Pennsylvania professor is put on leave after he was caught telling students it was fine to use the N-word 'in a pedagogical sense'

A Pennsylvania professor has been put on leave after footage showed him saying the n-word in class and telling students it was fine to use the racial slur 'in a pedagogical sense'.

Duquesne University Professor Gary Shank was placed on paid leave pending an investigation over his alleged use of the racist language during a virtual class Thursday.

A video of the incident, posted on Twitter Friday, revealed the professor telling students he was 'giving them permission' to use the n-word in the lesson and telling them it 'was a very commonly used word' when he was young.

He is also heard telling the class people would throw around the term 'n****r rich' if they had some extra cash and asks students whether the term is still used today.

The shocking footage was shared on social media by someone thought to be a student in the professor's educational psychology class.

It shows a tablet screen with a slide presentation titled 'Race (from a cultural sense)' and reading: 'Based on perceived physical differences. Values assigned to race is cultural not physical.'

'I'm giving you permission to use the word okay,' a man believed to be Shank is heard saying.

'Because we're using the word in a pedagogical sense.'

He then asks: 'What's the one word about race that we're not allowed to use?'

When met with silence, he continues: 'I'll give you a hint - it begins with 'n'.

'It's even hard to say okay - I'll tell you the word.'

He then reinforces that he is only using the word to 'make a point'.

Duquesne University said in a statement to CBS News that an investigation was underway and Shank had been placed on paid leave in the meantime.

Another professor will take over the course, the private Catholic university in Pittsburgh added.

Shank's profile has also been taken down from the university's website.

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