College Radio Day in a Pandemic

By Celeste Parler
Web Content Contributor

What is there to be said about COVID-19 that hasn’t already been said? COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of student life at Texas State including at KTSW. We have now had to change our plans and protocol since March 2020 including commemorating World College Radio Day.

Just like COVID-19, there’s a lot to be said about how important College Radio Day is to KTSW and college radio stations all over the world. In short, it brings awareness and unites a community of students and fans of college radio that makes maintaining the medium possible. Similar to how COVID-19 united students together to build a safe, healthy community.

In reaction to the pandemic, universities closed their doors for students to learn virtually and college radio stations followed. Events were canceled, meetings were conducted remotely and some stations were forced to halt all live broadcasting. Thankfully, KTSW operations continued even through the uncertain beginnings. 

Along the way we have learned to adapt to the needs of our staff, students, and the entire campus (as if college radio wasn’t enough of a learning experience). In July 2020, KTSW described their current COVID-19 related protocols for staff such as submitting music to an automated broadcast system, disinfecting studio spaces, limiting studio capacities and much more. KTSW News and Web Content teams collaborated on timely COVID-19 updates relevant to Texas State students and the city of San Marcos. These reports were crafted all the way until December 2020.

This World College Radio Day on October 1, 2021, we have a lot to reflect on including the strives students and faculty in college radio have made in the last year and a half. KTSW was able to operate in hard times thanks to the hardworking nature of its staff and the power of technology.

With the progress the city of San Marcos as a whole has made with handling COVID-19, more opportunities to behave like we did pre-pandemic have transpired. Recently, KTSW has arranged several successful promotional events where we were able to meet students on campus and introduce them to local artists. 

For us, college radio wasn’t designed to be a one-way interaction behind a screen. It’s about forming connections with the people who make college radio possible. Everyone from KTSW staff to promoters and the artists themselves. 

COVID-19 might have created some obstacles, but we are on our way to sharing our “other side of radio” with San Marcos even if it’s through a phone screen. So please continue to support KTSW by streaming on 89.9 FM and following our newly upgraded website for more amazing content. 

Featured Image by KTSW Multimedia Staff