Exactomundo!
Most posters on this thread seem to blame the student, but I'm not so sure. The girl got a ZERO, for class participation. why a zero? Did she never come to class? Did she never say anything? If her class participation had been sadly lacking, would she perhaps have earned a 20%? Or 23%? But, no, she got a ZERO. I'm highly suspicious that there was some fishy going on.
BTW, you know the difference between a tenured professor and a terrorist, don't you? You can negotiate with the terrorist.
I would like to see the syllabus for the course. Was there an explicit declaration that class participation would be measured and counted toward the final grade? What was the criteria for participation? Class attendance? Asking and answering questions? Debating with the professor and other students--in a polite, respectful manner, of course?
I agree that ZERO seems extreme--to me, such a grade would indicate that the student NEVER came to class, but whether or not that grade can or will change, will likely be dependent upon how well classroom participation was defined in the syllabus.
Although it's been 20+ years since I last sat in a college classroom, I understand that many profs take it as a personal affront when students don't come to class. It's almost as bad when they do come, but sit there like bumps on a log, afraid to engage in any sort of intellectual intercourse with the class.
she probably got some points for showing up, and engaging in the required psychobabble, but had them taken away for attitude and swearing in class.