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University of Oklahoma Student Receives Zero on Bible-Citing Essay; TA Placed on Leave

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Dec 3, 2025

THE BARE STORY

A student at the University of Oklahoma received a zero on a reaction paper for a lifespan development class after citing the Bible to argue in favor of traditional gender norms. The student, Samantha Fulnecky, wrote in the essay that there are two genders and reportedly described the concept of multiple genders as "demonic." The assignment was a response to an article about gender pressures among middle-schoolers.

The graduate teaching assistant, Mel Curth, who graded the paper, provided feedback stating the zero was not due to the student's beliefs. Curth wrote that the paper was "highly offensive," used personal ideology over empirical evidence, and failed to answer the assignment's questions. According to the student, the assignment asked for her opinion, and she believes the grade was punitive and targeted her Christian beliefs. Fulnecky later filed a discrimination complaint with the university, one summary noted.

The University of Oklahoma has placed Curth on administrative leave pending a full review. In a statement, the university said it is committed to First Amendment rights and religious liberty and that it "acted swiftly" to address the matter. The university has excluded the assignment from Fulnecky's final grade calculation, and a full-time professor is now teaching the course. Fulnecky stated she learned of the suspension via social media and questioned the university's initial response.

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• The paper failed to meet academic requirements. The teaching assistant, Mel Curth, provided feedback stating the essay did not answer the assignment's questions. The rationale indicated the paper improperly used personal ideology instead of empirical evidence, which was expected for the assignment.

• The submitted work was deemed highly offensive. In the feedback explaining the zero, Curth described the paper as "highly offensive." The student's essay reportedly characterized the concept of multiple genders as "demonic" while arguing for traditional gender norms.

• The grade was not based on the student's beliefs. Curth's written feedback explicitly stated that the zero was not given because of the student's beliefs. The justification for the grade was instead based on the paper's failure to adhere to the assignment's academic standards and its offensive content.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• This event may fuel national debates over balancing free speech and religious expression with academic standards, potentially influencing future university policies.

• The university's review could lead other public institutions to clarify policies on grading, student expression, and the role of ideology in academic work.

• Students at public universities may face new uncertainties about how assignments asking for personal "opinions" will be evaluated, particularly when expressing religious beliefs.

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