A graduate teaching assistant at the University of Oklahoma, Mel Curth, was dismissed after assigning a zero grade to student Samantha Fulnecky, who cited the Bible in an essay about gender norms. The incident sparked national debate, with Fulnecky alleging religious discrimination and Curth defending the grading as based on academic criteria rather than personal beliefs. Curth, represented by civil rights lawyer Brittany Stewart, is appealing the university's decision, arguing that the investigation was flawed and new evidence has emerged. The university maintains that Curth's grading was arbitrary and not consistent with established standards, while Curth's legal team claims the case is politically motivated and targets LGBTQ individuals in academia.