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The number of inappropriate jokes made by students currently enrolled in Introductory Archaeology is "growing larger than ever," according to Professor Archibald Rogers.
The first incident occurred in early November. Holding up a digit-sized bone during lecture, Rogers remarked to the class on its durability. "It's extremely hard," he noted, "and so large it doesn't even fit into one hand." Rogers recalls that he then heard a student cry out, "That's what she said!" and the classroom dissolved into giggles.
At first, Rogers hoped it would be an isolated incident, but the situation took a turn for the worse the next week when the class began to study the terminology of artifact classification in preparation for an upcoming dig. "Luster, hardness, cleavage, streak-come on! How could that not be what she said?" asked Evan Partridge '09 incredulously.
From then on, the situation only deteriorated. At one point, Rogers recalled, a student even made a "that's what she said" joke in reference to a question on the midterm exam. In an effort to prevent the rest of the class from becoming distracted from their tests and stop writing, Rogers cried out "Don't stop! Don't stop!" The exhortation had such an adverse effect on the class that midterms were completely abandoned.
Since then, the outbursts have increased in number to the point where Rogers said they interfere with his motivation to teach. "The situation is reaching the point where every class is incredibly long and hard," he said. "I don't know if I can take any more of it."
While most students join in on the laughter, some have voiced complaints about the jocular mood. Asked to explain her decision to leave the class, Makaila Farber '09 responded, "I'm hip. I watch 'The Office.' But honestly, the class was getting so annoying that I just couldn't come anymore."
Rogers implores other students in the class to stick it out until the end of the semester. "Come on, guys," he urged. "You can't just pull out when you're not enjoying yourselves anymore."
