I am writing to express concern over the University of Northern Iowa's request to the Board of Regents to raze the former Alumni House. In recent years, we've seen a troubling pattern of historic campus buildings being allowed to deteriorate to the point where demolition becomes the only option. The 2024 demolition of the historic West Gymnasium is a clear example.
I recognize that all three of Iowa's public universities face growing deferred maintenance challenges. Still, the university first sought permission to the raze Alumni House in 2021, and for more than four years both it and the Honors Cottage have sat empty. These beautiful homes, each over a century old, have served many purposes.
A university's character is shaped by its campus and its history. If we can preserve landmarks like the Campanile or Lang Hall, we can find a way to care for these homes. I urge UNI leaders to work with the Board of Regents and the Cedar Valley community to pursue a creative preservation solution.
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I am not an engineer or historian, but I am a proud UNI alum who values our university's history. UNI should reconsider and preserve it.
Noah Hackbart, Ankeny
