Ohio University announced it was removing former Fox CEO Roger E. Ailes' name from the school's journalism newsroom following sexual harassment allegations from over 20 women including former Fox host Gretchen Carlson.
WOUB reported on Monday that University President Roderick McDavis made the announcement to rename the WOUB Public Media Newsroom, saying the name had become a "distraction" for faculty and students alike. He said it "weighed heavily" on him and administration, leading to the "appropriate" decision to remove the name. McDavis also announced OU would be returning Ailes' $500,000 donation. Ailes, an OU alum, donated the money from 2007 to 2010, reportedAthens News. The money went towards renovating the WOUB newsroom, a journalism classroom, and a computer lab "adjacent to the newsroom," reported WOUB. The lettering and plaque outside the newsroom have already been physically removed, with WOUB Public Media tweeting photos.
McDavis also said the school was looking to rename the Roger Ailes scholarship, but was trying to do so without affecting current scholarship holders.
As previously mentioned, Carlson sued Ailes for sexual harassment, alleging he fired her because she didn't want a sexual relationship with him.
Read McDavis's full statement, as given to the Erik Wemple Blog, below:
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