Faculty Want Answers on Oklahoma's Suspension Policies

"Through their senate and American Association of University Professors (AAUP) chapter, faculty at the University of Oklahoma are pushing administrators for clarity on the suspension of Mel Curth, a graduate teaching assistant who was put on paid administrative leave last month after a student claimed Curth gave her an unfair grade because she cited the Bible. Faculty are also asking the university to strengthen its protection of instructors who are politically targeted or harassed."

"On Wednesday, the faculty senate voted on a vague resolution that doesn't mention Curth by name but says that "several situations have left faculty and the greater OU community uncertain about the stability and clarity" of university protections against political meddling in teaching and scholarship. It also calls on the administration to "engage with [the faculty senate executive committee] in a review of our procedures for dealing with contentious issues and politically charged situations." The result of the vote was not announced as of Wednesday evening."

"A petition circulated by the University of Oklahoma AAUP chapter makes stronger demands, including that the administration release full details on the processes that led to Curth's suspension, publicly affirm faculty's right to teach and research free from political interference, and help develop a "harassment response and prevention plan" for responding to political attacks. "The recent grading controversy involving psychology instructor Mel Curth has generated widespread alarm among OU faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broader community," the petition states."

Faculty at the University of Oklahoma seek clarity and stronger safeguards after graduate teaching assistant Mel Curth was placed on administrative leave following a student complaint about a grade tied to a Bible citation. The faculty senate approved a vague resolution urging review of university procedures for politically charged situations and protections against political meddling in teaching and scholarship. The AAUP chapter circulated a petition demanding full disclosure of processes that led to the suspension, a public affirmation of faculty rights to teach and research free from political interference, and a harassment response and prevention plan.

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