The Ferris State professor suspended for making a provocative video for his history students, won't be returning to class any time soon.

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

The 74-year-old tenured professor was suspended with pay earlier this month after making a 14-minute video that included profanity and criticism of Ferris State 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.