“As a freshman and sophomore, I remember going and seeing the shows and thinking of these people that were pretty much just my peers as sort of celebrities,” Slayden said. “Then once I noticed that I had a decent body of work that I could show off and was proud of, I just kind of decided that I would love to do a show and sort of start getting my name out there more.”

It was this feeling that led to the creation of the “IN THE EYE OF” exhibit, which features Slayden’s art as well as the work of Ethan Justice, Lance Burdette and Kyra Embra. The walls and three podiums in the gallery are filled with Slayden’s art. Comments left on notecards by both the artists and observers also line the gallery’s walls.

The exhibit boasts a variety of types of art including a charcoal piece of a cow skull, several collages, a human figure made of tape, a head sculpt, a welded sculpture, pottery and more. 

“All the pieces vaguely revolve around identity and how your physical body and self interacts with the conceptual self that you have in your mind,” Slayden said. “ All of the people in the show have an understanding and appreciation for work that isn’t solely graceful traditional art.”

“IN THE EYE OF,” the name of the exhibit, comes from the phrase, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” Slayden said.

“I just kind of cut out the parts that made it a phrase that made sense. It was interesting because not all the work is necessarily beautiful in a traditional sense,” Slayden said. “Also I draw eyes a lot, so there’s a lot of eyes in the work. It was a play on that too.”

Burdette’s piece “Abstract” features a textured and impressionistic man holding his chest that appears to be bleeding. The note next to it reads the lyrics of “Abstract (Psychopomp)” by Hozier.

“The texture is divine I can feel the heart bleeding,” reads a comment left next to the painting.

The interactive element is one many people have chosen to participate in. The notecards are scattered across the walls filled with thoughts of observers. “The Divine Transsexual” by Embry has two notes left floating adjacent to the pieces. “Beautiful,” reads one note. “Love this,” reads another.

“Mimesis” is the exhibition’s largest piece, hanging in the center of the largest wall of the gallery. It is a collage made by Slayden about the “creation and deconstruction of oneself.” Of Slayden’s work in the gallery, “Mimesis” is the most meaningful to him.

“I started with an oil painting, a self-portrait,” Slayden said. “Then immediately, once it was done, I cut it into pieces. Then I put it on a new thing and took more of my old artwork combined with different magazines and comic books and destroyed them and put them into different pieces. And then, once again, put them back together to create a new piece and then added more back on top of that.”

Slayden said he hoped those who visit the gallery interact with the work he and the other artists created. 

“I just want people to interact with art,” Slayden said. “I like to think, hopefully, people come away thinking. Just thinking about whatever. Thinking about themselves, about other people, or just thinking about coming back to more shows.” 

“IN THE EYE OF” is on display in the Cube Gallery, found at FAC 436, for the remainder of the week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

News Reporter Malone Farmer can be reached at james.farmer674@topper.wku.edu.

Markham has published two books with her third to be published in February 2025. Her most recent book, “A Map of Future Ruins: On Borders and Belongings,” was published in February and explores issues surrounding migration, borders and social justice. 

Markham’s work most often concerns issues related to youth, migration, the environment and her home state of California, according to Markham’s website. She has reported from places all around the world including Latin American countries, states in the U.S. and other countries like Greece and Thailand.

Markham said in her conversation with Andrews that there were two main narrative threads of the book. 

“One is the story of the largest refugee camp in Europe, which burned down,” said Markham. “It was built to house 2500 people, and at its height, had over 20,000 people living in it. It was on the Greek island of Lesbos, and it burned down in 2020, in September of 2020, and within a few days, six young Afghans or Afgan refugees who’d been living there were figured for the crime. In spite of almost no evidence, no evidence against them, no credible evidence against them, they were locked up and tried in a kangaroo court and were put into prison.”

The second thread concerned Markham personally and her story as a journalist.

“And then there’s another main narrative thread, which is sort of me as a reporter, reckoning with what it means to tell these stories about migration and how to report on these stories,” Markham said. “And I’m also thinking of my own heritage, my own Greek American heritage, and sort of how my own family narrates this sense of belonging to this place that, until 2019, I’d never been to.”

In discussion with Markam, Andrews asked the author how she got to a place where she could be vulnerable enough to write about her family and heritage in a way that is “honest and theorized, but still with so much love.”

“I think that part of one of the mythologies of many that this book is probing is this kind of linear ascension narrative, kind of like the American Dream narrative,” Markham said. 

