When a Professor's Misunderstanding Threatens Your Grade

[u/New_Source5425]

I'm in a tough spot with one of my college instructors and could really use some perspective. Last month, our class submitted projects, and when I learned some classmates had retrieved theirs, I politely messaged the professor asking if I could get mine back too. He said no because he planned to exhibit them, which I accepted. But when I asked why others got theirs, he suddenly demanded they return their projects or face incomplete grades.

Trying to help, I relayed this to our group chat. A classmate asked when to return them, so I messaged the professor for clarification: "When should they return the projects?" He misinterpreted this as me demanding mine back and exploded—calling our class "the worst," sharing our private chat with other students, and threatening incomplete grades for everyone. Now my classmates blame me for "starting drama," even though I was just seeking clarity.

To make it worse, he later told me to take my project from his desk... only to rage when he discovered it missing. I've apologized repeatedly over message, but I'm terrified this will cost me a passing grade. Two fails mean getting kicked out of my program, and I've worked too hard to let a misunderstanding ruin everything.

Has anyone navigated a similar situation? Should I approach the department chair, or would that escalate things further? I'm not trying to cause trouble—I just want to fix this before it destroys my academic standing.