[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":87},["ShallowReactive",2],{"story-2326-en":3},{"id":4,"slug":5,"slugs":5,"currentSlug":5,"title":6,"subtitle":7,"coverImagesSmall":8,"coverImages":9,"content":18,"questions":19,"relatedArticles":29,"body_color":85,"card_color":86},"2326",null,"Institutional Accountability Meets Athletic Legacy at Ohio State","- Naming Rights Controversy Exposes Deeper Institutional Governance Challenges",[],[10,11,12,13,12,14,15,16,17,10],"https://media.tegna-media.com/assets/WBNS/images/5626a8d8-63dc-48c1-b5fd-c563037d26a6/20251217T235956/5626a8d8-63dc-48c1-b5fd-c563037d26a6_1920x1080.jpg","https://myfox28columbus.com/resources/media2/16x9/737/986/166x0/90/ee0e168e-f257-4445-8937-c9968545ac9b-Screenshot20251217182148.png","https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8411ca6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1536x1117+0+0/resize/880x640!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F92%2F8f%2Fe44f79ac459f9df58f97c531fb6a%2Fles-wexner-ap.jpg","https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/JyPhqr4.bjsi.YN942QJZQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTY0MDtoPTQyNw--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_nbc_universal_184/8d2848825161dd607be9deafbcc5786d","https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/rockcms/2025-11/251120-Les-Wexner-gk-35fbcf.jpg","https://abc6onyourside.com/resources/media2/16x9/737/986/166x0/90/ee0e168e-f257-4445-8937-c9968545ac9b-Screenshot20251217182148.png","https://www.nbc4i.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-17-171406.png?strip=1","https://www.thelantern.com/files/2025/12/Protesters-in-front-of-the-Woody-Hayes-Athletic-Center-on-Wenesday-Dec.-17-2025.jpg","The **Les Wexner name controversy** at Ohio State University reveals a critical inflection point in institutional accountability and legacy management. At the heart of this dispute lies a complex intersection of **athletic reputation**, **donor relationships**, and **institutional integrity** surrounding sexual abuse allegations against former university physician Dr. Richard Strauss.\n\n**Institutional Reputation Under Scrutiny** emerges as the central narrative. The demand by former athletes to remove Wexner's name from the Woody Hayes Athletic Center represents more than a symbolic gesture—it's a profound challenge to how universities manage donor legacies and institutional memory. With Ohio State already settling **$60 million** in claims for 296 survivors, the stakes extend far beyond a single facility's naming rights.\n\nThe nuanced legal landscape is particularly compelling. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's defense of Wexner, citing no direct depositions suggesting involvement, contrasts sharply with survivor Mike DiSabato's aggressive push for accountability. Critically, the naming rights were funded through two controversial financial channels: the Wexner Charitable Foundation and a foundation connected to Jeffrey Epstein, adding layers of complexity to the institutional decision-making process.\n\n**Governance Mechanisms in Focus** The removal process itself highlights sophisticated institutional protocols. A formal advisory committee must evaluate \"substantial evidence of misconduct harmful to Ohio State's reputation\"—a standard that transforms this from a personal dispute into a structured institutional review. This approach suggests universities are developing more systematic frameworks for addressing historical reputational challenges.\n\nThe broader implications are profound. This case represents a watershed moment where athletic institutions must reconcile historical donor relationships with contemporary ethical standards. It signals an emerging paradigm where institutional legacies are no longer immutable but subject to ongoing ethical reassessment.",[20,23,26],{"title":21,"answer":22,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"How do sexual abuse settlements impact university donor relationships?","The $60 million settlement demonstrates that universities are increasingly prioritizing survivor support over protecting donor relationships. This signals a fundamental shift in institutional accountability, where ethical considerations now outweigh traditional donor preservation strategies.",{"title":24,"answer":25,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"What makes the Wexner naming rights case unique?","The complexity stems from multiple factors: connections to Jeffrey