2008 Woodie Awards
WHLC Radio Station Off The Air
by Aisha Al-Muslim
Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: News
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"Change needs to come because these people could be doing internships elsewhere and they didn't have to be [at the school radio station]," said WHLC Station Manager Chad Scott.
Scott recalled that the former station manager told him that the station's antenna was stolen during the early 1990s, but school officials confirmed the station never even had an antenna because the school could not afford an antenna or to pay for an FCC license.
Michael E. Sullivan, director of the Office of Campus Life, explained that the station would broadcast through a carrier current, which uses phone lines to send a signal that would only be available on campus.
"The school didn't get an antenna because they couldn't afford it and they didn't see a reason for it," Scott said.
Sullivan said that originally the radio station would broadcast in the bookstore, the Carman cafeteria, the basement of the cafeteria in the Music Life Building and the recreation room in the Student Life Building. Sullivan added that when the television system was installed in the cafeterias, the radio station no longer had access to broadcast there.
Vincent Zuchetto, executive assistant to Vice President of Student Affairs, claimed that when the station was able to broadcast in the cafeterias, some students had complained about foul and sexist language on-air personalities.
"They were complaining about the noise level," Zucchetto said. "They felt that they had no peace whatsoever, the had no choices and they couldn't tune them off."
Since then, the radio station only heard in the recreation room of the Student Life Building. Scott admitted that he is disappointed that the school cannot purchase an antenna, but other City University of New York colleges like the College of Staten Island (WSIA 88.9 FM), City College (WCCR 640 AM), Baruch College (WBMB 87.9 FM) and Brooklyn College (WBCR 1090 AM) broadcast over the air and online.
"I feel that if Lehman is complaining about the tier system, and we want to be treated as equals to City College, than we need to able to broadcast to more than just a recreation room," Scott said.
Scott explained that staff members feel embarrassed when people in the radio industry asked them about their audience. He added that it is hard to recruit potential candidates because they do not take the radio station seriously.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Julian M. Turock
posted 12/18/07 @ 12:38 AM EST
Lehman's radio station has a nomadic history. Originally called "WHCB" (for Hunter College in the Bronx), it was founded in a third floor turret in the old Student Hall (now the music building). (Continued…)
Steve Goodman
posted 10/07/08 @ 6:31 PM EST
I too was a proud member of the WHLC staff during the last 3 1/2 years of my time at Lehman from 1972-77. Spending time with a great group of people while learning and practicing all aspects of radio was the highlight of college for me. (Continued…)
Kevin Convery
posted 10/23/08 @ 6:11 PM EST
I was on air at WHLC (1986-88). Fact is, there WAS an illegal transmitter, that could be heard for about five blocks around the Student Life Building. (Continued…)
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