Student’s failing Bible-based essay on gender won’t affect final grade, trans instructor placed on leave after backlash

nypost.com ^ | Dec. 4, 2025 | Emily Crane

[V_TWIN]

A University of Oklahoma student’s final grade won’t be affected after she controversially flunked a Bible-based essay on gender that was assigned by a trans instructor — triggering widespread backlash.

Samantha Fulnecky, 20, filed a discrimination complaint with the school last week after she was given an F for arguing in her psychology class paper that “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”

The school has since revealed the failing grade will have no bearing on Fulnecky’s academic standing after the course’s professor, Mel Curth, was placed on leave and administrators launched a probe into the junior’s complaint.

For the assignment, Curth — a transgender grad student who uses “she/they” pronouns — had asked students to pen a 650-word response to an academic article that weighed whether conformity with gender norms was associated with popularity or bullying among middle school students.

[Amendment10]

Thanks for reply lastchance.

What right was deprived by the student receiving a failing grade?

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Professor probably doesn't know the law exits. Otherwise, the professor may have avoided a hassle by at least giving paper a "See me" instead of meanly giving unprofessional, seemingly pro-LGBT, politically correct F to spite religious expression by a Christian.

[dangus]

I see absolutely nothing wrong with it in any way. Strong grammar, strong clarity, strongly made case. I heard claims she didn’t cite sources, but it’s not that sort of assignment; it’s a reaction essay, not a scholarly paper. She’s paraphrasing, so no need to cite any given translation or verse. She’s expressing where she gets her values from, not making a scholarly case to prove them. And that seems absolutely consistent with the assignment.

Does the paper show a clear “tie-in?” Well, she’s discussing at least five different assertions apparently made by the paper. Her reaction is a refutation, not a concurrence, but that shouldn’t matter. Depending on the content of the original article, she MAYBE should cite specifically what she’s reacting against, but it’s not an overwhelmingly common practice in a review. So depending on the context, eight to ten points (B- to A).

Does the response represent a thoughtful reaction, rather than a mere summary? TEN OUT OF TEN. Solid A.

Here’s where it’s clear that the “professor” (apparently actually a mere teaching aid) acted out of pure animus: Her clarity is perfect. Her sentences are well structured; her opinion is overwhelmingly clear; her spelling and grammar are near perfect (The only issue in the entire article is that she uses the British way of punctuating a quote). FIVE OUT OF FIVE.

23 to 25 out of 25 points. The supposed criticisms are 100% absolute total bullshit. And you got played by people giving you a false context, chump.

[lastchance]

You still have not answered, what part of the law you cited was broken by the professor issuing a failing grade?

[lastchance]

I don’t believe she was treated differently as far as receiving a failing grade. The essay was very poorly written and did not follow the instructions. I do however believe the professor (or grad assistant) did allow her personal feelings to show in her explanation. That was wrong. She should have just left it at the non-personal. But the failing grade was justified.

[Republican Wildcat]

For the assignment, Curth — a transgender grad student who uses “she/they” pronouns — had asked students to pen a 650-word response to an academic article that weighed whether conformity with gender norms was associated with popularity or bullying among middle school students.

This is a stupid assignment to begin with and could be nothing more than an entirely an opinion-based assignment designed to indoctrinate on a divisive social and political issue. The student provided an opinion and a basis for said opinion that it appears the "instructor" personally didn't like so he failed the student.

[Repeat Offender]

As Marines on ship, a buddy and I thought it would be hilarious to play with one of those while we were ironing our uniforms. Apparently an alarm goes off somewhere if you activate it, as the Petty Officer of the Watch came down wondering what the emergency was.

The emergency was two bored Marines.

[V_TWIN]

“could be nothing more than an entirely an opinion-based assignment designed to indoctrinate on a divisive social and political issue”
-

Yes sir.....you nailed it in one sentence 👍

[Republican Wildcat]

Probably more a D. The assignment was definitely a “failing assignment” - pointless and agenda driven on the part of the ‘instructor.’

[dynachrome]

“placed on leave” = paid vacation.

[lastchance]

That does make sense.

[Tired of Taxes]

Agreed. Earlier articles shared only a few lines from the essay. Even then, I got the impression the rest of the essay was probably poor.

Now, thanks to your link in post #23, I can see the whole essay really did deserve a low grade. Maybe not a zero, but D- or F.

Someone posted the entire criteria for the reaction paper here: https://x.com/Fibby1123/status/1994945900456939984/photo/1

IMHO, based on the professor’s criteria, the essay should have been given (at most) 13 points out of 25:

1. Is there a clear link back to the assigned article? NO. (0 points)
2. Does the paper provide a reaction... rather than a summary? YES. It’s definitely a reaction. (10 points)
3. Are the main ideas and thoughts organized into a coherent discussion? NOT REALLY... It reads more like a blog post, but I’ll be generous. (3 points)

It’s still an F.

With that said, I wonder how well (or poorly) the other students’ essays are written.