The University of Oklahoma has confirmed that a graduate teaching assistant, who gave a failing grade to a student over an anti-transgender essay, will no longer hold instructional duties.
Mel Curth, a transgender graduate assistant in psychology, had been placed on administrative leave following the grading dispute involving student Samantha Fulnecky. Fulnecky’s paper described transgender individuals as “demonic” and asserted that gender roles were “Biblically ordained.”
Fulnecky alleged that the failing grade was in retaliation for her religious beliefs. However, Curth defended the grading decision, stating it was made on academic grounds. In their comments, Curth wrote that the essay “does not answer the questions for this assignment, contradicts itself, heavily uses personal ideology over empirical evidence in a scientific class, and is at times offensive.” They added that characterising a marginalised group as “demonic” was “highly offensive” and encouraged the student to base critiques on empirical sources rather than religious doctrine.
On Monday, the university issued a statement via social media, saying the grading of this particular paper was deemed “arbitrary” and confirming that the graduate assistant “will no longer have instructional duties.” While the university did not name those involved, the identities of both Curth and Fulnecky have been widely reported.
The statement also noted that a university investigation into the student’s religious discrimination claim had been completed, though the findings would remain confidential. As part of the appeal process, the student’s paper had already been removed from the total point calculation for the class, meaning there was “no academic harm” to her.
“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 added. “We are committed to teaching students how to think, not what to think.”
The university’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) expressed concern over the situation, criticising the vague nature of the university’s response. “Essentially, nothing is new here,” a spokesperson told TV station KFOR. “OU claims without providing any supporting or specific reasons why Mel Curth was removed… They hide behind vague statements and essentially assertions of ‘trust us.’ At this point, they need to show us and not tell us.”
The spokesperson also criticised the university for making a public employment decision, which they believe is “inflaming the situation.”
Meanwhile, the university has also placed a second instructor, Kelli Alvarez, on leave. According to school officials, Alvarez allegedly told students they would be excused from class if they chose to attend a protest in support of Curth. OU Nightly, the student newspaper, reported that Alvarez teaches English composition.
Kalib Magana, president of the University of Oklahoma’s chapter of Turning Point USA, questioned whether students who opposed the protest would also receive excused absences. Alvarez reportedly replied that a counterprotest would need to be organised. While no counterprotest took place, several conservative students voiced opposition at the pro-Curth demonstration. Magana subsequently filed a complaint against Alvarez.
