In many classes across various departments, teaching assistants hired for the purpose of running labs and project sessions often lack fluency in, or even a basic knowledge of, English. This is a serious threat to student success.

This has manifested in many ways. For example, last year in my Physics 122 lab, the lab TA multiple times responded to questions with "I don't have good English," and even contradicted my lab partner on a basic principle of physics/calculus, the definition of a derivative (my partner was correct).

This quality of instruction is a clear threat to student success, and should be addressed if Arizona State University wishes to continue increasing its standards of academic excellence. ASU will not be able to turn out the quality of graduates expected from a top-tier public institution if this continues.

There needs to be a more thorough vetting process created in order to ensure that the individuals granted these positions are qualified and able to effectively execute the responsibilities of the position.