“There’s also an interesting dynamic here within my own family’s stories … But I have tenderness toward this desire to believe in the simple story, the desire for my family to believe that there is this far away place, Greece. That even though we don’t speak the language and even though we’ve never been there, we somehow are afforded something long and fair, and we get to claim that as an origin story. I have tenderness toward that, because I believe there is a human desire to belong somewhere and let go of their past.”

An audience member asked Markham if she believed there was a lesson to take from Bowling Green’s success in being a resettlement center for refugees for several decades. Markham said she believed there was.

“This is all getting to the point of this notion of newcomers as drains isn’t just a morally problematic idea. It’s just false. It’s just wrong,” Markham said. “It’s not empirically true because places like Bowling Green could demonstrate this was a place that was doing fine, and then new people came and we’re also still doing fine.”

“This is a book that’s really trying to expose, on a granular level, the injustice and violence of borders and also their absurdity,” Markham continued.

Markham said in an interview with the Herald that she got a lot of feedback from people of European ancestry after her book was published.

“I’ve had a lot of people contact me about the ways this book helped them reflect on their desire to be from another place, and just seemingly being excited by the kind of ideas that this book is lifting up,” Markham said. 

Markham said that one of the things this book challenges is the impact and purpose of journalism, and if it affects change. She concluded that journalism could make a direct change, but that change is typically “incremental,” and that journalism usually is only a small part of a bigger cause.

Understanding and interpreting dialect was also an “interesting challenge” for Markham while writing her book. She said she came to understand her thinking patterns better and how she approached certain situations in different countries.

“There have been many, a number of moments in reporting and writing this book where I find that the very systems that I am sort of critiquing and holding accountable have also kind of infected my brain, and thinking and default thinking,” Markham said. 

It is her love of learning and the joy she finds in telling the stories of others that drives Markham in her work.

“I feel like that is such a thrilling feeling to be like I have a profession where I’m constantly learning things, and then my job is to take what I’ve learned and try to narrate it to others so that other people can learn it,” Markham said. “The best stories we write are the stories we really care about.”

Destiny Cater, a sophomore journalism major and attendee, asked Markham during the event about how she navigated her career as a journalist after deciding it as a career later in life. Cater chose journalism as a major this semester.

“Though she didn’t say it, she was basically implying when writing or trying to write a book to stay at your own pace,” Cater said. “That really kind of affected me for someone that, again, kind of chose journalism later.”

News Reporter Abigail Vickers can be contacted at abigail.vickers153@topper.wku.edu. 

The Brown Bag lecture series allows for a showcase of work in progress in a casual setting.  The presentations encourage attendees to bring their lunches and are free. 

“The goal is to offer professional development opportunities for students, faculty and friends of the department who need an informal space to exchange ideas, explore new research, or work through relevant problems,” said Dr. Jean-Luc Houle, the faculty member facilitating the series. 

The series will include 3 dates with presentations from faculty and students: 

• September 27: “Working with Faculty: Research, Mentorship, and Job Skills” with Dr. Marcus Brooks, Kaylee Hawkins and Keziah Monk.
• October 5: “From Classroom to Field: Archaeology in Mongolia” with GiGi Lamb, Julius Aylin and Madison Butler.
• November 15: “Floaties for Krakens: How A Podcast About Monstrosity Teaches Us About Humanity” with Camille Acosta, Folklife Specialist. 

All lectures will be held in Fine Arts Center 249 from 12:40 p.m. to 1:40 p.m.  

News Reporter Libby Simpson can be reached at elizabeth.simpson736@topper.wku.edu. 

The show is based on the book of the same title written by Steven Sater and Jessie Nelson with music by Duncan Sheik and lyrics by Steven Sater. 

According to lead actress Hanneh Kevorkian, senior performing arts major with a focus in musical theatre, the show follows a girl named Alice Spencer through her journey of attempting to save her childhood best friend by bringing themselves into the world of her favorite children’s book, “The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland.”

“This story is deeply rooted in the theme of acceptance, love, life and hope,” Kevorkian said. 

Kevorkian is starring alongside her childhood best friend, Carter Luke, in a tale of hardship and perseverance.

“Being able to portray childhood best friends as childhood best friends has been incredibly special and has definitely deepened the connection between these characters,” Kevorkian said. 

Tickets are on sale now on the Fine Arts Box Office page, with tickets being $21 for adults and $16 for seniors, 62+, and students.  The show is recommended for ages 16 and up. Sunday’s show will begin at 2 p.m. with the others beginning at 7:30 p.m. 

