Students fail for a variety of reasons.
Some are simply lazy. Some are distracted by social media. Some simply lack the intelligence to master the material. These explanations overlap; they are not mutually exclusive. Why should these students now be allowed to punish the professor who did not dumb down his teaching? What theory justifies such an absurd result?
If students fail, it is they who, not always but almost always, should pay the price. Remember, of the 350 students who took Maitland Jones’ course, 268 out of 350, that is 77% of the total class – did pass, and only 23% failed.
Had Professor Jones failed 90%, there might indeed be a case that he was simply too hard a grader, but not when 77% passed. Professor Jones should not have been let go; it’s the students who failed who should be required to retake the course, given one more chance to pass it. And if they still can’t? Too bad.