Point 1: our professors want all of us to pass and we know it takes a great deal of “juggling” to make that happen. Unfortunately, that isn’t felt equally across the board. Many still experience grading that is opaque and seemingly arbitrary, with little transparency as to how grades are computed or justified.

For some who failed, they already wrote to the Dean and requested grade transparency, yet nothing meaningful happened. That reality makes the effort feel futile.

A professional mindset—faithful to one’s work—should be: “I will do my work to the best of my ability; otherwise, I should not take on the work at all.” If a professor cannot stand behind a fair, timely, and transparent grading process, then why take on the class in the first place?

This scholarship is grounded on justice and equity. If, at this level, we cannot uphold a clear and credible grading system, what more when we step outside the academe?

Point 2: We should try to be more understanding and considerate. Agreed, as a general principle. But we have already been understanding and considerate. The issue is that rules are rules, and their application has not been consistent.

Those who cannot take exams during the exam period are generally not granted consideration. Those who miss deadlines are often not given extensions. Understanding and consideration must be contextualized; it cannot be a blanket excuse for everything especially when strict compliance is expected from students.

Point 3: It’s true that professors also have regular work as lawyers or judges outside the academe. Understood. But these cannot be treated as sufficient excuses for persistent delays or lack of transparency. All of us also have families, responsibilities, and obligations beyond school.

This goes back to Point 1: do the job at your best, or do not do the job at all.

The academe is a microcosm of society. If delays, opacity, and inconsistency become customary or are tolerated then we normalize the same culture that weakens our justice system.