by Norman, Oklahoma — A graduate teaching assistant at the University of Oklahoma has been removed from instructional duties after failing a student’s Bible-based essay on gender, a decision that sparked national backlash, political praise for the student, and a university review into allegations of religious discrimination.
The instructor, Mel Curth, a transgender graduate student who used “she/they” pronouns, was dismissed from teaching responsibilities following an internal examination tied to a viral essay written by undergraduate Samantha Fulnecky, according to a statement released by the university on Monday.
Essay on Gender Norms Triggers Campus Controversy
The dispute began in late November, when Fulnecky, a 20-year-old junior, submitted a 650-word response to an academic article analyzing whether adherence to gender norms affected popularity or bullying among middle school students. In her essay, Fulnecky rejected the concept of multiple genders, grounding her argument in Christian beliefs.
She wrote that she did not believe there are more than two genders because “that is how God made us.” Fulnecky further argued that modern gender ideology harms children, calling it “demonic” and claiming it negatively affects American youth.
Although the essay did not formally cite the Bible, Fulnecky framed her position as faith-based. The paper received a failing grade from Curth, who said the response relied more on personal ideology than empirical evidence and did not adequately address the assigned academic prompt.
University Review Finds Grading Was Arbitrary
Following the essay’s spread on social media, the university placed Curth on administrative leave and launched an internal review. Early in December, officials confirmed that the failing grade would not impact Fulnecky’s final course grade.
After reviewing Curth’s own statements, the university concluded that the grading was arbitrary.
“Based on an examination of the graduate teaching assistant’s own statements related to this matter, it was determined that the graduate teaching assistant was arbitrary in the grading of this specific paper,” the university said. “The graduate teaching assistant will no longer have instructional duties at the university.”
The university did not indicate whether further disciplinary action would be taken beyond removal from teaching.
Instructor Defended Feedback as Academic, Not Ideological
In written feedback on the essay, Curth said Fulnecky failed to engage with the research-based focus of the assignment and instead relied on religious and personal assertions. Curth also objected to the language used in the essay, writing that some claims were “at times offensive.”
“To call an entire group of people ‘demonic’ is highly offensive, especially a minoritized population,” Curth wrote.
Curth further challenged what she described as contradictions in Fulnecky’s argument, noting that acknowledging gender stereotypes does not automatically assign negative value, a distinction discussed in the original academic article.
Conservative Leaders Applaud Student’s Stand
The decision to remove Curth drew praise from conservative political figures across Oklahoma. Ryan Walters, the state’s conservative schools superintendent who stepped down earlier this year, called Fulnecky “an American hero” for confronting what he described as a broader cultural assault on Christianity.
State Representative Gabe Woolley went further, presenting Fulnecky with a citation of recognition from his office.
“This was the right decision,” Woolley said in a public statement. “This individual should never have been employed at a public university—particularly in a human sciences role—when he rejects the fundamental biological reality that there are two genders.”
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Broader Debate Over Faith, Speech, and Academia
The case has reignited debate over academic standards, religious expression, and free speech in public universities. Supporters of the decision argue that students should not be penalized for expressing faith-based beliefs, while critics warn that academic grading must remain grounded in scholarly criteria rather than ideology.
University officials emphasized that the decision focused on grading conduct, not the instructor’s gender identity or the student’s religious beliefs.
As similar disputes continue to surface nationwide, the incident at the University of Oklahoma underscores the growing tension between academic expectations and deeply held personal convictions in the classroom.
What do you think about this case? Should faith-based perspectives be graded differently in academic assignments? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
