Unionized staff at Ohio State University's Wexner Center for the Arts, organized as Wex Workers United, have officially called for the renaming of the arts center and other campus buildings named after billionaire benefactor Les Wexner. The union argues that Wexner's name, due to his decades-long association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein—who had power of attorney over Wexner's fortune—harms artists and community members. The call follows similar demands from the Ohio Nurses Association regarding the Wexner Medical Center and ongoing student protests, including an April 10 action where students covered Wexner's name on the art center's façade with a black tarp. OSU spokesperson Chris Booker noted that over 500 renaming requests have been filed under the university's official review procedure, while OSU President Ted Carter has emphasized that name changes require fact-finding and cannot be based on supposition.
This controversy matters because it highlights the growing pressure on cultural institutions to sever ties with donors linked to criminal activity, particularly in the wake of Epstein's sex trafficking scandal. The Wexner Center for the Arts, a major contemporary art venue, faces a crisis of public trust as staff and visitors express discomfort with the name's association. The outcome could set a precedent for how universities and museums handle naming rights and donor accountability, especially when allegations involve serious crimes. The case also underscores the tension between institutional gratitude for philanthropic support and the ethical obligations to artists, audiences, and the broader community.