With more and more college campuses closing or moving classes online to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, some college radio stations are taking a different approach to programming.
Many continue to operate as usual, but are taking extra precautions to ensure the cleanliness of studios and prevent transmission of colds/flu/viruses. Some are eliminating live in-studio shows, opting to air programs recorded remotely and/or planning to rely more on automated programming.
One thing to keep in mind is that many college radio stations still operate when their campuses are closed for holidays and breaks. While some have on-air staffs made up entirely of students, others have a mix of student and non-student DJs. As a result, there have been varying responses to campus closures by college radio stations.
At Seattle University, where “classes and exams will not be held in person” until March 20, student radio station KXSU has suspended live DJ shows. KXSU posted on Instagram
KXSU has chosen to suspend all live DJ shows until Spring Quarter to emphasize caution of the COVID-19 Virus.❗️Music will (of course) still be jamming in our studio, so tune in whenever you feel like!!! KXSU.org, 102.1FM
–
Thank you for kindness and understanding! 🥺💌 “
In some cases, station plans are changing rapidly. On March 10, Hunter College radio station WHCS in New York City announced that it was continuing operations, but is taking precautions. It posted on Instagram, “For our part, our Broadcast Assistants and Board Members are continually disinfecting the station throughout the day, and regularly sanitizing recording and broadcast equipment. We ask that our radio community keep their hands and spaces clean by regularly washing with soap and water or using hand sanitizer.” Yet a few days later on March 11, WHCS announced that it would be closed during the school’s closure March 12 to 18 and that “starting March 23, WHCS Radio may or may not re-open in limited capacity.”
At University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, student radio station WCBN will be running on automation for the time being. WCBN posted on Facebook on March 11:
In light of the university (and many universities across the country) shutting down classes, we have decided to follow suit. Tonight, once the robot is turned on, it will stay on until further notice.
WCBN will not be in operation starting tonight (technically Thursday) at 2 am. We do not know when regular scheduled programming but will let our audience know (through social media, broadcasting and our website) as soon as a date is set.
Much love,
WCBN DJs and family
At University of Maryland, WMUC will be closed until April 10. A message from its General Manager states, “We are canceling ALL shows until April 10. DO NOT go the station until we get it properly cleaned. All events at the station are no longer running until April 10th.”
Things are changing rapidly at many stations, including at Seton Hall University’s WSOU in New Jersey. When I chatted with WSOU’s General Manager Mark Maben over email, he explained that while the station has extensive plans in place, specifics have been tweaked as the week has progressed. In addition to taking precautions for the health and safety of students and staff, WSOU has also been airing educational content about COVID-19, beginning during the school’s spring break (March 2-6). If needed, the college radio station will reduce the number of shows, limiting the number of people coming in and out of the station. Maben writes:
Since March 3, we have been airing PSAs about COVID-19, covering the local outbreak in our newscasts, and interviewing experts on our public affairs shows. On March 4, we plastered the station with educational posters and encouraged social distancing among staff members. The goal was to encourage people to change their habits ahead of when the staff was back up to full strengthen after break (that’s 120 students!). We also started that day formulating our operational plan should campus close.
On March 10, the university announced the suspension of all in-person classes beginning on Wed., March 11, with a move to online instruction starting Mon., March 16. While in-person classes were suspended, residence halls, dining services, and student activities continue normal operations and employees are expected to report for work as regular.
As of March 12, based on new guidance from the state of New York, WSOU has opted to “start limiting the number of people who are at WSOU…We will still be staffed 24/7…but now socializing and/or hanging out at the station is no longer permitted. Basically, you can only be at WSOU for your shift.”
At Boston College, where all classes are moving online for the remainder of the semester and where residence halls will be closed, radio station WZBC is moving to a summer programming schedule beginning on March 16. It will be relying more on community DJs to cover shifts, with most students leaving campus. It posted on Instagram, “That means a new schedule and slate of shows to cover the hours vacated by student DJs leaving.” Non-students with weekday shows will continue doing their programs and others who will be in the Boston area during the school closure are invited to do shows. WZBC adds, “Please do your part to keep our station clean. Wipe down surfaces and always wash your hands before coming into the studio.”
At University of Southern California’s online-only student radio station KXSC, programming is going to be “sporadic” for the time being. A post on Instagram reads:
hey listeners – we hope you’re all staying healthy and listening to lots of great music during your zoom classes! just wanted to let you know that due to university protocol as we deal with COVID-19, KXSC shows are going to be sporadic. the health of our DJs is our first priority and we’ll keep you updated as we figure out how to keep bringing you the shows you love.
Additionally, some college radio stations are having to cancel events and fundraisers. Loyola-Marymount University’s KXLU in Los Angeles is continuing with regular programming, but postponing its on-air fundraiser. KXLU writes on Instagram, “…due to LMU’s transition to online classes during March 16-31 for COVID-19 precautions, FUNDRAZOR will be postponed. While this is unfortunate, the health and safety of our DJ’s is a priority.”
Some stations are continuing with business as usual, with regular shows ongoing. It’s likely a relief for some listeners and participants to escape from the increasingly scary news by listening to college radio. On Instagram, Palomar College’s radio station KKSM posts, “We are still LIVE and on the air with staff except during Spring Break (March 23-March 29). So keep listening for your quarantine soundtrack…now with more bagpipes and riboflavin!,” even added the hashtag #notcancelled.
Meanwhile, big radio events (the NAB Show and the BEA Convention), music festivals and conventions (SXSW and Coachella), numerous concerts, and academic conferences (including the annual conference for Society for Cinema and Media Studies, which draws radio scholars every year) have been cancelled. Some of the conference cancellations came on the heels of an increasing number of institutions banning travel.
Michelle Bradley of REC Networks shared guidance for radio stations licensed to colleges and universities. She writes that certain types of FCC-licensed stations should be able to suspend operations during forced campus closures:
§73.561(a) [for NCE] and §73.850(b) [for LPFM] of the FCC Rules state that stations licensed to educational institutions do not need to observe minimum operating requirements on days ‘designated on the official school calendar as vacation or recess periods.’
While many stations may choose to operate through automation, it is REC’s interpretation of these rules that stations that are licensed to educational institutions that were forced to close as a result of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) concerns and therefore not providing student access to the campus, that those days are considered a ‘recess period’ and therefore would not be subject to minimum operating requirements on those designated closed days thus meaning that NCE stations would not be required to file for silent STAs or that those days would need to be disclosed on a renewal application in the event the closure lasts more than 30 days.
Meanwhile, I’m practicing social distancing, staying home while feeling sick, and digging the opportunity to craft my own hand washing flyer using my favorite punk rock songs over at Wash Your Lyrics.
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