Epstein, ongoing sexual abuse allegations, and the intersection of athletic legacy with institutional ethics. The case represents a broader challenge in how institutions manage historical donor relationships in light of emerging ethical standards.",{"title":27,"answer":28,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"What are the key criteria for removing a donor's name from a university facility?","Based on the Ohio State case, key criteria include substantial evidence of misconduct that could harm the institution's reputation. The decision requires a formal review by an advisory committee, evaluating both legal evidence and potential reputational impact.",[30,35,39,43,47,51,54,58,62,66,70,73,77,82],{"id":31,"title":32,"source":33,"logo":10,"time":34},104041,"Former Ohio State athletes demand removal of Les Wexner's name from Woody Hayes facility","https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/former-ohio-state-athletes-demand-removal-les-wexners-name-from-woody-hayes-facility/530-8fef74d7-b35e-4503-8d89-65e8be11f58a","2D AGO",{"id":36,"title":37,"source":38,"logo":15,"time":34},103201,"OSU abuse survivors demand removal of Wexner's name from facility","https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/osu-abuse-survivors-demand-removal-of-wexners-name-from-facility-columbus-ohio-news-central",{"id":40,"title":41,"source":42,"logo":5,"time":34},103809,"Strauss victims call for Wexner name to be removed from OSU athletic facility","https://www.dispatch.com/videos/news/2025/12/17/strauss-victims-call-for-wexner-name-to-be-removed-from-osu-athletic-facility/87815473007/",{"id":44,"title":45,"source":46,"logo":5,"time":34},103808,"Strauss survivors demand Ohio State remove Wexner's name from football facility","https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/education/2025/12/17/strauss-survivors-calls-on-osu-to-remove-wexners-name-from-football-facility/87798305007/",{"id":48,"title":49,"source":50,"logo":16,"time":34},103203,"Survivors of OSU doctor’s sex abuse protest Les Wexner’s name on university building","https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/ohio-state-university/survivors-of-osu-doctors-sex-abuse-protest-les-wexners-name-on-university-building/",{"id":52,"title":37,"source":53,"logo":11,"time":34},103202,"https://myfox28columbus.com/news/local/osu-abuse-survivors-demand-removal-of-wexners-name-from-facility-columbus-ohio-news-central",{"id":55,"title":56,"source":57,"logo":14,"time":34},103205,"OSU alumni demand name of school's top donor Les Wexner be removed from football facility","https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/osu-alumni-demand-name-schools-top-donor-les-wexner-removed-football-f-rcna249553",{"id":59,"title":60,"source":61,"logo":10,"time":34},103810,"Former Ohio State athletes demand removal of Leslie Wexner's name from Woody Hayes facility","https://www.10tv.com/video/news/local/former-ohio-state-athletes-demand-removal-of-leslie-wexners-name-from-woody-hayes-facility/530-f028ed69-0573-4e9d-8153-1aa985235c93",{"id":63,"title":64,"source":65,"logo":5,"time":34},103204,"See photos of Strauss victims calling for removal of Wexner name from OSU","https://www.dispatch.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2025/12/17/strauss-survivors-call-for-wexner-name-to-be-removed-from-osu-facility/87815444007/",{"id":67,"title":68,"source":69,"logo":12,"time":34},103207,"Ohio State says Les Wexner shouldn't be deposed in Strauss case","https://www.wosu.org/news/2025-12-17/ohio-stats-says-wexner-shouldnt-be-deposed-in",{"id":71,"title":56,"source":72,"logo":13,"time":34},103206,"https://www.aol.com/articles/osu-alumni-demand-name-schools-161624470.html",{"id":74,"title":75,"source":76,"logo":17,"time":34},103811,"Strauss survivors gather outside Woody Hayes Athletic Center, call for Wexner’s name to be removed from campus building","https://www.thelantern.com/2025/12/strauss-survivors-gather-outside-woody-hayes-athletic-center-call-for-wexners-name-to-be-removed-from-campus-building/",{"id":78,"title":79,"source":80,"logo":5,"time":81},103209,"Ohio State attorneys say Wexner shouldn't be deposed in Strauss sexual abuse case","https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2025/12/16/les-wexner-richard-strauss-sexual-abuse-case-ohio-state-lawyers/87793678007/","3D AGO",{"id":83,"title":68,"source":84,"logo":12,"time":34},103208,"https://www.ideastream.org/2025-12-17/ohio-stats-says-wexner-shouldnt-be-deposed-in","#297648ff","#2976484d",1766203954736]