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The other side Donors down, dollars up Should Caboni’s contract be renewed?
5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Print edition published two times each semester by WKU Student Publications at Western Kentucky University. First copy: free | Additional copies: $5
EDITORIAL BOARD
Price Wilborn
Editor-in-Chief
Ali Costellow
Content Editor
Eli Randolph
Photo Editor
Jake McMahon
Sports Editor
Bailey Reed
Newsletter Editor
Shelbi Bale
Design Editor
Cameron Shaw
Assistant Content Editor
Adin Parks
Assistant Photo Editor
Emmy Libke
Multimedia Editor
OTHER LEADERS AND ADVISERS
Nicole Johnson
Cherry Creative Director
Carrie Pratt
Herald Adviser
Avari Stamps
Advertising Advisor and Sales Manager
Keelin Davis
Advertising Manager
Chuck Clark Student Publications Director
POLICIES
Opinions expressed in the College Heights Herald are those of student editors and journalists and do not necessarily represent the views of WKU. Student editors determine all news and editorial content, and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: herald.opinion@wku.edu
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Letter from the Editor
The First Amendment shaped my time on the Hill
When I first came to WKU, one of the only things I knew I wanted to do was write for the campus newspaper.
I started as a commentary writer in August 2021, where my job was to write opinion pieces. I loved it because I got to write about things I was passionate about while trying my hand at new ways of research and reporting. I then became commentary editor, serving on the editorial board, leading the opinion staff, posting letters from the editor, and writing the editorials we published as an editorial board.
I applied to be editor-in-chief because I had an opportunity to lead in the newsroom in a new and challenging way. I was selected for the role last spring, and from that moment on, my life changed.
As a member of the editorial board, I was vaguely familiar with the role of editor-in-chief and the Herald’s role as the best watchdog of the university. I quickly learned as editor not only how important that watchdog role is, but also the importance of telling stories that accurately reflect WKU’s campus.
That’s what’s driven me in my time as editor. I’ve sought to tell stories about the people who make WKU the magical place it is, and I’ve worked to hold WKU’s leadership accountable not because I want to highlight its shortcomings but because I want to help make this university better. While showing me the importance of free speech and an independent newspaper, leading this newsroom has also shown me that those we seek to hold accountable will consistently try to impede our work.
I’ve seen firsthand how those in power at the university aren’t necessarily pleased when we’re successful in our watchdog role. I’ve experienced
Photo by Carrie Pratt
their anger at our reporting and how they’d rather we were an extension of their public relations apparatus. But that’s not the role of the Herald, and that isn’t the role of a news organization in the United States.
The First Amendment ensures Americans have the freedoms of religion, press, assembly, speech and petition. This role has shown me that freedom of the press is one of the most important of those freedoms. A free press is one of the things that makes our democracy, and our university, work. Not only are citizens kept informed about their government and the issues that impact them, but those in power are held accountable because the press shines light on both their successes and their failures.
This accountability is vital to the institution’s success, and news organizations like the Herald are crucial in pursuing it. We at the Herald pursue truth and accountability because we love this university.
WKU and the opportunities it has brought have changed me. I’m the friend, citizen and leader I am today
because of the people I’ve found on the Hill. I’ve worked to hold WKU leadership accountable because each Hilltopper deserves to have these same life-changing experiences.
The First Amendment is vital to our democracy and to American personhood. It’s impossible to capture it all, but in this issue, we’ve tried to capture a fraction of that here on our campus.
The College Heights Herald changed my life. Being editor has been the highlight of my time at WKU, and it’s been even more special leading the newsroom in its centennial year. It’s given me a new outlook on life and leadership that I’ll be forever grateful I received. It’s taught me more than I ever thought I would know.
Thank you for going on this journey with me. For the last time from me, happy reading.
Price Wilborn Editor-in-Chief
The other side
Jace Lux on creating the university’s public face
Story by Natalie Freidhof
Photos by Eli Randolph
When tornadoes rip through Bowling Green, campus operations suddenly change or when a building ribbon cutting occurs, Jace Lux maintains control through the chaos.
Lux serves as WKU’s director of media relations and university spokesperson. He is in his fifth year as the liaison between the university and media, where he collaborates with the press to inform the WKU and Bowling Green communities about campus happenings.
Often, his job entails responding to inquiries from media outlets. Lux either answers inquiries directly or connects the media to someone more informed who can answer their questions.
“I think sometimes there’s a misconception that I know each and every little thing that’s going on at the university, and that’s certainly not the case,” Lux said.
