Jarosław Zawadzki (asker) Jul 4, 2010:

I have considered the "if". Still, it doesn't make much sense to me anyway.

Fabrizio Zambuto Jul 4, 2010:

"if we oblige a professor to give grades he's never given, then telling him not to is something to be really sorry about" my guess without further context...
or,
if we consider "buji" as be insufficient it may sound like: "...then calling him inefficient is something to be really sorry about" or "regrettable, lamentable"
hope I did not further confuse you...

Fabrizio Zambuto Jul 4, 2010:

要can also stand for "if" and "不给“ could read: buji (be insufficient)
I don't know if that can help....

Jarosław Zawadzki (asker) Jul 4, 2010:

Am I getting it right then? I think I'm still missing something: "Had to be forcing the professor to give grades he'd never given before, asking him not to was something to be sorry about."