Small but steady protests have taken shape in recent months at Ohio State University. The demand is simple: remove billionaire retail magnate Les Wexner’s name from campus buildings.What began as a local campaign is now part of a wider shift across the United States. Universities are facing questions about donor legacies, institutional memory and how far they are willing to revisit past associations linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
A local protest with national echoes
At Ohio State, the Wexner name is visible across campus. It appears on 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 difficult to ignore.Their concern centres on Wexner’s documented association with Epstein, his former financial adviser. Wexner has not been charged with any crime related to Epstein and has said he was misled. Still, critics argue that the association raises questions about continued public honour.Similar concerns are now visible elsewhere. At Harvard University, students and faculty have called for the renaming of the Leslie H. Wexner Building and the Wexner-Sunshine Lobby at the Kennedy School. The request cites what it describes as strong ties between Wexner and Epstein.Other names have also come under scrutiny. Buildings linked to figures such as Steve Tisch, Casey Wasserman, Glenn Dubin and Howard Lutnick are facing renewed attention due to their past associations with Epstein.
Growing pressure on institutions
Pressure is building across campuses. At Haverford College, students recently voted to urge the 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, AP reportsAt Ohio State, requests to remove Wexner’s name are moving through an internal review process. University president Ravi Bellamkonda said the process would be “thorough, fair, and open,” according to AP.Harvard has confirmed receiving renaming requests but has not commented further.Other institutions are taking more limited steps. Tufts University clarified that its Tisch Library was named after Preston Tisch, not Steve Tisch. It also removed Steve Tisch’s handprints from a sports facility during renovations. Universities such as University of California Los Angeles and Stony Brook University continue to review concerns linked to donor names.
Donations and their afterlives
The current debate reflects a broader tension in higher education. Naming rights are often tied to large philanthropic contributions.Wexner and his family have donated more than $200 million to Ohio State over the years. This includes major funding for the medical center, arts programmes and athletic facilities. At Harvard’s Kennedy School, the Wexner family has contributed tens of millions of dollars.Similar patterns exist across institutions. Donors are often alumni or long-time supporters. Their contributions shape infrastructure, research and student support systems.But as new information emerges or public standards shift, universities face a question. Should past donations continue to define present recognition?The issue is not new. The debate recalls earlier controversies around the Purdue Pharma-linked Sackler family and the opioid crisis. Some institutions removed the Sackler name. Others, including Harvard, chose not to, describing the legacy as complex.
A moral and financial dilemma
Experts say universities are now navigating competing responsibilities.Anne Bergeron, a museum consultant who studies naming ethics, told AP that institutions take donor standards seriously but must also account for changing public expectations. She described the situation as a “moment of reckoning” for universities.Students are often at the centre of this shift. Bergeron noted that younger generations show little tolerance for associations they see as inconsistent with institutional values.At the same time, some argue that renaming raises its own concerns. In a letter reported by AP, a local resident questioned whether institutions should revisit past decisions while continuing to benefit from earlier donations.
Survivors and the meaning of space
For some students and alumni, the issue is personal.A student at Harvard Kennedy School leading a renaming effort, told AP that walking into a building associated with Epstein-linked figures can be distressing. She said it affects how survivors experience campus spaces.At Ohio State, protesters have made similar arguments. Some say removing names could 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 universities do next
For now, most institutions are proceeding cautiously. Reviews are often internal, with no fixed timelines. Decisions involve legal, financial and reputational considerations.The outcome may differ from campus to campus. Some names may remain. Others may be removed or recontextualised.What is clear is that the debate is no longer limited to one donor or one university. It is a shift in how institutions interpret legacy, accountability and public trust.The names on buildings once signalled gratitude. They are now also prompting questions.
