UWG's The WOLF Internet Radio is GA HQ for College Radio Day

UWG’s The WOLF Internet Radio is the official Georgia headquarters of an international effort to highlight the importance of campus radio and bring new listeners to the stations.

So far, more than 300 college and high school stations in the U.S., Canada and Jamaica have signed up for College Radio Day on Oct. 11.

“College radio is generally the place where a lot of musicians get their start,” said founder Rob Quicke, general manager of WPSC-FM (88.7) at William Paterson University in New Jersey.

The WOLF is the liaison between College Radio Day organizers and the other participating campus stations in Georgia.

“We have a chance to show UWG and the world what a difference college radio can make,” said Shawn Isaacs, general manager for The WOLF.

The participating stations agree to air the day’s keynote feature, “College Radio in 2011: Its Past, Present & Future.” For their commitment, the stations get graphics, banners and logos. They also get prizes to give away to listeners. Beyond that, they have complete programming freedom. But they are urged to use the day to showcase their stations and to raise funds.

The Wolf will set up at UWG’s grassy triangle and play some of this semester’s best shows, Isaacs said. The WOLF will collect clothes and toiletries for the Atlanta Mission. The first 200 students to donate will get the non-profit’s distinctive yellow Atlanta Mission Lantern wristband.

Unlike commercial radio, college stations have a chance to be truly creative, Isaacs said. “We get it on the air regardless of whether we think it will bring a lot of listeners or not.”

It’s that kind of attitude that makes college radio so important, Quicke said. “You never reach millions. It’s not meant to. It’s on the edge, it’s raw, it’s unruly, it’s scruffy. It’s passionate, definitely real and authentic in a way that commercial radio is not. There has to be a place for independent bands to go. If not for college radio they might not get the exposure. They are outside the mainstream. They are on the edge. There are not a lot of places where people are really doing this – championing the artists who would never get the attention of the mainstream.”

The stations are also learning labs for students.

“It’s a stepping stone,” said Quicke, who is also an assistant professor of communication at William Paterson University.

“Students use it to learn the basics. Then they go into professional radio. Quite a lot of them are disappointed when they go into commercial radio; their creative freedom is taken away. People underestimate or write off college radio. It’s a real shame, it has a real place.”

So far, the participating schools and stations in Georgia are: Savannah State University, WSSU-FM (104.1); Southern Polytechnic State University, WGHR (Internet); Valdosta State University, WVVS Blaze-FM (90.9); Georgia College & State University, WGUR-FM (88.9); Kennesaw State University, KSU Owl Radio (Internet); University of Georgia, WUOG-FM (90.5); Georgia Institute of Technology, WREK-FM (91.1); and Clark Atlanta University, WSTU-FM (98.1).

Contact: Shawn Isaacs, 678-839-6631 or thewolf@westga.edu.

For more information about the WOLF Internet Radio go to: http://www.westga.edu/thewolf

For more information on College Radio Day, go to: http://www.collegeradioday.com