UI plans to drop Steve Wynn's name from vision research institute following accusations

Correction: University of Iowa Institute of Vision Research Director Ed Stone said, "I understand and support the university's decision." The quote was incorrectly attributed in a previous version of this story.

In a brief post on the institute's website, Director Ed Stone affirmed UI's response.

"I understand and support the university's decision," Stone said in the post.

The University of Iowa will likely give the research institute named after Steve Wynn a new title following recent allegations of sexual assault lodged by the casino mogul's employees.

The UI Institute of Vision Research became the Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research in 2013 after Wynn committed to donating $25 million to the cause. The university noted in a news release Wednesday afternoon that naming the institute after Wynn was not a condition of the donation, but a recognition of the gift. To date, Wynn has given $20 million, or $5 million each year since 2013.

According to the news release, leadership at the university “determined retaining the name would be damaging to the institution’s reputation following recent allegations of sexual misconduct by Mr. Wynn.”

“The University of Iowa is committed to ending sexual violence and sexual misconduct and ensuring survivors know they are believed, supported, and assisted. It is incongruous with the university’s values to maintain the Wynn name on our program and building,” UI President Bruce Harreld said, according to the release.

In a brief post on the institute's website, Director Ed Stone affirmed UI's response.

"I understand and support the university's decision," Stone said in the post.

The name change is still subject to approval by the Board of Regents. If changed, it will be the first time the UI has removed a donor name from a building or institute.

A spokesperson for the university has told the Press-Citizen that no administrators have been available for an interview since the allegations were first published by the Wall Street Journal Friday.

The Journal report relays stories of times when Wynn pressured employees to perform sexual acts on him. According to the report, employees at Wynn's casinos would regularly scramble to avoid the billionaire.

Wynn has denied the allegations in a statement released by his company.

“We find ourselves in a world where people can make allegations, regardless of the truth, and a person is left with the choice of weathering insulting publicity or engaging in multi-year lawsuits,” Wynn said in the written statement. “It is deplorable for anyone to find themselves in this situation.”

Wynn has retinitis pigmentosa, a type of rare, inherited eye disease that the Institute of Vision Research is trying to cure. In 2013, he said his empathy for others in similar situations is what motivated him to donate.

“As a person who knows firsthand what it is like to lose vision from a rare inherited eye disease, I want to do everything I can to help others who are similarly affected keep the vision they have and eventually get back what they have lost,” Wynn said, according to a UI news release from 2013.

The Institute consists of 29 faculty members from eight departments and four colleges. According to the UI news release, the institute focuses its research on the type of eye diseases that "government agencies and pharmaceutical companies often consider too rare to pursue."

Aimee Breaux is the education reporter for the Press-Citizen. Reach her at abreaux@press-citizen.com, 319-887-5414 and on Twitter @aimee_breaux.