OU confirmed another graduate instructor has been removed after she reportedly told students she would excuse any absence for attending Friday’s protest supporting the graduate instructor who was placed on leave after a student claimed discrimination, but would not excuse absences for counter-protesters.
In an email to OU Daily Friday evening, OU Marketing and Communications confirmed the instructor was removed for allegedly expressing viewpoint discrimination in her absence policies regarding Friday afternoon’s protest where hundreds gathered in support of the graduate instructor who was placed on leave after psychology junior Samantha Fulnecky claimed religious discrimination over a failing essay grade.
OU confirmed the instructor who would not excuse counter-protest absences was placed on administrative leave for the remainder of the semester.
Statement from the University of Oklahoma: pic.twitter.com/pUPf8FsQlB
— University of Oklahoma (@UofOklahoma) December 6, 2025
“Immediately upon learning of the situation, the Director of First-Year Composition told students in class (Friday) and by email that the lecturer’s actions were inappropriate and wrong,” the email reads. “The Director further stated that any student, regardless of viewpoint, would be excused if absent from class today to attend the protest without penalty, and that the lecturer had been replaced, effective immediately, for the remainder of the semester.”
The Daily obtained a screenshot of the message Director of First-Year Composition Roxanne Mountford sent to students in which she characterized the instructor's actions as inappropriate.
“Yesterday, the professor for your class announced differing attendance credit based on who you were supporting at today’s rally,” Mountford wrote. “That attendance policy was wrong and inappropriate. As stated many times, the University teaches students how to think, not what to think.”
OU wrote it supports Mountford’s decision to remove the instructor, stating her actions aligned with university policy.
“The University of Oklahoma unequivocally supports the decision and swift action taken by the Director of First-Year Composition regarding this matter,” the email reads. “Her actions are fully consistent with university policy governing prohibited classroom conduct, and the lecturer has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.”
OU Turning Point USA President Kalib Magana told the Daily Friday afternoon he was the student in the instructor’s class who was denied an excused absence to counter-protest. The class was English Composition II taught by Kelli Alvarez, an assistant teaching professor, according to Magana.
According to OU’s course catalog, Alvarez is teaching two “English Composition II” courses this fall.
OU Daily visited Alvarez’s office in Cate Center Two on Friday but she was not there.
OU Daily reached out to Mountford and Alvarez via phone. Neither responded before the publication of this story.
Thomas Pablo contributed to the reporting of this story.
This story was edited by Natalie Armour and Thomas Pablo. Sophie Hemker copy edited this story.
