US colleges from Ivies to state schools are scrambling over Epstein files exposing academic ties—prompting probes, rename calls, faculty reviews, and donor reckonings amid funding pressures.
Key Institutional Fallout
- Bard College: President Leon Botstein emailed Epstein until 2017, planned 2012 island trip. School defends: fundraising contacts predated full crime revelations.
- Ohio State University: Push to rename Wexner Medical Center (after Les Wexner, who gave Epstein power of attorney until 2007). OB-GYN Prof. Mark Landon consulted for Epstein-linked group (2001-2005 biotech investments); denies victim knowledge, calls crimes “reprehensible.”
- Columbia University: Scrutiny for admitting Epstein’s girlfriend to dental school post-donations.
- Yale University: Prof. Nicholas Christakis met Epstein 2013 for lab funding; “appalled” post-revelations. Prof. David Gelernter emailed him (called him “brilliant & funny”); now under admin review, out of classroom.
- Others: Harvard, Duke, MIT explaining links; UCLA removed a professor amid outcry.
Why It Happened
Experts like crisis comms VP Philip Hauserman blame donor desperation: federal cuts, enrollment dips push chasing big checks, ignoring red flags. Short-term gain risks long-term reputational hits—echoing MIT’s 2019 Epstein donation return.
Advice: Own it fast—acknowledge, apologize, investigate proactively.
This wave builds on prior scandals (e.g., Wexner-Epstein at OSU). Ties to your research interests? Want details on a specific school or funding ethics fixes?
