-Page Two, THE HILLTOP, Thursday, March 17,1983
WVMH - Not Enough Play Variety?
There has been a petition circulating the campus recently which causes us great
concern. We quote you from this petition: “We, the undersigned, agree that
WVMH does not play sufficiently diversified types of music including Progressive,
Rock, Pop, Soul, New Wave, Country and Classical music that are appropriate for
a college FM radio station. We ascertain that predominately pop-oriented program
ming does not fit the needs of the college community. WVMH is a non-profit
organization designed to stimulate interest in a wide musical area, as well as interest
in other forms of programming.”
We contend that WVMH does play a diversity of music, does serve the needs of
the college community and does give them the music they want to hear.
First of all, for diversity, you are invited to look at the WVMH playlist log. We
did, and have found that songs programmed in every hour that DJ’s must play at a
specified time are new releases straight from the record companies, and are being
“tested” in our college market. They range from new wave to rock to techno-pop.
This music is progressive in every sense of the word. A classical show is also provid
ed, with music coming from the DJ’s personal collection as well as from the college
music library. A number of country albums are available for the air personality to
use on his/her show. Music from such talents as Alabama and Kenny Rogers is often
requested and played by the station.
“Diversity” means the station plays the aforementioned types of music in con
junction with pop music. It does not mean that progressive, new wave, classical and
country are to make up a majority of the station’s programming. Common sense
tells you that a station should appeal to the majority of its audience, and, we feel,
the majority wants to hear pop.
“Pop” music is a short version for the word Popular Music, and it is self ex
planatory. The music is popular because it is what most radio listeners want to hear.
WVMH plays the music that is found on the Billboard Hot 100 Survey, which con
sists of the records that record stores are selling and radio stations are playing. If the
majority of people suddenly switched to buying “New Wave albums, the charts
would change accordingly and the station would play a majority of New Wave
music.
If predominately pop-oriented music doesn’t fit the needs of the college communi
ty, what does? What are our petitioners asking for if the music that most of the peo
ple in the country listen to isn’t good enough for them? Should WVMH go all
Beethoven? All Alabama? All Devo?
A final word about the use of the word “Pop.” This sort of music doesn’t have
any particular form of lyrics, verse or beat. Go down the charts and you’ll find
country songs, soul songs, new wave music and progressive. Pop music in itself is
diverse, and rich in differences of music and groups.
We ask our petitioners if Mars Hill’s station isn’t diverse enough, please give us an
example of one that is.
WVMH-FM has come a long way since its origin. In 1973, a letter to the editor in
THE HILLTOP complained of irregular hours, outdated music and signals that
couldn’t reach as far as the apartments. Since that time, programming and equip
ment have increased greatly in quality. Music is updated every week, and a dependa
ble 19-hour weekday schedule has been established. Signals can reach well beyond
the Mars Hill town limits.
It is the opinion of this newspaper that WVMH-FM serves the Mars Hill College
community, and serves it well. It provides music to please a majority of its listeners,
and plays many other types of music to please listeners who prefer music other than
pop. The petition being circulated appears to be a few trying to project their opi
nions on many.
Salamander Munching Shocks Prof
To the Editors of The Hilltop:
As a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, I read with some amusement
and horror the article in the last edition of The Hilltop: “Penn State Frat Halts
Salamander Munching.” Let me assure you that this practice of eating defenseless
animals is abnormal up North. There was a time, for example, just after the 1981
Sugar Bowl game between Penn State and Alabama, when the Penn State students
were forced to eat crow. This year, of course, they feasted on bulldog, an animal
that we have learned from experience here at Mars Hill can be quite formidable.
Roar lions roar!
Jim Lenburg
Department of History
Penn State, 1973
Letters to the Editor are welcome, but
must be signed and include address and
telephone number. Name may be with
held at the discretion of the editor.
WHAT r YOU WANT
A BIRTH CONTROL
PEVICE?
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ARE YOU HAVING
WHTON SEX
WITH 50ME0NE,
MISS?
SGA Ca
YOUNSFORTWt
YOU Hussy?
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HOWlWRE YOU, YOU" W W WRENT3 KflOW
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TK
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- can
its pop
jjl^'l^^ful political
Letters To The Ed0
Athletics - Too Much Wasted $
needs to
He wot
*^ody
V
' they car
k SGA meei
says he
total ef
''■de student
lu and s
engraspea me. is a tuucgc nui an inanLuiv. ingi.v, ....y - jji) k ^>ng for all
quiesce to the proposed administration cuts in academic spending? {j^^^ter believes 1
talked to were not even partially aware of the proposed solution and those beca„„„ u.-
believed in their non-thinking way that the administration had made the 0
ble choice. Rubbish. Want to offer one completely feasible suggestion: c
expenditures. .
Some of the students talked to have been amazed at such a suggestion
were here to attend football and basketball games. Yet think on it; by bn'^ ^
expanding more and more on the football and basketball teams n
academic spending are we not like the Reagan administration buildi
, has ^
The apathy on this campus is so strong that its amorphous reach
engrasped me. Is a college not an institute of higher learning? Why then
military and cutting social programs and programs for the arts?
student bo(
’%ms feels h(
'"''because he!
■’^rticipated in
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I mention the basketball and football teams for I think expenditures on ^
teams far outweigh those on any of the other teams. I wanted to proyi ^
but the man with the numbers refused to see me after I told him the subjec
my article; therefore, large expenditures for the football and basketball ^
money from the academic departments and to exacerbate the
academics of the college, the money is being spent on people whose
averages are, as a team, below the college average. This is what irks me, ^
going to live on the values of the Mars Hill College football team but on
tion I receive here. |
- Paul Smythe i ^
'^'achter
*Se and
V
Credible
^ip I
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P.O. Box 1148-C
Mars Hill, North Carolina 28754
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