Currently, the class has exactly 197 male and197 females enrolled, which DeVore terms an"uncanny" demonstration of the fact that both menand women are deeply interested in the subject.

But while the number of students in mostcourses has climbed steadily over the past tenyears, Science B-29's enrollment has actuallydeclined. The class has not been filled tocapacity--500 students--for some time.

DeVore attributes the decline to the increasein science concentrators and students who can skipthe science core courses because of advancedplacement exams.

In fact, the main reason he cited for studentsto choose B-29 these days, the quality of theteaching staff, has little to do with science. Ofthe class's 12 teaching fellows, two-thirds havereceived awards from the Derek Bok Center forTeaching and Learning.

"We have worked very hard on the teaching ofthe ninety-minute sections. There is a very highmorale in the course," DeVore said. Head TeachingFellow Jay Phelan draws many students, he added.

For the top ten classes, quality teachingfellows are particularly important, according tostudents and professors.

"More rests on the section leader and his orher abilities to explain the material," said JanosZahajszky '98.

Kugel admits that he used to read everystudent's paper when his classes were small. Butwith 970 students under his tutelage, it's nowimpossible, he said.

"There's a certain rapport that's lost when youget to that size," said Kugel.

On the other hand, some students are willing toaccept the lack of interaction.

"I'd rather have this size of a class than toprevent many students who wish to study with thisprofessor from having the chance to do so," saidThomas Cheung '95.

Cheung should know: he is currently takingHistorical Studies A-18. with 478 students, andForeign cultures 62, with 269