A recent essay at The University of Oklahoma (OU) has turned into a blazing controversy —–
One that’s raising questions about religious freedom, academic expectations, and how colleges respond when students clash over belief and scholarship.
What Happened
In November 2025, a junior psychology student at OU, Samantha Fulnecky, submitted a 650-word assignment for a psychology class on gender norms. The assignment asked students to respond to a research article examining how societal expectations of gender affect peer relationships and mental health among middle-schoolers.KOSU
Instead of analyzing the research findings, however, Fulnecky used the opportunity to express her religious beliefs —- citing the Bible and arguing that traditional gender roles reflect “God’s original plan” for humanity. She described social acceptance of transgender non-binary identities as “demonic,” according to the version of her essay circulated online…