Director of Environmental Health and Safety David Oliver and WKU Police Department Chief Mitch Walker are common contacts Lux refers reporters to.
Lux also reaches out to the media himself for sig -
nificant events he believes are of interest. Communicating regularly with local news, including WBKO, WNKY, WKYU, the Bowling Green Daily News, the College Heights Herald, News Channel 12 and several radio stations, Lux uses national and state distribution lists in addition to his regional contacts to match the breadth of a story.
“I try to respond quickly because I know the media works on a deadline generally,” Lux said. “I try to respond as thoroughly as possible so that our community is as informed as they can be about what’s going on at the university.”
His role as university spokesperson tacks on additional duties. Lux writes press releases, drafts speeches and helps to plan events.
“Most of those big events that take place at the university do have a media component to them,” Lux said.
Lux plans events with the media in mind, ensuring that they are well-integrated. He considers where interviews occur and whether to bring media before the event to gather b-roll and photos.
Lux works within the Office of Communications and
- Jace Lux “
To be able to play a role in telling the WKU story and highlight the great things that our students do is extremely important”
Jace Lux is the director of media relations and Western Kentucky University spokesperson. He is the media’s first contact for all things WKU. “I try to connect people with the best person to answer their question,” Lux said.
Marketing, but he doesn’t necessarily work with a “team.” He and Vice President for Strategic Communications and Media Relations Andrea Hales are the only media relations staff.
WKU Athletics has a separate media relations staff that occasionally works with Lux and Hales.
“I certainly know, in comparison to other universities our size, it’s a pretty small staff,” Lux said. “That’s okay, we get the job done.”
Working for a university introduces unique parameters for media connections.
“WKU is an organization that is largely supported by state funding, and so that means that the university is subject to just different laws and regulations than maybe a private company would,” Lux said.
Universities are subject to open records requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). FOIA requests are processed by the WKU General Counsel.
As a university spokesperson, Lux is obligated to respond to information requests.
“If it’s information that is directly related to the university, I think the university has a responsibility to respond,” Lux said.
However, he clarified that there are times when a response is not appropriate.
“There’s a lot of pressure on organizations… to have an opinion on a particular issue,” Lux said. “We typically don’t weigh in on issues that aren’t central to our academic mission.”
Lux used the example
of the university retaining neutrality last year amid student protests when Kyle Rittenhouse came to speak on campus.
“There was a student group on campus who chose to bring a speaker to campus who was a controversial speaker,” Lux said. “There was a lot of discussion about First Amendment and freedom of speech that was involved there. Oftentimes on a university campus, there will be opinions with which you disagree, but those opinions are protected, just like
your own opinion is.”
Lux expressed that he is often questioned about how proposed legislation could affect campus operations. He said answers to those hypothetical questions would be mere speculation with little weight, as many bills that are introduced never pass. There are some, however, that can warrant a response from the university.
“Now there is legislation that does affect higher education in Kentucky, and so we do speak to that,” Lux said.
Lux said that the university does not comment to adamantly agree or disagree, but instead to introduce what operational changes to expect under new legislation.
Statements on sensitive topics are similarly classified. Comments on campus-wide crises like criminal activity or student and faculty deaths are kept brief.
“Those are times when even though a response may be requested, there are reasons why the university won’t respond either way,” Lux said.
Both situations require delicacy, either to not jeopardize an ongoing investigation or out of respect for family members.
In the case of student and faculty deaths, academic colleges typically issue their own memorial statements. Each college has its own designated communications coordinator, but often, faculty pitch in. According to Lux, academic colleges can craft a more personalized message than the university as a whole.
Lux said that although deaths within the university
community are an unfortunate reality, he is thankful for the lack of widespread crises during his time in his position. Planning press conferences in response to these crises is his responsibility, yet it is not a responsibility he has had to put into practice often.
“The last time we did a full-blown press conference was when the university announced that it was going to have to shut down for COVID,” Lux said.
Lux has had a long history working at WKU.
“I’ve worked at WKU since I graduated, if you don’t include a few months of waiting tables at Rafferty’s.”
After graduating from WKU in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication, he was imme-
diately hired as an assistant coach for WKU Forensics. After rising through the ranks to assistant director and then director, he left the team in 2014 to enter the role of director of admissions. Bob Skipper, Lux’s predecessor as university spokesperson, retired in 2021, leaving Lux to move into the position.
Despite the inherent challenges in the job, Lux said he enjoys his work.
