The Epstein Fallout Hits Dartmouth: Students Demand Leon Black’s Name Be Removed (4/23/26)

The controversy centers on growing pressure at Dartmouth College to remove the name of billionaire donor Leon Black from its visual arts center due to his financial ties to Jeffrey Epstein. A broad coalition of students, faculty, and community members has renewed calls for the change, arguing that Black’s reported payments—totaling around $170 million—to Epstein after his 2008 conviction make his continued honor on campus unacceptable. Critics say the institution has had years to act and that continuing to keep his name on the building reflects a failure to reckon with the implications of those ties.

In response, Dartmouth’s leadership has opted not to immediately remove the name but instead to form a committee to review naming policies across campus, a move that critics see as a delay tactic rather than meaningful action. The situation highlights a broader institutional dilemma: universities grappling with large donor contributions tied to controversial figures, where legal agreements and financial considerations complicate swift decisions. For many pushing for change, the issue goes beyond one building, reflecting a deeper tension between financial dependence on donors and the ethical responsibility to address associations with Epstein’s network.


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Calls grow to rename Dartmouth building bankrolled by Epstein associate - Valley News