The new "test" proposed for English ability of non-American TAs and professors completely misses the point here and does nothing to encourage understanding of people.

If Albert Einstein or Kofi Annan was offered a position to teach here, would we make them take an English speaking ability test? I am willing to bet that students would long to hear them speak because they can communicate ideas effectively.

What about someone who comes from a trailer park in rural Kansas? I may have more trouble understanding them speak than someone from South Africa or India.

Why not ask them to take the test of spoken English as well?

This proposed idea is discriminatory, ill-thought out and insulting.

Sumit Mahajan is a graduate student in the College of Engineering.

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Mar. 15 2005.