Talk:WRUC

Title Wruc

Shouldn't the title be WRUC, not Wruc? How is that changed? --SafeLibraries 22:13, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

Done. Here's the history: 02:58, 2 September 2006 Ehornick (Talk | contribs) m (moved Wruc to WRUC: capitalization of radio station name) --SafeLibraries 03:10, 2 September 2006 (UTC)

Source Material

From Concordiensis, October 27, 2005, p.2 [as converted from PDF by Google]:

Union’s WRUC Celebrates 85 Years of Airtime

Rosie Foley, Staff Photographer

Union College made history 85 years ago as the first college to have a radio station in the nation. Back in October of 1920 Union students hit the airwaves for the first time. Alumni gathered in Reamer Campus Center this past Saturday to celebrate this momentous occasion. Current students and graduates mingled at the anniversary party and spoke about their time working for the station and the new changes that have recently been made. Those in attendance had the opportunity to celebrate the station that has lasted through the years here on campus.

According to WRUC’s website, back in 1920 the station was first known as 2ADD and was created using makeshift equipment in a shed behind the electrical engineering lab to broadcast 27 minutes of music through the airwaves. William G. Craig of the class of 1923 was the station’s first announcer and Glen C. Mercer of the class of 1916 built the first station. The first song ever to be played at the station was “Tell Me Little Gypsy” by John Steel. Although it was shut down during World War II, the station has continued to evolve throughout the 20th century. In 1940, 2ADD was given new call letters, WRUC, which stands for Wireless Radio of Union College, and in 1975 WRUC went to FM, marking two important steps in the development of the station.

Last spring, the station moved into its new studio, the WRUCkus Room, in Reamer Campus Center. The new facility is fitted with state-of-the-art equipment and offers a wide range of programming for the campus, Schenectady, and the Capital District.

During the WRUC cocktail reception, alumni discussed the changes since their time at the station. Greg Pattenaude graduated from Union in 1979 as an electrical engineering major. He described the changes as weird, but great, mostly in reference to the new physical station. During his tenure as a DJ, he spent his time in the large studio which was then the station. Pattenaude remembered an entire room of records and a lounge with the bench Barbara Streisand allegedly sat on in her 1973 movie The Way We Were, which was filmed on the Union campus. “It was just a good time,” he noted.

Another alumnus, Scott Wykoff, class of 1985, was a two-term General Manager for the station, as well as a broadcaster for Hockey and Football games. Although he graduated with a degree in history, he went into news reporting at a radio station immediately following graduation. “I was really a WRUC major,” he asserted with great love for the station. Wykoff echoed the sentiment of many radio alumni that the technological advancements marked the greatest difference in the station since their time. Regardless of the physical changes, he felt that the enthusiasm for the station has not changed.

Current students certainly exemplify that eagerness. A wide variety of shows are hosted each week, each with their own flavors. Anyone interested in hosting his or her own show is encouraged to do so by contacting shotsbac@union.edu. General Manager Tom Reilly ’06 has worked at the station for two terms. “I think WRUC is a great way for students to be exposed to broadcasting, especially since Union doesn’t offer a communications major.” The station also presents an opportunity to expose the campus community to great music. The "first station in the nation" continues to provide commercial free, student-run radio, featuring everything from jazz and rock to news and sports, on 89.7 FM.

--SafeLibraries 22:47, 26 August 2006 (UTC)