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Of Fair Repute and Spotless Fame

Within hours of the announcement that then president of The Ohio State University, Walter Edward "Ted" Carter had resigned, I received an email from the OSU Alumni Association. To the Association's credit, it wasn't a fundraising email. Rather, it was a missive designed to reassure alumni like me that leaders come and go, but the strength of the OSU community rests with its people. I was assured that our great univesity would move forward, manage this change, and succeed.

That the letter came at a bad time is an understatement. My opinion of and support for my alma mater had been in a freefall over the last few years as scandal upon scandal stacked up on campus. So, I reflected on my relationship to the university and offered a version of the following as my reply:

Thanks for the update.

I don't know that my one voice really makes a difference, but I wanted to write and let you know that any time the subject of college selection comes up in my presence, I actively discourage young people from attending OSU.

Between the sketchy resignation of Kristina Johnson, the appointment of Ted Carter, the sexual abuse cover ups, Les Wexner's prominent place in Jeffrey Epstein's orbit (and the University's unwillingness to address or acknowledge that in any meaningful way), the return of E. Gordon Gee, the mismanagement at the Wexner Center for the Arts, the University's active courting of war profiteers Anduril, the sale of public assets (parking) to a private firm, regular capitulation to extremist legislators at all levels, and a general chilling of free speech on campus, I cannot in good conscience recommend OSU to the next generation of students.

Obviously the university will continue to do fine without my support or the handful of people I might persuade. Really, it's a testament to exactly how powerful The Ohio State University brand is that it can manage so many missteps and failures and remain largely unscathed.

I know you have nothing to do with any of this, but if the University is tracking the opinions and sentiment of graduates, please feel free to forward this message as appropriate.

Sincerely,

Jeff  Regensburger

Since Carter's resignation, OSU conducted its own internal investigation and, as Cleveland.com states, the findings are worse than thought. On Tuesday April 22, Turning Point USA and Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamay held a rally hosted by OSU's Mershon Auditorium. Further, the University unveiled plans for the 15th Avenue gateway that would involve demolishing the Wexner Center's Film Theater.

And speaking of Les Wexner, apparently his name is just going to stay on everything at OSU forever.

To reference Carmen Ohio again, I'm not entirely sure who's striving to keep the name, but they're not doing a very good job.

Needless to say I don't expect I'll be recommending OSU to anyone anytime soon.


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