Integrity

I belong to the ethics committee of a 
university
Among other things, the ethics committee 
picks out students and staff members of 
the university who stand out for their 
exemplary conduct while in the employ 
of the school
The name of a man came up, recommended 
by one of the most outstanding students
The student said this lecturer was the 
reason he graduated from school
He said the lecturer challenged his 
intellect and brought original ideas to 
class
He was full of kind words and effusive 
praises
This student is on a 4.8 CGPA and he 
attributed his grade to this one lecturer 
who he claimed coached him beyond the 
four walls of the classroom
The student said this lecturer even asked 
him (the student) to take some other 
students in 100 level and 200 level who 
were struggling with adapting to life on 
campus under his wings just like
He (the lecturer) did for him
I told the student to provide five other 
people from the department who can attest 
to his claim
He gave us the names and we invited them
All of them were above 4.5 CGPA
They all spoke glowingly of this man
It was beautiful
But I have seen the story
before while I was in the university
I know there will be some other students 
who will hate this man
So I asked that five students with less 
than 2.0 CGPA in the same department 
should be brought to me
When they were brought I asked them to 
tell me their candid opinion of this
man
One said “He failed me, I went to see 
him and he looked at me right in the 
eyes and said “You will not amount to 
much in life if I am to judge you by 
your attitude to your studies”
She said “Who says that to anyone? 
Is he God?
I said but you are doing poorly in 
your academics
With all the lecturers, did they hate 
you or chose to fail you too?
She said “I am not really academically 
inclined, I am just giving schooling a 
shot and I am trying my best”
I said “So this man, did he fail you or 
did he help you to do better in your 
struggle?”
She said “That
man is a wicked man
I went to discuss my grades with him
He said I will have an extra year
I went on my knees to beg him, I even cried
Then he told me begging is not the way
He said I should pay in kind or in cash 
if I want him to help me
I didn’t want the extra year so I gave
him some money just to get an E in 
that course
He didn’t even give me a C
I paid him 150,000 and I got an E
I nodded and thanked her.
Another student came in, he said the 
man was a monster
I asked why
He said “I know he has slept with many 
of the female students in the department
Whenever any student approaches him for 
help with their result he would either 
sleep with the student or make them pay 
him some money just to get an E or a D
He made me fuel his car and I paid the 
school fees of some smart students who 
didn’t have the means to pay just so that
I could graduate and make a good grade in 
my project
All the students complaining about this 
man were very unserious
The type that wouldn’t attend classes, 
visit the library or study
The type that would “cut corners” rather 
than put in the work
The students praising the man were
the hardworking ones
I decided to talk to the average 
students- five of them and they all said 
he was a good man but they felt they 
deserved more marks than he gave them in 
some courses.
I went back to the committee and 
presented my findings
Some committee members said the man
had no integrity
He should have failed all those who 
deserved to fail woefully regardless 
of their pleas
Some said “It seem as if the students 
that took him serious were the ones he 
really took serious and helped while the 
ones that didn’t take him serious as a 
lecturer were made
to pay for their lackadaisical attitude 
one way or the other.
We looked at other lecturers in the 
department to see if there is any that 
is qualified
The other lecturer that came close was a 
kind fatherly man employed to teach a 
certain course in the department
The man was a poor
lecturer
His notes were in shambles and his conduct 
towards his work was quite unprofessional
The students liked him because he allowed 
them get away with anything
No attendance, no Continuous Assessment 
record
He also collects gifts but he didn’t 
put any student under duress
We ended up skipping that award category 
all together
The man that deserved it due to impact 
was morally flawed
The one that students consider to be 
their friend was a poor lecturer.

PS: Integrity is a good thing, it 
enhances our reputation and speaks 
for us in the place of
honour
Let us learn how to keep our integrity

-GSW