The media treats Jeffrey Epstein as a spectacle instead of confronting the institutional failures that protected him.
Epstein, a wealthy financier with ties to politicians, celebrities and business leaders, pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges involving the solicitation of prostitution from a minor. He was later arrested again in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls.
His death in jail later that year intensified public scrutiny of the powerful individuals connected to him. Since then, many have questioned how institutions, media organizations and political systems failed survivors for decades.
Earlier this year, the university quietly removed associate adjunct professor in neurology Mark Tramo’s expert profile from UCLA Newsroom after his communications with Epstein were publicized. Tramo emailed with Epstein about research, fundraising and his students, according to documents released by the United States Department of Justice.
Tramo, who told the Daily Bruin that he planned to retire in March, did not respond in time to a request for comment. Tramo previously told The Bruin that he interacted with Epstein in his capacity as a science philanthropist.
Appearing in the DOJ documents does not imply criminal wrongdoing. Several people mentioned in previous releases have denied wrongdoing related to Epstein.
But because of the way institutions failed Epstein’s survivors, UCLA must prioritize transparency, survivor-centered policies and accountability rather than reactive damage control. Until universities, news organizations and other powerful institutions prioritize prevention and accountability over reputation, systems that enable abuse will persist.
[Related: UCLA professor to retire, cancel spring class amid criticism over Epstein ties]
In 2024, UCLA reported 95 total cases of on-campus sexual assault to the Clery Act, which requires colleges and universities to record specific campus crime statistics and safety policies. This number is down from 119 in 2023 and significantly higher than the 26 cases in 2022. The 2024 total includes 40 reported rapes and 55 incidents of fondling. The 2025 statistics are scheduled to be made public on or before Oct. 1.
Sean Sugai, a graduate student in social welfare and researcher with Survivors + Allies, said universities often take a reactive approach to incidents of sexual assault.
“There is no infrastructure for that. … The university is not equipped to think about, ‘Okay, well, what happens if this happens?’” Sugai said. “It’s more about, ‘Oh, we’ll address it when we approach it.’”
UCLA’s Civil Rights Office responds to discrimination and harassment complaints, a UCLA spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
“The safety of our students, faculty and staff — and our community at large — is our priority, as is protecting the integrity of the academic mission through fair, fact-based processes,” a UCLA spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “UCLA’s Civil Rights office is responsible for responding to complaints of discrimination and harassment including sexual harassment and sexual violence.”
Media coverage about Epstein and other high-profile abuse cases too often centers the notoriety of perpetrators rather than the long-term harm experienced by survivors. This framing reinforces stigma, retraumatization and institutional indifference toward victims.
“The focus is almost entirely on the perpetrator,” said Ron Avi Astor, a professor of social welfare who researches school violence. “Many times they don’t realize that they’re actually creating that fascination by just focusing on them.”
This failure is not limited to the media.
Epstein’s case exposed how powerful institutions can protect reputations and donors while leaving survivors to carry the consequences alone.
Stacey Williams, a former Sports Illustrated model who publicly accused President Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her in the 1990s, met Epstein through the modeling industry in New York. Williams said she believes the mainstream media often reduces survivor accounts to clickbait.
Some experts argue journalists should better understand how reporting on these cases can cause further harm to those who have already experienced trauma.
“This is political gamesmanship at the expense of lives ruined and continuing to retraumatize these women,” Williams said. “It’s inexcusable that nobody listened to any of us from the get go.”
Meaningful change is dependent on institutions creating environments where survivors are believed, supported and protected rather than silenced or retraumatized.
“Don’t bow to censorship. Don’t both-sides,” Williams said. “The truth is the truth.”
Sugai said UCLA and other institutions often rely on existing offices and procedures to hold perpetrators accountable without asking whether those systems actually meet survivor needs.
“In a perfect world, … when harm does occur, survivors won’t feel confused,” said Victoria Copeland, co-founder of Survivors + Allies and recent graduate with a doctorate in social welfare. “They’ll have ample supports ready and willing to take them on, and not being retraumatized.”
As the Epstein files continue to dominate headlines, UCLA must move beyond symbolic responses. Instead, the university needs to invest in survivor-centered prevention, transparency and accountability systems that prevent abuse.
That includes expanding confidential mental health and advocacy resources, strengthening institutional vetting of prospective employees and creating oversight practices that ensure students can safely report misconduct without fear of being ignored or retraumatized.
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