The Justice Department released millions of pages of Epstein‑related records that name a wide range of public figures; material in the batch has renewed scrutiny of academic ties and fundraising relationships. The archive includes repeated references to Dan Ariely, a Duke behavioral‑economics professor, and other contacts between Epstein and university figures. Reporting shows Ariely appears hundreds of times in the files; the documents include email exchanges but do not allege criminal conduct by him. Universities are now assessing reputational risk, donor vetting processes and disclosure practices as investigators and journalists parse the trove. Legal and compliance offices on multiple campuses are monitoring the releases for potential implications for research funding and alumni relations.