Street lights are outfitted with a darkening lens to avoid stopping the blooms at the chrysanthemum gardens on the Van Vleet (South) Oval at the University of Oklahoma (OU) on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017 in Norman, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman

A University of Oklahoma graduate instructor is on administrative leave after a student filed a complaint, saying the grade she received on an essay where she cited the Bible was a violation of her rights.

In her essay, which was in response to an article about how people are perceived based on societal expectations of gender, junior Samantha Fulnecky wrote that traditional gender roles should not be considered stereotypes, according to an earlier Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network, report. She cited the Bible to support her stance that eliminating gender in society would be "detrimental" because that would put people "farther from God's original plan for humans."

She received zero points out of 25 on the essay. The instructor said Fulnecky failed to use empirical evidence and called parts of her essay offensive.

Fulnecky eventually filed a formal discrimination complaint with the university, along with a grade appeal. She also contacted Gov. Kevin Stitt.

OU announced on Nov. 30 that the school has placed the graduate instructor on administrative leave.

Here's what we know so far:

What was in OU student Samantha Fulnecky's essay?

You can read Fulnecky's full essay below.

How OU professors responded to essay, Fulnecky's response

In the feedback on her essay, Fulnecky's instructor called her claims on gender "highly offensive," telling her, "I implore you [to] apply some more perspective and empathy in your work."

Both instructors refused to change Fulnecky's grade.

You can read a transcript of the conversation between Fulnecky and her professors here.

Gov. Kevin Stitt responds to OU, complaint

In a post on X, Stitt said he was calling on the OU regents to review the results of the investigation to "ensure other students aren't unfairly penalized for their beliefs."

Oklahoman reporters Alexia Aston and Alex Gadden contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: University of Oklahoma instructor on leave over essay citing Bible

Reporting by The Oklahoman / Oklahoman

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect