Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Tuesday, January 23,1996 he controversy over WUSC and what music it should play has _ raged since students ' learned the station went off die air. The two mostly expressed views argue that msustauM remain alternative or try a Top 40 format.These columns offer two opinions of what should, and should not, take place at WUSC-FM. The format of WUSC 90.5 FM is often a sensitive issue. Although it is in some ways valuable, many feel there is a need for change. Those who want change feel many different ways about it. There are a few who would like to see the station emulate a commercial Top 40 station. Others would , like to see at least some of the programming oriented toward the interests of the student body as a whole. Others would like to see the station simply become a "play station" where they could express themselves in ' any way they so desire. I There is some room for changes at WUSC, 1 but we have to be careful as to how we make them. First of all, since WUSC is funded primarily through student activity fees, the format and the overall image should reflect the tastes of the student body. Since it is the students' money paying the station's bills, we should have some say in deciding its format. However, it is next to impossible to shape the station to please every student. This campus is so diverse, the station couldn't possibly please everybody. By the same token, the current format at WUSC also fails at that mission. While I will concede WUSC does an excellent job providing an outlet for new and different ^ types of music, it alienates potential listeners ^ by refusing to play music that appeals to them and by playing music that appeals to a very small demographic group. ^ So what's the solution? ^ Programming the station to just one y format of music, Top 40 or otherwise, is not y a viable solution. Taking such action will y not change WUSC's current situation. A certain bloc of the students will be satisfied ^ while many others will not. So why not simply allow the disc jockeys to play what they want? While such a format would appeal to all of those who are aspiring "Wolfman Jack"s, it would not be a wise ^ By Drew , WUSC-FM shoi research, refoi around what t student body c , Wendy Hudson, Edit ISmrra Ryan Wilson> Manag ^MI IVWV. Tina Morgan Brent Campus orgai After the recent criticism of several campus or it's time to reflect on some of their positive attribul most importantly, these organizations are giv their community. For example, in today's Features section, yo the Children's Music Development Center is exp children to music. In last Friday's edition of The a news story highlighted the accomplishments of tlx of African-American Students and how they hi the Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands Volui @ TUP IIMI1/PDC1TV nc cnill ~f "Less hassle at registration well as more places to eat." v ^ Wesley Hall r "Tighter security in Bios information of availability tl VI It's hard to contact who you Chris Alessandrinl ?L Bioi?9y freshman decision. To put it simply, this situatii would produce chaos. The entire reasi behind having a format is to have some s< of continuity and to make sure the statii is not repetitive or unappealing. Statio that program their formats do so accordii to in-depth research in order to obtain product that appeals to a certain demograpl group. If WUSC were to revert to a type programming where there is no format 0 r /"^Y, programming I '-"V station 1 would have \ WO* no sort of T \ continuity and \ would most likely \ \^i| become repetitive and \ V one-dimensional. V rherefore, some type of format has to observed. In order for WUSC to I y optimize its potential as I Z a student body radio * 3tation, several things must t>e done: 1. WUSC must drop the "alternative* slogan. Although this has been the station's slogan for quite some time, the word tself has become a marketing term for i certain format of music. In order to ully represent the student body, the slogan must be changed to "USC Radio." 2. Research must be done in order to letermine what the student body wants. ! know there will be almost as many lifferent answers as there will be students questioned, but there has to >e some type of determination made ibout the tastes of the student body, f it is to be done correctly, the iniversity should put forth the money leeded to hire a firm, such as ^.rbitron or Birch, to correctly letermine what would be the best ourse of action. 