University of Oklahoma: University Sends Memo Banning Teaching “Stereotypes”

On August 25, 2025, the university sent out a memo instructing faculty to avoid “[u]sing stereotypes” and teaching “title[s], subject matter[s], or pedagogy [that] reflect hostility, preference, or detriment” based on race, national origin, sex, or religion. The memo further stated that classroom exercises such as privilege walks may invite enforcement action. On September 26, FIRE wrote OU explaining that these vague, blanket prohibitions curtail academic freedom and cannot be reconciled with the First Amendment. We called on the university to rescind or revise its policy.