Campus Speech and Academic Freedom

The University of Oklahoma said Friday it removed a lecturer from the classroom and placed the professor on administrative leave after excusing absences for students attending a pro‑TA protest but not for counter‑protesters. OU’s director told the class and emailed that the action was "inappropriate and wrong," extended excused absences to any student attending the protest regardless of viewpoint, and confirmed the lecturer was replaced for the rest of the semester. The incident follows the removal of TA William "Mel" Curth after a Christian student received a zero on an essay referencing the Bible.