Olivia Krolczyk, a student at the University of Cincinnati, received a zero-percent grade because of her use of the term “biological women.”
The university then performed an apparent about-face and rescinded the reprimand, according to Ms. Krolczyk.
‘Not Allowed in This Course’
Ms. Krolczyk, a chemistry major, was taking a Gender Studies in Pop Culture class where she was required to submit a project proposal on the topic of feminism.Ms. Krolczyk, 20, ran cross-country and track in high school and continued when she started college. She proposed writing an essay about the history of women in sports, including historic gains by trailblazers who advanced women’s sports, and the threat of biological men competing as women in these arenas.
However, Ms. Krolczyk was awarded zero points on the proposal, which was returned with the comment: “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. Please reassess your topic and edit it to focus on women’s rights (not just ”females“) and I'll re-grade.”
Reprimand Repealed
Ms. Krolczyk made a short video sharing that she had received a failing grade without naming her school, class, or professor.The video went viral, and both Krolczyk and the unnamed professor started speaking to media outlets.
Adjunct professor Melanie Nipper, 28, told Cincinnati’s The Enquirer that the exposure of this viral incident had taken a toll on her, and that she had received hundreds of messages she deemed “hateful.”
“She is the one who revealed her identity,” Ms. Krolczyk said.
Ms. Nipper, who is a white woman, attributed the “hateful” messages to a worldview “informed by white supremacy, cisheteronormativity, classism, patriarchy, and more.”
However, Ms. Krolczyk responded by stating that “It is not white supremacy to call out my professor for failing me for saying ‘biological woman’ because of her own personal biases and agenda.”
Ms. Krolczyk, who finished the class with an A, responded on social media, where she has been receiving messages from students across the country who’ve met with similar situations.
‘Sickening to See so Many Messages Like This’
Ms. Krolczyk had been sharing updates on social media as the school semester came to an end, and posted snippets of messages she had received, including other students who received failing grades for using language their instructors deemed “exclusionary,” and an anecdote about a high school female athlete and national qualifier who had her opportunity “taken away” by a “gender-confused man.”The issue of male athletes competing in women’s athletics while they are claiming to “identify” as women or while undergoing cross-sex treatment is one lawmakers are now grappling with.
On July 5, Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed legislation that would have banned such male athletes from competing in women’s sports.
“I felt betrayed and belittled, reduced to a photo-op,” she said, going on to describe the discomfort of the 18 to 22-year-old women who had to share a locker room with Mr. Thomas. “I know that I do not speak for everyone who competed against Lia Thomas. But I do speak for many because I saw the tears. I saw the tears of the 9th and 7th place finishers who missed out on being named All-American by one place.”