Harvard Students Demand Removal of Wexner's Name From Campus

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Harvard University students are urging the administration to remove the name of Ohio retail billionaire Les Wexner from a prominent campus building due to his friendship with the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The Leslie H. Wexner Building, which houses the university's Kennedy School of public policy, has become a source of discomfort for some students who want to distance the school from Wexner's association with Epstein.

Why it matters

The push to remove Wexner's name from Harvard's campus is the latest example of heightened scrutiny over the Ohio billionaire's relationship with Epstein, who died in 2019. Wexner, the founder of L Brands, has faced criticism for his ties to Epstein, who served as his financial advisor. The calls at Harvard echo similar demands at Ohio State University to disassociate the school from Wexner.

The details

Students are circulating a petition calling on Harvard's administration to remove Wexner's name from the prominent campus building. The building, which houses classrooms, common spaces and a dining hall, sits at the main entrance to the university. Wexner has donated more than $42 million to the Kennedy School since 2000. Some students say the building's visibility makes it difficult to avoid thinking about Wexner's connection to Epstein.

• In 2023, The Wexner Foundation cut ties with Harvard after 30 years of partnership.
• On February 18, 2026, members of Congress took testimony from Wexner regarding his relationship with Epstein.

What’s next

Harvard is conducting a review of individuals, including university donors, named in the Epstein files "to evaluate what actions may be warranted."