Ohio State retains Les Wexner's name on football facility despite Epstein ties and abuse review
Ohio State's interim provost and executive director Trevor Brown announced Friday that the university will keep billionaire donor Les Wexner's name on its football practice facility and other campus buildings, overriding more than 500 formal removal petitions. Brown cut short a process that an advisory committee had recommended extending, arguing the panel was not meant to function as an investigative or auditing body. Petitioners had pointed to Wexner's lengthy association with Jeffrey Epstein, questions about his company's conduct, and concerns about how he handled misconduct complaints against a former university sports medicine physician during his time as a trustee. Brown noted that Wexner has denied wrongdoing, faces no criminal charges, and has not been found civilly liable, and that the university's 2022 naming-removal policy sets a high evidentiary bar for rescinding such honors.
OSU has decided to fight survivors for over eights years and they have lied, they have manipulated, and done all the things to make me think this decision was made before they acted like they were entertaining [the requests].
Why it matters
For brands: Major university donors face reputational scrutiny when their names on facilities become linked to controversy, signaling that naming-rights agreements can carry long-term institutional risk.
For coaches: Coaches at Ohio State operate within a facility whose naming controversy may draw continued public and media attention.
For athletes: Current and former Ohio State athletes, including survivors of past abuse, have a direct stake in how the university weighs donor influence against accountability commitments.
Read the full story at Sportico
Sources
- Sportico · Daniel: OSU Keeps Wexner Name on Football Complex Despite Epstein Ties