She believed that she got a C+ — just a step below the B required by subsequent courses — because her professor “retaliated against her for her support of gay marriage.”

Dave Huber at The College Fix has the story:

Lehigh student who sued prof for better grade loses appeal

Lehigh University graduate student Megan Thode has lost an appeal against the former professor of her therapist internship course.

Thode had sued the prof early in 2013, and lost. The judge then ruled “that there was neither a breach of contract nor sexual discrimination,” which Thode had claimed.

Thode needed a “B” in the internship course to continue on to the next course. She received a “C+.” Thode’s lawyer stated that “his client’s dream of becoming a licensed professional counselor was unfairly scuttled as a result.”

Thode had also claimed the professor, Amanda Carr, retaliated against her because of her advocacy for gay rights. This was shown to be “baseless” as Carr has a close lesbian relative, and has counseled gay and lesbian individuals.

The Lewistown Sentinel reports on the lost appeal:

Pennsylvania Superior Court ruled against former Lehigh University graduate student Megan Thode, who filed a lawsuit seeking to have the grade raised to a B as well as $1.3 million in damages.

Thode alleged her professor in a 2009 graduate-level therapist internship course retaliated against her over her support of gay marriage. She said the grade prevented her from becoming a licensed therapist.

A Northampton County judge ruled against Thode last year, saying the reason for her C-plus was purely academic and nothing more. The judge also rejected her bid for a new trial.

Superior Court agreed with the decision, saying Thursday that “courts lack the expertise to micromanage … academic grading.”

Ms. Thode did graduate from Lehigh, but with a master’s degree in education in human development. She had sought a master’s in education in counseling psychology.

Read more about the lost appeal at LehighValleyLive.com

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