“This show invites the audience to join Alice in finding the hope where it seems there is none,” Kevorkian said. 

News Reporter Kaylee Hawkins can be reached at kaylee.hawkins407@topper.wku.edu.

Caden Lucas, sophomore Vice President of the Pre-Law Student Association, has been working behind the scenes with Julie Shadoan, Professional Legal Studies program coordinator, organization advisor and professor at WKU, to ensure the event runs smoothly.

Lucas said that over 15 legal professionals will be at the event. Light refreshments will also be provided for attendees.

“The Pre-Law Student Association has never done anything explicitly like this, especially in partnership with the Department of Political Science,” Lucas said. “So, we’re really excited for this partnership and to be able to offer this opportunity to students.”

Students will have the capability to come to this event to “network and engage” in conversation with attorneys, paralegals, judges and other legal professionals, according to Lucas. These professionals will speak about their work in the legal field and the journey they took to get to where they are today.

Lucas said the event is a great opportunity for students to figure out what the legal field is all about. Students will gain a better understanding of what certain legal careers look like; especially careers they may not have considered before.

Students will have the “exclusive opportunity” to discuss with professionals one-on-one about what a legal profession looks like, and what students should do to get there, according to Lucas.

Lucas said this event is a great way to expose students both within and outside the department to the broad variety of opportunities the Pre-Law Student Association and the Political Science Department have to offer.

The event will be held on Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Mahurin Honors College multipurpose room, room 1011.

News Reporter Abigail Vickers can be contacted at abigail.vickers153@topper.wku.edu.

Hudes is the Pulitzer and Tony-winning writer of “In the Heights” and “Water by the Spoonful” and creator of “Emancipated Stories.” She was raised in a tight-knit Puerto Rican family that had a heavy emphasis on heritage.

“Puerto Rico never leaves us, that granular irritant scrapes at our insides so far from its original shore,” Hudes said in her speech. “That sand knocks around until we’re a homesick family with guts full of pearls.”

Family and heritage are something that Hudes emphasized during her speech. She spoke of her Tio [Uncle] George and his service in the Marines, her stepfather walking to school everyday barefoot, her mother giving her baths for her depression and, most importantly she said, her Titi [Aunt] Jenny washing the rice before cooking it.

“This way our dinner always began with a baptism,” Hudes said about the washing of the rice. “By this method, as if finger-raking a Japanese rock garden, Titi Jenny touches every grain before it hits the oil that has been heating on the stove. That is how our pot gets filled. One grain at a time.”

Hudes also spoke about her cousin, Sean Ortiz. When Ortiz was previously incarcerated, Hudes said she and her cousins formed “Emancipated Stories,” a “writing project bridging two populations: those inside the justice system and those outside it,” according to Hudes’ website. 

When speaking on the future of “Emancipated Stories” and other advocacy projects to the Herald, Hudes said, “I think it would be beautiful for it to end up as a collection one day, like a published book. It’s a little hard to get the permissions from all the authors who are like scattered like seeds on the wind across the nation.”

The “My Broken Language” author also talked about her connection to art and how it tied into her cultural background and heritage during the speech. Her writing has always harkened back to her elders, she said. She based “Elliot, A Soldier’s Figure” on her tio’s experience in the Marines, and so much of the culture of “In the Heights” originated from her experiences with her Puerto Rican family.

“As I mentioned, there’s a lot of fighters in my family,” Hudes told the Herald about her approach to living and working as a writer in the current political climate. “I have a softer approach a little bit. I did learn that. I think it comes naturally from my abuela, like she was a soft-spoken lady, and so her acts of radical questioning of the status quo came in very gentle and discreet and sneaky ways.” 

Hudes also spoke personally about her thoughts on legacy and what it means to her. 

“What communities have the most perspectives representing them? Same with income brackets, same with gender,” Hudes said.“You know, I think about these things a lot, and so when I think about legacy, the real goal that my heart pushes towards is just a sense of taking up more space on the library shelves.” 

Hudes emphasized the importance of her legacy to those who come from similar backgrounds and whose people have similar histories.

“The truth is, I’ve never held Broadway in any particular esteem,” Hudes said. “Its nickname is the great white way after all, and I descend from a colonized people. So what, then, was the dream?” 

