2008 Woodie Awards
Colgate Radio Waves
A Look at WRCU
Alyssa Labelle
Issue date: 10/14/05 Section: Arts & Features
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mmon response that Colgate students gave when asked about the University's radio station. That is slightly surprising, considering that WRCU 90.1 FM, Colgate's own radio station, is the largest organization on campus with over 150 people involved.
But what is WRCU? Music, shows and what else? Well, for a full explanation of the station's complicated inner workings and illustrious history, it is necessary to delve into the station's past. Although the WRCU website asserts that "WRCU was created millions of years ago by a race of warrior muskrats who wanted to control the other species on the planet," deeper plumbing into the depths of the station's history provides some illumination, or at least some random facts you can use to impress your friends. Hey, you never know what will pop up on Jeopardy.
WRCU was started in the early 1960s by broadcasting on a carrier current. It was located in Curtis Hall and called the KED. Power lines marked the boundaries where the signal carried, and it was transmitted over the phone lines. The station used to consist of only indie rock, with some classic rock and country thrown in for good measure. Things have definitely changed since then, and the station has evolved as Colgate's community has developed. "The station has changed. Students change, right? The station and students of 2005 are not the station and students of 1985 or of 1975 or 1965. WRCU's change reflects the student change," explained the the station's faculty advisor and Professor of English Michael Coyle.
The station is currently located in Drake Hall, and the signal travels much farther than it did in the past, but at 2000 watts this should come as no surprise. That's pretty hefty power for Colgate, especially when compared to, say, the 100-watt station at Hamilton College. The signal carries up to Utica and Syracuse, down to Norwich and, of course, to Hamilton. "It's different from other organizations in that it is potentially the public face of Colgate," says Coyle. It's not just for us, and that fact is one of the beauties of WRCU."
But what is WRCU? Music, shows and what else? Well, for a full explanation of the station's complicated inner workings and illustrious history, it is necessary to delve into the station's past. Although the WRCU website asserts that "WRCU was created millions of years ago by a race of warrior muskrats who wanted to control the other species on the planet," deeper plumbing into the depths of the station's history provides some illumination, or at least some random facts you can use to impress your friends. Hey, you never know what will pop up on Jeopardy.
WRCU was started in the early 1960s by broadcasting on a carrier current. It was located in Curtis Hall and called the KED. Power lines marked the boundaries where the signal carried, and it was transmitted over the phone lines. The station used to consist of only indie rock, with some classic rock and country thrown in for good measure. Things have definitely changed since then, and the station has evolved as Colgate's community has developed. "The station has changed. Students change, right? The station and students of 2005 are not the station and students of 1985 or of 1975 or 1965. WRCU's change reflects the student change," explained the the station's faculty advisor and Professor of English Michael Coyle.
The station is currently located in Drake Hall, and the signal travels much farther than it did in the past, but at 2000 watts this should come as no surprise. That's pretty hefty power for Colgate, especially when compared to, say, the 100-watt station at Hamilton College. The signal carries up to Utica and Syracuse, down to Norwich and, of course, to Hamilton. "It's different from other organizations in that it is potentially the public face of Colgate," says Coyle. It's not just for us, and that fact is one of the beauties of WRCU."