BARRY MEHLER

Michigan professor faced possible firing after calling students "vectors of disease" in a profanity-filled video.

BIG RAPIDS, MI – A professor who sued Ferris State University after he was suspended for making a profanity-laced lecture video has settled his lawsuit with the university and agreed to retire. Mehler and the university have agreed not to criticize each other as part of the settlement, according to March court records obtained by AP. In the video, Mehler went over his plagiarism policies, attendance policies and grading procedures for the spring semester, which began Jan. 10. In the video, Mehler called his students “vectors of disease” amid the coronavirus pandemic, and claimed he would not be taking questions during his class. The lawsuit claims Ferris State administrators had been well aware of Mehler’s teaching style for years, and that he had been praised for his unique instruction.

A Michigan professor who was suspended in January for making a profanity-filled video to welcome students settled his legal dispute with a university by accepting $95,000 and agreeing to a three-year gag order.

A Michigan professor who was suspended in January for making a profanity-filled video to welcome students settled his legal dispute with a university by agreeing to accept $95,000.

A Michigan professor who was suspended in January for making a profanity-filled video to welcome students settled his legal dispute with a university by accepting $95,000 and agreeing to a three-year gag order. As part of the deal, Barry Mehler retired from Ferris State University rather than face possible termination after a judge refused to reinstate him last spring, according to a March document released to The Associated Press under a public records request. Mehler, who taught history at Ferris State for decades, made headlines in January when the school placed him on paid leave in response to a provocative 14-minute video, which got more than 500,000 views on YouTube.

A judge has declined to reinstate a Michigan professor who was suspended in January for making a profanity-filled video to welcome students to a new term.

BIG RAPIDS, MI – Ferris State University is defending its suspension of a longtime professor who posted a profanity-laced lecture video online, saying the professor’s use of “derogatory language” is not protected under his free speech rights. “Just as a Professor has no First Amendment right to call his students the N-word, no Ferris State University Professor has a First Amendment Right under the University Policies to call their students (expletive) or swear at them repeatedly, telling them ‘(expletive) you’ and ‘keep your (expletive) distance,’” the filing reads. The video included criticism of Ferris State for holding in-person classes during a surge in the pandemic. RELATED: ‘You people are just vectors of disease to me’: Ferris State professor goes on curse-filled rant during lectureTwo weeks after being placed on administrative leave, Mehler sued the university, claiming the suspension violated his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The university said some students dropped the history class after watching Mehler’s video.

A Michigan university has defended its decision to suspend a professor over a profanity-filled video, saying the unusual welcome message for his history students isn’t protected by the First Amendment.

A Michigan university has defended its decision to suspend a professor over a profanity-filled video, saying the unusual welcome message for his history students isn't protected by the First Amendment.

BIG RAPIDS, MI – A judge has rejected a request for an emergency temporary restraining order over the suspension of a controversial Ferris State University professor. Barry Mehler this week sued the university and its leaders after he was suspended for a profanity-laced lecture video. It included criticism of FSU holding in-person classes during a surge of COVID-19 cases.

A Michigan professor asked a judge Wednesday to immediately reinstate him, two weeks after he was suspended for making a sarcastic video for students that included profanity and criticism of Ferris State University’s COVID-19 policies.

A Michigan professor asked a judge Wednesday to immediately reinstate him, two weeks after he was suspended for making a sarcastic video for students that included profanity and criticism of Ferris State University's COVID-19 policies.

BIG RAPIDS, MI – A longtime Ferris State University professor is suing the university after he was suspended over a profanity-laced lecture video, claiming the university infringed on his free speech rights by temporarily removing him from his teaching position. The professor posted the 14-minute video introductory video to his YouTube account on Jan. 9. In the video, he goes over his plagiarism policies, attendance policies and grading procedures for the spring semester, which began Jan. 10. The video – which Mehler has since changed the title of to “The Viral Video that started it all” – has racked up over 500,000 views on YouTube. A Ferris State University spokesperson did not immediately respond to MLive’s request for comment in response to the lawsuit on Wednesday morning.

Sandy Gholston, Ferris State University spokesperson, declined to provide MLive with the reason for Mehler’s suspension. During the 14-minute video, Mehler explained his plagiarism policies, attendance policies, and grading procedures for the spring semester, which officially began Jan. 10. The video gained national attention because of the profane language Mehler used during certain points of the video. “When you watch the entire video, it becomes clear that this was a performance,” Terr told MLive. The 75-year-old professor told MLive he is fearful of teaching in-person because of his age.

A Michigan professor who was suspended after making a provocative video for his students is threatening to file a lawsuit if Ferris State University doesn’t lift the sanction.

A Michigan professor who was suspended after making a profanity-filled video for his students is threatening to file a lawsuit if Ferris State University doesn't quickly lift the sanction.

A Michigan professor who was suspended after making a profanity-filled video for his students is threatening to file a lawsuit if Ferris State University doesn't quickly lift the sanction. An attorney for Barry Mehler warned the school in a letter Tuesday, saying the history teacher is protected by the First Amendment and a contract between Ferris State and its faculty. “The university should be celebrating and defending Dr. Mehler, not summarily disciplining him,” attorney Matthew Hoffer wrote.

Here are tonight's top stories.

A Ferris State University professor is facing discipline over a video he posted on YouTube for his students.

A Michigan professor has been placed on leave after he told students in a profanity-laced video that he randomly assigns grades before the first day of class.

A Michigan university professor has been placed on leave after he told students in a profanity-laced video that he randomly assigns grades before the first day of class.

A Michigan university professor has been placed on leave after he told students in a profanity-laced video that he randomly assigns grades before the first day of class.

A Michigan university professor has been placed on leave after he told students in a profanity-laced video that he randomly assigns grades before the first day of class. “I don’t even want to know your name,” said Barry Mehler of Ferris State University in Big Rapids. In the 14-minute video, Mehler, 74, called students “vectors of disease” and said they didn't need to attend class in person.

BIG RAPIDS, MI – A Ferris State University faculty member has been placed on administrative leave after he reportedly went on a profanity-laced rant about the coronavirus pandemic during a class lecture video that was posted online. Gholston provided the following prepared statement on behalf of the university: “Ferris State University is aware of a course video distributed to students, in early January, by a faculty member, believed to be Professor Barry Mehler. However, Mehler says he has been teaching their over 27 years on his university faculty page that is no longer available to view. During the 14-minute video, Mehler went over his plagiarism policies, attendance and grading procedures for the spring semester, which officially began Monday, Jan. 10. My risk is much greater than yours.”The professor also claimed in the video that he randomly assigns grades to students in his classes.