A University of Oklahoma instructor has been placed on leave after a student complained that she received a failing grade on a paper that cited the Bible to assert that the 'belief in multiple genders' was 'demonic.'
Samantha Fulnecky, 20, has raised concerns resulting from her grade in a psychology course addressing lifespan development. She filed a complaint with the administration, highlighting a growing debate about academic freedom on college campuses amidst political pressures to restrict discussions on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The university issued a statement affirming its commitment to protecting students' rights to express their religious beliefs and confirmed that Fulnecky’s grade would not impact her academic standing while an investigation is underway.
The assignment required students to respond to an academic study related to conformity with gender norms and their effects on middle school popularity and bullying. Fulnecky's paper received zero points for failing to address the assignment effectively, according to the instructor’s feedback, who noted, 'the paper does not answer the questions for the assignment' and criticized it for relying heavily on personal ideology rather than empirical evidence.
Fulnecky, frustrated by the grading, asserted her views were rooted in religious beliefs and wrote that multiple gender identities were harmful to American youth. Her complaint gained traction online after it was shared by a conservative student group, leading to public support from figures including Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt.
Fulnecky’s situation comes in the wake of similar tensions elsewhere, such as the firing of a professor at Texas A&M over a classroom confrontation regarding gender identity topics. These incidents reflect broader conflicts over academic freedoms and the implications of political pressures on educational discussions surrounding gender and diversity.
