Haverford College President Snubs Student Calls to Reconsider Naming Library After Epstein-Linked Donor

Haverford College President Wendy Raymond has flatly rejected a student-led resolution demanding a review of the institution’s decision to name its main library after Howard Lutnick, a major donor with troubling ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Lutnick, a 1983 graduate and the college’s largest benefactor with contributions exceeding $65 million, admitted in February that he and his family had lunch on Epstein’s private island in 2012—years after Epstein’s initial 2008 conviction for sex offenses. This admission came amid the release of millions of court documents exposing Epstein’s extensive network and enablers. Lutnick insists he had no ongoing relationship with Epstein, but the revelation sparked outrage on Capitol Hill and among Haverford students.

Students’ Council at Haverford passed a resolution calling for a committee to review the library’s naming, emphasizing the need to confront the facts openly and consider the impact on the campus community. The resolution was crafted with input from the Haverford Survivor Collective and the Office of Health and Wellbeing, reflecting a broad base of concern.

Yet President Raymond’s response was dismissive. In a letter to student leaders, she stated that the available information does not meet the threshold to convene a review committee. She insisted that future decisions would be made with the college’s educational mission in mind and reaffirmed the institution’s solidarity with survivors of sexual violence. However, her refusal to even initiate a review process has left many students feeling ignored and disrespected.

“This is just one step,” said student co-president Sarah Weill-Jones. “We’re continuing to push because the library’s name has a real, negative impact on students now and for the future. We want the college to seriously reckon with what it means to honor someone linked to Epstein.”

The timing of Raymond’s rejection, announced on Denim Day—a day dedicated to raising awareness about sexual assault—only deepened student frustration. Many expressed shock that the college would choose such a moment to dismiss their concerns.

Haverford’s reluctance to confront the legacy of a major donor entwined with Epstein fits a broader pattern of institutions struggling to hold powerful figures accountable. As more documents and testimonies surface, pressure mounts for transparency and meaningful action.

For now, the students at Haverford remain undeterred, committed to forcing a reckoning over the Lutnick name and what it represents. The fight for accountability and respect for survivors continues.