Hudes did not ask the audience that question, instead asking it of herself. In answering this questions, she talked of dreams that came and went over time and of the many things she hoped for over the years but said there was only one dream that stuck.

“The dream that outlives them all, the dream that fits in my pocket and stays there for years, through loads of laundry, is that grain of rice, like a breadcrumb I follow every day, on a trail leading I don’t know where,” Hudes said.

News Reporter Malone Farmer can be reached at james.farmer674@topper.wku.edu. 

Each year, history professors and staff on campus bake various dishes from different time periods associated with the subject they teach. Desserts are showcased to educate students on history and bring them together on a common interest: food.

“What a lot of people do not realize, even students, is that what we eat and how we eat has a lot to do with history,” David Serafini, history instructor, said.

Dishes included an 1850s mock apple pie, wacky cake, lime salad, fudge, waldonys in syrup, traditional Gerry Adam’s chocolate cake, 1930s spam fiesta bake and more.

Each student in attendance could vote on their favorite and least favorite dessert. 

Serafini, who is trained in 20th-century United States history,won the competition for best dessert with a Kool-Aid Pie, a  dish made from pie crust, Kool-aid, sweetened condensed milk and Cool Whip that boomed in popularity during the 1970s.

Hannah Vincent, freshman history and anthropology double major, tried a blue raspberry pie while at the event. 

“Honestly, it’s very sour, but I like it,” Vincent said.

Jennifer Hanley’s, history professor,  pickled cheesecake took the prize for “most likely to cause dysentery.” Hanley specializes in late 19th and early 20th-century history of the. Her dish was voted least favorite among students.

“The pickled cheesecake is awful,” Claire Davis, sophomore graphic design major, said.

Several students in attendance received extra credit for attending the event. Emma Johnson, freshman music education major, went with her friends.

“This [event] seemed like the most interesting because it’s food,” Johnson said.

News Reporter Maegan Hale can be reached at maegan.hale446@topper.wku.edu. 

WKU Opportunity Fund

Caboni shared progress on the WKU Opportunity Fund which, according to him, “established a critical pathway to ensure every student at WKU could have the full college experience.”

The fund has increased since it was established in 2018, starting with a goal of $50 million. After it was reached, the goal was raised to $100 million in 2021. Caboni announced in his address that the fund has surpassed the goal again, with more than $102 million, establishing 267 new endowed scholarships. 

“We more than doubled the initial vision we established for the fund, and it changes lives,” Caboni said.

According to Caboni, the fund has provided 20,205 students with private scholarship support since its implementation. 

The Mahurin Honors College

Caboni detailed plans to appoint a task force to consider revisions regarding curriculum and programming within the Honors College. 

“Since its creation, the Mahurin Honors College has provided outstanding opportunities for students seeking to challenge themselves academically,” Caboni said. “It has been instrumental in attracting high-potential and high-achieving students to WKU, and it differentiates us from other universities through the community and support it provides honors scholars. However, 17 years after its establishment, the College remains very much the same as when it was founded.”

He said the task force will consider ideas such as how to embed the honors curriculum in each college, expand the honors self-designed studies process, look into replacement options for the Honors College LLC and more. 

Caboni also paid tribute to Craig Cobane, former executive director of the Mahurin Honors College who died in May, calling Cobane a “respected colleague, mentor, advocate, teacher, and, most importantly, a cherished friend.”

Caboni noted the Board of Regents’ decision to honor Cobane by renaming the office suites in the Honors College and International Center after Cobane. 

R2 institution status

In efforts to become Kentucky’s first Carnegie-classified high research institution, R2 for short, Caboni said he has asked academic leadership to “think critically” about the PhD programs WKU may begin to offer.

“PhDs in programs like Disaster Sciences, Rural Leadership Policy Studies, AI/Data Analytics, all for example, could build upon our existing resources and successes and position us to be an innovative leader nationally and among Kentucky’s research institutions,” Caboni said.

Caboni said WKU is “well on our way” to increase research expenditures to $40 million. He said last year, WKU received $28,690,920 in total external funding. 

He also said he plans to convene a task force to explore creating an interdisciplinary school focused on AI, computational studies and data analytics. 

“The foundation for this school exists, but we must do more to differentiate ourselves regionally, be more competitive nationally and capitalize on the booming fields of artificial intelligence and big data,” Caboni said.

Enrollment and retention

Caboni described the class of 2028 as one of WKU’s “most talented first-year classes,” with an average GPA of 3.45. He also noted that total enrollment for the fall semester is up 1.2% from last year.

