Top stories
WSRN 91.5 FM
USINFO | 2013-07-24 15:51
WSRN 91.5 FM, Swarthmore's student-operated radio station, is one of the largest student groups on campus. More than 100 student DJs keep the station live on the air 24 hours a day at 91.5 fm. The station's shows, including the comedy/variety of Strong Eliza (above), feature all musical styles ranging from classical to rock, jazz, hip-hop, folk, and electronica."Having a radio show is a really nice way to spend some time with each other, exploring music we all enjoy but don't always know that much about."
Audiences worldwide can listen to WSRN on the web. "We have frequent listeners in Caracas, Lima, Santiago de Chile, Paris, London, Boston, and Japan," says Juan Victor Fajardo '09, host of "Oido al Tambor," a Latin American music radio show on Sundays. "Sometimes they call us through the Internet and we can put them on the air. It's really amazing."
WSRN is an open group. Applications for DJs occur at the beginning of each semester. New DJs undergo training before their first shows so that they can figure out the technical aspects of the station -- they have to do the work of both DJs and engineers!
"Actually running the show was kind of confusing at first," says Laura, host of "Bop it, Twist it," a blues/soul/funk/oldies show on Saturdays. "We didn't really know how to work the turntable, we kept switching on the wrong tracks or CDs, or we didn't have the volume up all the way. We made a lot of mistakes, but it was fun to figure things out together."
"We tend to base our song selections around a theme," she adds, "such as breaking up, or music just by women, or covers of other artists. But we also get to explore the WSRN library and find artists we've never heard of."
But WSRN is not limited to music. The station's Talk Department is one of the most popular, including a news show, "Swarthmore Radio News," and a show run by the Swarthmore Sexual Health Counselors, "Sexual Healing."
Listeners can call the station at (610) 328-8335 to request their favorite songs or talk to the DJs. General questions or comments should be directed to Pat Kolodgy, general station manager, at rkolodg1@swarthmore.edu.
Audiences worldwide can listen to WSRN on the web. "We have frequent listeners in Caracas, Lima, Santiago de Chile, Paris, London, Boston, and Japan," says Juan Victor Fajardo '09, host of "Oido al Tambor," a Latin American music radio show on Sundays. "Sometimes they call us through the Internet and we can put them on the air. It's really amazing."
WSRN is an open group. Applications for DJs occur at the beginning of each semester. New DJs undergo training before their first shows so that they can figure out the technical aspects of the station -- they have to do the work of both DJs and engineers!
"Actually running the show was kind of confusing at first," says Laura, host of "Bop it, Twist it," a blues/soul/funk/oldies show on Saturdays. "We didn't really know how to work the turntable, we kept switching on the wrong tracks or CDs, or we didn't have the volume up all the way. We made a lot of mistakes, but it was fun to figure things out together."
"We tend to base our song selections around a theme," she adds, "such as breaking up, or music just by women, or covers of other artists. But we also get to explore the WSRN library and find artists we've never heard of."
But WSRN is not limited to music. The station's Talk Department is one of the most popular, including a news show, "Swarthmore Radio News," and a show run by the Swarthmore Sexual Health Counselors, "Sexual Healing."
Listeners can call the station at (610) 328-8335 to request their favorite songs or talk to the DJs. General questions or comments should be directed to Pat Kolodgy, general station manager, at rkolodg1@swarthmore.edu.
