According to Camarin Porter, a TAA spokeswoman, the organization was in negotiations with the university Tuesday afternoon and hopes to have the contract finalized by Friday or early next week.

"I think we've been pretty good," Marek said, "They (the teaching assistants) provide a really valuable service to the department and the professors value their work, as well as the undergrads."

Similarly, Christina Williams, a teaching assistant in the Department of English , said the relationship between teaching assistants and Marquette is a good one.

"I think the English Department has a good rapport with teaching assistants and is appreciative of the work we do," she said.

-Annie Shields