College Radio Day: What it’s All About

Chelsea Moran
Blog Content Contributor

Do you know what today is? Do you know why it’s a big deal? Do you understand why every student working at a college radio station is going slightly insane today? It’s College Radio day.. A day when over 700 participating college radio stations in over 43 countries across the globe celebrate the work and efforts put forth by students and raise awareness to the unique culture that is college radio. College radio stations reach far beyond the campus they are hosting from and many people are unaware of these great stations available to the public at the touch of a button.

College Radio Day is still fairly new, founded by the general manager of WPSC FM at Williams Patterson University in New York City, by Dr. Rob Quicke in 2010. Rob later partnered with the general manager of WXAV FM at Saint Xavier University in Chicago to further develop and expand the project throughout the US. In just two short years the work Rob was doing became so widespread and influential, it caught the attention of colleges overseas. A representative for italian university radio, Tiziana Cavallo,  and president of Red de Radio Universitaria Colombia, Guillermo Gaviria, emailed Dr. Quicke in 2012 asking to participate and make College radio day a global event. Three years later, October second, is a now a day celebrated by hundreds of colleges and high schools around the world. For twenty-four straight hours you can tune in to hear non-stop live broadcast, special interviews, music and so much more. One thing College Radio Day really aims to highlight is the fact that college radio is the only place you can listen to local and unsigned artist and it’s all free. But of course even free radio stations need funding for equipment, contest, events, etc. which is why the day is sometimes used as a platform to fundraise money to be awarded in grants by the College Radio Foundation.

Be sure to tune in to your college or university’s radio station today and spread the word about the great stuff they’re doing. If you’re a Bobcat, be on the lookout for Texas State’s radio station, KTSW 89.9, in the quad to see broadcasters live and in action. To check out other participating radio stations or get involved go to Collegeradio.org for more information. To all students working at college radio stations, may the odds be ever in your favor over the next 24 hours of craziness.