One of the outcomes of Dobie's single-minded pursuit of his latest love, Sue Ellen Silnitzer, is that he starts to neglect his best friend, Maynard. Maynard has started taking a journalism class at the college, and makes a deal with Mr. Pomfritt, the teacher, that if he writes an article accepted by the school newspaper, the Pryor Crier, he will pass him in the class. With all the exciting topics already being covered by other reporters, Maynard is assigned to write a story about the anthropology department, led by Dr. Imogene Burkhart. Dr. Burkhart admits that writing a story about her department may be difficult, until she remembers that she is recreating an authentic pagan ritual ceremony from the Marquesas Islands in her upcoming class. Advice from Mr. Pomfritt and a borrowed photograph from Dr. Burkhart in combination leads to a less than appropriate story. Regardless, the story is approved by the newspaper's preoccupied assistant editor: Dobie. The printing of the story causes a series of problems, especially for Maynard and Dr. Burkhart.
—Huggo