“Some days are much more challenging than others, but overall, I do really like what I’m doing,” Lux said. “A lot of what I do is fun, and I don’t think everyone can say they have fun at their job.”
Lux now lives in Bowling Green with his wife and two sons. He anticipates that he will spend his entire career
with the university.
“WKU is a very important place to me, and so to be able to play a role in telling the WKU story and highlight the great things that our students do is extremely important,” Lux said.
“I hear things that our students have done on a daily or weekly basis that are just kind of mind-blowing,” Lux continued. “It’s like, wow, they’re 19, 20 years old and they did that? I think we want to do everything we can to make sure the community is also proud of them.”
News Reporter Natalie Freidhof can be reached at natalie.freidhof407@topper. wku.edu.
ABOVE: Lux attends a meeting in Cherry Hall to discuss an open house event planned for later in the semester to unveil renderings of renovations to the building on Monday, March 31, 2025. Lux handles any and all items related to the media including press conferences set up.
LEFT: Jace Lux enters Wetherby Administration building, where his office is housed, after attending a meeting on Monday, March 31, 2025. “A lot of my job is meetings,” Lux said. “If it involves the media, I’m there.”
Use your voice!
Opinion by Emma Hardesty
Every day, I wake up to more news about our country being stripped of what makes it beautiful. Sometimes, I stare at my phone screen and wonder if it will ever get better.
But then I remember – the only thing that can make it better is to stand up for the country we love and advocate for what is right. With so much going on in the political scene, it can be hard to determine what is most important to speak out about. However, utilizing the First Amendment right to free speech is vital amidst the chaos.
Firing of National Park Service employees
The Trump Administration fired roughly 1,000 National Park Service (NPS) employees in February, according to Inside Climate News. NPR explained that this mass firing was an effort to downsize the federal government.
While the NPS was later allowed to rehire the employees, according to the Associated Press, this mass firing still sets a bad precedent.
The NPS is essential to preserving America’s gorgeous natural landscapes and resources. Not only does the NPS aid in preserving these locations, but it also allows citizens to explore natural landscapes and educate themselves on the flora and fauna that call these lands home.
One NPS employee was outspoken about the Trump administration’s decisions. Brian Gibbs, an educational park ranger at Effigy Mounds
National Monument, expressed his disdain in an Instagram post.
“I am a father, a loving husband, and dedicated civil servant,” Gibbs wrote. “I am an oath of office to defend and protect the constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic. I am the ‘fat on the bone.’ I am being trimmed as the consequence of the popular vote. But mostly, I’m just tired. I am tired from weeks of being bullied and censored by billionaires.” Gibbs was rehired in March, but that doesn’t make what happened to him and hundreds like him acceptable.
To take more employees away from this already understaffed service was cruel. The future of the NPS looks more and more shaky, and we need to advocate to protect this vital part of our nation.
Dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March titled “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy.” According to the White House website, the goal of the executive order is to reduce various agencies’ functions and staff down to “the minimum presence and function required by law.”
One such agency listed in the executive order is the Institute of Museum and Library Services. According to the institution’s website, its goal is to “advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development.”
According to the Associated Press, the Institute of Museum and Library Services distributes over $200 million annually to various museums and libraries. This money is used to fund things like providing digital resources to patrons, according to NPR.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is an important funding source for museums and libraries nationwide, and it’s terrible to see it under fire. Libraries and museums are so important in providing resources and education to people while enriching the nation’s culture. Speak up on the importance of museums and libraries. Visit these institutions. Check out their materials. Buy something silly from a museum gift shop. Whatever you can do to help support museums and libraries, do it.
Tariffs on the bourbon industry
On April 2, a baseline tariff of 10% was announced for all imports to the United States, the Wall Street Journal reported. In addition, other nations received a “discounted reciprocal tariff,” which gave nations that were considered “bad actors” higher rates.
While the tariffs will cause harm to all United States citizens, as a Kentucky resident, I’m most alarmed about how they will affect the bourbon industry.
According to NBC News, American-made alcohol is being removed from Canadian store shelves as retali-
5 current issues to speak up on
retaliation for tariffs on Canadian goods.
Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers Association, told NPR that Kentucky spirits exported to Canada were worth $89 million in 2023.
Bourbon imports to Canada alone are a big money maker for the commonwealth. If the bourbon industry will be collateral in a war of tariffs, Kentucky natives need to be alert. Much of Kentucky’s economy heavily relies on the massive bourbon industry. As someone whose family relies upon the industry to survive, I won’t lie – I’m terrified.
