Student radio station wants to go broadcast

By Jessica Dayton, Scout Reporter

Bradley's student radio station, WRBU, wants to hit the radio airwaves, but administrative static may put the station's plans on hold.

WRBU, which now transmits over on-campus Channel 5, long has debated the obstacles and benefits of trying to go broadcast over the radio. The most recent snag, however, was obvious in Monday's Student Senate meeting--the unexpected possibility of a lack of administrative support.

To go broadcast, WRBU has proposed a one-time $7 student activity fee increase to raise the needed $35,000 to purchase equipment and obtain licensing for over-the-air broadcasting.

Today, the station is expected to turn in the needed 600 signatures to the Student Senate Elections Subcommittee for a student ballot referendum on the subject. Senate voted 16-11-2 Monday to support the referendum.

Referendum or no, though, it seems WRBU's hopes may soon be dashed by the administration. In fact, Alan Galsky, associate provost for student affairs, attended Monday's Student Senate meeting to "make sure they understood" the rules and differences between referendums and resolutions.

"Any referendum or resolution passed is still susceptible to administrative approval and implementation," he said.

Referendums simply monitor public opinion and are not binding decisions.

Junior Alan Murray, who chairs the internal affairs committee, said that Galsky's visit seemed indicative of the administration's attitude.

"Based on Dr. Galsky's coming to Senate on Monday and his refusal to directly answer any questions (relating to WRBU) when asked, in my opinion, I don't feel the administration supports the referendum,'' Murray said.

Those involved with the radio station, however, enumerate several benefits that would come from going broadcast.

"Going on air would provide the students with a more realistic radio experience and provide the audience with some diversity that is missing now," said communications professor Paul Gullifor.

WRBU Station Manager Gil Coble agreed.

He said the station has been restructured to be more professional and now is ready to make the transition to broadcast.

But, some administrators are not so certain.

"I can't see that it is not ill-advised at this point (for WRBU to go broadcast)," said Sharon Murphy, vice-president and provost for academic affairs.

"Why don't the students get more involved with WCBU, an operation that is already running?" Murphy said.

However, WRBU adviser and assistant director of admissions Tom Richmond said there are many problems with that alternative.

"There are more than 60 students involved with WRBU, but I doubt there are 60 openings at WCBU," he said.

The students also would not be allowed to dictate programming or run the station, which Richmond said seems important to most of the WRBU staff.

However, top administrators said support for WRBU's efforts to go broadcast is likely to fail.

Galsky said anything WRBU wants to do is "subject to administrative approval and implementation." And, if the station's staff wants to go broadcast, he added that they need to discuss it with him.

Galsky said even if the student body passes the $7 fee-increase referendum, the administration has the final say in whether it will actually happen.

"We have a responsibility to the students, future students, parents and friends of the university, so we need the final say," Galsky said.

Galsky refused to comment directly on whether he thought WRBU should go broadcast, saying he needed to discuss the station's plans with its staff before commenting.

The administrators are not alone in thinking WRBU's plans are a little premature.

"I don't think they are even close to being ready," said senior Ryan Madden, a former WRBU program manager and current student representative on the Communications Council, a board that oversees campus media.

"There is a lot they still need to learn about broadcast, about radio in general, but a lot of preparation can be done without the money," Madden said.

Madden added that broadcast radio is not a game.

"It's not something to be taken lightly without researching everything 10 times through," he said.

Another problem facing WRBU is who will hold the FCC license.

Ideally, WRBU would like to have a committee of representatives hold the license, Coble said. This would include one community member, a student representative, an administrator and a station representative.

The other alternative would be for the university to hold the license, an option the FCC may prefer.

If that were to occur the administration would want a heavy hand in the station and its programming, said Murphy.

Gullifor said he admits that having the university hold the license may pose some problems, but that they will have to be addressed when the time comes.

WRBU has other hurdles to overcome if it is going to go broadcast. Other issues to be considered are the availability of a short-range radio frequency, administrative support, financial support, legal support, FCC licensing and more, Gullifor said.

"It is not going to be an easy undertaking," he said.

However, he added, "I would like to see it happen, I really would. I am just not sure how realistic it is."