GSAC attempts to build awareness of contributions of TAs

The windy weather didn't stop over 50 teaching assistants from flocking to College Green yesterday. Or from bringing along more than 740 students. Yesterday and today mark the second annual Teaching Awareness Days, called "Class in the Grass," an event sponsored by the Graduate Student Associations Council to highlight the contributions graduate students make to the University community. The Days kicked off at 10 a.m. with a number of teaching assistants bringing their classes outside. According to the registration sign-up sheet, Romance Languages teaching assistant Gleef Doerr, who teaches a French 142 class, was the "first one on the Green." Graduate students said they were pleased with how the first day of the two-day event went. Last year, roughly 1000 students and 100 teaching assistants participated in the event, with more holding class outdoors on Friday rather than Thursday. Outgoing Graduate and Professional Students Assembly Chairperson Susan Garfinkel said the day's success was due to a number of different factors, including the good weather. "I imagine there is still momentum from last year's event and more people know about it this year," said Garfinkel. "It's becoming an established event." The GSAC Executive Committee sent letters to all graduate students at the beginning of the month, informing them of the event. GSAC also had a table set up yesterday, with newsletters and other literature about graduate student government, as well as the new proposed graduate student health insurance plan. "Free beer" coupons for the Fine Arts Happy Hour tonight were given out to participating graduate students as were as a variety of buttons publicizing the event. Both TAs and undergraduates said they were pleased with the event, with differing opinions on the impact it would have. "I think it's a great idea, but I question if the administration will pay attention to it," said College junior Jennifer Arbittier, a student in Cultural Studies TA Judith Filc's class. "While the purpose is so the community will realize what graduate students do, I don't know if it will help." College junior Jamie Altman, also Filc's student, said he thought the day would accomplish its goal and make the University community aware of graduate students' contribution. Some graduate students also said they felt the day was not political enough and had become "too bland." According to the sign-up sheet, the Romance Languages department had more participants than any other department. Yesterday's good weather is expected to continue today with the forecast calling for mostly sunny skies with highs approaching 60.

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