My dad, Alex Hardesty, works at Glenmore Distillery in Owensboro. The distillery is operated by Sazerac, which provides notable bourbons, including Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare and Blantons.
“The tariffs do concern me, that (they) would definitely stymie the export of bourbon to customers outside of the U.S. This would have negative economic impact on the distillers and negatively impact the world’s view of Kentucky.”
These tariffs will deeply affect the lives of hundreds of Kentuckians. There are so many families out there like mine – families who rely upon the bourbon industry for their livelihood. The bourbon industry is vital to Kentucky, and we cannot afford to have it in shambles.
Closing the Department of Education
Trump signed an executive order in March titled “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities.” As
described by the White House, one of the primary goals of the executive order is “Closing the Department of Education and Returning Authority to the States.” The same section of the order describes dismantling the department “to the maximum extent appropriate.”
There are four major focuses of the department. It creates policies related to federal financial aid and distributes these funds. It collects data regarding education and shares it with Congress. It identifies major issues in education and focuses national attention on them. Finally, it ensures equal access to education for all Americans by prohibiting discrimination in programs that receive federal funding.
But most important to college students is the Office of Federal Student Aid, located within the department. This office facilitates FAFSA and the loans and grants students earn through it. According to its website, the office provides “more than $120 billion in federal grants, work‑study funds, and loans each year to more than 9.9 million students paying for college or career school.”
With all these important functions being performed by the Department of Education, it’s shocking to see Trump try to break apart such a fundamental institution.
The department is fundamental to providing financial support to those who need it and advocating for equal quality of education. We cannot allow it to be taken away.
Legalized conversion therapy in Kentucky
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed
an executive order in September outlawing the use of conversion therapy on minors. Conversion therapy is an attempt to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity to conform to the norm, according to Kentucky.gov.
This executive order was overturned in March when lawmakers passed House Bill 495, which protects conversion therapy and outlaws using Medicaid to pay for gender affirming care.
“Conversion therapy has been discredited by every major medical organization that’s looked at it,” Beshear said in response to the order being overturned. “It significantly increases the chances of suicide amongst our LGBTQ+ youth. It is equivalent of torture, and we should not be allowing it to happen here in the commonwealth. Those are children of God that deserve our protection.”
You don’t need to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community to see that this is terrible. No one should have to conform to identities harmfully pushed onto them.
Our voices are important. In this time of uncertainty and confusion, they’re the most important tool we have. Use them.
Commentary Writer Emma Hardesty can be reached at emma.hardesty162@topper.wku.edu
Freedom of Religion
chaplain/director for
preaching a homily about having a personal relationship with Jesus during Ash Wednesday Mass at the
March 5, 2025.
Fr. Jason McClure,
the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Newman Center, points towards the crucifix while
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Newman Center in Bowling Green, Ky. on
“Establishing the prayer is an absolutely crucial part of being a Muslim,” WKU alumni Imam Brula, who attended the prayer, said. “A core principle which is to be enacted out. It is not very difficult to ‘pray.’ One can pray alone as well, but Jum’ah is the building block go take the ritual of prayer to the next step. Inviting others to Jum’ah, going in a public area, praying with others and listening to a speech. All these aspects of Jum’ah is slowly making the prayer a more active duty. This is then just a stepping stone to training oneself to enacting worship in all aspects of life. Even a smile can be worship.”
Students and faculty practice religion on campus
Photos and Story by Dominic Di Palermo
As students and staff actively practice their religion on the Hill amid their pursuit of a higher education, it’s not uncommon to see students across campus engaging in evangelism, prayer, religious meetings or discussions, something protected by the First Amendment.
According to a February New York Times report, a Pew research study found that young Americans born between 2000 and 2006 appear “no less religious than survey participants in the second-youngest cohort, born in the 1990s.”
Various organizations on WKU’s campus provide a home for students of the Jewish, Catholic, Islamic, and Christian faiths. While there are a wider number of religious affiliations on
campus, an effort was made to capture a diverse range of religious registered student organizations.
Over the course of six weeks, four religious events and organizations were photographed, documenting the variety of religious practice on the Hill:
• Ash Wednesday celebrated the beginning of the Lenten fast for Catholics during the Easter season.
• Protestant campus ministries, like the Baptist Campus Ministry, Cru and Hilltoppers for Christ sought to evangelize and encourage spiritual conversations by writing the Gospel of John with chalk throughout campus.
• The Muslim Student Association shared its faith through its routine Friday prayer, which included a lesson on the Quran.
