An instructor at the University of Oklahoma has been placed on leave after a student complained that she received a failing grade on a paper that cited the Bible to assert that the “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”

Samantha Fulnecky, 20, filed a complaint with the administration, the latest flashpoint in the ongoing debate over academic freedom on college campuses amid President Donald Trump’s push to end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and restrict how campuses discuss issues of race, gender, and sexuality.

“OU remains firmly committed to fairness, respect, and protecting every student’s right to express sincerely held religious beliefs,” the university wrote in an email on Wednesday.

The failing grade, which was supposed to account for 3% of Fulnecky’s final grade, would not affect the junior’s academic standing. An investigation into Fulnecky’s discrimination complaint is still ongoing.

The assignment was for a psychology class about lifespan development. Students were asked to write a 650-word response to an academic study that examined whether conformity with gender norms was associated with popularity or bullying among middle school students.

Fulnecky wrote that she was frustrated by the premise of the article because she doesn’t believe that there are more than two genders based on her understanding of the Bible. “Society pushing the lie that there are multiple genders and everyone should be whatever they want to be is demonic and severely harms American youth,” she stated.

She argued that promoting the belief in multiple genders would lead society to move “farther from God’s original plan for humans.”

The essays were graded out of 25 points, based on whether the student demonstrated an understanding of the article and addressed a specific aspect of the argument put forth. Fulnecky received zero points for her work.

“Please note that I am not deducting points because you have certain beliefs,” the instructor wrote in feedback obtained by The Oklahoman. “The paper does not answer the questions for the assignment.” The criticism noted that the paper “contradicts itself, heavily uses personal ideology over empirical evidence in a scientific class, and is at times offensive.”

The instructor's name has not been confirmed by the university, and a representative was not available for comment. The complaint went viral after the school’s chapter of Turning Point USA, a conservative group, posted about Fulnecky’s experience on the social media site X.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt posted on X, expressing concern and calling for a review of the investigation’s results to ensure that students are not unfairly penalized for their beliefs.

This situation occurs against a backdrop of intensified discussions regarding academic freedom and free speech in educational environments, further compounded by recent incidents involving educators across the nation.