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Ferris State University professor suspended over video of profanity-laced rant

Professor insulted students, employer

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – A Ferris State University professor is facing discipline over a video he posted on YouTube for his students.

The video is laced with profanity and rants against his bosses and the students themselves. The barrage of unrelenting profanity was recorded and shared by 74-year-old professor Barry Mehler.

“If you want to go complaint to your Dean, [expletive] you, go ahead. I’m retiring at the end of this year and I couldn’t give a flying [expletive] any longer,” he said.

He ranted that as a tenured union professor, Ferris State administration can’t touch him. He then called his students “vectors of disease.”

“You people are just vectors of disease to me and I don’t want to be anywhere near you so keep your [expletive] distance,” he said.

Then he softened his tone and said he was quoting from a TV series called “Deadwood.”

He said he presented the rant as a question, but the video goes on for 14 minutes. He rants about COVID and insults his students.

“I was shocked and appalled by this video. It is profane, offensive and disturbing and in no way reflects our University or its values,” university president David Eisler said.

Read: Michigan professor on leave after bizarre video about grades


About the Authors
Shawn Ley headshot

Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade.

Kayla Clarke headshot

Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.

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