• Finally, the Seder dinner celebrated the Passover for Jewish faculty and Bowling Green residents.
Religious freedom remains a prominent part of the lives of many Hilltoppers. Many, united in their shared faiths, join together in communities, tenets of each of the religions captured here. Faculty and students continue to encourage interaction between these groups to foster greater understanding and empathy.
Staff Photographer Dominic Di Palermo can be reached at dominic.dipalermo380@topper.wku.edu.
BCM members Haley Hill, freshman, and Meg Golden, sophomore, embrace while praying for WKU’s campus after they joined about 65-70 students from different Christian campus ministries to write all 21 chapters (879 verses) of the Gospel of John on Monday, March 11, 2025. The chalk reached from just outside Grise Hall to the Preston Health and Activities Center. “My biggest piece of advice would be to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus,” Hill said. “Stay in his word and prayer daily because life is hard and school can be hard too. Things will happen that you have no control over, but just know he is in control. When you are constantly pursuing Jesus, he will lead you.”
Professor of History and Jewish Studies Timothy Quevillon grabs a piece of Matzah bread during the reading of the Haggadah while celebrating Seder with the Jewish Hilltoppers in the Honors College and International Center on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Matzah is unleavened bread eaten traditionally during the Passover holiday. “Jews are minority wherever, unless it’s Israel,” Quevillon said. “Especially being in Kentucky, where there’s so few of us, it’s nice to be able to engage in these social settings with students and faculty and staff who will go about our days typically not interacting with another Jew. And so when we get this chance to have community and enjoy the traditions we all shared.”
Junior Annie Qazi fixes her hijab while sophomore Rawa Sam prays next to her during the Muslim Student Association’s Jum’ah prayer in Cherry Hall on Friday, April 11, 2025. “Remembering my faith and god helps me stay focused and ambitious about not only the worldly life but also the hereafter,” Qazi said. “My advice to anyone regarding their faith, irrespective of whichever religion, is to make time. Even for 30 seconds, to just be grateful.”
Catholic students and community members from the Bowling Green area receive ashes during Ash Wednesday Mass at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Newman Center in Bowling Green, Ky. on March. 5, 2025.
CONGRATULATIONS
to the Herald and Talisman on 100 years!
The Lexington Herald Leader is a proud sponsor of the Student Publications Centennial Celebration.
Cong rats to t he Herald and Talisman for 100 years of student jour nalism!
Kentucky Press Association is a proud sponsor of Student Publications Centennial Celebration.
Donors down, dollars up
Story by Cameron Shaw
Six years ago, WKU received more than $32 million in donations. In fiscal year 2024, when the university faced increasing budget challenges and private money was vital for the institution’s operations, the university brought in $12.5 million less.
According to a fundraising cash report the Herald obtained through a records request, the total philanthropic giving for fiscal year (FY) 2024 amounted to $19.5 million, a 4% decrease from the previous year. Since FY18, university philanthropic giving dropped 39% from over $32 million to $19.5 million.
Over those six years, the number of major gift donors (giving over $10,000) dropped by 13%, while the number of annual gift donors (giving under $10,000) dropped by 45%.
Amanda Trabue, WKU’s vice president for philanthropy and alumni engagement since June 2019, told the Herald in an interview that some may perceive these numbers as a gradual decline, but when looking at a fuller picture, the university is still on “an upward trajectory.”
According to data provided by Trabue, since FY12, philanthropic giving has increased by about 7%, with the lowest valley being $15.2 million in FY14 and the highest peak at $32.1 million in FY18.
WKU philanthropy in a new age
Trabue said the university’s top five fundraising years happened within the last 15 years.
According to Trabue, WKU Philanthropy had its top five fundraising years at the institution in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023. However, gifts received reports provided by Trabue point to FY16, FY17, FY18, FY19 and FY22 holding the top five spots since 2012.
According to updated guidelines, Trabue said her office’s reporting includes new qualified and documented bequests and legacy intentions, which would not be shown in the initial fundraising cash reports she provided.
“Realistically, from a standpoint for any philanthropic organization, you’re going to have ebbs and flows every year,” Trabue said.
The goal, Trabue emphasized, was to look at a trend line over time, not necessarily year over year, to identify if the university is on an upward trajectory.
“We continue to be on an upward trajectory, even when you factor in those significant gifts that will bump your numbers one way or the other,” Trabue said.
According to data the Herald obtained through records requests in February, WKU, Northern Kentucky
University and the University of Louisville saw an overall decline in total giving from 2018 to 2024, while the University of Kentucky, Murray State University and Eastern Kentucky University had an increase in total giving during that time.
