WNUB offers student on-air shows

By Kyle D. Blaikie
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

When Jared Hanna, 20, a junior communications major from Andover, N.J., enrolled in Broadcasting Techniques, the introductory communications class in radio broadcasting, he never thought he would be hosting his own show on WNUB, the Norwich University radio station.

Hanna hosts "Juxtaposition and Jargon Jams" every Monday, from 10 p.m. until midnight. The show was an extension of the course, and Hanna said that he "had a blast" being on the air.

This year was the first time in the station's history that programming was broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week. According to Doug Smith, the part-time communications professor and faculty advisor for the student-run station, the ability to continuously broadcast is thanks to the computerization of the broadcast.

"Last semester was a learning experience," Smith said. "A trial semester. This semester, I want the radio station to run like a well oiled machine."

Todd Mansfield, 21, a senior communications major from Northfield, Vt., is one of the students who works on WNUB.

"In order for things to run smoothly, not only does the station need listeners, but it also needs a large amount of student involvement," Mansfield said.

According to Smith, the radio station needs to coordinate a lot of people and a lot of jobs and also has to assign people specific tasks and give them deadlines. One of the problems the station has always had in the past has been with students not showing up for their assigned radio show.

According to Smith, this last semester was "better than others."

"The people showed up for their shows for the most part, and we had the automation system to fall back on if people didn't show up," Smith said. However, Smith added that he intends to get stricter with the DJs because of the past problems.

"If you blow it off once, we are going to replace you," Smith said. "We are going to do a sign in or a sign out log. If that person forgets to sign that log, as far as I am concerned, they weren't there."

Smith said he regrets the necessity of the stricter measures.

"I want people to have a lot of freedom," Smith said. "I don't want people to just take advantage of it and get out of control to the point that we have to reprimand them or pull them off the air. I want it to sound professional."

Hanna said he thinks the station needs a lot more public exposure.

"The reason that people don't listen to it is because there isn't a lot of advertisement out there," Hanna said. "Flyers and promotions at The Mill will get people more interested."

Smith agreed that the station does not receive enough exposure.

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