Porn star 'coincidence' lands University of Tennessee student zero grade
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) - A University of Tennessee student took to social media this week after being accused of calling a teacher's assistant the name of a nude model and porn star, getting a zero grade as a result.
Student Keaton Wahlbon posted his zero grade on a geology test he received for an "inappropriate" answer on a test. The test was part of instructor Bill Deane's class, but a teacher's assistant was administering the test at the time. One of the questions on the test asked "What is your Lab instructor's name?" Wahlbon claims he thought of the first common last name that came to his mind since he did not know the TA's real last name, so he picked "Jackson," Sarah Jackson.
As it turns out, that is also the name of a lingerie model, a porn star, and plenty of other people from all walks of life.
Instructor Deane gave Wahlbon a zero grade for the answer and called it inappropriate. Whalbon emailed the instructor claiming his innocence and stating it was just a coincidence. Wahlbon received an email back back from the instructor, saying he had no way to determine Wahlbon's intent and could only consider the result. In an email response shared with FOX Nashville from Wahbon, the instructor says, "The result is that you gave the name of Sarah Jackson, who is a lingerie and nude model. That result meets the Title IX definition of sexual harassment. The grade of zero stands and will not be changed."
Wahlbon emailed FOX 17 Nashville, saying it's not so much about the grade, but about his integrity that has been "degraded." Wahlbon says "It's not that it's going to affect my grade it's just the principle of the whole thing. I shouldn't get a 0 for a coincidence like that. I even googled "Sarah Jackson" and nothing like that came up besides the thumbnail pics of a model. All the other results were artists, music, and bios of people named Sarah Jackson. My professor sent me an email defending her when I asked him about it. It's really not so much about my grade, but they degrated (sic) my integrity as a person automatically assuming 'the worst' from me."
FOX 17 spoke with UT's Director of Media Karen Simpson, who issued the following statement on the incident: "The university is aware of the issue. Our Office of Equity and Diversity is looking into the matter as they are required to consider all complaints brought to them by a member of our campus community."
Simpson says a report was made to the Office of Equity and Diversity by the geology department which deals with Title IX issues. The school is conducting a fact-finding investigation and has yet to speak with Wahlbon. Simpson says Wahlbon has not reached out to the office and it could be next week before all the facts can be considered and the issue resolved since students are on fall break.
Among the factors unknown are if Wahlbon has any previous history in the geology class that might have led to the instructor believing the name used on the test was intentional.
Simpson says because the investigation is ongoing, it is not yet known if there was an actual Title IX violation.
