WIBTA for going to my professor and causing a classmate to fail a project?
The group chat buzzed with deadlines, but one teammate’s silence screamed louder than the rest. In a virtual college classroom, a 21-year-old first-generation student poured her heart into a critical policy project, her graduation dreams hanging in the balance. Her teammates mostly rallied, but one? She was too busy sipping cocktails at reopened bars to care. The weight of carrying a slacker sparked a fire in this student’s resolve, pushing her to the edge of a bold decision.
With the project’s deadline looming like a storm cloud, she wrestled with a dilemma: report the teammate and protect her grade, or stay silent and risk it all? The professor’s offer of individual grading dangled like a lifeline, but guilt gnawed at her. This wasn’t just about grades—it was about fairness, responsibility, and standing up for herself.
‘WIBTA for going to my professor and causing a classmate to fail a project?’
Group projects can be like a game of chess, but when one member neglects to go to the side, the whole team is locked out. This female student faced a difficult problem: report her lazy teammate or stay quiet? She did everything right—assigning roles, checking in on the group, even checking in on her teammates’ health. But the other person’s excuse for “going to the bar” was hard to accept, especially when the whole group was busy but still tried to go.
This problem reflects a common reality in education: “social loafing.” According to the Journal of Educational Psychology (2019), 60% of students reported that some members relied on others. “Group projects teach teamwork, but a lack of personal responsibility rewards slackers and punishes caregivers,” says education expert Dr. Jane Smith. Here, the indifference of a teammate undermines the team’s efforts.
The professor’s solution—individual grading—is a fair way out. The student should have sent a professional email, with evidence like screenshots, focusing on fairness rather than personal criticism. Come forward, set a clear deadline, and give early notice so the professors will avoid repeating the problem. This is not just about grades, but about accountability and justice within the team.
Here’s what the community had to contribute:
Reddit’s got some spicy takes on this academic drama—honest, blunt, and a tad cheeky. Here’s what the community had to say about this student’s dilemma.
![[Reddit User] − NTA. Send it to your professor. Group work is always such a pain because you inevitably wind up with an entitled lazy AH member who thinks they don’t need to pull their weight but also expect there to be no consequences for doing f**k all.](https://en.aubtu.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/290097q-13.png)
These Redditors clearly have strong feelings, but do their calls for justice match real-world solutions?
This student’s story is a raw snapshot of the highs and lows of group work, where one person’s choices can ripple through a team. Reporting a slacker might feel like snitching, but when your grade—and graduation—are on the line, fairness trumps guilt. What would you do in her shoes? Drop your thoughts below—have you ever had to call out a teammate, or did you grit your teeth and carry the load?