Trabue cited several factors affecting giving yearly, including the stock market, government regulations and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There’s just so much at play that we’re having to respond to, and all of that affects philanthropy and charitable giving,” Trabue said.
Among the “headwinds” WKU Philanthropy faces, Trabue said, the pool of donors has dropped significantly by any given year.
“That’s a strong headwind that we have to face when we think about gifts,” Trabue said, “But those who are giving are giving more.”
The documents show that while smaller gift amounts decreased from FY12 to FY24, the total amount brought in through major donations increased by 54% in the same period.
“You’re seeing a lot of gifts come out, $100 million, $50 million, $25 million gifts that are coming from very wealthy individuals who now have made a lot of money in the past few years, who are being more charitable,” Trabue said. “So fewer
opportunities, fewer donors, more dollars.”
The College Heights Foundation (CHF), a separate nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is dedicated to the university and works alongside Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement by managing philanthropic funds with an emphasis on scholarships.
CHF President Donald Smith said he isn’t overly concerned about yearby-year drops in giving.
“I think in any given year, obviously you want to be concerned,” Smith said. “We want to make sure that we’re growing. It doesn’t overly concern me as long as, again, you see those peaks and valleys in those trends, which will bounce back in 2025 from that.”
On a national scale, although philanthropic donations to higher education institutions declined by 2.5% from 2023 to 2024, according to the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), total giving amounted to $58 billion, according to a February 2024 report.
“That so many individuals and organizations support colleges and universities indicates nationwide recognition of the immense value these institutions provide through transforming lives and society,” CASE President and CEO Sue Cunningham wrote in the report.
Trabue echoed the challenge philanthropy has to argue for the importance of higher education.
“There is a lot of concern and question around the value of a college degree, and so we are always having that conversation with our donors, talking about why it’s important to support the next generation, how it’s going to affect them, their families, their communities,” Trabue said. “So, really creating that value prop of why you can support, why you need to support higher education.”
Smith also emphasized the criticality of philanthropic support nationwide
and at WKU.
WKU would look much different without private donor support, Smith said. He pointed to the HouchensSmith Stadium addition, Guthrie Tower, and various labs, departments and programs, along with various endowed professorships and scholarships.
“I don’t think any institution across the country, and particularly WKU, can say that it’s not vitally important to have private support coming in to be able to make all those things possible,” Smith said.
However, as critically important as fundraising is for the university, Smith said, relationship-building is just as important.
“If you’re giving your resources, we need it to be more than transactional; it needs to be relational,” Smith said. “If you make that first gift and all of a sudden you’re not stewarded, or you don’t feel like it was used for the way that you wanted it to, you’re not likely going to make that second.”
Philanthropy has evolved over the years, Trabue said, but building oneto-one relationships is “still at the core of our business.”
“People talking to people will always be the cornerstone of the work that we do,” Trabue said.
New technologies like WKU’s AI virtual engagement officer Olivia, however, provide new ways for philanthropy officers to build relationships while increasing efficiency, Trabue said.
With a portfolio of around 1,000 WKU alumni and friends, Olivia is part of a new strategy that higher education institutions are utilizing to engage with donors.
Sporting a beige blazer and youthful appearance, Olivia says by engaging with her, donors aren’t only endorsing WKU’s pioneering leadership in AI for “social good” but also supporting nonprofits worldwide.
Trabue said in an email that this new
program “has the promise of extending personalized, relationship-driven outreach to more WKU supporters than ever possible through human capital alone.”
Olivia was developed by Givzey, a company that provides technology to empower organizations’ fundraising efforts. WKU was invited to collaborate with Givzey for the company’s second research and development cohort of higher education institutions and organizations.
Trabue said the university’s contract with Givzey was executed with and paid via funds from the College Heights Foundation, given the “innovative nature of the program.”
“University funds are not being used,” Trabue said.
The three-year contract requires WKU to pay $25,000 annually, totaling $75,000.
The program’s first outreach to potential donors began via email on March 17.
Cecelia Mason, a WKU alumnus (‘80), received an email from Olivia on March 24, requesting to hear her “WKU story.”
“I’m Olivia, a Virtual Engagement Officer at Western Kentucky University, and I’m reaching out to connect with our amazing community of alumni, parents, and friends,” the email stated. “WKU is built on the strength of its people, and I’d love to hear what inspires your connection to the Hill. Whether it’s cherished memories, a passion for education, or a desire to give back, your involvement helps shape the future of WKU and supports the next generation of Hilltoppers.”
