Page 2, The News Argus, February, 1981
Opening Of Radio StationNot An Easy Task
By Von Corbett
The administration, faculty and
students have been anticipating the
opening of its new radio station for
more than a year. Finally, the long wait
is just about over.
The new radio station will be open
ing sometime this semester but no
specific date has been set yet. Accor
ding to Mr. Clarence Thomas, mass
communications instructor, the station
will be programmed on a low powered
frequency of 100 watts on the FM dial,
'.irong enough to be received
ihroughout the Winston-Salem city
limits. The radio station will broadcast
between-5-10:30 p.m. six days a week.
The days will be designated later.
But just what is taking so long for
WSSU to get its own radio station?
Mr. Thomas says getting a radio sta
tion is not an overnight process. Much
hard work and patience arc involved in
its development. First, the university
had to dccide whether it even wanted a
radio station. After a positive decision
was inade, the next step was the
building of the new communications
building. Next, an experienced person
in the field of communications was
hired ihal person being Mr. Thomas,
who, along with Dr. Hazel Harvey,
chairperson of the Communication
Arts Department, coordinated the
The NATIONAL POETRY PRESS
announces
plans for the new station.
Plans for financial and operational
matters were made and bids for the
proper communications equipment
were submitted. The entire process
grew considerably lengthy and expen
sive, taking until this past summer to
complete. Meanwhile, an application
from the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) and a construction
permit had to be completed. The FCC
docs not grant all applications; there
are many people applying for these
licenses. In order for the form to be
completed properly, a team of people
consisting of an attorney and an
engineering staff was gathered for tests
and surveys and to fill out the license.
Next, the university had to submit a
financial statement and more plans for
organization, operations, and pro
gramming were drawn.
Then came the wailing. The FCC
takes the forms on a first come, first
serve basis, it then holds them for thir
ty days without even looking at the
forms. When the FCC finally looks at
ihe forms, it really looks at them. The
FCC not only views the financial por
tion of an applicant’s position, it also
regards the engineering portion, mak
ing sure there is enough space on a
radio dial of if the new radio station
will interfere with other already func
tioning radio stations or how the place
ment of the antennae will affect the
output of the station. All of these mat
ters are considered by the FCC before
it gives its approval or rejection. The
FCC may then request more evidence
in the form of a hearing from the appli
cant to regard its financial and
engineering stability before making its
final decision. The delay in the opening
of (he station lay not in the hands of
the University, but in the hands of the
FCC.
What does the applicant do while it
waits for this approval? According to
Mr. Thomas, the campus’ part ran
smoothly for while it awaited the ap
proval of the FCC, plans for the sta
tion’s operations and training of com
petent students to operate the station
were developed. Training for the
students included new courses in mass
communications, one of the newest to
be Techniques of Radio, the first
course to train students on campus
designed for specific feed to the sta
tion.
As yet no word has come from the
FCC. Nevertheless, Mr. Thomas is
confident of the radio station’s open
ing this semester since the FCC has not
requested more evidence.
The radio station will be supervised
by Mr. Thomas along with Mr. Bob
McConnell, another instructor in mass
communications, and run primarily by
the students. The radio station will not
only be open to mass communications
minors, but it will also be open to any
studenis interested in learning to
operate a radio station. To accomodate
this, the Radio Club, an organization
ol on and off campus studenis in
terested in working with the radio sta
tions, will be formed.
The date of its first meeting will be
announced.
Campus Plans Events
From page 1
union. The topic will be Chronicle of
Black Struggle: Past, Present,
Future.” Community leaders are the
sponsors.
Throughout the month. Black
History information and music will be
provided in the student union.
COLLEGE POETRY REVIEW
The closing date for the submission of manuscripts by College Students is
February 15th
ANY STUDENT attending either junior or senior college Is eligible to submit
his verse. There is no limitation as to form or theme. Shorter works are pre
ferred because of space limitations.
Each poem must be TYPED or PRINTED on a separate sheet, and must
bear the N/»ME and HOME ADDRESS of the student, and the COLLEGE
ADDRESS as well.
MANUSCRIPTS should be sent to the OFFICE OF THE PRESS.
NATIONAL POETRY PRESS
Box 218
Agoura, Ca. 91301
THE SGA SALUTES
BLACK
HISTORY
MONTH