University of Oklahoma student Samantha Fulnecky received a zero on a psychology essay for expressing views on gender that her instructor, Mel Curtis, deemed offensive and lacking empirical evidence. Fulnecky stated her essay argued against eliminating gender in society, citing the Bible, and that she was penalized for her religious viewpoints. OU officials confirmed Fulnecky has initiated the formal grade-appeal process and has filed a religious-discrimination complaint. The university has placed the graduate instructor on leave, according to a report from December 3rd, 2025, citing social media backlash as a catalyst for official action. Curtis, a transgender professor, reportedly wrote in the online grading platform that Fulnecky "failed to use empirical evidence" and called parts of her essay "highly offensive," specifically mentioning the characterization of an entire group of people as "demonic," which Curtis stated is "especially a minoritized population." Fulnecky maintains she followed assignment guidelines and that her religious beliefs were the basis for the grade penalty. She expressed this sentiment on her Instagram, stating OU only acted after facing social media backlash and had not directly addressed her concerns until formal complaints were filed. Turning Point OU has publicly supported Fulnecky, criticizing the instructor and advocating for intellectual freedom for conservative viewpoints in the classroom. The organization posted on X, "We should not be letting mentally ill professors around students." The university has not released further details on the instructor's leave or the ongoing grade appeal and discrimination complaint processes. Fulnecky's essay was intended to be a 650-word reaction to an article on societal expectations of gender and perception based on gender roles.
