Ohio State Professor Suspended After Alleged Assault on Cameraman Following E. Gordon Gee Interview
A professor at Ohio State University has been placed on administrative leave after an incident involving the physical altercation of a cameraman attempting to film former university president E. Gordon Gee. The incident raises serious questions about academic freedom and the protection of journalistic activity on campus.
Ohio State spokesperson Ben Johnson confirmed on February 10th that Luke M. Perez, an assistant professor affiliated with the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture and Society, was suspended “pending a full OSUPD investigation and thorough review of the facts.” Johnson described the situation as “very concerning.”
Confrontation at Smith Lab
The altercation occurred on the evening of February 9th at Smith Lab following a session of Perez’s “Profiles in American Leadership” class. Gee, a two-time former Ohio State president currently serving as a consultant for the Chase Center, was the guest lecturer for the class.
Following the lecture, DJ Byrnes, a local blogger who publishes the newsletter “The Rooster,” and an unnamed cameraman approached Gee with questions. According to Byrnes’ account published on February 11th, Gee expressed a preference for answering questions away from the immediate vicinity of his vehicle. Byrnes reportedly questioned Gee regarding his involvement in the Dr. Richard Strauss sexual abuse case, his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, and the university’s decision to privatize its parking lots.
After their initial interview, the cameraman – described by Byrnes as an independent collaborator rather than an employee – attempted to pose a further question to Gee. Perez then intervened, physically blocking the cameraman’s path. Video footage of the incident shows the cameraman taking a step back and not initiating physical contact with Perez. Within moments, Perez allegedly swatted the cameraman’s cell phone from his hand, attempted to strike him, and ultimately tackled him to the ground.
According to reports, Perez stood over the cameraman, stating, “I told you not to put that in my face.” He further claimed the cameraman had physically assaulted him and “shoved that camera in my face.”
Byrnes and the cameraman have filed a police report with the Ohio State University Police Department, a copy of which has been requested by The Dispatch. When contacted for comment, Perez directed all inquiries to university spokespersons.
Concerns Over ‘Intellectual Diversity’ Center
The incident has sparked criticism directed at both Perez and the Chase Center itself. Established by the state General Assembly in 2023 through Senate Bill 117, the Chase Center is one of five new independent academic centers created at Ohio state universities to promote “intellectual diversity.” The center’s Executive Director, Lee Strang, has previously stated its mission includes university-wide programming focused on free speech and civil discourse.
However, Ohio State’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) released a statement suggesting the incident contradicts the center’s stated goals. “Based on what we know now, this incident is a vivid illustration of a larger problem – the way the Chase Center and other so-called ‘intellectual diversity’ centers have been forcibly and unnecessarily imposed on Ohio’s universities,” the statement read. “Unfortunately, this assault — and the embarrassing actions around it — make it clear these centers aren’t really about encouraging civil discourse and intellectual diversity. AAUP-OSU is in favor of free speech for everyone on campus, not just for the ideas that politicians want to promote.”
State Senator Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) echoed these sentiments, calling the situation “ironic.” “What is ironic is that The Chase Center… claims to be a ‘Center for Civics, Culture, and Society that cultivates a free society through open inquiry and excellent scholarship,’ Their words, not mine,” DeMora stated in a press release. He described Perez’s actions as “a truly cowardly act attacking someone with both hands full” and emphasized the importance of protecting First Amendment rights for journalists. “We must fight for our 1st amendment rights,” he said. “If we stand by and watch, we will lose that right.”
The incident at Ohio State underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding academic freedom, journalistic access, and the interpretation of “intellectual diversity” on university campuses.
