I’ve got college radio station tours on my mind, as I’m in the midst of planning several visits as well as am attempting to catch up on my back log of tour write-ups (I’ve got two more in the queue). This week I posted two tours, including visits to Fullerton College radio station KBPK and to KEPC at Pikes Peak Community College. Additionally, I give a preview of my fall travels (including station visits) to Arkansas and Pennsylvania for radio conferences on Radio Survivor Podcast #65.
WPRB History Exhibit Flashback
I also have college radio history on my mind and I was pleased to see that my Radio World story about the WPRB History Exhibit was published in their print magazine and online. Take a look to learn more about the exhibit honoring 75 years of radio at Princeton University.
GRC and CBI Conference Preview on the Podcast
I’ll be attending and speaking at the Grassroots Radio Conference in Hot Springs, Arkansas next week (October 7-10) and will be trekking to the Philadelphia area later in the month for College Broadcasters Inc.’s National Student Electronic Media Convention (October 20-22). I will also be giving a talk at Haverford College on October 19 about the history of student radio at Haverford.
Steve Keene’s WTJU Paintings on Display
One of the things that I enjoy about my travels is doing unofficial radio station scavenger hunts, keeping an eye out for some of my favorite items. Couches, sticker-covered cabinets, historical gems, Leo Blais signs, cassettes and albums from favorite artists are some of the objects that I regularly see. A rarer sighting is paintings by artist Steve Keene (which I’ve seen at University of Pennsyvlania’s student radio station WQHS, at KEXP in Seattle and at Bob Boilen’s desk at NPR).
Because of that, I was really excited to learn about Keene’s college radio past at WTJU in the 1990s. He also did 29 original paintings for the station’s 2015 fundraiser and they are all on display digitally on the University of Virginia website.
Wheaton College Contemplates Sale of College Radio Station WETN
OK, this makes me sad. The Wheaton Record is reporting that, “WETN, Wheaton College’s television and radio station, is considering the possibility of selling its broadcasting license due to under-utilization. ‘At present, we are focusing exclusively on the possibility of a sale,’ said Dale Kemp, vice president for finance and treasurer at the college. The station has found that as digital technology continues to advance, the value of the radio and television medium to students has fallen, according to Kemp.”
It sounds like radio dates back to 1947 at the Wheaton, Illinois-based college and the station has had an illustrious past, including covering campaign speeches by John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon during the 1960 presidential election. The school had a big celebration for the station’s 50th anniversary in 1997. It would be a shame to see that almost 70-year legacy come to an end. If radio does cease to exist campus, I hope that the station’s historical recordings and artifacts are being preserved by the Wheaton College Archives. I know that the Radio Preservation Task Force would be interested in learning more.
KXSU at Seattle University Featured in Segment about LPFM Radio in the Seattle Area
More College Radio News
New Stations and New Digs
KWVA Grand Opening on October 7 (KWVA)
Arouse Student Radio Moves From Hair Salon to Doughnut Shop Basement (The Lantern)
CKLU on the Air from New Downtown Digs (Sudbury.com)
CKLU Celebrates New Location (CBC News)
97.1 FM “the Prowl” Has Taken to the Airwaves (WALA Fox 10 News)
Station Profiles
You Can’t Stop the Beat: WKCO Radio Station Excites at Kenyon (The Kenyon Collegian)
WWPI offers an Inside Glimpse into the Music, Quirky Issues of Student Life (Worcester Polytechnic Institute)
Programming
Sounds of the South: Two on One with the South Brooklyn Variety Show on Brooklyn College Radio (the Excelsior)
Campus Radio Station WLJS Announces Fall Line-up (Jacksonville State University)
WUSB Salsathon (WUSB)
Awards
Indiana State Students Nominated for National Radio Awards (Indiana State University)
Five Grads Inducted into Marshall Journalism School Hall of Fame, including WMUL Faculty Manager (Herald-Dispatch)
Student-Run Radio Station at NESCom in Bangor Honored in Nashville (WABI)
Amateur Radio
ARRL Acting as Catalyst in College Radio Club Revitalization Campaign (ARRL)
Events
What’s Cooking: Plans for College Radio Day (November 4) at WVYC, 97.1 The Prowl and WKNC (College Radio Day)
MIT’s Swapfest Started 30 Years ago as Fundraiser for Student Radio Clubs (ABC News)
Station Kudos
Common Gives Credit to WHPK for its Role in Promoting Local Scene in Chicago (Chicago Tribune)
