A University of Oklahoma professor at the center of a controversy over a psychology assignment is pushing back against claims that she was fired after giving a student a zero on a paper that made derogatory comments about transgender people. Mel Curth, a trans instructor herself, alleges that the university removed her from teaching duties as a result of right-wing backlash and pressure, rather than any wrongdoing on her part. According to Curth, the university sought to appease conservative critics by sacrificing her, rather than standing up for academic freedom and diversity. Her comments come as a growing number of educators and advocates are speaking out against the erosion of free speech and the intimidation of instructors who challenge discriminatory ideologies.
Remember that trans instructor at the University of Oklahoma who gave a student a zero on a psychology paper last fall? The paper reportedly described transgender people as “demonic” and relied on religious arguments instead of empirical research for a psychology assignment. After right-wing backlash and political pressure, the university removed the instructor, Mel Curth, from teaching duties. Now she’s speaking out and says the university threw her under the bus to appease conservatives, and she's clarifying that she wasn't fired. Interview here submitted by /u/Fickle-Ad5449 [link] [comments]
