After reports of sexual harassments, Missouri legislators are reevaluating the intern program at the Missouri Capitol.
State Rep. Kip Kendrick, D-Columbia, who is part of a working group established to review the submitted a revised handbook. Kendrick’s proposals include designating a moderator to receive complaints and give interns advice, according to an [Aug. 23 Columbia Tribune article](http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/politics/kendrick-proposes-new-intern-policies-as-house-considers-harassment-issues/article_cb7493fd-473d-5b21-a798-df05bfdddab9.html).
“I am releasing this document today to ensure that policies adopted by the House are publicly vetted and appropriately critiqued in order to safeguard interns, maximize their educational experience, and restore the integrity of the House of Representatives,” Kendrick said in an [Aug. 17 news release](http://www.kipkendrick.com/kendrick-releases-proposed-house-member-and-intern-policies/).
According to the University of Central Missouri’s [website on their intern program,](https://www.ucmo.edu/politicalscience/internships.cfm) internships help students gain work experience that will help in the job hunt. The program also allows students to earn class credit. The website lists another perk of the program on the website — “It’s fun.”
“Student interns value these opportunities for their experiences and professional interaction with state officials,” Chiarelli said. “They should not be subject to any behavior that is unprofessional, or that compromises the safe work environment expected in the State Capitol.”
One MU student hopes the internship program will continue because of the opportunities it presents.
“I went through the program and my friends did,” said Evan Chiarelli, an MU sophomore and president of College Democrats of Missouri. “It is a great opportunity to make connections and we want to make sure it continues.”
However, these opportunities allegedly led to the sexual harassment of female interns. Following the allegations in the Missouri State Senate, Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Independence, issued his formal resignation on July 24. Nearly three months earlier, his Republican colleague, House Speaker John Diehl, also resigned.
A Missouri Senate investigation report detailed the allegations against LeVota. A female intern stated in the report that LeVota sexually harassed her, describing inappropriate text messages that she labeled as “unwelcome.” When she turned LeVota down, she said that she was subject to retaliation.
This wasn’t the first time a Missouri politician was accused of intern sexual harassment. In May, House Speaker John Diehl resigned after the [Kansas City Star revealed](http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article20986608.html) suggestive text messages between Diehl and an intern from Missouri Southern State University.
While Diehl admitted to sending the inappropriate text messages, LeVota denied any sort of sexual harassment occurred and said the media attention from the allegations was distracting and unnecessary, ultimately leading to his resignation, according to a statement released July 24.
“I did not engage in any inappropriate activities with any intern in the Missouri Senate and a thorough investigation found no proof of misconduct,” LeVota said in the statement. “However, I will not put my family, myself and the senate through the process of dealing with the veracity of false allegations and character assassination against me.”
The UCM, where the intern attends school, opened a Title IX investigation into the allegations in April. Then, in May, the Senate hired an attorney to assist with the investigation.
The internship program is credited as one of the best in the state, according to Missouri Southern’s [website.](http://www.mssu.edu/academics/programs/political-science.php). The text messages were discovered after Missouri Southern ended its intern program a month before its intended end, the Star reported.
Chiarelli said in a statement that the College Democrats of Missouri doesn’t tolerate sexual harassment.
“It is disheartening to see two cases of sexual harassment between legislators and female students in the same year,” he said. “We are disappointed in our local leaders taking advantage of their positions and their roles as legislators.”
However, Chiarelli said he would like to see the internship programs in Jefferson City continue. Chiarelli was an intern himself, and he said he experienced firsthand the the opportunities and education the program offers.
LeVota’s position officially ended Aug. 23, however a special election to replace LeVota likely won’t be held this year, according to the Kansas City Star.
