From its humble beginnings decades before as the ten-watt station WUTA, manned by only a couple dedicated students with the dream of having their own space to speak freely, the campus radio station WMLU has grown a lot over the years. It is now a massive 40-50-person organization with the second largest budget submitted to Student Government Association. Its purpose, though, is that of any radio station: to serve its community, the bustling Longwood student body and the slowly churning town of Farmville. This diverse audience goes back to its change, fifteen years before, to a 250-watt, class A station that could reach more than the triangular territory of Longwood University and, on an odd day, the local jail. With recent times, it has extended even further by web stream to the endless market of the Internet. Who knows? Perhaps somewhere, some formerly bored Malaysian teen is listening to a Longwood DJ.
When WMLU was growing into the powerhouse it is today, its co-advisor, Multimedia Supervisor William Lynn, was just coming into the job of shepherding the organization then composed of fifteen members. At that time, an agreement was made with WMRA operating out of Harrisonburg to enhance the station’s capabilities in return for passing on the National Public Radio signal. The boost from ten-watts to 250-watts made it not only a voice to the wider audience in town, but also attracted more surveillance from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The business of advising the students on FCC regulations and renewing the station’s license lay squarely on the shoulders of Lynn. Regarding the shift, Lynn remarked, “When we changed over from a ten-watt station, there were people who were doing things that were allowed when it was a ten-watt station and were suddenly not allowed when it was a 250- watt, class A station.” However, the current station members have progressed far beyond this change of decorum. Lynn said, “I usually tell them that as long as I don’t hear bad things they are doing good ... I just hope they understand that they’re doing a good job, they’re working real hard at it and I’m proud of them.”
Concerning the expansion into a Farmville audience, it has been a work in progress. Though the Longwood University student body and faculty are well aware that WMLU is student-run, there is still some educating to be done in the town. The local residents who listen in usually do so largely because of the NPR services and nationally syndicated programming that take over in the summer. The musical selection is often classical or a style seldom played by WMLU DJs. Needless to say, this leads to some complaints when the blaring sounds of metal, 90s rock, and rap erupt from the student playlist. However, the station still finds an intrinsic appreciation within the town. Through NPR, it delivers a little bit of the wider nation to the area and is a demonstration of student presence in a place that constantly feels their impact.
For the students, other than providing listening material and such attractions as Battle of Bands, WMLU is a consistent way to communicate and gain experience. Commenting on this point, Lynn said, “It’s a great thing for the students to be able to get that experience of being on the air, having their own shows, and learning the rules and regulations, things to go by, how to operate the equipment and it’s just great to see the students taking on that responsibility. [They’re] learning the things they need to know to put on a good radio show and to run a good radio station. “
WMLU is not just a student-run affair with the trappings of a big boy station. “The organization is a working radio station,” Lynn said. “It has the same officers that a regular commercial radio station would have. We have our general manager and business manager... we do have a couple extra committees because we are student run. We don’t have to pay them and don’t have to worry about that being in a budget. Its run just like a radio station.”
Lynn also commented on Bandfest and Battle of the Bands, two projects commanded by WMLU, saying, “They work hard on both of those projects and do a great job on them.” In addition, the station has committees that evaluate shows and give criticism on how to improve.
When asked about students who have really impacted the station’s current function, Lynn said, “The ones that really turned it around in recent history, that a student here may actually remember, [were] Erica, Liz, and Jerry. Those were three that really took it to the next level as far as getting the organization to a point where they realized that they have a real radio station, not just a play toy like they did when they had ten-watts. They really turned it over to something that you could be proud of. And with the web stream being able to [be listened to] online, it’s taken them to the next level as far being able to put on a show.”
Among the station’s alumni are a few that have gone into the announcing business. These include one that carried on his talents to ESPN as well as sportscaster Nathan Epstein. “Some people have taken this and used it as a stepping stone,” Lynn said, “and depending on what you want to do it looks very good on your résumé. I’ve given several references for people who have been in the station.”
Not only have the power and the quality of the station changed over the years, its location has also moved from Jarman third floor, to the former president’s office in Ruffner, and finally to an abode meant to be a station room in Hiner. In the future, as French completes its renovation, WMLU seeks to move into the refurbished building. With the new facilities, it is hoped that WMLU members will continue to improve and not become interested only in the fact that they are station members.
Continuing its long history of being the student’s voice in the area and a major mode of communication on campus, WMLU seeks to continue growth. With its dozens of dedicated DJs, committee members, and general members, there is hope that it will not only make the present more melodious, but will continue for a long time coming.
