A professor at Ohio State University has been suspended after reportedly assaulting a journalist who approached the former university president, and the incident was widely shared online.
Luke Perez, an assistant professor at the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society, was in a hallway at the Smith Institute when the alleged attack occurred on February 9. He was engaged in conversation with two freelance reporters at the time.
Footage released by DJ Burns shows Michael Newman, one of the reporters, attempting to walk past Perez when a staff member seized Newman’s cellphone, subsequently grabbing him and pushing him to the ground.
Burns claims Newman, a documentary filmmaker, was questioning Ohio Vice President E. Gordon Gee about his student loan debt when the confrontation took place.
“I told you not to say that to my face,” Perez shouted at Newman. “I won’t ask you again. Don’t touch me.”
Newman retorted, “I’m not touching you, man. Who are you?”
Perez accused Newman of “putting his hands on me” before a camera was placed close to his face.
A 12-year veteran of the Air National Guard, Perez moved further down the hall as Newman and Burns threatened to involve law enforcement.
Newman expressed frustration, saying, “It’s definitely a lawsuit. Are you kidding me? He hits me like that too. Even if he punches me, he can’t knock me out. What a coward.”
Perez had been in a class taught by Mr. Gee, who appeared as a guest speaker in the course titled “Profile of American Leadership.”
According to Burns, he was interviewing Gee about comments related to Ohio State’s history with sexual abuse survivors and other controversial topics. After this questioning, Newman approached Gee, prompting Perez to confront them, which escalated into the altercation.
Perez was placed on paid administrative leave on Tuesday while campus police investigate the incident. University officials indicated there would be further examination of the matter.
Burns contended that Perez’s actions infringed upon his First Amendment rights, expressing disbelief that such violence occurred at what should be a haven for free speech.
Newman is calling for criminal charges against Perez, with his lawyer asserting that such behavior is unacceptable for a professor. “If the roles were reversed, there’s no doubt he’d be behind bars,” the attorney stated.
Newman and Burns maintain they were not looking to confront Perez specifically but wanted to speak with Gee.
The Chase Center was established following a state law aimed at fostering “intellectual diversity” across public universities in Ohio.
The Ohio chapter of the American Association of University Professors criticized Perez’s conduct, highlighting broader concerns regarding the implementation of “intellectual diversity” centers in universities. They emphasized the need for civil discussion and free speech for all viewpoints on campus, rather than only the ones favored by political agendas.
