With spring semester underway, many college radio stations are actively recruiting new members and plotting out programming schedules. Some are preparing for conferences, including the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) conference in New York City in March, the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) convention in Las Vegas in April, and regional events like the University of California Radio Network (UCRN) gathering in Santa Barbara, California in April. Additionally, many stations are celebrating milestone anniversaries and some are eagerly awaiting news about LPFM applications.
As far as college-affiliated LPFM applications, there wasn’t too much news this week. Applications for St. Cloud State University (St. Cloud, Minnesota) and Southeastern University (Lakeland, Florida) were granted and the application for University of Washington-Bothell (Bothell, Washington) was dismissed.
Yesterday, the FCC notified (PDF) the University of Washington-Bothell that its application was being dismissed because “An engineering study has revealed that the proposed transmitter site specified in the application fails to meet the minimum spacing requirements.” Although the school asked for a 2nd adjacent waiver, the FCC argues that its application “does not adequately demonstrate that no interference will occur.”
Several other universities filed amendments to their applications this week. Those applicants with recently amended applications include Johns Hopkins University (East Baltimore, MD), University of Northwestern-St. Paul (Roseville, MN), Seattle University (Seattle, WA), Visible Music College (Memphis, TN), and Benedictine University (Springfield, IL).
In other college radio news…
Radio One’s “Countercultural” Events to Celebrate 30 Years on the Air
University of Otago’s student radio station Radio One (which successfully fended off a station sale back in 2011) is wrapping up a week-long celebration of the Dunedin, New Zealand station’s 30th anniversary. Some of the events included a visit by a graffiti artist, a Streetfighter II competition, and live music. According to the Otago Daily Times, “The week will finish with a gig by ethnomusicologist Brian Shimkovitz, who plays as Awesome Tapes From Africa…”
South Arkansas Community College Launches Internet Radio Station
On Valentine’s Day, South Arkansas Community College debuted its new Internet radio station, KSAC. According to the Magnolia Reporter, the station “…project is an assignment of this spring’s Sound Recording class.”
Black University Radio Network Honors Musician with Mandela of Rap Award
The Black University Radio Network (B.U.R.N.), a group of more than 75 radio stations at historically black colleges and universities (HBCU), just launched a new award that honors “musicians who seek to inspire today’s youth through positive messages in their music,” reports the New Pittsburgh Courier. The first recipient of the “Mandela of Rap” award is Marcus ‘M-Positive’ Parker.
Goshen College Up for Radio Awards
A piece in the Goshen News gives an overview of all of the awards that Goshen College radio station WGCS 91.1 FM is up for at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) conference next month. The station has been on the air since 1958.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse LPFM coming soon…
According to an article in the La Crosse Tribune, several potential LPFM stations are in the works for the region, including one at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. The article states, “UW-L was one of two UW system campuses to receive construction permits during the latest round of licensing. The yet-unnamed station would broadcast at 92.9 FM, according to FCC documents.”
KXLU’s role in L.A. Music Scene
A post on the LA Weekly blog touts the merits of Loyola Marymount as a key part of the Los Angeles music scene. In the article, Liz Ohanesian argues that, “The school’s music scene is largely tied to KXLU. That’s 88.9 FM on the terrestrial dial. It’s a student run college radio station that you can hear on a regular radio throughout much of the second biggest city in the country. That alone makes LMU special. What the station has historically played, however, is what makes it integral to Los Angeles.”
KSUA Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Late last month University of Alaska station KSUA celebrated its 20th anniversary. A piece in The Sun Star recounts the history of radio on campus, pointing out that KSUA is a descendent of Alaska’s first non-commercial FM station KUCA, which launched on campus in 1962. Following that, “KMPS- AM started. The station could only be heard on campus and played student-ran shows.”
Visiting WRAS at Georgia State University in Atlanta
A reporter for Atlanta INtown is a big fan of college radio in Atlanta and recounted her visit to Georgia State station WRAS in a piece earlier this month. Annie Kinnett Nichols writes, “I was like a kid in the candy shop when Album 88 staffer Katie Iacino gave me a tour of the vinyl vault, the DJ’s booth with a huge disco ball twirling above and stacks and stacks of CDs.”
Happy 50th Anniversary to WSUP
University of Wisconsin, Platteville’s radio station WSUP just celebrated its 50th anniversary. The 90.5 FM station is reportedly the oldest student-run radio station in Wisconsin.
KDVS Celebrates 50th Anniversary
On February 1, KDVS at University of California, Davis celebrated 50 years of broadcasting. According to The California Aggie, “The station began broadcasting February 1, 1964, from the laundry room of the now-abandoned Beckett Hall dorms. The progressive station has interviewed the likes of Ronald Reagan, Angela Davis and recently Fran Lebowitz.”
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