What if college radio was an integral part of every student’s college orientation activities? Sounds amazing to me. This week I learned about Hamilton College’s mandatory “orientation trips,” which provide students with an immersion into various topics and activities as part of their transition to college life.
One of the 4-day trips, Stay “Tuned”, focuses on music and radio and includes a visit to Hamilton’s college radio station WHCL. The trip description states in part:
“We will explore the behind-the-scenes of recording studios, meet professionals in the recording industry, visit local indie record shops, and, of course, listen to live performances, including an outdoor music fest! Upon returning to campus, we will take a visit to the campus radio station, WHCL, where we will get a close-up look at station management and campus broadcasting. Those interested will have the chance to learn how to create and host their own radio show during their time at Hamilton.”
In a profile of WHCL, its General Manager Peter Kelly speaks of the powerful impact of that orientation. Kelly recounts, “I was a part of the orientation trip ‘Stay Tuned,’ which focused a lot on music and radio. We visited a few radio stations, but on one of the later days, we went to WHCL and were allowed to do a show, and I’ve been in love ever since. I’ve had at least one show every semester, and I don’t see myself stopping!”
This is a serious step up from simply having a college radio station on a campus tour route (which can also be quite an accomplishment on hectic tours). Do you know about other innovative ways that colleges are introducing students to their campus radio stations?
More College Radio News
Profiles of Stations and Staff
- Radioheads (Hamilton College)
- Horizon Radio is On-Air, Online, On Campus (The Horizon)
- Cerebral Palsy Doesn’t Stop this Radio DJ at WWPV from Sharing Love of Pipe Organ (Seven Days)
- WSIE The Sound Destination for Traditional, Contemporary Jazz (Alton Telegraph)
- July MD of the Month: Amy Presley, KACV Amarillo (NACC Chart)
- July Genre MD of the Month: Al Wex, WSUW Whitewater (NACC Chart)
Funding and Infrastructure
Popular Culture
- 10 Movies about College to See Before Your Freshman Year (Elite Daily)
Events
- WSOU Reporters Cover Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks (New Jersey Stage)
Alumni
- Longtime Bay Area Broadcaster and KSMC Alum Bob Fouts Dies at 97 (San Francisco Chronicle)
- Getting to Know Kyle Tait, WREK Alum, Audio Book Narrator and Sportscaster (Gwinnett Daily Post)
- Social Media is Revolutionizing How Scientists Interact with the Public (Engadget)
- Say Y.E.S. to Yolaine Joseph’s Skincare Line (The Birmingham Times)
- On the Front Lines: Maggie Fox has a Press Pass to History (News-Decoder)
