BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — A tenured Ferris State University professor who was placed on administrative leave after posting a profanity-laced introduction video for his students is now suing the university.
Barry Mehler filed the lawsuit this week.
He was placed on administrative leave back on January 11, just a couple of days after posting the now-viral video.
In the 14-minute video posted on YouTube, Mehler used strong language and referred to students as “vectors of disease” while discussing the risks of in-person instruction.
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“So, if you want to go complain to your dean, f*** you, go ahead, I’m retiring at the end of this year and I couldn’t give a flying f*** any longer. You people are just vectors of disease to me, and I don’t want to be anywhere near you, so keep your f****** distance,” Mehler says in the video.
Mehler later posted a follow-up video saying it was just part of his teaching method.
The lawsuit claims FSU violated his free-speech rights by removing him from the job.
The university has yet to respond.
You can read the lawsuit below.
FSU professor files lawsuit against university by WXMI on Scribd
