Small but steady protests have taken shape at Ohio State University in recent months. The demand is simple: Remove billionaire retail magnate Les Wexner’s name from campus buildings.What started as a local campaign is now part of a broader shift across America. Universities face questions about donor legacies, institutional memory, and the extent to which they are willing to revisit past associations with them. Jeffrey Epstein.
A local protest with national resonance
At Ohio State, Wexner’s name is visible all over campus. It appears at the Wexner Medical Center, the football complex and the Wexner Center for the Arts. For some nurses, students and former athletes, that visibility has become hard to ignore.Central to their concern is Wexner’s documented association with Epstein, his former financial adviser. Wexner has not been charged with any crime related to Epstein and says he was misled. Still, critics say the association continues to raise questions about public honors.Similar concerns are now being seen elsewhere. Students and faculty at Harvard University have called for the renaming of the Leslie H. Wexner Building and the Wexner Sunshine Lobby at the Kennedy School. The petition cites what he describes as a strong relationship between Wexner and Epstein.Other names have also come under scrutiny. Buildings associated with figures such as Steve Tisch, Casey Wasserman, Glenn Dubin and Howard Lutnick are experiencing renewed attention because of past associations with Epstein.
The pressure on institutions is increasing.
Pressure is mounting on campus. At Haverford College, students recently voted to urge administration to move forward with renaming the Allison and Howard Lutnick Library. College President Wendy Raymond said she would respond within the standard review period. A.P ReportsAt Ohio State, requests to remove Wexner’s name are going through an internal review process. University president Ravi Belamkonda said the process would be “thorough, fair and open”. A.PHarvard confirmed receiving requests for the name change but had no further comment.Other institutions are taking more limited measures. Tufts University clarified that its Tisch Library was named after Preston Tisch, not Steve Tisch. He also removed Steve Tisch’s handprints from the sports facility during renovations. Universities such as the University of California Los Angeles and Stony Brook University are looking into concerns about donor names.
Donations and their afterlife
The current debate reflects broader tensions in higher education. Naming rights are often tied to major philanthropic causes.Wexner and his family have donated more than $200 million to the state of Ohio over the years. This includes major funding for the medical center, arts program and athletic facilities. At Harvard’s Kennedy School, the Wexner family has contributed tens of millions of dollars.Similar patterns exist in all institutions. Donors are often alumni or longtime supporters. Their contributions shape infrastructure, research and student support systems.But as new information emerges or public standards change, universities face a question. Should past contributions continue to define current identity?The problem is not new. The debate recalls earlier controversies surrounding the Purdue Pharma-linked Sackler family and the opioid crisis. Some organizations removed Sackler’s name. Others, including Harvard, chose not to, calling the legacy complicated.
A moral and financial dilemma
Experts say that universities are now taking on competing responsibilities.Ann Bergeron, a museum consultant who studies the ethics of naming, said A.P that institutions take donor standards seriously but must also account for changing public expectations; He called the situation a “moment of reckoning” for universities.Students are often at the center of this shift. Bergeron noted that younger generations have little tolerance for associations that they perceive to conflict with institutional values.At the same time, some argue that renaming raises its own concerns. In a letter reported by A.Pa local resident questioned whether institutions should reconsider past decisions by taking advantage of previous donations.
Meaning of leftovers and space
For some students and alumni, the issue is personal.A student at Harvard Kennedy School tried to change the name, said A.P That walking into a building associated with figures associated with Epstein can be painful. That affects how survivors experience campus spaces, she said.At Ohio State, protesters have made similar arguments. Some say removing names can help create a more accountable environment.Others point to additional cases, including calls to remove the name of a medical professional who received payments from Epstein in the past. Those involved have said the payments were unrelated to any misconduct.
What do universities do next?
For now, most institutions are proceeding cautiously. Reviews are often internal, with no fixed timeline. Decisions include legal, financial and reputational considerations.Result may vary from campus to campus. Some names may remain. Others may be removed.What is clear is that the debate is no longer limited to a single donor or a single university. It is a change in how institutions interpret legacy, accountability and public trust.Building names once signaled gratitude. Now they are also raising questions.
