Student-Led Protests Intensify Across US Campuses
Student activism has surged on college campuses nationwide, targeting the legacy of major donors linked to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender and financier whose death in 2019 did not end scrutiny of his network. Protests, petitions, and formal requests demand universities remove these names from buildings, centers, and facilities. Triggered by a massive January 2026 release of Department of Justice (DOJ) files revealing deeper academic and donor ties, the movement highlights ethical dilemmas in higher education donor recognition. At Ohio State University (OSU), the epicenter, demonstrators have braved harsh weather for months, chanting for accountability amid revelations of donor Les Wexner's close Epstein relationship.
The push reflects broader generational shifts, with Gen Z students prioritizing moral alignment over financial contributions. Survivor voices amplify calls, arguing that honoring such figures retraumatizes communities and undermines institutional integrity. Universities now navigate complex policies balancing philanthropy with reputational risks.
Ohio State University: The Flashpoint of Wexner Controversy
Ohio State University faces the most intense pressure over billionaire Les Wexner, founder of L Brands (parent of Victoria's Secret). Wexner, OSU's largest individual donor with over $200 million contributed alongside his wife Abigail and the Limited Brands Foundation, has names on key facilities: the Wexner Medical Center (bolstered by $100 million+), Wexner Center for the Arts ($15 million+), and Les Wexner Football Complex at Woody Hayes Athletic Center ($5 million, partially from an Epstein-linked foundation).
Protests began escalating post-DOJ files, with small gatherings in rain, snow, and cold. On February 18, 2026, Knowlton School of Architecture students unfurled a massive rooftop banner at Knowlton Hall demanding removal. By March 3, hundreds joined a walkout organized by the Columbus Revolutionary Student Union, passing the Wexner Center. Over 400 formal requests, including from Ohio Sen. Bill DeMora and Ohio Nurses Association, flooded administrators. Former OSU athletes from a prior sexual abuse scandal joined, stating, “Ohio State cannot credibly separate itself from these facts.”
OSU's 2022 naming policy outlines a confidential five-step review: initial assessment, committee evaluation, president recommendation, Board of Trustees decision. New president Ravi Bellamkonda affirmed, “We will give each request full consideration.” No contracts tie names to donations, easing potential changes, but no timeline exists. Wexner, deposed February 18 by House Oversight Committee, denies wrongdoing and claims Epstein stole millions.
Harvard and Ivy League Institutions Under Fire
Harvard University grapples with its Wexner ties: the Leslie H. Wexner Building and Wexner-Sunshine Lobby at the Kennedy School of Government, funded by $42 million. A March 2026 student petition, backed by survivor Lauren Barnes—“I know what it’s like to have my heart race under the Wexner name”—demands removal, citing Epstein profiting from Wexner enabling abuse. Harvard confirmed receipt but stayed silent, following July 2025 renaming of John Winthrop House over slavery links.
Other Epstein-linked names: Andrew Farkas's Farkas Hall, after $300,000+ Epstein donations to Hasty Pudding (2013-2019). Bard College sees protests against president Leon Botstein's Epstein notes (“Miss you”). Faculty fallout includes Martin Nowak on leave for ties.
Other Campuses Joining the Movement
Beyond OSU and Harvard:
- Haverford College: Student vote urges renaming Allison & Howard Lutnick Library; President Wendy Raymond to respond in 30 days.
- Tufts University: Steve Tisch Sports and Fitness Center; handprints removed in renovations, review ongoing.
- UCLA: Wasserman Football Center (Casey Wasserman); professor Mark Tramo retired amid criticism, profile removed.
- Stony Brook University: Dubin Family Athletic Performance Center (Glenn Dubin).
These cases span public flagships to privates, sports facilities to libraries, showing widespread impact.
Historical Context: Epstein's Infiltration of Academia
Jeffrey Epstein (1953-2019), convicted 2008 for sex crimes, donated millions to universities post-release, securing influence. Ties included flights, dinners, funding. Wexner granted Epstein power of attorney 1991-2007, alleging theft of $46M. DOJ files exposed emails, visits, faculty endorsements. Precedents: MIT's Media Lab scandal (2019 resignation), Harvard's Lawrence Summers scrutiny.
Inside Higher Ed details faculty consequences, from Yale's David Gelernter teaching suspension to resignations.University Naming Policies Under Scrutiny
Donor naming honors major gifts but invites backlash. OSU's process is thorough yet opaque. Harvard weighs “complex legacies.” Experts like museum consultant Anne Bergeron note youth's zero-tolerance: “Younger generations won’t tolerate associations lacking the best of humanity.” Sackler opioid renamings (Oxford, Tufts) succeeded; Harvard resisted.
Perspectives from Students and Survivors
Activists argue visibility retraumatizes. OSU survivor: “Ignore survivors’ voices?” Barnes at Harvard: physical anxiety triggers. Petitions garner thousands; walkouts build momentum. Some defend Wexner: no charges, philanthropy separate.
Administrative and Donor Responses
Admins emphasize due process. OSU: “Thorough, fair.” Wexner: denies knowledge of crimes. No removals yet, but pressures mount. Bellamkonda promises transparency.
Precedents and Lessons from Past Scandals
Winthrop House (Harvard), Sackler names removed elsewhere. Post-#MeToo, donor vetting intensified, but Epstein's stealth challenged norms. Implications: stricter clauses, clawback provisions?
Broader Implications for Higher Education Philanthropy
Donors fuel 10-20% budgets; renamings risk chilling effects. Yet ethics demand alignment. Balanced views: vet deeply, separate gifts from individuals.
Chronicle calls it 'moment of reckoning'.
Future Outlook: Policy Reforms on Horizon?
2026 may see renamings, policy overhauls. OSU Board meetings loom; Harvard reviews pending. Actionable: enhanced vetting, survivor consultations, flexible naming.
For higher ed leaders, balancing gratitude with values defines path forward. Explore career advice amid evolving landscapes.