Caboni said over the last six years, overall student retention increased by 8.1%, which makes the total rate 79%, one percentage point below his 80% goal. 

Within the overall increase, Caboni said retention among minority students and low-income students in the past six years increased by 16.9% and 7.9%, respectively. 

Caboni additionally shared retention statistics of those involved in Living Learning Communities and said students “best succeed” when they engage in LLCs. 

“Our fall 2023 LLC students returned this spring at 4.5 percentage points higher than non-LLC participants, and preliminary data for this fall indicates a retention rate 8.1 percentage points higher during the past three years,” Carboni said. 

According to Caboni, 782 incoming first-time, first-year students are participating in an LLC this semester. 

“Our collective efforts to ensure the success of every one of our students are truly remarkable,” Caboni said. 

Campus changes

Caboni said “the restoration of our Hilltop” was completed this summer, which he said enhances accessibility, improves pedestrian circulation and generates new greenspace. 

“Now, The Commons at Helm Library, the Colonnade, Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center, Potter Hall, Van Meter Hall, Gordon Wilson Hall and Cherry Hall create an oval academical village, returning the top of our Hill to the original design envisioned by President Cherry and our founding architects,” Caboni said.

Caboni noted the opening of the Soccer/Softball complex last September. He additionally mentioned ongoing facility projects such as the new Gordon Ford College of Business building, the remodeled press box, which is set to open this fall, and the Hilltopper Fieldhouse, planned to open next fall. 

WKU received $160 million for the replacement of the Academic Complex, where the College of Health and Human Services is located. Caboni said the planning and design phase for the project began this summer, and construction is scheduled to begin next summer.

Caboni also said renovation on Cherry Hall is scheduled to begin next fall.

“As guardians of this space, we have a responsibility to both maintain our picturesque campus and to constantly reimagine how it might support the needs of tomorrow, ensuring that it serves our students, our faculty, our staff and our broader community for generations to come,” Caboni said.

Campus achievement

Caboni noted achievements made by WKU Forensics, the Big Red Marching Band and students who competed in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program. 

“Our Hilltoppers continue to excel both inside and outside of the classroom,” Caboni said. 

He said WKU Forensics won the National Forensics Association national title and was named the state champion at the Kentucky Forensics Association state championship for the 32nd consecutive year. 

“Not only is WKU Forensics unmatched statewide, but we are also without equal anywhere in the nation,” Caboni said.

Next, Caboni mentioned the Big Red Marching Band’s opportunity to perform in the London New Year’s Day Parade. According to Caboni, the band is the largest in Kentucky, with over 300 members. 

Caboni also mentioned WKU’s sixth-place finish in the Hearst’s overall intercollegiate national competition. This win marked the 31st consecutive top-eight finish.

Several awards the institution received last year were additionally highlighted by Caboni, including $5.8 million awarded to the WKU Lifeskills Center for Child Welfare Education and Research, over $3 million to the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, more than $1.3 million to WKU to support K-12 principal apprenticeships through Project ELEVATE and $2.1 million as one of eight institutions participating in CLIMBS, an effort funded by the National Science Foundation.

During the 2023-24 academic year, WKU invested over $860,000 in institutionally awarded scholarships for more than 400 students to study abroad, according to Caboni.

“WKU consistently leads the commonwealth in nationally competitive study abroad scholarships,” Caboni said. “With $355,000 earned in study abroad scholarships this year, the Office of Scholar Development continues to open doors and expand horizons for all WKU students.”

Caboni said WKU was recognized as a top producer nationally by the Gilman Scholarship and Boren Awards programs.

First-generation students

Caboni said during the 2023-24 academic year, over 700 first-generation students were involved in university-appointed programming. He said this year, this will develop through First to the Hill Academy, an initiative modeled after ISEC Academy. 

“Targeted resources, mentorship and community-building initiatives remain essential to ensuring these students not only persist, but graduate, setting them on a path to long-term success,” Caboni said.

Spirit of WKU

Marko Dumančić, assistant provost, director for the Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning and associate professor of history was announced by Caboni as the Spirit of WKU Award Winner. 

Caboni said Dumančić has made the History Department more inclusive, was awarded the 2017 Faculty Award for Teaching, published several research articles, authored an award-winning book, played a major role in developing LLCs, is a founding member of the committee behind WKU’s annual Lavender Recognition Ceremony and provides active leadership for WKU’s F1rst Gen initiatives.

