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WKU’s decision to pursue a modern overhaul of Cherry Hall has sparked concern among students, faculty and alumni. Cherry Hall is an icon of WKU’s heritage. Critics have decried the $75 million renovation’s design as “soulless,” warning it will strip away the building’s character and history. Plans for the project were kept under wraps until this month’s unveiling. A petition to “Save Historic Cherry Hall” has gathered hundreds of signatures, reflecting concern that WKU’s leadership is prioritizing flashy changes over preserving legacy.
Beyond aesthetics, this controversy symbolizes deeper leadership failures under President Timothy Caboni. The handling of the Cherry Hall project mirrors a broader lack of transparency and top-down decision-making about which faculty have frequently warned. WKU faculty have reported “eroded trust in administration” and feel their input is not valued in major decisions. A 2024 faculty survey found 77% of respondents rated morale “poor” or “very poor,” citing frustration with low pay and a lack of transparency. When the broader WKU community feels shut out, it’s no surprise that unilateral and surprise decisions breed resentment.
The Cherry Hall debate comes as WKU faces serious enrollment and financial challenges. Under Caboni, WKU’s enrollment has fallen nearly 20% since 2017. Demographic factors do not fully explain WKU’s decline as much as Caboni would like – WKU was the only Kentucky public university to see an enrollment drop from 2023 to 2024. This trend raises questions about administrative priorities.
Financial mismanagement has compounded these concerns. In the last two fiscal years, WKU overspent its budget by almost $15 million, prompting across-the-board cuts. Those cuts were so sweeping that the faculty, staff and student regents all voted against the 2024-25 budget plan. One regent warned the plan would “punish all the auxiliary units…instead of just correcting where people have been overspending.” When even the Board’s own members cannot support the budget, it signals a breakdown in trust at the highest level.
The Board of Regents must treat the Cherry Hall renovation as a red line in assessing President Caboni’s fitness and contract renewal. Is WKU being led in a direction that respects its history, financial health and the voices of its community? If not, the Board must consider new leadership. WKU deserves progress that honors its traditions and engages its community, not decisions that deepen campus rifts. The Board must ensure WKU’s future looks better, not just different.
Cory Dodds is a WKU alum and attorney-at-law in Lexington, Kentucky.
