The University radio station WESU will return to live programming in mid-February, pending a resolution between the Wesleyan administration and WESU station management regarding future changes at the station. Those changes will almost certainly include program feeds from NPR affiliate station WSHU, a new general manager, and the reorganization of the WESU Board, according to those close to the negotiations.
After promising to wait until after Tuesday’s forum before making a final decision on WSHU feeds, President Doug Bennet will try to conclude talks with students at WESU who have been looking at possible programming options, according to Justin Harmon, Director of University Communications.
“I don’t think [Bennet] heard anything new in terms of the opposition to the WSHU feeds,” Harmon said. What he’s got to do now is make what he thinks is the best decision for the station and for Wesleyan.“
At Tuesday’s forum, some students continued to criticize Bennet for not responding to community concerns regarding the inclusion of NPR programming.
”Students don’t want this to happen,“ said Mike Butterfield ’06. The WSA has written a resolution against having NPR coming in. Alumni are against it. The community is against it. I don’t know who you are serving if you’re serving the Wesleyan community when you’re bringing in NPR.”
Bennet responded to the criticism and spoke up for NPR, which he presided over for ten years before his current position at Wesleyan. Bennet also disagreed that all members of the community were against the plan or had proper information.
“The independence of the WESU Board was impaired by the pressure they received,” Bennet said. “To be very frank about it, I think a lot of members of the community don’t know much about radio and don’t know what it takes to make the station self-sufficient.”
At the same time, Bennet said that he understood WESU desires for WSHU as a temporary financial solution and would support a completely independent station if the station could become self-sufficient.
“So we get to this break-even point, where we are able to raise enough money to pay our ongoing expenses plus whatever equipment upgrades we need,” Harmon said. “At that moment, can we pull the plug on WSHU if we want to? The answer is yes.”
In order to reach the break-even point, Harmon said a combination of WSHU programming and independent WESU fundraising looks like the most likely solution. The WESU Board of Directors is currently discussing programming options, most of which would include some level of NPR programming.
“I’m preparing for it. If for some reason WSHU doesn’t come to WESU, we would be screwed [financially],” said Jesse Sommer ’05, Station Manager of WESU.
According to Harmon, the station would likely run a deficit the first couple years as the station builds up its listener support. Depending on how much WSHU is incorporated in the programming schedule, the station will hopefully break even in three years and definitely in five years. The initial contract, however, will probably only last 18 months, according to Harmon.
One popular proposal, according to Harmon, would include nine hours of NPR programming on weekdays, starting with “Morning Edition” at 5 a.m. and “The Diane Rehm Show” from 10 a.m. until 12 a.m. WSHU feeds would return with two hours of “Talk of the Nation” at 2 a.m. The rest of the day would be devoted to student and community programming. Weekends are still being discussed, Harmon said.
The proposal would generate a projected $45,000 in revenue, which has been mentioned by WESU personnel and Wesleyan administration officials as the starting salary for the new position of general manager. Bennet has expressed his public support for a general manager (GM) who would be a University employee.
The hiring process for the GM is a unique one. Only one person, Ben Michaels, has met with Wesleyan University in regard to the position. Michaels, 30, has worked at WESU as a community volunteer for the past eight years and was nominated by the Board of Directors for the position.
Michaels, who met with Bennet and Harmon on Monday, said the position is an ideal job for him. In addition, Michaels said the meeting gave him a better impression of the administration.
“It washed away a lot of my preconceptions. They’re acting as compassionately as anyone else who loves the station. They’re just coming from a different perspective,” he said.
As for the administration, Harmon maintains that they are still in the search process but have been impressed by Michaels.
“We have a very strong candidate. We’re very excited about it,” he said. “[But] just like we haven’t made a WSHU decision, this one has not been made yet.”
Whoever the GM turns out to be, several tasks will await this person, including issues such as FCC compliance, DJ training, and fundraising.
In addition, the GM will have to work with a restructured WESU Board of Directors that is now only composed of students. Community members who were on the Board can become part of Friends of WESU, a new organization that will have an advisory and supportive role in WESU affairs.
According to WESU personnel, the station hopes to have the new programming schedule running by mid-February. Until then, an automated music playlist will continue to play.
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