Didn't hear from the loan guy

I didn't hear from the loan guy yesterday, which probably means nothing. But it doesn't help that feeling go away.
Now I am in the thick of dealing with students' problems with the research paper. I cannot do much for them because each is responsible for picking out information from the research and deciding how to use it. Once they give me a draft, I can help them, but maybe 1/4 of the ones still left gave me a draft yesterday, and I cannot delay this paper. I assigned a chapter on this kind of argumentation weeks ago, but it seems that the majority never bought the book. That should not be my problem, but I cannot in conscience fail most of the students. Ah the moral dilemmas of working with people!