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Judge won't immediately put FSU professor back in class

FSU professor on leave.JPG
Posted at 1:42 PM, Jan 27, 2022
and last updated 2022-01-27 13:42:16-05

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan professor suspended for making a provocative video for his history students won’t be returning to class any time soon.

A federal judge rejected Barry Mehler’s request for immediate reinstatement Wednesday and set a March 7 hearing on his bid for a preliminary injunction.

RELATED: Ferris State University professor placed on leave for profanity-laced video sues school

The 74-year-old Mehler was suspended with pay earlier this month after making a sarcastic 14-minute video that included profanity and criticism of Ferris State University’s COVID-19 policies.

His attorneys say the professor was wrongly punished for expressing free speech. Mehler says he was performing when he used salty language in the video.