Columbus, Ohio — An assistant professor at Ohio State University has been suspended following an alleged physical altercation with a freelance reporter who was attempting to question the institution’s former president about student loan debt.
The incident occurred on February 9 in a hallway of Smith Laboratory, where Assistant Professor Luke Perez reportedly confronted freelance reporter Michael Neuman. Video footage of the encounter shows Perez grabbing Neuman’s phone, physically restraining him, and forcing him to the ground.
At the time, Neuman was seeking to ask former university president E. Gordon Gee questions related to student loan debt. Gee had been on campus as a guest speaker.
Following the clash, Perez reportedly left the area as the journalists present threatened to call police.
The university has placed Perez on administrative leave pending a full investigation by campus police.
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