The University of Oklahoma student is making national headlines for receiving a zero on a psychology essay.
The University of Oklahoma student is making national headlines for receiving a zero on a psychology essay.
The University of Oklahoma student is making national headlines for receiving a zero on a psychology essay.
Former Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters dipped back into state politics Thursday to share his support for the University of Oklahoma student making national headlines for receiving a zero on a psychology essay.
Samantha Fulnecky, a junior at OU, said she believes it was due to citing the Bible in her work. She gathered at a luncheon for the Original Constitutional Principles Affecting Culture Foundation at Oklahoma History Center alongside supporters to speak out about the issue.
Walters spoke at the event in a pre-recorded video. He revealed he was in Mar-a-Lago working with President Donald Trump’s team.
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The former state superintendent, who resigned from his position in September to become the CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, didn’t go into much detail on what he was doing with the president’s team, but he did thoroughly express his disappointment in Fulnecky’s grade.
“I’d be with you, but we’re down here with President Trump’s team working on making America great again,” Walters said. “Working on fighting these Marxist teachers’ unions, working on getting America back on track, where we actually protect freedom of religion, we actually protect Christianity — we fight for the things that make America great.”
>> Video Below: OU student who claimed religious discrimination over essay grade speaks out
Fulnecky filed a complaint against the OU professor, claiming religious discrimination.
“We should absolutely hold people accountable — they should all be fired. We should be looking into taxpayer dollars at OU,” Walters said.
In a statement, OU said it takes these claims seriously. As the investigation unfolds, the graduate instructor who graded the paper is now on administrative leave.
The university also said the assignment won’t count against her grade.
Fulnecky said she was grateful for the support she received following the situation.
“It’s not just about the grade. It’s about the principle behind it, and about what the university is allowing. They shouldn’t be allowing professors like this at the university that don’t want their students to have free speech,” Fulnecky said.
>> Video Below: OU student who cited Bible claims religious discrimination over essay grade
A protest march is planned at OU’s campus in Norman to stand with the graduate teaching assistant and their grading, according to Signed, Oklahoma. KOCO 5 reached out to the organizers but is still waiting to hear back.
The graduate instructor who graded the essay said they will not be commenting publicly on the situation.
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