Herald Newsletter 02-20-2026

Friday, February 20, 2026

EKU surpasses WKU as Kentucky’s third-largest public university

WKU’s fall 2025 enrollment dropped below Eastern Kentucky University’s, making WKU the fourth-largest public university in the state, according to Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education data.

WKU was one of four public universities in the state to see a decline in enrollment alongside Morehead State University, Murray State University and Northern Kentucky University. Overall enrollment in four-year public universities increased from 128,399 in 2024 to 131,634 in 2025.

WKU President Timothy Caboni speaks with the staff of the College Heights Herald ahead of the new school year in the Office of the President at the CraigAdministrative Center on WKU Campus in Bowling Green, Ky. on Friday,Aug. 19. 2022. This semester marked the first time that WKU’s president did not meet with the Herald editorial board in nearly 30 years. (Tucker Covey)

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in Volume 101, Issue 4 of the Herald magazine.

For the first time in three decades, the WKU president will not sit down with the College Heights Herald editorial board for a wideranging meeting about campus issues to start the semester.

Former Director of Student Publications RobertAdams said the tradition dates back to as early as 1997 under former President Gary Ransdell. It has survived as a kickstarter for the Herald each semester, and an avenue for student journalists to ask the most pressing questions about campus.

WKU community petitions against possible greenhouse demolition

Western Kentucky University marked the campus greenhouses for destruction over winter break. While no final decision has been made, the university plans to “evaluate the degree to which the greenhouses are utilized,” University Spokesperson Jace Lux said. (Gabriel Milby)

Over 870 community members have signed a petition, created by the Horticulture Club, in opposition to the possible demolition of the greenhouses, as of Thursday

Meara Wilcox, president of the Horticulture Club and senior environmental science major, created the petition on Jan. 13. The petition calls for the greenhouses to remain on campus after they were slated for demolition at the beginning of the semester

Read more by Josh Baumgardner

Faculty Senate discusses athletics, ongoing university changes

Director ofAthletics Todd Stewart provides insight to Faculty Senate members on what is to come for the athletic department at the Faculty Senate meeting on Thursday, Feb 19, 2026. (Corinne Tucker)

WKU Director ofAthletics Todd Stewart joined the Faculty Senate to praise the academic successes of WKU student athletes Thursday, alongside their sports victories.

Stewart, who is in his 14th year as WKU’s director of athletics, opened the meeting with a presentation about WKUAthletics’successes on fields, courts and in the classroom throughout his tenure. He also answered questions regarding athletes’academics, program finances and the effects of new collegiate sports developments.

Read more by Brendan Culler

Novelist Nathan Gower inspires writers through tales of mysteries and memories

Novelist Nathan Gower talks about the process of picking titles and covers of a book during the public reading of “TheAct of Disappearing” by Nathan Gower in Grise Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. “Once you sell the book, you don’t own the book,” Gower said, “The cover and the title changed a lot of times.” (Natasha Gomez)

WKU’s Department of English invited Novelist Nathan Gower for an evening public reading in Grise Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 18.

Gower guided listeners through parts of his historical fiction and mystery novel, “TheAct of Disappearing,” explaining how it weaves together themes of mental health and family dynamics, while still preserving the suspense of a historical mystery.

WKU Men’s Basketball looks to take down conference leading Liberty

Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers guard Teagan Moore (30) guarded the ball from Middle Tennessee State University’s guard Sean Smith (55) on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.(Kylee Holt)

WKU Men’s Basketball travels to Lynchburg, Virginia to take on the Liberty Flames Saturday afternoon, looking to extend its three-game win streak.

The Hilltoppers are hot off the heels of a nail-biting win over the Delaware Blue Hens Wednesday night, 88-87 in overtime. With the win, WKU is tied for third in Conference USAwith Jacksonville State and Louisiana Tech, each sitting at 8-7.

Read more by Peyton Reid

WKU Softball to host Hilltopper Classic at WKU Softball Complex

WKU infielder Katie Murphy (3) strikes the ball during WKU’s game against Jacksonville State University in Bowling Green, Ky. on Friday, May 2, 2025.(Gabriel Milby)

WKU Softball kicks off its 2026 home schedule Feb. 20-22, hosting the Hilltopper Classic.

The Hilltoppers return home after splitting last weekend’s competition at the Mercer University Softball Invitational, during which WKU recorded a .346 batting average and 26 RBIs. The Hilltoppers are now 6-3 overall.

Read more byAdrianna Lein

WKU Baseball-SEMO weekend game times adjusted

Western infielder JPAcosta (4) argues that he is safe against BYU Infielder Ryder Robinson’s (8) insistence that he isn’t during Western’s game against Brigham Young University on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Nick Denes Field.Acosta was declared not safe.(Jacob Sebastian)

The WKU Baseball vs Southeast Missouri State series has been adjusted due to inclement weather on Sunday

The College Heights Herald is the independent, student-run news organization operating on the campus of Western Kentucky University, emphasizing accuracy and truth while being a public forum for the fair display of diverse opinions and viewpoints. The Herald works to be steadfast and unwavering in its pursuit of truth while being true to the tenets of the WKU Student Publications mission to grow exceptional journalists and innovative leaders through real-world experiences and a strong educational and ethical foundation centered on principled journalism. All creative and editorial decisions are made by the Herald’s student leadership, and all consequences of those decisions are the sole responsibility of these student leaders. While editorially and operationally independent from the university, the Herald participates in the mission of WKU to prepare students of all backgrounds to be productive, engaged and socially responsible citizen-leaders of a global society, both within and outside of its newsroom. Views expressed are diverse and, as an independent publication, should not be taken as representative of views of WKU and any of its administration, faculty, staff, student body or other constituency

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