A sign affixed to the main door to Dukes identifies the Office of the Dean. Dean Bretz has indicated that if Hill is unavailable in the Fall, classes would be moved to Dukes (Northern Review/Gabriel Mott) 
A painting of Hill Memorial Building is hung in the second floor of the building. If Hill becomes inaccessible this Fall, classes will be moved to Dukes (Northern Review/Gabriel Mott) 
The front facade of the Dukes Building bears its name in carving. Classes from Hill would be relocated to Dukes if Hill were not usable (Northern Review/Gabriel Mott)
In a meeting over winter break with faculty who teach in Hill Memorial Building, Arts and Sciences Dean Stacey Lowery Bretz, Ph.D., identified the Dukes Building as the potential relocation spot for this fall term if Hill were to be unavailable, according to Dr. Russ Crawford, History, Dr. David Strittmatter, History, and Dr. John Curiel, Political Science, all three of whom were present at the meeting.
Hill’s demolition has likely been on the University’s master plan since 2014. Still, President Melissa Baumann has paused the plans while rewriting the master plan. The plan is expected to be finished sometime this spring, and should include a verdict on Hill’s future. Currently housing Political Science, History, and Geography, Hill is the oldest building on campus.
Dr. Crawford says the reason for planning ahead is simple: “We have to have our classes for fall semester done in the next few weeks,” and identifying class space in Dukes provides “options…in case we aren’t here[in Hill].” He feels that while not a cause for alarm, the provision is essential. In Crawford’s estimation, one of the purposes is to “assure Hill faculty they won’t…be cast into the wind.”
Dr. John Curiel largely agrees with Crawford’s assessment, saying that the plan is “largely to account for the uncertainty” of the future. Further, he defends the move as rational, saying of Dean Bretz, “I see no reason to think she’s pushing for the Demolition of Hill…she’s doing what the position requires.”
Dr. Strittmatter has taught classes in Dukes before and says it is a “fine building with small classrooms,” much like Hill. He also feels that teaching outside of Hill can provide an opportunity to interact with more students. He isn’t concerned about the potential relocation: “It’ll be fine.”
The controversy surrounding Hill’s uncertain future aligns with uncertainty regarding cuts of individual faculty and programs. A Fall 2023 email from Baumann confirms the elimination of some faculty positions while indicating that program closures are “likely.” Ohio Northern University Provost Julie Hurting says that decisions related to program re-evaluation will likely come out during March.
Opened in 1903, the Dukes Memorial Building has been home to both the College of Pharmacy and the College of Education. Now, it houses offices and classrooms for the English Department, the Center for Teacher Education, and the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Strittmatter says, “We were told those rooms [in Dukes] are vacant 85% of the time.” He says this Results from a calculation pairing all of the Dukes classrooms with all the teaching time slots but that even in the event of a scheduling conflict would be “tiny” and easily resolvable.
This article has been updated to correct misspelling (1/30/2024)