The Griffin Editorial: If only our internships came with a Gilmore trust fund

When I think about internships, I think about that one scene in Gilmore Girls where Rory is interning at the Stamford Eagle Gazette for Mitchum Huntzberger, the father of her then-boyfriend, Logan Huntzberger. I just remember Rory being so excited about this internship; even though it was unpaid, she was thrilled to gain experience – especially under a man who had built a successful career in journalism, the very field she wanted to pursue. But Rory Gilmore also came from a wealthy family, which meant she could take on unpaid internships without ever worrying about other financial needs. In today’s world, however, not many college students are excited to ‘just gain experience.’ Many of us also want to be compensated for the real labor that goes into these demanding positions.

During the summer, I was able to do two internships – both connected to my three majors – and both were funded. One was generously supported by alumnus Thomas Connelly, and the other through the ALANA Center. Not only was I gaining experience in fields that aligned with my education, but I was also being paid to do so. Meanwhile, I had friends who spent their summers – and even this current semester – working unpaid internships that required just as much effort, time and commitment. Unpaid internships are most common in nonprofit organizations, local and state government, education, media, arts and entertainment – all industries that demand experience but also outweigh available funding. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) actually found that post-graduation, those who participated in paid internships received twice as many job offers and higher starting salaries compared to those who participated in unpaid internships.

But why do unpaid internships still exist in the first place? 

Many organizations continue offering unpaid internships simply because it’s the way they’ve always operated. Historically, they’ve been able to find eager college students willing to work for free – so there’s no financial or moral pressure to change. This is what’s often described as “institutional inertia,” where employers continue outdated practices out of habit rather than deliberate reasoning. The deeper issue, though, is that many organizations fail to realize how unfair unpaid internships are. By not paying interns, they unintentionally exclude students who can’t afford to work for free – especially those from lower-income backgrounds. This makes unpaid internships not just a financial issue but an equity issue. They favor students with financial safety nets, like those whose parents can cover rent, food or transportation while they intern without pay.

And when you look closer at who gets paid, the disparities become even clearer. Data from NACE shows that 48% of graduating Asian students and 35% of white students completed paid internships, compared to just 24% of Hispanic students and 20% of Black students. The numbers nearly reverse when it comes to unpaid internships, with white students making up the largest group of unpaid interns, followed by Black and Hispanic students. Even more concerning, over half of Black, Hispanic, Native American and Pacific Islander students graduated without having completed any internship at all – paid or unpaid. Gender also plays a role: men are more likely to hold paid internships than women, which means women are still underrepresented in the spaces that lead to full-time opportunities. These numbers paint a clear picture – unpaid internships don’t just reinforce class divides; they also deepen racial and gender inequities in the workforce.

One friend I often talk with about this topic believes that unpaid internships should be “illegal.” When I first heard her say that, I laughed because of how serious she was about it. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that her idea might not be so far-fetched from how many students feel right now – especially when we start to consider all the aspects of an internship. Labor is labor. Interns perform real, productive work – it’s not just about fetching coffee or answering phones. Most of the time, students are conducting research, running social media accounts and assisting on projects that directly benefit the company. It’s also, as we know, an equity issue. Students from financially stable backgrounds can afford to take unpaid internships, while those from lower-income backgrounds are often shut out of those same opportunities. It’s also a matter of exploitation. Companies are able to get away with free labor by disguising it as “experience,” while students incur heavy costs – transportation, lunch and lost wages from other jobs – for opportunities that don’t guarantee employment. So, is it too far-fetched to hold the opinion that they should be illegal?

At the end of the day, it’s all about free choice. I applaud my peers who take on unpaid internships and remain passionate about gaining experience despite the financial sacrifice. I also encourage my peers to seek out stipends or funding through Canisius programs that can help support them during unpaid internships. Studies show that about 35% of colleges offer stipends or fellowships for summer internships, which can make a meaningful difference. Personally, I can see myself taking an unpaid internship for the experience as well. But for many students, that simply isn’t an option. And when you look at the bigger picture, unpaid internships actually reinforce inequality – limiting career-building opportunities for those who can’t afford to work without pay.

-RM