Overview
- Samantha Fulnecky received 0 out of 25 on a 650‑word reaction paper that cited the Bible, defended traditional gender roles and called belief in multiple genders “demonic.”
- Instructor Mel Curth wrote that the grade reflected failure to address the prompt, contradictions, reliance on ideology over empirical evidence and offensive language, a view seconded by another instructor, Megan Waldron.
- OU said it placed a graduate student instructor on administrative leave, reassigned the course to a full‑time professor for the rest of the semester and took steps to ensure no academic harm to the student.
- Turning Point USA’s OU chapter posted screenshots of the essay and feedback, driving national attention as Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt urged regents to review the investigation.
- Assignment materials circulating online list personal reflection options, which has become central to debate over whether empirical citations were required as the university’s reviews continue.