The University of Oklahoma fired a graduate teaching assistant after an inquiry found the instructor gave a student zero on a psychology paper that cited the Bible and argued against multiple genders. The student, Samantha Fulnecky, had alleged religious discrimination; the university’s review concluded the instructor’s grading was “arbitrary” and removed the assignment from the gradebook. The dismissal has become a flashpoint in statewide debates over academic freedom and political influence on campuses. Oklahoma’s governor and conservative legislators have seized on the case as evidence of bias in higher education; the instructor’s attorney says legal options are under consideration. University officials framed the action as enforcing fair evaluative standards, while critics say the case illustrates a fragile balance between faculty rights and student protections. Administrators and legal teams at public institutions should note how quickly classroom assessments can escalate into state‑level controversies.