The Michigan State University professor whose anti-Republican classroom rant was captured on tape in September and forced his suspension — with pay — will be back teaching next semester, an MSU official said.

MSU's spring semester begins Jan. 6.

Professor William Penn, who earned $146,510 to teach creative writing classes, said Republicans are old people with "dead skin cells washing off them" who raped the United States to get "everything out of it they possibly could." During the class in which Penn was videotaped by a student, he threatened any student who he said might be a closet racist. Penn told the class, "I am a college professor. If I found out you are a closet racist, I am coming after you."

MSU issued a statement Sept. 5, a day after media reported on the anti-GOP rant, saying that Penn's teaching duties were reassigned to others and that Penn acknowledged that some of his comments were inappropriate, disrespectful and offensive.

Penn hasn't returned requests for comment.

MSU Spokesman Kent Cassella said in an email this week that, "Professor William Penn will be assigned to teach two small courses next semester in creative writing. In the meantime, as part of MSU's commitment to create a learning environment characterized by mutual respect and civility, a faculty committee created by Academic Governance continues to review the responsibilities of faculty members and the impact of social media on teaching and learning. Their report is due in early 2014."

A state GOP spokesman said a one-semester, paid suspension wasn't enough and Penn should have been dismissed.

"As we have said from the beginning, Michigan State University’s decision to put Mr. Penn on suspension — with pay, for only one semester — does not go far enough," said Michigan GOP Spokesman Darren Littell. "His choice to bring his personal views about politics into the classroom to bully young Republicans into silence certainly warrants his release from the university. Without any consequences, there's no stopping him from doing this to our children again."

Penn's $146,510 a year salary puts him ahead of some of the state's top officials for pay. Penn earns more per year than does Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, Attorney General Bill Schuette, and Secretary of State Ruth Johnson. 

(Editor's note: This story has been slightly edited since its original posting.)

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See also:

MSU English Professor Threatens Students In Anti-Republican Rant

In 1945, Antony Fisher, a young World War II RAF pilot, read an abridged edition of F.A. Hayek’s “The Road to Serfdom.” Alarmed by what he read, Fisher sought out Hayek and announced his plan to go into politics. 

What Hayek told Fisher changed the course of history. (Ironically, Hayek later confessed to having no recollection of the conversation.) Hayek urged Fisher to forgo a political career and to focus instead on ideas. Society’s course, he said, will be changed by ideas — persuade the intellectuals with the right ideas and the politicians will follow.

Fisher heeded Hayek’s advice and became, as John Blundell wrote, the Johnny Appleseed of the free-market movement. Fisher established numerous public policy institutions, including the Institute of Economic Affairs in London, the Fraser Institute in Canada and the Manhattan Institute in New York City. 

One of Fisher’s creations was the Atlas Network, which today serves a network of 400 free-market think tanks in more than 80 countries. 

In order to nurture the liberty movement, the Atlas Network annually confers the Templeton Freedom Award for exceptional achievement among the global think tank community. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is honored to be among six finalists for the 2013 Templeton Freedom Award, for our role in the adoption of Michigan’s right-to-work law. 

The achievements of our fellow finalists are astounding. 

The Centre for Civil Society in India was founded by Parth Shah in 1997, who left a job at the University of Michigan to return to his native India. The institution is recognized as one of the finest think tanks in the world and it leads the charge for education reform in India by promoting choice and innovation. We’re especially proud of CCS’s work as Shah attended the Mackinac Center’s Leadership Conference.  

The Centro de Investigación para el Desarrollo, A.C., in Mexico is being recognized for advancing policies to improve Mexico’s prosperity and productivity. Its Mexico Productivity Index is credited with influencing the national discussion about Mexico’s economic policies. 

The Istituto Bruno Leoni, named after the Italian classical liberal thinker, is celebrating its ten year anniversary. The institute’s Liberalization Index annually ranks Italy and other European countries by comparing 16 sectors and evaluating the cost of excessive regulation, taxation and legal uncertainty. 

If Great Britain has a Tea Party movement, the TaxPayers’ Alliance in London is a ringleader. Launched in 2004, the TaxPayers’ Alliance is “arguably the most influential pressure group in the country” according to The Guardian. The organization’s 2020 Tax Commission and Single Income Tax report are credited with reductions in levies and driving conversation about fiscal reform. 

Ayn Rand famously observed that when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them:  “One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.” Our friends at the Texas Public Policy Foundation are reversing that trend through their Right on Crime project. The project promotes alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders and exposes the problem of overcriminalization in the U.S. 

Bravo!