Student Radio Memories

[Scott Westerman]

When I was looking for a University with a telecom program back in the early 70s, there was only one place to go. MSU had three broadcast stations and a plethora of campus carrier-current stations that broadcast through the 60 Hz hum of the dorm electrical system.

What do you remember about campus radio at MSU? Share it here.

[Scott Westerman]

Some of you know that I do a pro-bono shift on a small AM oldies station here in ABQ. Our holiday party was tonight and there were definite flash backs to memorable moments with our campus radio gang. This place operates on a shoestring and more than one of us got up to toast our great good fortune, to be able to express our passion with a pair of headphones and an Electrovoice RE-20.

Our beloved art is truly a lifelong addiction. A few, like brother Schram, have been able to become it's zen masters, taking it to a higher plane, often in spite of the knuckleheads at the top of the zigarut, who too often rise beyond their level of incompetancy. I've often thought that the fact that he's leading the Michigan Radio team proves that there is a benevolent God. At last an organization worthy of his exceptional gifts.

Many of the rest of us have conquered the addiction enough to make our humble contributions in other fields. But at some moment of every day we'll hear the first bars of a particular tune, notice a nuance in an announcer's spot read, or contemplate a segue that could have been just a little bit tighter.. and we're transported back to ground floors of Student Services, Brody, Wonders, Shaw, McDonnel or Holden. The things we did and the friends we made continue to define some of the most meaningful moments of our young lives.

And, if you're like me, you smile... and toss a small prayer of gratitude that Gary Reid continues to make those moments happen for another generation.


Scott Westerman
WEAK/WMSN 1973-1975
www.keener13.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico

[Lindsay Warren]

What I'll never forget is sometimes working 12+ hours in a day at Impact 89FM and honestly not only feeling that the day FLEW by, but having it not feel like work at all.

That was the first time I had a (paying) job that did not feel like work and I'm yet to find another. It was the job of a lifetime!

[Dave Hanna]

I remember when the network offices moved to the third and fourth floors of the Aud ('83). We had a large room on 4 that served as a storage area for all sorts of junk. Not wanting to let good space go to waste, Mario Impemba and I cleared out part of the room; bought an MSU mini-backboard, net, and ball; laid out a small court (complete with free throw lane) with masking tape; and created Conlin Arena. Many a great late-night one-on-one and two-on-two game was played there.