West Virginia University's New Anti-'Woke' Center Enrolls Just One Student, Sparking Debate

The Washington Center for Civics, Culture and Statesmanship was created after Republican lawmakers in the state legislature approved a $3 million allocation last year. The center is scheduled to officially begin operations in the upcoming fall semester.

 

Criticizing the initiative, Democratic state lawmaker John Williams told *West Virginia Watch* that he was deeply disappointed by the outcome.

 

"I'm extremely dissatisfied with this situation. We allocated a significant amount of taxpayer money for a program that only one student is taking advantage of," Williams said.

 

When approving the center last year, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, argued that it would help counter the influence of "woke" ideology in schools and universities while restoring higher education to its original mission. The center is expected to emphasize classical literature, American civics, and the study of Western political thought.

 

"We want students to learn how to think, not what to think," Governor Morrisey said. "We wanted to ensure that the values that made America great are taught with integrity and pride."

 

According to the university's website, the center's curriculum will include courses examining topics such as progressive political thought, the New Right movement, and Western civilization.

 

Supporters of the initiative remain optimistic, arguing that student enrollment will likely increase once the courses begin counting toward students' major requirements and degree credits.

 

The center is launching at a time when West Virginia University is facing a severe financial crisis.

 

In an effort to address a $45 million budget deficit, the university recently eliminated 28 academic programs and majors, resulting in hundreds of faculty and staff layoffs. Against that backdrop, many students and educators have questioned the decision to spend $3 million on a new center that they believe advances a political agenda while the university continues to make deep budget cuts.

 

Across the United States, Republican lawmakers have increasingly campaigned against what they describe as "woke" culture in education. Their efforts have included restricting books dealing with race and sexuality, reducing diversity-related curricula, and reshaping higher education policies in several states.

 

In Iowa, for example, students at public universities are required to take courses offered through the Republican-backed Center for Intellectual Freedom, despite concerns about low enrollment and political influence over academic programs.

 

President Donald Trump's administration has further intensified the campaign against what it describes as "woke" ideology in higher education. By threatening to withhold federal funding, the administration has pressured leading universities to revise their policies and academic programs. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also criticized elite American universities as "breeding grounds for toxic ideology" and has taken steps to end certain military partnerships with those institutions.