Bros of KTSW

By Rikki Yanez
Assistant Web Content Manager

International Men’s Day takes place every year on Nov. 19. To celebrate this event at KTSW, we are having a 24-hour long broadcast that will feature all male DJs, also known as Brocast. In addition, KTSW is honoring the occasion by highlighting some of our staff members and directors. This station wouldn’t run as smoothly as it does if we didn’t have these talented, creative, tech savvy, sports-enthusiast individuals.

Charles Messina

Charles Messina is a senior and the web development director at the station. He is currently implementing a new website, as well as transferring over from our old website and integrating the blog into the new site. He loves listening to music, mainly metal. He was in a couple of bands in high school and outside of college. Some men Messina admires are Nelson Mandela and Jesse Barnett, band member of Stick to Your Guns.

“They write about stuff that I deeply care about and they fight for things they actually believe in,” Messina said.

Alex Gibbs

Alex Gibbs is the assistant sports director at the station. He’s been working at KTSW for about two years now. He helps create scripts for the stations sports updates and does play by play and color for the different events of the Texas State athletics, as well as San Marcos High School football games. He also produces games and uses the automation system quite often. In addition, Gibbs also writes articles that include interviews with coaches, players and preps said script up for the update or end game broadcasts. Some of his hobbies are watching superhero movies, talking about movies or hanging out with his family. He also enjoys hiking and swimming. Gibbs said that his father would have to be one of the men in his life that he admires.

“He grew up in a not so friendly environment,” Gibbs said. “As horrible it was for him, it was a great lesson to him when he became a father to never be that way with his wife and kids, and to always treat people with respect and dignity.”

Gibbs said that attitude may seem like common sense, but people, especially men, forget that or don’t know that. Stan Lee is another man that inspires Gibbs because he was a big advocate for people in general.

Julian Saldana

Julian Saldana, sophomore, is a videographer in the multimedia department and is part of the social media team as well. For the social media department he is usually posting for Other Side Drive either on Instagram or Twitter. Some tasks he does for the multimedia department include going to concerts, taking pictures, creating videos, and editing photos that go on the blog, as well as editing Studio C videos. Saldana has been playing the saxophone for about three years, which he taught himself. He also enjoys going on hikes. Some men that Saldana admires are Sam Smith and RuPaul.

“These guys are big LGBT people, which they help me come to terms with my sexuality,” Saldana said. “They really normalized it and made me become acceptable to it.”

Saldana also said that for longest time the media showed off really masculine men that can’t be in touch with their feminine side, so he appreciates having male role models hat show people that it’s okay to be different.

Reily Chestnut

Reily Chestnut is the sports director at KTSW. As sports director, he arranges for the sports broadcast on the radio, makes sure that the content for Bobcat Radio and Texas State Spit Talk are running smoothly, and that there are reporters out covering the teams. Some of Chestnut’s hobbies are reading and watching sports. He also enjoys reading about American history and making people laugh. Some men that inspire Chestnut are his dad and grandpas on both sides of the family.

“They are both driven men and I appreciate all that they taught me on what it’s like to be a man of respect, while also giving others their fair treatment,” Chestnut said.

Troy Vita

Troy Vita is the Studio C producer, meaning he’s in charge of booking bands for KTSW’s Studio C sessions. Some of his hobbies include going to concerts, hanging out with friends, playing Dungeons and Dragons and watching movies. In addition, he has a second job at an internship with a booking company, where he works with bands even more.

Vita admires his dad because he didn’t go to college, nor did his mom, so he worked hard to move up to a position that allowed him to be able to take care of the family, as well as get them to where they are at now.

“He inspires me a lot,” Vita said.

In addition, Vita feels that men need to do everything in their power to help fight toxic masculinity.

“[Men need to] be kind to everyone and be there to help everyone,” Vita said.

Featured image by Lucero Trevino.