Mason said she found Olivia’s outreach “impersonal.”
“They’re trying to engage people using AI to get them interested, but I’m not going to talk to a machine,” Mason said.
Mason said the common experience
alumni share compels them to give back to the university.
“I think that it’s that personal touch from people with that in common with you that creates the warm feelings to want to give back,” she said.
Smith encouraged innovation, saying, “The thing you can’t do is be an ostrich and stick your head in the sand and say, ‘I hope something changes.’”
As with many things, he said, time is going to tell.
“We know that it’s harder to reach people; we know it’s harder for them to connect,” Smith said. “But fundamentally, I think fundraising is about a relationship business, and how do we continue to make meaningful relationships?”
As WKU Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement continues its outreach and fundraising, Trabue said they need institutional investment.
“If you want to undergo a significant fundraising initiative over a period of time, it takes a significant amount of investment, and that comes from investing in the operations; that comes from investing in people,” Trabue said. “We have to be a part of that conversation from an institutional perspective.”
Assistant Content Editor Cameron Shaw can be reached at cameron.shaw555@topper.wku.edu.
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Should Caboni’s contract be renewed?
Editorial by Herald Editorial Board
Photo by Eli Randolph
Eight years ago, Timothy Caboni took charge of Western Kentucky University as its 10th president. Under his leadership, WKU has seen significant successes and limped through tough times.
Caboni’s contract is up for renewal again at the end of the academic year. As regents consider another four-year term for Caboni, it’s appropriate to examine his record.
When Caboni took office in 2017, he inherited a budget mess. Large amounts of construction left WKU with $200 million in debt. State lawmakers decreased the amount of state funding for the university for years while tuition rose. The previous administration had, in effect, kicked the can down the road for years on financial challenges.
Because of this, Caboni had to make hard decisions. The first Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP) was implemented in spring 2018, encouraging eligible faculty and staff to accept incentives to retire early.
Caboni’s first two years were marked by the abrupt resignation of Provost Terry Ballman following a vote of no confidence from the University Senate. Ballman’s resignation came eight months after she began at WKU and followed the sudden firing of then-Dean of the Potter College of Arts & Letters Larry Snyder. Following her resignation, Caboni kept Ballman on the university payroll as assistant to the president for special initiatives.
Despite a rocky start, Caboni has modernized WKU for today’s students.
The Commons and Garrett Plaza changed how students use the top of the Hill by providing more study space and expanding the offerings of WKU Libraries.
At the bottom of the Hill, Regents and Normal Halls host Living Learning Communities, which ease transition and create community for freshmen by housing them with like-minded students of the same major, concentration or college. This contributed to an increase in firstyear retention rates, which hit an all-time high of 78.3% in fall 2024.
Still, eight years in, the university continues to face budget problems — problems that Caboni must own.
WKU overspent its budget by nearly $15 million over the past two fiscal years, much of which is attributed to athletics, which overspent by more than $4.5 million in those two years. Other overspending units include the Division of Strategy, Operations and Finance in 2022-2023 and the Division of Enrollment and Student Experience in 2023-2024.
This overspending resulted in a lopsided overcorrection by the administration. Following the 20222023 overspend, all units, including those that did not overspend, were ordered to spend only 90% of their allocated budgets. The 2024-2025 budget had a similar restriction and allowed the implementation of a 10% overhead charge on de-
partments that generate their own revenue. To date, the university has yet to implement, or to even define, the overhead charge.
This financial strain has forced departments to scrape together the money needed to support students, faculty and staff.
Part of what has driven the financial challenges is a decline in enrollment. Recently, the administration has shifted its priorities to “net tuition revenue” over headcount enrollment.
Since peaking during the 20122013 academic year, enrollment decreased by 22.83%, including a 19.58% decrease during Caboni’s tenure. WKU was also the only Kentucky public university to see a decrease from fall 2023 to fall 2024.
This isn’t all Caboni’s fault. Data provided by the administration shows over 60% of those admitted to WKU in fall 2024 chose not to attend college anywhere.
Despite this, net tuition revenue increased. Assistant Vice President for Budget, Finance and Analytics Renaldo Domoney told the Herald in February that this revenue increased in fall 2024 and is expected to increase again next year. It’s yet to be seen if this is a long-term solution.
Increasing net tuition revenue will likely become more important. Since Caboni took office, the amount of money gifted to WKU and the number of donors have decreased, though philanthropy officials have said it is normal for donations to fluctuate yearly.
