve ever wanted to run past the Capitol Building in your underwear in February, you can always take part in Cupid’s Undie Run, held on the Hill each year on Valentine’s Day. The run is only a mile and a half long and benefits the Children’s Tumor Foundation, but in mid-30s weather, I’m having second thoughts. Then again, who could miss the opportunity to jog past your favorite Senator in nothing but your underwear? I’ll leave this one up to you.

Photos: Good Stuff Eatery via flickr.com; Billy Hunt, Billy Hunt photography, via wtop.com; Michael Clemmer, Golf Landscapes, via http://www.rtjgolf.com/

Dan Marrow is an intern in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is the lowest-paid lobbyist on Capitol Hill.