Nurses on the Line: The Wexner Stand-February 22, 2026
- Rainbow_Rocks
- February 23, 2026
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- #Accountability2026, #JeffreyEpstein, #MandatedReporters, #NursesAssociation, #OhioStateUniversity, #OSUProtest, #RichardStrauss, #WexnerMedicalCenter, LGBTQIA+, Rainbow Rocks
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Written by Kyle / RainbowRocks, LGBTQIA+ and Ally Independent Journalist, Content Creator, and Digital Media Producer at RainbowRocks.Space
February 23rd, 2026
The demonstration on February 22, 2026, was a physical confrontation between Ohio State University’s internal workforce and its institutional leadership. Below is an in-depth expansion of the picket, focusing on the specific “donation lists” and the particular tensions within the medical staff.
On February 22, 2026, the perceived “contractual paralysis” at Ohio State University collided with the unyielding reality of public fury. Despite weather conditions that were far from ideal—biting winds, snow, and the harsh cold typical of an Ohio February—a crowd of over 100 protesters mobilized to demand the immediate removal of Les Wexner’s name from university property.
A Unified Front: The Mandated Reporters
The picket line, organized in conjunction with the Ohio Nurses Association (ONA), served as a powerful cross-section of the university’s workforce. The demonstration drew university workers, registered nurses, and respiratory therapists.
For the nurses, the protest was framed as a professional obligation. ONA President Rick Lucas addressed the crowd, stating that as mandated reporters, healthcare workers have a moral duty to speak out when a facility’s namesake is linked to a network of exploitation. This coalition underscored a growing internal rejection of the university’s financial ties to Wexner, whom protesters allege funded the very credibility Jeffrey Epstein used to operate his criminal enterprise.
The Strauss Connection & The “Donation Lists”
The protest became a grim crossroads of historical and modern trauma as survivors of the Richard Strauss sexual assault scandal joined the picket line. Their presence served as a living indictment of the university’s institutional culture.
Protesters brandished “Donation Lists”—financial records detailing the nearly $200 million Wexner has donated to OSU. They contrasted this with the $6.76 billion in revenue the Medical Center generated in the 2025 fiscal year alone. The argument on the line was clear: the university does not need the Wexner money to survive, and the refusal to rename buildings is a choice to prioritize “donor legacy” over the safety and dignity of victims.
Specific Points of Contention
The picket didn’t just target the “Wexner” name broadly; it focused on specific, highly sensitive areas:
- The New Tower: The demonstration took place exactly as the new $2 billion University Hospital tower officially opened its doors to its first 425 patients.
- Labor & Delivery: Protesters specifically highlighted the naming of the Labor and Delivery waiting area after Dr. Mark Landon, citing reported financial ties between Landon and Epstein that surfaced in the recent document dumps.
- Commemorative “Erasure”: In a symbolic act of defiance, faculty and staff brought out commemorative umbrellas—given to them by the university to celebrate the tower’s opening—and used permanent markers to strike through the Wexner name printed on the fabric.
Atmosphere of Intimidation and Public Support
The peaceful nature of the picket stood in stark contrast to the response from campus authorities. Participants described a “disrespectful” and heavy-handed environment, describing OSU Police (OSUPD) and security as “creeping by” in Patrol Cars and on foot in a transparent attempt to intimidate the crowd.
However, the “town-gown” divide seemed to vanish as the local Columbus community weighed in. A constant chorus of honking vehicles filled the air along 10th Avenue; drivers slowed down to hold up thumbs-up signs.
