Overview
- Samantha Fulnecky received a zero on a reaction essay that cited the Bible and called belief in multiple genders “demonic.”
- Graduate teaching assistant William “Mel” Curth said the paper failed to meet the prompt, leaned on ideology over evidence, and was at times offensive; a second instructor reportedly concurred.
- OU says a formal grade appeal is complete, the contested assignments are excluded from the final grade, the TA is on administrative leave, and a full-time professor now leads the course.
- The student filed a religious-discrimination complaint, which the university says is under review.
- Turning Point USA’s posts drew tens of millions of views and prompted statements from Oklahoma political figures, with campus demonstrations announced to support educators.