Radio ga ga

Let's talk student media....

Every college and university at least in Canada has a campus newspaper. Many of those institutions also have a radio station. It is clear that educational institutions value the freedom students have to express their values, opinions, and concerns in an open forum.

My personal connection is with campus radio. Being an executive on the Wilfrid Laurier radio station (Radio Laurier), I've learnt the importance of letting yourself be heard. Radio, being the younger, louder sister of print media has become an important part of the university community especially at Laurier. Unlike print, radio offers a conversational outlet for students. It's content is current and immediate therefore issues that are discussed are not remnants from the week before but are the hot topics of the day.

Why I am bringing this to your attention is because our beloved station is being dropped by our students' union. YES the union that preaches transparency and student representation believes that we do not fit under their mandate. Understandable, but no real effort has been made to transfer us elsewhere. The plan is that we move to another organization on campus--Student Publications. This area of student life is in charge of the print publications on campus so it makes sense if we end up there. This switch is not guaranteed however so as of April 31st, we might cease to exist.

I was asked by the current coordinator if I would have applied to this position if I knew that the station was being cut and I said yes. I would have been even more enthusiastic than I was initially. We would have been able to fight harder from the beginning. We work the equivalent of full time jobs and get paid nothing. We don't even get a pat on the back for working our asses off.

For all of you blog surfers, newspaper readers, radio listeners and TV watchers (and other media consumers)--I'm encouraging you to defend those channels that serve as a voice for others. Small scale outlets such as those found on campus should not be silenced. If this is attempted, speak louder.

We are an online station. To listen click here. Please show us your support.

If you have something to say, leave a comment or e-mail me at romi.radiolaurier@gmail.com