Shower Thoughts: How College Radio Still Exists
Behind the desk at 89.3 KUGS-FM
Broadcasting from the top of the Viking Union at Western Washington University is 89.3 KUGS-FM, a multi-genre radio station catering to the masses of Whatcom County and streaming online 24/7 to the world wide web. This station, and thousands of other stations like it, is run completely by college students; most of which are volunteers.
In a world where streaming music is the most popular way to consume it, why (and how) is a college radio station still broadcasting?
I can easily sum this answer up in two parts.
Most students who do college radio grew up listening to their hometown stations almost every day. From driving to school in the morning at 7:15, throughout the day whenever a boombox could be found, and even while falling asleep my radio had one of the many SoCal stations keeping me company. Having a simple childhood connection to it pushed me to pursue college radio in the first place.
College radio is a low-stakes arena. If you make a mistake while on-air, no one will know except YOU. Now I know this is not inherently true and this all depends on the station you’re on, but think about it. If Joe Schmoe is driving home from work and he decides to tune into 89.3 KUGS, he may catch my show from 2-4 on Wednesday. Let’s say I accidentally cut a song short, mispronounce someone’s name, and maybe play a song while I’m speaking on accident. Is Mr. Schmoe really going to call the station number and complain? No, because Mr. Schmoe also went to college and realizes that sometimes college students are idiots.
To add to that, being on-air serves as a great and practical lesson to “grow a pair of balls and say something”. In short, doing radio in college can make your skin a little thicker and boost your self-confidence. It feels great to mix a few songs together, say something witty, and then mix some more songs together.
Without a doubt, being on the radio is fun. It may not be for everyone and that is understandable; I like talking to people and being on the radio forces those who tune into the station to listen to me. Radio also gives you the opportunity to play new and old music that you like. As a DJ, you have the power to set the soundtrack to someone’s day.
KUGS has been a flourishing station since 1984, never missing a day of broadcasting. People from around the county tune in every day and listen to the student-hosted shows. As a current DJ, I can safely say that the staff I work with loves their job, music, and radio as an art form.
College radio is a special thing, and I hope it never goes away.
