A University of Cincinnati adjunct instructor Melanie Nipper has been instructed to undergo free-speech training after she gave one of her students a zero for referring to “biological women” in a project proposal.
“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,” the instructor wrote on the project proposal.
The student, Olivia Krolczyk, called out her instructor in a TikTok video.
In the video, Krolczyk said her final project was 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?”
Krolczyk added that she would share the information with her school’s Office for Equal Opportunity.
Nipper told the Enquirer that it is her responsibility to steer students away from “outdated terminology.”
Nipper added that students using such terminology will receive “a zero for an assignment, not a zero for the course.”
Reporting from The Blaze:
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.”
