The University of Cincinnati walked back a reprimand it handed down to an adjunct instructor in the department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies for giving a student a zero for referring to "biological women" in a final project proposal; the school reportedly said the reprimand was "issued in error."

However, the instructor — Melanie Nipper — is still required to complete training on the university’s free speech policy and submit a syllabus to her department head, the New York Post reported, citing the Cincinnati Enquirer.

What is the background?

Student Olivia Krolczyk in May posted a viral TikTok video saying her instructor wrote, “Olivia, this is a solid proposal. However, the terms ‘biological women’ are exclusionary and are not allowed in this course as they further reinforce heteronormativity." Krolczyk in the video didn't divulge the name of her instructor, the name of her school, or her own last name.

Also in the video, Krolczyk called the zero grade "biased" and added that her project "is about transgenders competing in biological women’s sports. How am I supposed to do my final project if I can’t use the word ‘biological women,' but that’s what my project is about?”

In another TikTok clip, Krolczyk added that she would be taking up the issue with her school's Office for Equal Opportunity.

Soon the Enquirer got an interview with Nipper, who defended giving Krolczyk a zero. Nipper told the paper it's her job to correct students when they use "outdated terminology" but added they only will receive "a zero for an assignment, not a zero for the course."

The Post said in a separate story that the Enquirer soon obtained the university's letter formally reprimanding Nipper, which indicated it would be placed in her "permanent records." In addition to completing training on the school's free-speech policy, the letter said Nipper must submit future syllabi for approval, the Post said.

“It is also understood that any other violations of UC policy may be subject to further disciplinary actions up to and including termination," the letter said. "You are reminded that as an unrepresented, unclassified ‘at will’ employee your employment may be terminated with or without cause.”

Ashley Currier — head of the Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at UC — handed down the reprimand, the Post said, citing the Enquirer, adding that Nipper responded June 19 requesting an appeal.

Reprimand reversed — but punishment stands

The Post, citing the Enquirer, reported that Nipper’s reprimand will be removed from her personnel file, although she's still required to complete training on the university’s free speech policy and submit a syllabus to her department head.

After Nipper filed her appeal request and met with university administrators, the school ruled that the reprimand was “issued in error," the Post said, citing the Enquirer.

Nipper argued that her grade for Krolczyk didn't violate the school's free speech policy, the Post said.

Krolczyk sent a statement to the Enquirer about the reprimand walk-back, according to the Post: “UC is affirming that professors will have no consequences for failing students with dissenting opinions. … They will not uphold a student’s rights to free speech and will take no action to ensure that the educators hired are acting in a professional manner."

Here's more from Krolczyk:

Unveiling Academic Bias-University of Cincinnati youtu.be

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The University of Cincinnati has ordered an adjunct instructor in the department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies to undergo free-speech training after she gave a student a zero for referring to "biological women" in a final project proposal.

What are the details?

The instructor, Melanie Nipper, was formally reprimanded for giving student Olivia Krolczyk zero points on her Women’s Gender Studies in Pop Culture final project proposal, the New York Post said, citing a report from the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Krolczyk in May posted a viral TikTok video saying her instructor wrote, “Olivia, this is a solid proposal. However, the terms ‘biological women’ are exclusionary and are not allowed in this course as they further reinforce heteronormativity." Krolczyk in the video didn't divulge the name of her instructor, the name of her school, or her own last name.

Also in the video, she called the zero grade "biased" and added that her project "is about transgenders competing in biological women’s sports. How am I supposed to do my final project if I can’t use the word ‘biological women,' but that’s what my project is about?”

In another TikTok clip, she added that she would be taking up the issue with her school's Office for Equal Opportunity.

What happened next?

Soon the Enquirer got an interview with Nipper, who defended giving Krolczyk a zero.

Nipper told the paper it's her job to correct students when they use "outdated terminology" but added they only will receive "a zero for an assignment, not a zero for the course."

But the Post said the Enquirer later obtained the university's letter formally reprimanding Nipper, which indicated it would be placed in her "permanent records." In addition to completing training on the school's free-speech policy, the letter also said Nipper must submit future syllabi for approval, the Post said.

“It is also understood that any other violations of UC policy may be subject to further disciplinary actions up to and including termination," the letter said. "You are reminded that as an unrepresented, unclassified ‘at will’ employee your employment may be terminated with or without cause.”

Ashley Currier — head of the Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at UC — handed down the reprimand, the Post said, citing the Enquirer, adding that Nipper responded June 19 requesting an appeal.

Fox News said Krolczyk has received a new grade on the final project and received an A in the class.

Here's more from Krolczyk:

Unveiling Academic Bias-University of Cincinnati youtu.be

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A college student said in a now-viral TikTok video that her professor gave her a zero on a project proposal for using the term "biological women" because it's "exclusionary" and perpetuates "heteronormativity."

What are the details?

The student, Olivia, does not reveal her last name, her college, or the name of her professor. But in the clip — which was posted two days ago and has received a whopping 1.5 million views so far — Olivia provides a screenshot of the zero grade and explanation from her professor.

“Olivia, this is a solid proposal," the professor wrote. "However, the terms ‘biological women’ are exclusionary and are not allowed in this course as they further reinforce heteronormativity."

Olivia calls the grade "biased" and adds that her project "is about transgenders competing in biological women’s sports. How am I supposed to do my final project if I can’t use the word ‘biological women,' but that’s what my project is about?”

Now what?

Olivia posted several follow-up videos further explaining the situation.

In her first follow-up clip, also posted two days ago, Olivia says, "This is exactly the issue nowadays. It is not OK or acceptable to be a biological woman." Olivia adds that she was told in dialog with her professor that "it's transphobic to use the term 'biological woman'" and that doing so is tantamount to "implementing T.E.R.F. ideology, which is trans-exclusionary radical feminism," which the professor said meant "women who fight for women's rights but exclude trans because they think that women's rights are being affected by trans people." Olivia then quipped, "Which is literally true."

In another clip, also posted two days ago, Olivia adds that rather than waiting until the course is over, she decided to take up the issue with her school's Office for Equal Opportunity.

She also read from a syllabus outlining course rules in another clip, noting that the rules state, in part, that students "will not be graded on the content of your opinions, so long as your opinions do not create emotional and/or mental harm for your diverse classmates or espouse bigoted or anti-scientific views." Olivia then noted that she believes she is the one being "scientific by saying that sex is determined at birth" and that her professor is "the one who's being anti-scientific."

Olivia notes in a longer clip that her professor also suggested that she should "edit" her proposal to "focus on women's rights not females'." Olivia responds: "I know what she's trying to say, but it doesn't work because for my project, if I change the wording, it would be ... 'women's rights and opportunities are being affected because women are competing in women's sports.' That doesn't make sense." She added in the video that she has a Wednesday meeting with the Title IX office.

Young America's Foundation said it was unable to immediately reach Olivia but would "continue trying in order to connect her with legal assistance and resources."

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