Fundraising is a priority to Caboni. He announced the WKU Opportunity Fund at his 2018 investiture, aiming to raise $50 million to support scholarships. In August 2021, Caboni announced the fund met its initial goal and increased it to $100 million. The fund met its goal in 2024 and has helped establish 267 endowed scholarships, according to the WKU Alumni Association website.
From philanthropy to enrollment and retention to WKU’s budget, Caboni’s record has been mixed. If his contract is renewed, we hope Caboni goes all-in on WKU.
First and foremost, he must be more present on campus. It’s crucial for students to have a president who engages with them, walks campus and makes them feel seen.
But students rarely see Caboni taking in life on the Hill. When they do, it’s even rarer to see the president without his public relations entourage. His connection with students
must go deeper.
Just as students need to see the president, the faculty and staff must, too. They deserve a president who appreciates their work.
In the past, Caboni has talked down to faculty and staff, telling them they wouldn’t understand the university’s budget. Though some have recently said they have seen improvement, Caboni is also rarely seen with professors and staff outside of formal settings.
Leadership also requires an acceptance of criticism. The sense that Caboni and his administration don’t value the input of the WKU community has created an atmosphere where students, faculty and staff don’t feel comfortable sharing their concerns. The administration says it values First Amendment freedoms; we ask Caboni to show it by openly welcoming opposing viewpoints.
Cultivating an environment where the most important members of the
WKU community do not feel comfortable speaking threatens to drive talented individuals away.
With these changes, Caboni could garner more respect and, in turn, invite the entire WKU community to feel they have a stake in the university’s future.
We encourage the Board of Regents to look deeply into Caboni’s record. Talk to students. Talk to faculty. Talk to staff. Reach out to the community that cares so much about WKU and invite them to share their thoughts.
The university is much different than it was eight years ago. There have been achievements, challenges and missteps. The question today: Where should it be four years from now?
If you would like to submit a reaction to this editorial, a Letter to the Editor or other submission, please send it to herald.opinion@wku.edu or wkuheraldeic@gmail.com.
President Caboni listens to incoming questions from the College Heights Herald editorial board during a meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024.
SOKY RENTALS OFFERS NEW APARTMENTS
As the semester comes to a close, some students are worrying about leases, apartments and where they’re going to live next year. SoKy Rentals apartments in Keystone Commons are one of the newest complexes in the area and are leasing premium units to students for next year.
Bella McKinney, a student at WKU, said she saw several apartments before she set her sights on SoKy. She liked that she would be the first person to live in the brand new apartment unit, and she said it was very reasonably priced for a student.
“I had been through a few other apartments, and I thought it was like how they say college apartments are. But (Keystone Commons) was new, and there weren’t any issues. And they’re very pretty,” McKinney said.
McKinney said that she loves how close the apartments are to campus because she likes being on campus early to get breakfast or be early for classes.
“I could leave my house and get there in five minutes. That’s a huge thing for
me because I’d rather drive to school,” she said.
McKinney said another reason she liked the SoKy apartments was how easy the process of moving in was for her as someone who had never lived in an apartment before.
“It was a very easy process to get approved and to move in. I was very scared, but it was pretty simple,” she said.
Marina Gibson, another student who lives at the Keystone Commons, said that she loved the apartment building. She said that it was a very nice place and liked how affordable her living space was with just one other person.
She said on top of loving her apartment space, the apartment manager and maintenance are always there for her when she needs them.
“When you call them they’re there for you. They’re good at being attentive to your needs,” Gibson said.
She said that they were very helpful when she was filling out the leasing forms, answered her questions and were
ver y communicative during the process. She said that she likes showing off her apartment to friends when they come over.
“I’m proud of it; we’ve made it a home,” Gibson said. “I like bringing guests to show the apartment, and they equally love it. They say, ‘What a nice apartment and what do you pay?’”
Gibson said that she recommended it to juniors who were looking for their first apartments and said that she and her roommate had almost no issues.
“Everything’s worked well, and even if it doesn’t we can message them and have them here the next day,” she said.
She said another thing that helped her choose the SoKy apartments was the fact that she was allowed to have her cat with her and that she enjoys having a pet with her in the apartment.
“I want to stay here until I graduate,” she said.
Gibson said that it has been a very good experience for her and that she truly enjoys living at the apartment complex.
Keystone Commons - SoKy Rentals is located 1.4 miles from downtown nightlife and less than 2 miles from WKU at 2244 Hickory St. in Bowling Green.
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