TAs to hold 'class on the grass'

Students will venture outside for class today and tomorrow as part of Teaching Assistant Awareness Days, better known as Class on the Grass. The event is organized by the Graduate Student Associations Council. Randolph Scully, a second year History graduate student, will take his classes outside -- if mother nature cooperates. Accuweather forecast predicts that it is going to be windy and cool today. "As I understand it, the purpose is basically to raise general awareness in the University community of the work that TAs do," he said. Mark Wilkins, also a second year History graduate student, expressed similar thoughts. "The main goal is just simply to sort of get TAs and their classes out in public, so that everybody realizes what a big role TAs play in instruction," he said. Several graduate students mentioned awareness and appreciation as key reasons behind the event. And some, like English dissertation student Peter Parolin, said their work often goes unnoticed by many at the University. "I think we're an important presence at Penn, and sometimes an under-appreciated presence," Parolin said. GSAC Treasurer and third year History graduate student Ed Baptist noted the impact TAs have on education at the University. "We sort of lay the groundwork for an awful lot of basic learning here," Baptist said. GSAC president and fourth year English graduate student Bronwyn Beistler said while Class on the Grass is aimed at undergraduates and faculty members, it is "probably primarily" meant to remind the administration of the work done by TAs. "We're technically considered employees," Beistler said. "It's sort of in our better interest to kind of continually demonstrate the fact that we are working and providing a necessary service to the University." Parolin said taking classes outside gives TAs a measure of power they usually do not have. "We lack real institutional power at the University," he said. "But I think Class on the Grass is a friendly and respectable way for us to tell administrators at this university how much we matter here." GSAC will set up a table at which TAs can pick coffee, T-shirts and other items. Despite GSAC's efforts to publicize Class on the Grass, some TAs seemed unaware of the event. Baptist, however, said he feels GSAC did all it could to publicize the event, including placing an advertisement in The Daily Pennsylvanian. He said GSAC told its representatives in various schools to publicize the event. In addition, flyers were posted throughout campus.