In his perfect world, Binghamton University professor Ryan Vaughn said he would teach during the day and perform comedy at night.

‘Of course if I did that, I would wear a cape,’ he said. ‘But teaching is my passion, I love it.’

The popular English teacher fulfilled his dream Tuesday night as he performed his original comedy routine to a packed lecture hall ‘ without his cape, though.

Vaughn teaches humor writing and literary works in the classes Humor Across Media, Television in America and American Humor.

Sophomore Aaron Gold introduced Vaughn as a teacher that has received ‘a five out of five on ratemyprofessors.com, along with 15 hotness votes,’ and describes him as ‘the kind of guy that teaches English to people who already know English.’

Vaughn kept the audience laughing by reading original lists and personal stories he wrote. Vaughn said he will only read his comedy from paper rather than memorize it.

‘The writing element of comedy is often forgotten,’ he said. ‘I want the connection between performance and paper to be made.’

Vaughn told the crowd he was touched that so many had turned out to watch him perform.

‘To look out and see this room full just warms my heart; apathy is sweeping the nation, for you to come out for some hack like me, it means a lot,’ he said.

But Vaughn’s popularity goes beyond the stage and into the classroom.

His Humor Across Media class will increase in size from 120 to 240 students next semester, and students were even left closed out after the first few days of registration. Two hundred fifty-six students have signed a petition to urge the English department to add more sections of the class.

Vaughn is one of senior Cheryl Weitzner’s favorite professors. One of the the reasons for Vaughn’s popularity is his ability to relate to his students, Weitzner said.

‘He’s the only teacher who knows what’s happening on ‘South Park,’ she said.

Vaughn uses comedy as a technique to capture students’ attention and foster interest in his subject. He structures his lectures like talk shows, and each class or episode features different students as guests.

According to Vaughn, it takes very little to earn the admiration of students.

‘[You need to] give them their papers back the next day, know their name and respond to their e-mails immediately,’ he said. ‘Although next semester it will be difficult to learn all 240 names.’

Vaughn said he believes that in order to be a successful comedian, the comic’s material must be honest.

‘If you’re comfortable with exposing yourself, you get more feedback,’ he said, ‘because the audience feels like they are on the same plane with you.’