Ohio State must cut all ties with Les Wexner, kill sick culture | Lawmakers
Bill DeMora is currently serving his first term as a state senator. Christine Cockley is currently serving her first term as a state representative.
This month, the Justice Department released the names of three people the FBI called “co-conspirators” to child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
One of those names confirmed what most people already knew: Les Wexner is inextricably linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
Ohio State needs to completely separate itself from not only Wexner, but anyone on the current board of trustees who has ties to him.
Before going further, we want to make it clear that Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. — the current university president — inherited this culture and has the power to rectify the situation, but he seems to be taking direction from trustees who are prioritizing their power and reputations over the best interests of the university.
This issue goes far beyond Les Wexner
In 2018, Ohio State closed its campus sexual assault response center after a review found that they failed to report sexual assault and called survivors “delusional.”
Last year, Ohio State was forced to fire the head of their ROTC program after sexual harassment allegations.
Today, the fight between Dr. Richard Strauss’ survivors and Ohio State is still ongoing. And just last week, it was revealed from the Epstein files that the current head of the OBGYN department at Ohio State was on Epstein’s payroll, making as much as $25,000 a quarter.
Ohio State is better than those who shield predators
These many incidents go beyond simple coincidence or “one bad apple.”
It is clear that past Ohio State leaders has seen themselves as both above the law and above common decency as they have covered up and protected their friends who have assaulted, abused, and violated many, allegedly including minors.
We are both Ohio State alumni who love the Buckeyes and the Buckeye community. This is exactly why we are standing up and speaking out. The school that we love deserves better than this.
We both came to Ohio State not just because it is a top-tier research university, but also because of the culture of hard work, success, and, most importantly, community. These recent allegations are corrupting that very culture that we loved.
The trustees' complete refusal to honestly negotiate, to admit wrongdoing, or to even be open about their process is ruining public trust in the institution, and for good reason.
Who would willingly send their child to a school that protects billionaires credibly accused of pedophilia? What parent would want their kid to play sports at a school that is fighting former athletes who were victimized under the school's watch? These are not rhetorical questions. These are the real concerns of families across Ohio and beyond who are watching this unfold and reconsidering whether Ohio State shares their values.
The path forward is clear, but it requires leadership willing to make difficult choices. At minimum:
- Ohio State must sever all ties with individuals credibly accused of serious crimes, no matter how wealthy or influential they may be.
- Les Wexner’s name should be immediately removed from all university property. The university must prioritize victim support over institutional reputation.
- Ohio State must commit to full transparency in how it handles allegations of abuse and misconduct.
The Buckeye community deserves an institution that lives up to its ideals of excellence and integrity.
Our students, faculty, alumni, and the people of Ohio deserve better. It is time for Ohio State to prove it can be the university we know it can be: one that puts people over power, and justice over convenience. The culture of protecting sexual predators must end now.