The University of Oklahoma has terminated a graduate teaching assistant following an investigation into the grading of a student’s paper that referenced Biblical views on gender roles, the university announced Dec. 22.
The decision comes weeks after junior student Samantha Fulnecky received a zero out of 25 points on an assignment in a class discussing gender norms.
The teaching assistant, William “Mel” Curth, who uses “she/they” pronouns, justified the grade by stating the paper relied on personal ideology rather than empirical evidence, contradicted itself, and was “at times offensive.” Curth also asserted that major medical and psychological associations recognize sex and gender as neither binary nor fixed, according to Fox News.
“Based on an examination of the graduate teaching assistant’s prior grading standards and patterns, as well as the graduate teaching assistant’s own statements related to this matter, it was determined that the graduate teaching assistant was arbitrary in the grading of this specific paper,” the university said in a statement. “The graduate teaching assistant will no longer have instructional duties at the University.”
The graduate assistant’s attorney, Brittany Stewart, told The Oklahoman that Curth denies engaging in arbitrary grading and is exploring legal options, including an appeal. “Ms. Curth continues to deny that she engaged in any arbitrary behavior regarding the student’s work,” Stewart said.
The assignment required students to provide a thoughtful discussion of a scholarly article on gender typicality and its effects on middle schoolers’ peer relations and mental health.
Fulnecky’s essay was published Dec. 23 in its entirety by The New York Times. Fulnecky wrote that gender norms reflect God’s intentional creation, adding that women naturally desire “womanly things” and men embody courage and strength. She described societal pushes toward nonbinary identification as “demonic.”
“I definitely think that I was being punished for what I believe,” Fulnecky told Fox News Digital.
Curth was placed on administrative leave after Fulnecky filed a discrimination claim. The university’s provost personally reviewed the case, and Fulnecky’s grade has since been restored.
The teaching assistant’s feedback explicitly stated: “Please note that I am not deducting points because you have certain beliefs, but instead I am deducting point [s] for you posting a reaction paper that 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” according to Fox News.
The incident sparked widespread debate after Fulnecky’s story went viral.
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