Scott Jaschik's (2010) article "Who Really Failed?" details the experience of Dominique Homberger, a tenured faculty member at Louisiana State University (LSU) who was removed from teaching her introductory biology course citing student complaints in regards to "the extreme nature" of the grading policy. This removal has sparked a debate, where topics such as academic freedom, grade inflation, and evaluation of teaching have emerged to the forefront of the discussion. In this paper, the author suggests that to fully support faculty, collaborative efforts are needed to craft clear and specific guidelines, to open channels of communication, to develop formal and informal avenues to consult, discuss, and provide feedback, and to foster an academic community that protects high academic standards, without disregarding the importance of fulfilling student needs. The article discussed in this commentary opens the door for discussion in several topics, highlighting that academic freedom, academic excellence, and student concerns cannot be protected in isolation. [This document presents a commentary on: "Who Really Failed?" by Katherine M. Maiuri and Raul A. Leon published in "Inside Higher Ed" April 15, 2010. "Who Really Failed?," its commentary, a list of suggested readings, and discussion questions are included.]