TA misrepresented in Star article

Regarding the Arizona Daily Star's 9/6 article about how UA students perceive grades, my opinion was truncated in such a way as to misrepresent my feelings toward my teaching experience. I found my interaction with the students in my lab sections very rewarding. While many students expected the class to be an easy A, I made it clear that "average" work would only receive a C grade. The students who cared buckled down and worked for their grades. In addition to learning science, they improved their writing and problem-solving skills.

Though I was perceived as a tough TA, the bulk of my evaluations were positive.

In addition, the Department of Planetary Sciences supports their TAs in terms of grading. My department accepted my recommended grades, even though they included C's, D's and E's.

Most importantly, I identified myself to the reporter only by name and department. My opinions on this subject are in no way meant to represent the opinions of the Graduate and Professional Student Council at the UA, nor do I speak for the experiences of all graduate TAs.

Barbara Cohen

Graduate teaching associate

Department of Planetary Sciences