The controversy surrounding Ohio State University Assistant Professor Luke Perez has escalated, as Perez now faces an official charge of assault following a physical confrontation with an independent filmmaker at the university’s Smith Laboratory. The news was confirmed by university spokesman Ben Johnson, who said Perez was issued a summons to appear in court, according to The Lantern.
The incident, which unfolded last Monday, was captured on video by The Rooster and has since drawn widespread attention. In the footage, Perez can be seen knocking camera equipment out of the hands of OSU alumnus Mike Newman and forcing him to the ground while Newman attempted to ask former university president Gordon Gee a question about student loan debt.
Newman, who was legally permitted to be in the building’s hallways, described the encounter to ABC 6 as “the most bizarre, surreal experience I’ve probably had as a filmmaker,” disputing Perez’s claim that Newman had invaded his personal space. “He shoved his face in front of my camera,” Newman said.
The video shows Newman stepping toward Perez before the professor lunges, striking him and disrupting the filming. The confrontation occurred outside a “Profiles in American Leadership” class and has now triggered both criminal and internal university investigations.
Perez has been on paid administrative leave since the incident, and ABC 6 reported that a complaint has been filed with Ohio State’s human resources department, citing “bullying or incivility.” The university has not yet announced further disciplinary action pending the outcome of the court proceedings.
Public reaction has been strong since the initial video was released. Across previous coverage and comment sections on social platforms, many Ohio citizens labeled the incident outright assault, with some demanding that Perez be fired immediately. Over on Reddit, one user summed up the recent revelation of Perez’s charge in hilarious fashion: “Guy went full Jason Bourne and found out.”
The case marks a rare instance in which a university faculty member is facing criminal charges for a campus confrontation. As Ohio State reviews its internal policies and the criminal justice system prepares for Perez’s court appearance, the situation continues to spark debate over accountability, campus safety, and the limits of professional conduct.
