A long, long time ago, in a distant era, I used to teach writing at the University of Michigan. I was a lecturer, which is much different than a professor. I taught kids who are probably all now making way more money than me how to write an essay in which they make and support an argument. I also taught creative writing.
It was not an easy job. But I was good at it. I even won a You Are Good At This Job award which I got to go to a little luncheon for and everything. It is probably gathering dust somewhere in my basement.
Anyway, long story short, I don’t teach there any more. Thank the lord. Because in today’s political climate I would likely not make it very long.
I got a text from my mom the other day that read, “Have fallen down the rabbit hole on this. Thought as a college instructor you might find it interesting, too.”
Ahem. Former college instructor.
She linked to an article about Mel Curth, a graduate student instructor at the University of Oklahoma, who was suspended after giving a failing grade to a student for her essay that was supposed to use evidence in an exploration of how social expectations shape gender. But instead of doing that, this student wrote an essay about how God says being trans is demonic.
The student is now crying that she’s a victim of religious discrimination.
As my mom put it, “This girl turned in a crappy essay and is screaming discrimination because it was graded appropriately.”
My mom is right. She is also obsessed with TikTok. “There are multiple TikToks defending the instructor and vilifying the university and the state,” she wrote. “I am interested in how this continues to unfold. I hope the instructor sues and wins a bundle.”
“That is unlikely to happen,” I texted back. “Especially not in Oklahoma.”
“This paper was reviewed by another instructor who agreed with the grade,” she replied. “I hope this turns out to be a blessing in disguise for the instructor and a better offer of employment is in the future. It may just be my algorithm, but I am having multiple TikToks pop up in support of the instructor.”
Oh, Mom.
I explained that there are no civil rights protections for transgender people in Oklahoma. Plus, Curth is a teaching assistant, which is a very low rung on the ivory tower of higher education. It’s unlikely they have any kind of union protection or job security. On top of this, the Governor of Oklahoma has entered the chat.
“The 1st Amendment is foundational to our freedom & inseparable from a well rounded education,” Governor Stitt posted on X. “The situation at OU is deeply concerning. I’m calling on the OU regents to review the results of the investigation & ensure other students aren’t unfairly penalized for their beliefs.”
You know, just a normal thing a governor does, weighing in on a shitty undergraduate psychology paper.
“It’s quite possible that the instructor’s educational career and future professional prospects are cooked,” I texted back. “This person is likely totally fucked.”
I really cannot emphasize how dangerous the world is for transgender people right now. The most powerful governments in the world are focused on dismantling anything and everything that allows transgender people any dignity or humanity.
On Dec. 5, students and other instructors gathered outside to protest Curth’s suspension.
“We have policies in place for assessing whether or not a complaint is legitimate, but there’s enormous pressure from the outside to not follow those policies. We should be defending our academic integrity,” Hunter Heyck, an OU history professor, told KOSU.
Heyck indicated that he did not fear reprisal for speaking out.
“If I was in a more vulnerable position I would have to be careful,” Heyck acknowledged. “In our department, we have thought carefully about who would teach certain classes that are likely to raise hot button issues so that they would be people who are less vulnerable.”
In other words, in order to protect vulnerable instructors, we limit their professional opportunities.
I am sure that this is done with the best of intentions, but it’s another example of how trans people can be hurt by even the best intentions.
As for the student who wrote the Very Bad Paper (whose name I am intentionally not using), she’s going to be fine. More than fine. She’ll likely ride this wave to a lucrative career opposing transgender existence. She’ll become the next Riley Gaines, who tied for fifth place during a college swimming competition with a trans athlete a few years ago. Now Gaines makes her living screaming that transgender women should not be allowed to play sports.
This student will become a Turning Point USA poster child in no time. All for trying to ruin a transgender person’s life.