A junior at the University of Oklahoma has succeeded in getting a trans graduate student suspended from teaching by claiming she got a bad grade due to her religious beliefs.
The assignment was an academic response to a journal article with three criteria (rubrics): clear link to the article, thoughtful response to the article, coherent argument.
The student, Samantha Fulnecky, wrote an incoherent essay that vaguely referenced “the Bible” (no chapter or verse). The essay implies she thinks bullying is okay (not what the article concluded). The essay does not directly quote or paraphrase the article. It appears to be a response to the title.
The graduate student got a second opinion from a faculty member before assigning a zero to the essay. However, the student reportedly emailed the governor and gave her essay to Talking Point USA. She also claimed religious persecution and filed a formal grade grievance.
Samantha’s Essay (4of5) pic.twitter.com/jX3iu22I6f
— TPUSA_OU (@TurningPointOU) November 27, 2025
The student’s mother took to X/Twitter agreeing that trans individuals should not be faculty. She has a history of activism.
Her mom Kristi Fulnecky lost tons of lawsuits against the city of Springfield, lost her client’s defamation lawsuit against a hospital, & lost cases defending J6 terrorists. That’s gotta be super expensive. I think Samantha decided to pull the stunt to get a job w/Fox News,
— KaRAYgeous TRANTIFA ?????? (@kraywhiseheart) December 1, 2025
The University reversed the failing grade.
I read the 21 page peer-reviewed academic article that was assigned to Samantha.
These types of reading reflection assignments are meant to determine two things: did the student do the reading & did they understand the reading.
I was a TA when I was in graduate school and you… https://t.co/2TtJv4qWYW
— ??????????????? ?? (@LeaveHeardAlone) November 30, 2025
Even after reading the abstract I could see that Samantha had not read the paper. (For the record, I taught for 20 years, most of that at the University of Washington.)
Samantha Fulnecky’s mother is a “former councilwomen, podcaster and radio host.” They have gotten press beyond their wildest dreams. FOX News. NYT. The Oklahoman.
This is another example of a university obeying in advance (per Timothy Snyder) and failing to support faculty.
It reflects a concerted attack on trans individuals in red states. Florida. Texas. Now Oklahoma. The attacks are approved by President DWT.
Known for gnawing at complex questions like a terrier with a bone. Digital evangelist, writer, teacher. Transplanted Southerner; teach newbies to ride motorcycles. @kegill (Twitter and Mastodon.social); wiredpen.com