A student at the University of Oklahoma is making headlines after receiving an F on a Bible-themed essay related to gender, assigned by a transgender instructor. Despite this failing grade, his overall academic standing remains unaffected, sparking considerable controversy.
Samantha Hrunecki, a 20-year-old student, has filed a discrimination complaint against the university following her grade, which she received for stating that the “belief in multiple genders” is “satanic.”
In response to Hrunecki’s allegations, the university placed the professor, Mel Kurth, on administrative leave and initiated an investigation, while also assuring that Hrunecki’s failing grade would not impact her overall performance in the course.
This particular assignment was only meant to make up 3% of Hrunecki’s final grade.
For the essay, the instructor, a transgender graduate student using “she/they” pronouns, required students to produce a 650-word response to a scholarly article that examined the relationship between adherence to gender norms, popularity, and bullying among middle school students.
In Hrunecki’s submission, she expressed strong disagreement with the study’s premise, asserting that her biblical understanding leads her to reject the notion of multiple genders. “The societal push that suggests multiple genders exist is a destructive lie that harms our youth,” she wrote, suggesting that belief in multiple genders diverts society from what she sees as God’s original intention.
She received a zero on her paper.
The instructor clarified that Hrunecki’s essay did not address the assignment prompts and leaned heavily on “personal ideology” rather than “empirical evidence.”
In their feedback, the instructor noted that no points would be deducted due to her beliefs, but stressed that her response failed to fulfill the assignment’s requirements.
Kurth further criticized Hrunecki’s paper for being “contradictory” and relying more on personal views than scientific reasoning, calling it at times “offensive.”
“Labeling an entire group as ‘satanic’ is particularly hurtful, especially to marginalized communities,” Kurth emphasized, urging students to incorporate more empathy and perspective in their future work.
The backlash over the falling grades spread rapidly online, amplified by organizations like Turning Point USA, which shared the incident widely.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt expressed his concerns on social media, calling for a review of the situation to ensure no students are unfairly penalized for their beliefs.
In light of the growing criticism, the university confirmed it is investigating Hrunecki’s claims of discrimination.
The University of Oklahoma reaffirmed its commitment to First Amendment rights, particularly regarding religious freedom, stating, “OU is dedicated to fairness and the rights of all students to express their sincerely held beliefs.”
For the time being, the instructors involved will remain on leave for the semester.
“The graduate student instructor will be on administrative leave until this process concludes,” the university clarified, adding that a full-time professor would take over the class for the remainder of the term.
