What began as a routine homework assignment at the University of Oklahoma has escalated into a national controversy, drawing in politicians, activist groups and cable news. Samantha Fulnecky, a junior on a pre-med track, received a zero on a psychology essay about gender stereotypes after grounding her arguments in Christian beliefs. She says the grade punished her faith. Her instructors say the paper failed to meet academic standards.Within days, the dispute moved far beyond the classroom. Screenshots of the essay circulated widely online, conservative organisations amplified the story, and Republican lawmakers threatened action against the university. The episode has reignited debates over academic freedom, free speech, religious expression, and how culture-war conflicts are increasingly playing out on college campuses.
How a gender-based assignment ended in a zero
The assignment asked students to write a 650-word reaction to a scholarly article on gender expectations in society. According to screenshots later shared online, Fulnecky’s essay argued that gender roles are divinely created, rejected the idea of multiple genders and described contemporary gender ideology as harmful.Two graduate instructors who graded the course told Fulnecky that her paper relied on personal ideology rather than empirical evidence, did not adequately engage with the assigned article and included language they found offensive. On that basis, they awarded the essay a zero.Fulnecky disputes that assessment. She has said she followed the prompt, believes her views were relevant to the topic and felt she was penalised specifically for expressing religious convictions in an academic setting.
From grade dispute to political flashpoint
The disagreement might have remained an internal matter, handled through the university’s grade appeals process. Instead, it quickly became public after Fulnecky contacted conservative activists and officials.She received encouragement from Ryan Walters, head of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, who urged her to fight back and go public. Soon after, the University of Oklahoma chapter of Turning Point USA posted screenshots of her essay and the instructors’ feedback on X, explicitly highlighting that one of the graders is transgender. The post went viral, drawing tens of millions of views.Republican lawmakers in Oklahoma called for investigations, threatened funding cuts and demanded meetings with university leadership. Fulnecky appeared on conservative media outlets and was praised at political events, where her case was framed as evidence of anti-Christian bias in higher education.
Faculty backlash and safety concerns
As national attention grew, so did concerns on campus. The graduate instructors involved faced intense backlash, according to the university’s graduate student senate. Two instructors were placed on leave, and one was removed from teaching a course while the university investigates whether religious discrimination occurred.Supporters of Fulnecky argue that academic spaces should accommodate dissenting viewpoints and that religious perspectives should not be dismissed outright. Critics counter that a zero grade reflects failure to meet the assignment’s expectations, not discrimination against belief.The Oklahoma case fits a broader pattern seen across the US, where individual classroom disputes are rapidly elevated into national culture-war battles. Similar controversies at other universities have led to resignations, policy changes and intense political pressure.
What happens next
The University of Oklahoma has said it is reviewing the matter through its established processes, though it has offered limited public comment while investigations are ongoing. It remains unclear whether Fulnecky’s grade will change or whether disciplinary action will be taken against any instructors.For now, the case continues to divide opinion. To supporters, it is a story of a student standing up for her faith. To critics, it is an example of political pressure undermining academic independence.
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