A Texas A&M University (TAMU) professor failed his entire class for what he called widespread academic and personal misconduct, but the school is not letting it fly.
According to KPRC News, Irwin Horwitz notified his Strategic Management students of their failing grades in an email last week, saying not one of them displayed proper conduct and maturity.
"Enough was enough," Horwitz told the news station. " I reached the breaking point."
His class-wide email accused the students of cheating as well as multiple instances of disrespect, such as being told to "chill out," sworn at and lied to. "Just ridiculous, I had never had a problem in the class. I thought I had done pretty well, done pretty well on the first test and then I get an email saying I am going to get an F in the class, it was overwhelming," John Shaw, a TAMU senior, told KPCR News.
Horwitz emailed administrators the same day, detailing what he told his students and saying he was fully aware his decision would be challenged, Inside Higher Ed reported. He was right, but the school also said they would investigate the allegations of disrespect against Horwitz.
"We hold students accountable if there is evidence of cheating or misconduct. Similarly, we do not allow faculty to punish an entire class if there is no evidence of widespread misconduct or cheating," College Provost Louchouarn told the Houston Chronicle. "The University is appropriately evaluating the situation and will have no further comment until we have completed our process of gathering accurate information."
Per Inside Higher Ed, here is an extended text of Horwitz's email:
"Since teaching this course, I have caught and seen cheating, been told to 'chill out,' 'get out of my space,' 'go back and teach,' [been] called a 'fucking moron' to my face, [had] one student cheat by signing in for another, one student not showing up but claiming they did, listened to many hurtful and untrue rumors about myself and others, been caught between fights between students...
"None of you, in my opinion, given the behavior in this class, deserve to pass, or graduate to become an Aggie, as you do not in any way embody the honor that the university holds graduates should have within their personal character. It is thus for these reasons why I am officially walking away from this course. I am frankly and completely disgusted. You all lack the honor and maturity to live up to the standards that Texas A&M holds, and the competence and/or desire to do the quality work necessary to pass the course just on a grade level.... I will no longer be teaching the course, and all are being awarded a failing grade."
