What is The U to do?

While it may not seem like much happens on campus during the summer, The U, the University of Missouri-St. Louis's student-run radio station, is keeping the beat alive with new ideas for the fall.

Unfortunately, some of those ideas may not become a reality any time soon due to a lack of funding.

Charles Granger, faculty advisor, said he was disappointed with the Student Activity Budget Committee's allocations for The U.

The budget they were given for 2008-2009, including Student Service Fee allocations, was $11,150; the organization requested $18,900. Last year, the organization received $13,620.

Funds allocated to all student groups were based on the Student Activity Budget Committee's Funding Priorities.

These state that organizations partially supporting themselves through fundraising activities, effectively using SABC allocations and consistently attending Student Government Association meetings and Student Life workshops are given priority when it comes to funding.

Funds allocated to The U have been frozen until Aug. 1 because proper action was not taken during a talent show The U hosted last semester, Granger said.

Students who attended and were not enrolled at UM-St. Louis were supposed to sign a release form before they could participate in the show. However, this was not implemented.

Granger said that the funds earned by the radio station itself were not frozen.

The budget cuts have forced The U to cut back on plans to add new programming. Granger said there were plans to start a pilot program for sports broadcasting, as well as plans to build a studio in Oak Hall.

"We wanted to start Studio C in the dorms so students could broadcast after hours," he said. The U was given space for Studio C, but because there were no funds to make use of the space, it was taken away.

Granger said The U also needs money, equipment, maintenance and upgrades. With equipment running all the time and with so many people using the equipment he said problems are inevitable. "If nothing breaks, we'll be all right," he said.

In order to make up for the lack of funding, Granger said the radio station might begin charging for public announcements. Currently, the service is free to students and faculty, and Granger said he would prefer to keep it that way.

However, Ashland Tate, interim station manager for The U, said the station plans to hold small fundraising events over the course of the year.

There are also plans to hold two larger events. One may take place during homecoming, but Tate said he is not sure about the details at this time.

Tate said there are plans for The U to become more community-oriented, as well. The station will be working with the Touhill Performing Arts Center and possibly interviewing performers.

Overall, he says, the station wants to become more instrumental on campus, especially when it comes to news. "Our job is to entertain and also inform," he said.

Keith Robinson, interim program director for The U, also said the station plans to work with other organizations on campus in order to "give that feel that we are truly campus community radio."

He said the station wants to give everyone at UM-St. Louis the chance to be heard. Orientations will be held for those interested in working with The U.

Once a student, faculty or staff member of UM-St. Louis attends an orientation, Robinson said they are put through training about the Federal Communications Commission and equipment training, "to get them ready to be on the air."

"Our training director will work with each person to help them get up to speed on how to present themselves on the air," Robinson said.

Other than attending the New Student Orientations, The U has no events planned for the summer. That does not mean the studio will be empty.

Granger said there are about a dozen people who have their own shows during the summer, and Tate said they are always interested in recruiting more DJs.

Right now, that is what the radio station is focusing on according to Tate. He said during the fall current station members want to have back-to-back DJs, all day, every week.

Members of the station are also focusing on making sure the changes and events planned for the fall go smoothly. Both Tate and Granger said they are going make some adjustments to The U's constitution, as well.

Granger said he wants the radio station to be more regulated, but students and staff will still be free to design their own programs. He said The U would like to make their current studio into a full working studio so programs can be developed there.

Because of the many opportunities The U gives students Granger said it is important to keep the radio station going. One student who worked with The U last year used her experience to get a job with Time-Warner.

"The talent the station has acquired is unbelievable," Granger said.

You can listen to The U's summer programming online at http://www.umslradio.com.