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NEW YORK , NY— The Fashion Institute of Technology reassigned a spring semester course and suspended a staff member on Friday after newly surfaced records tied a longtime lecturer to communications with Jeffrey Epstein, according to internal emails obtained by Patch and documents included in the Epstein files.
Students in international trade course IN 434 were notified by the Office of the President that their Thursday class would be reassigned from Laurence Delson to Prof. Mark Greiz of the ITM department. The class was canceled for one week and scheduled to resume Feb. 26.
“We understand that news like this, particularly during the semester, may feel unsettling,” the email read.
In a separate campuswide message, administrators said FIT had “recently been made aware of claims and information about certain connections that associate FIT with the Epstein files.”
The school said it had launched “a comprehensive investigation” and “taken necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of our campus community.”
“To be clear, FIT strongly condemns the behavior and actions of Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators,” the email stated. “We are committed to sharing updates with the FIT community as transparently and promptly as possible as new information becomes available.”
The emails did not name the suspended staff member.
An FIT student currently enrolled in Delson’s course, who asked to remain anonymous, said she learned of the suspension through social media.
“I found out yesterday after I was leaving campus through a post to the shared FIT Instagram story,” the student said. “I was honestly shocked. The morning class had gone fine and there wasn’t any mention of it from the professor or students.”
The student said Delson maintains a no-phones policy in class and that neither he nor administrators had addressed the allegations directly with students before the email.
“There hasn’t been any word from the professor himself, just the email that a staff member was suspended,” the student said. “It makes me wonder what class would look like in the following weeks.”
The student said they began reviewing publicly released court records and investigative files after learning of the suspension.
“In hindsight I can’t say I’m very surprised given that FIT admission was used as leverage by Epstein but I’m disappointed in the school’s ‘transparency.” the student said. “It shouldn’t be the student’s responsibility to shed light on a professor’s involvement. I’m worried there’s more information that isn’t being disclosed and it’s going to take a student to be a whistleblower yet again.”
Records contained in the Epstein files include emails between Lawrence Delson and Epstein spanning several years.
In a March 3, 2014 email, Delson wrote, “I hope everything ok on Little St. James,” referring to Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
On Sept. 7, 2017, Delson wrote, “My thoughts are with all of you. Please let me know how things are.”
A reply stated: “Jeffrey appreciates you checking in. He says it is not good.”
Other exchanges reflect familiarity between the two men, where Epstein wrote he cherished their friendship.
“Likewise, Jeffrey. My sentiments exactly,” Delson replied.
The files also show Delson requesting in-person meetings numerous times.
“Do you think you can squeeze me in when Jeffrey is in New York either this month or next?” Delson wrote in one message.
In another exchange, an associate wrote to Delson:
“Hi Larry….there are many people here and I feel they will stay for awhile! Let’s push you to 2:45pm please! Understanding you only have until 4pm…but I think we should be fine! (you can check in at 2pm also!)”
Other emails show Delson discussing bookkeeping hires, tax matters and aircraft arrangements involving Epstein’s associates. Financial records within the files reference transfers connected to the Fashion Institute of Technology and other entities, though the context of those transactions remains unclear from the documents alone.
One entry from the files states that an individual contacted the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center in July 2019 and said Epstein “began his search for young women at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).” The document does not indicate whether that claim was substantiated.
Public biographical materials describe Delson as a lecturer at FIT and an adjunct associate professor at New York University’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies. He has more than 25 years of international trade experience and founded an import-export consulting business.
FIT’s statement did not specify the nature of Delson’s alleged involvement, whether he remains employed pending the investigation, or whether law enforcement has contacted the institution.
The administration directed students and employees to counseling services and campus public safety, providing phone numbers for on-campus emergencies and law enforcement.
Classes for IN 434 will resume later this month under new instruction. FIT officials said they will provide additional updates as information becomes available.
The Fashion Institute of Technology did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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