“He works to ensure that all students know they belong at WKU, and he has an unwavering commitment to student success,” Caboni said.

Caboni concluded the address by thanking the audience for their attendance.

“We have many successes to celebrate as an institution and many more to celebrate in the future,” Caboni said.

Content Editor Ali Costellow can be reached at ali.costellow453@topper.wku.edu 

The regents met at the Commons at Helm Library on Thursday for their annual retreat, discussing plans and updates for the academic year. During a presentation on the university’s budget model from Susan Howarth, executive vice president for strategy, operations and finance, and Corinne Murphy, dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Kurtz spoke up.

Kurtz said that a friend of his working in the biotechnology center told him before the retreat began that he and his fellow student workers were told that some of the funds allocated for the jobs they had in 2023 will not return in 2024. Kurtz said this could mean other funds for research could be cut to continue to pay student workers or fewer student workers will be hired. 

Throughout WKU, areas have been ordered to cut spending by 7.5% from the budget that the regents approved in June to help close a gap between revenues and expenditures. It is among several measures the university is taking, including imposing a 10% “overhead charge” on revenue generated by areas that must cover their costs with money they bring in.

Overall, Kurtz said, he is concerned that WKU’s budget challenges could affect student workers’ jobs and the quality of work they are able to do.

“Isn’t that the point of why we’re all here, to look out for the students?” Kurtz asked. “How is that something that no one is talking about?”

He later said that during a dinner for the regents Thursday evening, he was told by David Brown, dean of Ogden College of Science and Engineering, that funding for some student jobs could be restored later in the year, and that they are not cutting student workers.

During the retreat, President Timothy Caboni said that he doesn’t want the board to lose sight of students being considered first, every single day.

“Anyone who doesn’t believe that, you can come talk to me and we’ll figure it out,” Caboni said.

Terrance Brown, dean of Potter College of Arts and Letters (PCAL), told Kurtz that individual units within the college operate off a zero-based budget, where each unit zeroes out at the end of each year. Student workers fall into a “personnel” category in these units, so at the end of every year the units can submit requests to find out what funds they can get in return based on their performance.

Some units use a large amount of student workers, which can cause fluctuations in resources for all of the units: some may get an increase while others don’t.

Another problem, Terrance Brown said, is that PCAL specifically can’t get student workers to apply for the positions they currently have.

“We have a photography position right now that we’ve tried to promote and promote and promote, and we have not been able to secure workers,” Brown said. “So if there’s a messaging way, something like that, that we can engage students better so they know about those opportunities, we would love to know that. Because I think that’s some of the disconnect here.”

Caboni said that WKU has hundreds of student worker positions currently unfilled.

“Not all student jobs, as much as I hate to say it, are going to develop your career, be a resume changer (or) be a connection to the real world that you’ll need after college,” Kurtz said.

Caboni encouraged any student that is nervous about their campus job to reach out to their respective dean and share their concerns.

“Our deans are caring people,” Caboni said.

After the retreat, Kurtz spoke with the Herald and shared that he was disappointed with the responses he received from administrators and the deans.

He said that if a specific student job is always getting filled up, meaning it is popular with students, then it should have protection from cuts.

“I just wanted to hear somebody say, ‘We will make sure the student worker positions we had last year are not going away, and that we’ll continue to grow those positions if the need and the desire for those positions continues to grow,’” Kurtz said.

Instead, Kurtz said that he feels the responses he got were “cookie-cutter” answers that bounced around his main concern.

“It was almost like the question was a hot potato, and they were throwing it across the room,” Kurtz said. “It wasn’t, like, completely frustrating. It was just, in a way, not what I immediately expected. And in that way, it was a little bit disappointing for sure.”

Kurtz said that he thinks if the board and administration improves on their ability to share with the campus how their decisions will affect everyone, then the university can start moving toward a hybrid approach in how it views the university: on both a holistic scale and an individual scale.

“If you’re looking at it from the space view, it might only be five or 10 students,” Kurtz said. “But you know, those are still five to 10 students that are Hilltoppers and that need opportunities.”

Even with his concerns, Kurtz said he thinks WKU is in a great spot, and he trusts the leadership.

“I kind of want us to steer right back into, ‘Yes, of course we’ll prefer the students,” he said. “I feel like that’s what we should always be doing in a way.”

News reporter Cameron Shaw can be reached at cameron.shaw555@topper.wku.edu.