Those who intentionally harm a UPenn student with a strobe light should be prosecuted, incarcerated, and permanently expelled from the university. I detail this further below:

Flashing a strobe light in the eyes of a University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) student, or any individual, can constitute a criminal act under multiple legal frameworks. The specific criminal classification may depend on the intent of the perpetrator, the impact on the victim, and the jurisdiction’s applicable statutes. Below is a legal analysis justifying why such conduct is unlawful and subject to legal accountability.

1. Assault and Battery

Under Pennsylvania law, intentionally flashing a strobe light into another person’s eyes could be deemed assault if the act is carried out with the intent to cause harm, fear, or discomfort. If the strobe light directly impacts the victim’s health—such as causing dizziness, disorientation, or triggering a medical condition (e.g., epilepsy)—this could elevate the offense to battery, which requires an actual physical effect on the victim.
•Assault: The act of directing intense light into someone’s eyes could demonstrate an intentional attempt to cause apprehension of harm, even without physical contact.
•Battery: If the light causes temporary or permanent injury, this physical impact satisfies the battery requirement.

2. Reckless Endangerment

The use of strobe lights, particularly in a way that disregards potential harm, could qualify as reckless endangerment under 18 Pa.C.S. § 2705. This statute criminalizes conduct that places another person in danger of death or serious bodily injury. Strobe lights are known to trigger seizures in individuals with photosensitive epilepsy, making their deliberate use a foreseeable risk to public safety.

3. Harassment

If the strobe light is flashed with the intent to annoy, harass, or alarm the student, it could fall under Pennsylvania’s harassment statute (18 Pa.C.S. § 2709). Such actions, especially if repeated or targeted, constitute a pattern of behavior aimed at causing emotional distress or discomfort.

4. Disability Discrimination

If the student has a disability, such as epilepsy or another photosensitive condition, intentionally targeting them with a strobe light could violate federal and state disability laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA). These laws prohibit acts that exploit or harm an individual due to their medical vulnerabilities.

5. Aggravated Assault

If the act results in severe injury, such as a seizure causing further medical complications, the conduct could escalate to aggravated assault under 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702. Aggravated assault involves causing serious bodily injury intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life.

6. Tort Liability

Beyond criminal liability, the victim could pursue a civil action under tort law for intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED) or negligence. The deliberate or careless use of a strobe light, knowing the potential for harm, could expose the perpetrator to significant financial liability for damages.