Ohio State Rejects Request to Remove Les Wexner's Name from Football Facility

University says request did not provide sufficient evidence of misconduct by Wexner

Jan. 28, 2026 at 4:07pm

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Ohio State University has rejected a request to remove Les Wexner's name from the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. A group of former student-athletes and advocates had called for the name change, citing Wexner's ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries, who is facing federal sex charges. However, the university said the request did not provide enough evidence of misconduct by Wexner himself.

Why it matters

The decision to keep Wexner's name on the facility has sparked controversy, with some arguing his associations with individuals accused of sexual misconduct cast a shadow on his contributions to the university. The case highlights the challenges universities face in addressing calls to remove the names of donors and other prominent figures amid allegations of wrongdoing.

The details

In December, a group of former Ohio State student-athletes and advocates gathered at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center and called on the university to remove Wexner's name. This was followed by a formal name change request submitted by Steven Snyder-Hill, a former Ohio State student-athlete and survivor of abuse by former university doctor Richard Strauss. The group cited Wexner's ties to Epstein and Jeffries as reasons to remove his name. However, the university rejected the request, stating that the submission did not provide sufficient evidence of misconduct by Wexner himself.

  • On December 17, a group of former student-athletes and advocates gathered at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center and called for the removal of Wexner's name.
  • On January 22, Ohio State's Office of Academic Affairs rejected the formal name change request submitted by Steven Snyder-Hill.

The players

Les Wexner

A prominent Ohio State donor and former member of the university's board of trustees. Wexner has faced scrutiny for his ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries, who is facing federal sex charges.

Steven Snyder-Hill

A former Ohio State student-athlete and one of the more vocal survivors of sexual abuse by former university doctor Richard Strauss. Snyder-Hill submitted the formal request to remove Wexner's name from the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

Ohio State University

The public research university that rejected the request to remove Wexner's name from the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, citing a lack of evidence of misconduct by Wexner.

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What they’re saying

“You seek the removal of Mr. Wexner's name from a university space, but most of your request focuses on allegations concerning other individuals, and none of the documents that you provided refer to Mr. Wexner whatsoever; rather, they all relate to actions taken by Dr. Richard Strauss.”

— Kevin Leonardi, Associate Vice President for Operations, Ohio State University Office of Academic Affairs (The Dispatch)

“The rationale for keeping Wexner's name "is simply that they are choosing an optic of aligning with someone who has multiple negative associations with sexual assault and trafficking and proudly adorning their buildings with his names as they go into their eighth year of fighting the kids that they admitted that they allowed to be harmed and covered up.”

— Steven Snyder-Hill, Former Ohio State student-athlete and Strauss survivor (The Dispatch)

What’s next

Snyder-Hill can resubmit his request with more documentation, but the final decision rests with Ohio State's Board of Trustees.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges universities face in addressing calls to remove the names of donors and other prominent figures amid allegations of wrongdoing. Ohio State's decision to keep Wexner's name on the athletic facility, despite the controversy surrounding his associations, underscores the complex considerations involved in these types of name removal requests.