FIRE Calls for End to Oregon State University Bias Team After Student Reported for Arguing There Are Two Sexes

Oregon — An Oregon State University instructor reported a student to the university’s bias response team over a final project arguing there are only two biological sexes, according to reporting published Nov. 2 by The College Fix.

The complaint, obtained through a public records request, has drawn criticism from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which argues that administrative referrals over students’ opinions can discourage speech even without formal punishment.

According to The College Fix, the male undergraduate submitted the assignment for an eight-week summer course in OSU’s College of Education. The instructor described the project as containing “extensive examples of transphobia” and questioned the student’s understanding of sex, gender and source credibility, while acknowledging that he had previously performed well in the course.

“These views are not in keeping with CoEd or OSU values,” the instructor wrote, according to the published account.

Image Credit to College Fix

The instructor reported escalating the matter to several academic administrators and a student support team. Redactions obscured identifying details, including the course title.

The College Fix reported no documented resolution and said bias response coordinator Miguel Sanchez did not respond to its inquiries. The published account does not establish that the student received a disciplinary sanction or grade penalty.

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In a statement responding to the report, FIRE challenged the idea that the absence of formal punishment eliminates concerns about free expression.

“The university says its Bias Response Team doesn’t punish protected speech, but you don’t have to punish students to silence them,” the organization stated.

FIRE argued that the prospect of being subjected to vaguely defined restorative processes, or having personal views documented in university records, could discourage students from expressing disagreement.

The organization also cited findings from its College Free Speech Rankings survey. According to FIRE’s statement, 52% of Oregon State student respondents reported at least occasionally censoring themselves with professors, while 41% expressed discomfort disagreeing with professors on controversial issues in written assignments. Those figures describe respondents’ attitudes and experiences; they do not establish that the bias response process caused their reluctance.

“Professors can grade students on their arguments, research, and understanding of course material,” FIRE stated. “But reporting them for their personal views is another matter entirely, and teaches students a dangerous lesson: Keep your opinions to yourself.”

The organization called on Oregon State to eliminate its Bias Response Team.

OSU’s published procedures distinguish a bias complaint from a finding of misconduct. According to the university’s explanation of its bias reporting process, the team provides support, facilitates dialogue and education, and recommends changes to university practices.

The team cannot impose or facilitate formal discipline, investigate or make findings of fact, change curriculum, or punish constitutionally protected comments. Reports are also evaluated by OSU’s Equal Opportunity and Access office to determine whether referral to a separate process is appropriate.

The university’s bias response protocol says OSU may respond to protected speech that conflicts with institutional values through counterstatements, educational opportunities and support for affected community members, while preserving free-speech rights.

FIRE’s criticism focuses on whether those administrative responses can themselves discourage expression, regardless of the team’s authority to impose sanctions.

OSU’s academic freedom policy separately protects instructors’ authority to examine relevant controversial subjects, select course materials and assess student performance, subject to university policy and applicable law. The assignment’s requirements, the basis for any academic assessment and the university’s response to the referral remain relevant to evaluating the incident.

The records became available following a dispute over redactions. In an Oct. 16 account of its public records appeal, The College Fix reported that Benton County District Attorney Ryan Joslin directed OSU to release the complaint narratives while withholding identifying information.

The outlet said it paid $392.15 after narrowing its request. The disclosure provided additional detail about the complaints, but the published reporting leaves the student’s ultimate outcome unresolved.