2008 Woodie Awards
WMUC airwaves are in the clear
Kyle Goon
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: News
However, the news that WMUC is staying on begs the question: Do students care?
Talking to students in the South Campus Dining Hall, it's easy to get the impression that no one's tuning in. Most said that they had never listened to WMUC before and most said they wouldn't listen to it in the future.
Some students had no idea the university even had a radio station, even though it is housed in the same building they were sitting in for lunch.
"Oh, so that's where all the music comes from upstairs," said junior hearing and speech sciences major Ciara Lee. "Sometimes I walk by and hear music, and I wonder why people are playing music up there. They should publicize it more or something."
However, even people who don't necessarily listen seem to agree on the importance of having a student-run radio station.
"I think that there should be a radio station on campus for students to express their own opinions," said freshman international business major Xenia Strunnikova. "Maybe we should start listening," she said to her friends.
Having their own FM frequency is important to students, Maxwell said. The fact that advertisers know that the radio station is actually on the airwaves allows WMUC to offer tickets to shows and host their own events.
"One of my favorite things about having an FM radio station is that it gives us legitimacy," said junior Paul Krolian, business manager for WMUC. "We just lucked out."
Regardless of who is listening, the radio station has the opportunity to focus on upgrades of their own. Currently, WMUC is evaluating the cost of various options of increasing their coverage, including switching frequencies, Gnadt said.
That would suit WYPR just fine. They've offered to help WMUC change frequency multiple times to clear 88.1 for themselves.
"We think it's great [that WMUC is still on], but it could be better," Brandon said. "Although a frequency change would be to WYPR's benefit, it would also help WMUC increase their broadcast coverage. All our discussions are aimed at a win-win situation."
The DJs at WMUC expressed relief at the official announcement during a regular meeting of the radio staff. More than a few fists pumps accompanied several shouts of "Hell yeah!" when the staff heard that they still were on the air.
"It's been hanging over our heads," Krolian said. "I spend all my extra time at the station because it's what's most important to me at school. I'm just glad we didn't have to put up a fight to gain back what would've been taken away."
goondbk@gmail.com
Talking to students in the South Campus Dining Hall, it's easy to get the impression that no one's tuning in. Most said that they had never listened to WMUC before and most said they wouldn't listen to it in the future.
Some students had no idea the university even had a radio station, even though it is housed in the same building they were sitting in for lunch.
"Oh, so that's where all the music comes from upstairs," said junior hearing and speech sciences major Ciara Lee. "Sometimes I walk by and hear music, and I wonder why people are playing music up there. They should publicize it more or something."
However, even people who don't necessarily listen seem to agree on the importance of having a student-run radio station.
"I think that there should be a radio station on campus for students to express their own opinions," said freshman international business major Xenia Strunnikova. "Maybe we should start listening," she said to her friends.
Having their own FM frequency is important to students, Maxwell said. The fact that advertisers know that the radio station is actually on the airwaves allows WMUC to offer tickets to shows and host their own events.
"One of my favorite things about having an FM radio station is that it gives us legitimacy," said junior Paul Krolian, business manager for WMUC. "We just lucked out."
Regardless of who is listening, the radio station has the opportunity to focus on upgrades of their own. Currently, WMUC is evaluating the cost of various options of increasing their coverage, including switching frequencies, Gnadt said.
That would suit WYPR just fine. They've offered to help WMUC change frequency multiple times to clear 88.1 for themselves.
"We think it's great [that WMUC is still on], but it could be better," Brandon said. "Although a frequency change would be to WYPR's benefit, it would also help WMUC increase their broadcast coverage. All our discussions are aimed at a win-win situation."
The DJs at WMUC expressed relief at the official announcement during a regular meeting of the radio staff. More than a few fists pumps accompanied several shouts of "Hell yeah!" when the staff heard that they still were on the air.
"It's been hanging over our heads," Krolian said. "I spend all my extra time at the station because it's what's most important to me at school. I'm just glad we didn't have to put up a fight to gain back what would've been taken away."
goondbk@gmail.com
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Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 5
Robert
posted 3/26/08 @ 10:27 AM EST
Every now and then I fiddle with my radio, but I have never found WMUC.
Matt Neufeld
posted 3/26/08 @ 5:27 PM EST
I'll just say what hundreds of people in radio, locally and nationally; in broadcasting, locally and nationally; in local journalism; at the University of Maryland; and in the WMUC alumni community have been saying privately, if not publicly: The recent actions by WYPR are uncalled-for, repugnant, intrusive, obnoxious, and completely, totally unprofessional in regards to a public radio station pushing a small, low-frequency, 70-year-old, legendary and groundbreaking college radio station at the state of Maryland's university system's flagship campus into a weaker reception area. (Continued…)
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