3. The administration of VUSC must commit itself to J ollowing what the research tas determined would be the est course of action. If one format canno e determined, then several specialty show ould air each style of format as determine< y the programming department. The key to a successful WUSC is not jus aaking it play popular music, but makinj ; so it conforms to the minds and lifestyle f the student body of the University of Soutl Carolina. Stewart ild conduct rmat itself he Carolina lesires :or in Chief [ing Editor, Seeliger, Viewpoints Editors nizations of ganizations, Year Award. Athletes vis tes. Perhaps children's homes. These people ingbackto of USC, are establishin, involvement that many wil u'll see how hves after graduation. And Dsing young negative, let's take these ex? Gamecock, hope. > Association Too often we read articli ad received accomplish and ask, "How < iteer of the to do all of this?" As stude jlUlLLU Wh MH rH CAROLINA and more free parking as us< ser som Garage and better irough information offices. iSlfB need to." ? on on v VI < I V I Wj OPINION fer outlet for stui it hospitals and leaders, it becom , as representatives others. But consi g a tradition of Student little or not at all? 1 cany into their Organizations didn't have one p so with all of the of service alone. IV maples as signs of Next time you hav got to squeeze it in es of what others Students should organizations will io they find time become involved Can serve, nts and campus Becomin at is the most tortant improvement 5 can make to bette - ve me student Dody "Parking, most definitely. I'm a commuting student, and I have to come on campus 30 to 35 minutes earlj to get a space. By the time the garage is built I'll hav Wk graduated. The faculty parking is too close, and the |9 commuting lots are too far away from campus jAg compared to regular student parking." Jl Tamara Earle Exercise science senior ? he doors of WUSC-FM 9( I i nave oeen locKea tor mo than a month. I The student executive board w I released in a meeting Jan. 17. Although no official acti has been taken,the subject o new station format keeps coming up. According to a survey conducted by T Gamecock, many students feel the curre format targets a select group. This could not be further from the trul WUSC's purpose is to serve as i educational tool for the students operati] it and for the public. This means the stati must cater to every possible group. Currently, no station in Columbie market even attempts to offer listeners tl diversity of programming available eve day on WUSC. Every type of muj has found a home there, ai specialty shows are offered k/V h * ^ focus on musical genn 7 including jazz, ra country & wester JPW) 1 ^ias fractionally be< /*^W 1 a Precast of what / \ 1 to come in populi By * Oasis and the G< Goo Dolls, who ha1 W' recently made their ma] r on Billboard's Top 40, were first support* on college radio. Nine Inch Nails, Rancid and, yes, eve Hon tip and t.hp RlnwfisVl frmrid ai.'nruvrt r 90.5 long before 13-year-old boys and gir flocked to record stores to buy their album Many college stations have bee challenged by groups with little respect ft the quality programs offered. With chang currently in the air at WUSC, it is imperativ no such groups take control of the statioi For more than a year, on Friday nighl 90.5 has been the home of what rtiay b Columbia's only radio show devoted to ra] Rock Steady Columbia has been givin listeners an opportunity to hear the upbe* antics of ska for as long as I ca remember. I For years, the Blues Moon ha I educated listeners in the frequentl neglected genre of blues. These three shows are example of the diverse, quality programming WUS< has been bringing to Columbia throughou its existence. A free-form format, better known a alternative programming, allows WUS< and other college stations across the countr to offer listeners music they won't fim anywhere else on the FM dial. By Job Radio stat _ ^ 1 "i stay loyai and keep ' format, not Editc Chris Dixon, Martha Hotop, Karei Matt Pruitt Ryan Sims, Steph I j Kooen waito dents to servi es difficult to find time to help of others is on< derthis: is it better to serve a community. T One must remember that AAAS thus pnrnnra(, erson accomplishing 400 hours ^ recnj^tme] lany students gave a few hours. e the extra time, or even if you Ve , . i, one thing is for sure: university a~v provide a medium in which you ^o ma^e a dif organizations g involved in meeting the needs for a little of y "?aflfadt t Student Media Russell House-U! Wendy Hudson Robbie Me< Editor in Chief IVIatt Pruil Ryan Wilson Sports Editor! Managing Editor Allison ' Tina Morgan Williams O Brent Seeliger Special Projeci Viewpoints Editors Ethan Myen B Martha Hotop Graphics Editc Cece von Kolnitz Karen Layi News Editors Deanna Chris Dixon McLendoi Stephanie Copy Desk Sonnenfeld Ryan Sim; 6 Features Editor Online Editon The Gamecock is the student newspaper < University of South Carolina and is published Ti through Friday during the fall and spring semester the exception of university holidays and exam periOpinions expressed in The Gamecock are those editors or author and not those of the Univers South Carolina. The Board of Student Publications and Communic is the publisher of The Gamecock. The Departm Student Media is its parent organization. 