Professor criticizes failing grade given to Oklahoma student’s biblical essay

Controversy at University of Oklahoma Over Grading Practices

A professor from the University of Wisconsin System has commented on the recent incident involving Samantha Hrunecki, a University of Oklahoma student who received a failing grade due to citing the Bible in her essay. Trevor Tomesh, a professor at the University of California, River Falls, expressed concern about the harsh grading, noting it should require significant justification.

Tomesh highlighted that he was sharing his personal views and not representing any university stance. He clarified that in his classroom, a zero is typically reserved for cases of blatant cheating or non-submission of work. “The assignment is worth something, and deducting points so severely seems unwarranted given the assignment’s wording,” he remarked.

In this specific case, Hrunecki was graded by teaching assistant William “Mel” Kurth, who uses she/they pronouns, on an essay discussing a study about binary gender norms impacting middle school students. Hrunecki explained her stance in an interview, stating the article prompted her to reflect on traditional gender beliefs.

The essay included arguments backed by Biblical references, asserting that gender roles are not merely societal constructs. Hrunecki’s views were summed up as suggesting that society’s push for fluid gender identities is harmful, particularly to children.

Kurth ultimately gave Hrunecki a score of zero, citing a lack of empirical support for her claims, despite the rubric not requiring such evidence. The feedback included comments about the essay being “very offensive” and criticized Hrunecki for mixing personal beliefs with academic content.

Tomesh noted the inappropriateness of labeling standard Christian views as “deeply offensive,” and remarked on the unusual nature of Kurth’s feedback. Hrunecki described the zero score as unnecessarily punitive and indicated that Kurth had previously graded her more leniently on a similar assignment.

After filing a complaint about discrimination, Hrunecki reported that her grade was reinstated, but the current records still show a zero for the assignment. The university stated its commitment to First Amendment rights, allowing students to express their beliefs, and emphasized fairness in grading practices.

In response to Hrunecki’s situation, the university implemented a formal grade appeal process and noted that some assignments won’t affect her final grade significantly. The teaching assistant involved has been placed on administrative leave to ensure an unbiased grading environment moving forward.

Tomesh commented on the typicality of grade disputes and encouraged open conversations between students and instructors about grading concerns, sometimes even adjusting scores based on valid arguments. “Maybe I’m being too lenient,” he reflected.