Ohio State Professor Charged After Assaulting Journalist on Campus

Ohio State Professor on Leave After Alleged Assault of Journalist

An Ohio State University professor is on paid administrative leave and has been issued a summons for assault following an incident involving an independent journalist on campus earlier this month. Professor Luke Perez, recently hired at the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture and Society, allegedly assaulted Mike Newman while Newman attempted to question former OSU President Gordon Gee.

The incident occurred on Monday, February 9, 2026, in the Smith Laboratory building, according to reports. Video footage of the encounter, captured by DJ Byrnes for his blog, The Rooster, appears to show Perez stepping in front of Newman as Newman approached Gee with a question. The video then reportedly shows Perez hitting Newman and causing him to fall to the ground.

Ohio State University confirmed that Perez was served a summons for the assault, but as of Monday afternoon, February 16, 2026, the charges had not yet appeared in Franklin County Municipal Court.

Newman, a graduate of Ohio State, described the incident as “an attack on civil rights,” claiming it violated both his physical safety and his First Amendment rights as a journalist. “As bad as my injury was, my First Amendment rights were violated — and that’s just as bad,” he said, according to reporting by 10TV.

The university has stated that both Newman and Byrnes are not under investigation. Perez remains on paid administrative leave while university police continue their investigation into the matter. He was hired earlier this year to work at the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society.

The incident has drawn attention to the role of independent journalists and the potential for conflict when attempting to question public figures on university grounds. The university spokesperson confirmed the issuance of the summons but offered no further comment beyond the initial statement.