3 ).5 Perhaps not everyone appreciates it, but ire there is something to be said for a station that plays Joy Division back to back with as KRS-One and follows both with Hank Williams, Sr. 011 College radio is about exploring new ^ a horizons and setting new limits. It's about 1 J * 1 1 ~ creativity ana open-minaeaness. nt For years, 90.5 has been the only station in town to support critically acclaimed bands tk like Superchunk, Magnetic Fields, Southern in Culture on the Skids and many others. Some, ng like Portishead and PJ Harvey, have on experienced limited success on commercial radio. Others, like Dee-Lite and REM, have i's achieved incredible success, he In addition, many Columbia bands found U their first media exposure at WUSC. The Fiascos, 134, The Root Doctors and others 1C* have been featured in specialty shows and to in everyday programming. 0S For WUSC to lose the stature it has gained as a free-format station would be an l(j irreparable mistake. Too much work and effort has been put into making the station i0 what it is. It is well-respected by Gavin, yjx CMJ and other powerful forces in the music is world. ar Improvements can be made, and a more active role in campus affairs would be good, e But imitating commercial stations would JO be a mistake. /e The station should represent the diversity "k of the campus. The World Beat show and ** others, like Almost Accoustics, Raucous Waves (punk) and Purple Lagoon (reggae), ^ serve many of the various groups on campus jg and should continue to do so. Ignoring any s student group would be a misappropriation n of university funds. )r Jazz, folk, rap, classical and every other re type of music have a place on the station. re Each element of USC should be represented, i. and listeners should be challenged to listen s to music that is new and different to them. College radio began as an experiment. n Tii i* i f it nas conunuea as an experiment in ? experimentation. lt If WUSC is to be valuable to the public n and USC students, it must continue to push g limits and play music other Columbia stations ' will not. The station's purpose is to expose listeners ,s to what is new and exciting in music. 3 If WUSC is to be more than childish it fluff, it must continue on the path it has set for itself. Top 40 and commercial radio have s no place operating on a college campus. 3 College radio is meant to challenge the y listener and expand her horizons. I only d hope WUSC continues to do just that. nLyons ion should to listeners 'alternative" Top 40 ! rial Board l Layne, Robbie Meek, Tyson Pettigrew, anie Sonnenfeld, Cece von Kolnitz, n, Allison Williams ; community i way campus organizations eive back to their hey often recognize other community leaders, ing not only their continued participation but at of others willing to serve, rsity will sponsor an organizational fair this 3m 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. If your looking for a way ference, this is the place to start. Campus are conveniently located and often only ask our time. So take the time and get involved. News: 777-7726 Advertising: 777-4249 FAX: 777-6482 Chns Carroll SC* Columbia, SC 29208 DiItctor of Studa11 Medu l aura Hflv ek Tyson Pettigrew Crealive Director 1 Robert Walton Jeff A. Breaux i Photo Editors Art Director Adam Snyder Sue McDonald Jennifer Stanley JimSpeelmon S Asst. News Graduate Assistant >on Lucy Arnold Marilyn Edwards * Dipka Bhambhani Taylor le Asst. Features Marketing Director Achim Hunt Erik Collins I Asst. Sports Faculty Advisor Keith Boudreaux jas0n jeffers 5 Circulation Editor Cartoonist Letters Policy >. with The Gamecock will try to print all letters received, ods. Letters should be 200-250 words and must include full of the name, professional title or year and major if a student, ity of Letters must be personally delivered by the author to The Gamecock newsroom in Russell House room 321. ations ent of The Gamecock reserves the right to edit all letters for style, possible libel or space limitations. Names will not be withheld under any cffcumstances.