William Penn to Return to MSU

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — An award-winning novelist who lost his fall teaching assignments at Michigan State University after acknowledging making offensive remarks about Republicans is expected back in the classroom next year.

School spokesman Kent Cassella tells MLive.com (http://bit.ly/1bINN98 ) that professor William Penn will teach two creative writing classes starting Jan. 6.

Penn welcomed his students this semester with an attack on Republicans as cheap, greedy and old. His remarks were captured on video by a student and posted online by Campus Reform, which is affiliated with the Leadership Institute, a conservative group based in Arlington, Va.

The Associated Press sent a message Monday seeking comment from Penn, whose writings often focus on his American Indian heritage.

Meanwhile, a committee is reviewing responsibilities of faculty and the impact of social media on education.