The University of Oklahoma removed the instructor involved in acontroversy over First Amendment rightsafter giving a failing grade to a student who cited her religious beliefs in anessay about gender rights.
"The graduate teaching assistant will no longer have instructional duties at the university," the University of Oklahoma said in astatementon Monday, Dec. 22. It added that the university determined the instructor "was arbitrary in the grading of this specific paper."
In November, Samantha Fulnecky, a junior at the university, toldThe Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network, that a psychology course instructor gave her a zero on a 650-word essay assignment in response to an article about how people are perceived based on societal gender expectations.
Fulnecky cited the Bible and her religious beliefs in the essay. The instructor, Mel Curth, wrote in an online grading system that parts of the essay were offensive.
The situation receivednational attentionandsparked student-led protests at the universityafter Fulnecky alleged her First Amendment rights were violated.
Brittany Stewart, Curth's attorney, told The Oklahoman in a statement that the university notified her of the investigation's findings.
"Ms. Curth continues to deny that she engaged in any arbitrary behavior regarding the student's work, and is considering all of her legal remedies, including appealing this decision by the university," the statement said.
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Attendee pray with Pastor John Amanchukwu (out of frame) as he leads the daily prayer at Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
A man wears a t-shirt with an image of US President Donald Trump as attendees arrive at the main hall for Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Attendees pose for photos at the entrance to Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Attendees listen to US conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro during Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference in remembrance of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
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Attendees wait for the beginning of the conferences at Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Attendees in US flag blazers pose as they wait for the beginning of the conferences at Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
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A woman holds a US flag as attendees wait for the start of Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
An attendee wears shoes with US flags at Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
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University says it has completed discrimination investigation
Fulnecky filed a complaint of religious discrimination and a grade appeal with the university regarding the essay. In early December, OU ruled in her favor on the grade appeal, saying the essay would not count toward her final grade.
The university's Dec. 22 statement said it had completed its investigation into the discrimination claim, but the school did not release its findings.
"The University of Oklahoma believes strongly in both its faculty's rights to teach with academic freedom and integrity and its students' right to receive an education that is free from a lecturer's impermissible evaluative standards," the university said in the statement. "We are committed to teaching students how to think, not what to think."
Curth was originallyplaced on administrative leavewhile the university investigated the issue.
What is the essay controversy about?
In her essay, Fulnecky argued that traditional gender roles should not be considered stereotypes.
She cited the Bible to support her stance that eliminating gender in society would be "detrimental" because that would put people "farther from God's original plan for humans."
Curth said in her grading of the essay that Fulnecky failed to use empirical evidence, calling parts of her essay offensive.
"To call an entire group of people 'demonic' is highly offensive, especially a minoritized population," Curth wrote on a grading platform.
Fulnecky told The Oklahoman she believed she had failed because she cited the Bible.
"To be what I think is clearly discriminated against for my beliefs and using freedom of speech, and especially for my religious beliefs, I think that's just absurd," Fulnecky said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:University of Oklahoma removes instructor following essay controversy