"I'm not going to make an apology because I don't think there's anything to apologize for," he said. "But I am going to explain tomorrow what I meant."

One student, who wished to remain unidentified, said she did not expect the professor to retract his statements.

"I can't see him apologizing. He just doesn't seem like the type," the student said. "I'm sure he would blow it off if anybody said anything to him about it."

Not all members of Hankins' class were offended by his remarks, and some defended them as a joke.

"It was in total jest. I'm surprised that anybody took offense," said Brian M. Gibel '95.

"If they know Professor Hankins, he makes a lot of short, quick little witty comments or snide remarks," Gibel said.

"It was a joke...I think anyone who took offense at what he said may not have heard the entire discussion," Lee said.

But Hankins denied that he was joking.

"It was meant seriously," he said.

Hankins added that sexual harassment and date rape are issues of serious concern to him. His own wife, he said, "has been sexually exploited a lot."

"People should be sensitive to date rape and sexual harassment," he said