Ohio State Professor Luke Perez Resigns After Pleading to Reduced Charge in February Shoving Case
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 26
Ohio State Professor Luke Perez Resigns After Pleading to Reduced Charge in February Shoving Case
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 26
Summary
Ohio State confirmed Monday that Luke M. Perez resigned last week, months after he was accused of shoving filmmaker Michael Newman during a February campus interview.
Court papers say Perez slapped Newman's phone away, struck his face and shoved him into a wall after Newman tried to ask former Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee one more question.
Perez had originally faced an assault charge but pleaded no contest in July to a reduced disorderly conduct charge.
Newman is still pursuing a federal lawsuit against Perez and law professor Christopher Green, alleging Green falsely portrayed him as the aggressor and delayed the police focus on Perez until video was reviewed.
The episode drew added scrutiny because Perez taught at the Salmon P. Chase Center, a 2023 state-created program meant to promote academic freedom and free speech.