The University of Oklahoma fired a graduate teaching assistant after an investigation found she had acted "arbitrarily" in awarding a zero to a student who cited the Bible and argued against multiple genders in a psychology essay. The university said it removed the assignment from students' grades and concluded the instructor’s evaluation was inconsistent with standards expected in the classroom. The case became a flashpoint in debates over academic freedom, student expression and political pressure on campuses. The instructor’s attorney denied arbitrary conduct and said legal remedies were being considered; Oklahoma’s governor called the situation "deeply concerning." The episode has already drawn national attention and political commentary given state laws restricting DEI and campus policy debates. Universities typically handle such matters through grade appeals, academic integrity reviews and faculty conduct processes; this dismissal highlights how classroom grading disputes can escalate rapidly under politicized conditions.