Higher Education
Brandon Dutcher | December 29, 2025
OU backs down in anti-Christian grading controversy
Brandon Dutcher
Perhaps you’ve followed OCPA’s coverage of the Samantha Fulnecky situation at the University of Oklahoma.
On Nov. 25, Ray Carter reported that “University of Oklahoma junior Samantha Fulnecky has become the latest in a string of students and university employees who have alleged anti-Christian discrimination at OU.”
After that first story (“Pattern of anti-Christian bias? OU hit with new complaint”), Carter followed up with several more: on Dec. 1 (“OU probes claim of religious discrimination after student given zero”), Dec. 3 (“OU student: No intent to cause controversy with essay”), Dec. 5 (“OU Graduate Student Senate defends discrimination”), and Dec. 8 (“Second OU instructor accused of discrimination”).
Fulnecky also shared her story in a brief video and with OCPA’s Ryan Haynie and Curtis Shelton on their podcast.
Then Christmas came early for Fulnecky. On Dec. 22, OU issued a statement indicating that the graduate teaching assistant who gave Fulnecky a zero had been “arbitrary in the grading of this specific paper.” After reviewing the GTA’s grading patterns and statements, OU determined the instructor would no longer have instructional duties at the university.
In short, a man who dresses up as a woman will no longer teach a course on psychology. Not exactly a national-championship-level reform, but still, it is a small and welcome step in the right direction.
Brandon Dutcher
Senior Vice President
Brandon Dutcher is OCPA’s senior vice president. Originally an OCPA board member, he joined the staff in 1995. Dutcher received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Oklahoma. He received a master’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in public policy from Regent University. Dutcher is listed in the Heritage Foundation Guide to Public Policy Experts, and is editor of the book Oklahoma Policy Blueprint, which was praised by Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman as “thorough, well-informed, and highly sophisticated.” His award-winning articles have appeared in Investor’s Business Daily, WORLD magazine, Forbes.com, Mises.org, The Oklahoman, the Tulsa World, and 200 newspapers throughout Oklahoma and the U.S. He and his wife, Susie, have six children and live in Edmond.