In the study group's third year at Greendale, they were randomly assigned lab partners for the class they were talking together at the time, Biology 101. Unwilling to work with strangers, they managed to convince the teacher, Professor Marshall Kane, into letting them pair off within the the study group. They then individually "broke up" with their assigned lab partners and Pierce's partner, Todd Jacobson, took no offense aware that he would rather be with his friends. However, Pierce found himself the odd man out after the rest of the group immediately paired off and had to keep Todd on as his partner. Todd was later coerced into helping a paranoid Pierce spy on the rest of the study group. While they were hiding in the bushes watching the group unexpectedly congregate outside the library, Todd found a turtle.
Pierce emerged from their hiding place, dragging Todd out with him and confronted his friends. It's revealed everyone was unhappy with the lab partner they chose and wanted to switch. An emergency study group meeting was then held to select new partners and Todd was forced to attend, bringing along the turtle he found. In Group Study Room F, he endured the arguments they had amongst themselves while also taking in stride various backhanded insults they sent his way. As the arguing dragged on for hours, Todd called his wife to let her know he was okay. Todd finally lost his temper after Britta inadvertently set fire to the turtle he brought. He angrily calls their friendship toxic in nature declaring his disgust at both their actions and how they treated him. The next morning, Todd called Kane letting him know what happened and the professor reprimanded the group.
While Todd was working on his lab assignment in class he overheard the study group blaming all their problems on him and shed a tear ("Competitive Ecology"). Todd was drawn back into the antics of the study group when it appeared that their yam project had been sabotaged. Todd was at the top of the list of suspects questioned by the investigating duo of Troy and Abed. When asked about his alibi the night of the crime, Todd claimed that he was there but the doors were already locked and as proof he showed them a photo he took. It showed the study group's project still intact and a clock which read 8:10 PM. However, further investigation on the matter had Star-Burns refuting the story as he was in the classroom illegally on the evening too. He had unlocked the lab door to steal meth lab equipment and left the room open. He claimed to have heard a jar break and witnessed Todd running out.
Jeff and Annie brought the charges to Professor Kane but Todd's old commanding officer from Iraq, Lt. Colonel Archwood, interrupted them. Archwood began to act as Todd's defense counsel and intimidated Star-Burns into not testifying. In a mock trial in front of the Biology class, Archwood extolled his client's virtues, labeling him an American hero. However, when it was Annie's turn to cross-examine him, she badgered Todd into admitting that he picked up the study group's yam. He claimed he did it only out of curiosity and dropped the yam only because it burned him, not because he wanted to smash it. Todd was later exonerated from wrongdoing when Jeff managed to get the real killer to confess: Neil had poured boiling water into all the yams, with the exception of Vicki's, each night to help her get a better grade in the class. Todd cried out in joy, happy that he was not guilty ("Basic Lupine Urology").
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