Spring Break
Our Take
Majority opinions of The Red & Black's editorial board
Issue date: 3/1/07 Section: Opinions
WUOGoof up costly
The campus radio station's slip up is being paid for by student activity fees
WUOG, the on-campus radio station, has to renew its permanent license and the monetary burden - to the tune of $7,000 - will come from the pockets of students.
Running on a temporary license since it was shut down by the FCC in March 2005 because it didn't file a license renewal in 2004, 90.5 FM WUOG now owes the FCC a substantial amount of money for not filing for a permanent license and operating without authorization for one year.
Erika Frank, the station's general manager, claims, "This was not WUOG's fault. The renewal was filed online, but a button to save it wasn't hit, and a blank document was sent to the FCC."
But wait - whose job was it to hit "save"? It certainly isn't the FCC's job to hold broadcasters' hands throughout the form filing process. WUOG didn't file the necessary paperwork; it filed a blank page. That's a mistake, plain and simple - a mistake made by WUOG.
While student activities fees are utilized for maintenance and construction on campus, we on The Red & Black's Editorial Board don't understand why the student population will be pinched for the error of a student-run organization, and how WUOG merits more money than other organizations, like club sports.
Seven thousand dollars may seem like a drop in the student activity fees bucket, but we feel that this money could go toward an organization that students could get their money's worth from.
WUOG may have its own loyal following, but we think we'd be hard-pressed to find a large-enough audience that'd be willing to fork up enough cash for the station's license, let alone listen to the station's playlist of obscure music.
For the ladies
The Red & Black is happy to remind you March is Women's History Month
If last night's premiere of America's Next Top Model got your estrogen flowing, you'll love the next few weeks.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 13
Erin White
posted 3/01/07 @ 11:56 AM EST
WUOG's fines will not be paid by student activities fees, if they must be paid at all.
The fines will be paid through WUOG's foundation account, which is funded not by student fees, but by alumni donations. (Continued…)
Erika Frank
posted 3/01/07 @ 1:25 PM EST
Erin is right. The argument of this editorial is based on an incorrect assumption of the editorial board. Had the Red and Black asked either I or our Faculty Advisor where the fines would come from we could have told you it wouldn't be student activity money. (Continued…)
Chris Tucker
posted 3/01/07 @ 2:02 PM EST
The majority of large student organizations have foundation/alumni/donation-esque accounts that handle this type of thing. An "Oops" or "Pizza Party" fund if you will. (Continued…)
James Humma
posted 3/01/07 @ 2:35 PM EST
Looks like red and black made a mistake this time. own up and fix your misguided "take" on the matters at hand.
Max Martin
posted 3/01/07 @ 2:49 PM EST
The thing that pisses me off the most about the completely inaccurate and uncalled-for smearing of WUOG by the Red & Black is not that they completely failed to check their facts. (Continued…)
Jessica D
posted 3/01/07 @ 3:22 PM EST
The Red and Black really dropped the ball this time. Causing students to view WUOG as incompetent and draining University resources over an issue that will have no monetary impact on Students. (Continued…)
Sean Bloszies
posted 3/01/07 @ 5:18 PM EST
Understandably, it's the R&B's job to report facts- not just what it wants to believe are facts, but what it can confirm as such. As whether the claim that the $7 grand would be paid with student fees was something arbitrarily assumed or earnestly believed, I don't think thats as much of an issue. (Continued…)
Claire Paffenhofer
posted 3/01/07 @ 5:40 PM EST
"...but we feel that this money could go toward an organization that students could get their money's worth from."
A) In saying 'we,' how many people do you mean? Does every person on the R&B agree with you?
B) Listening to WUOG is absolutely free!
C) How do you determine worth? Is it by how much money is spent on a thing? Or how many people read or listen to a certain newspaper or program? I think worth is much more abstract than you might think. (Continued…)
Charles Richards
posted 3/01/07 @ 6:23 PM EST
I am very disappointed in you R&B. You insulted an awesome institution of mass music distribution. Why? Is there a rivalry between print and broadcast media that they teach at the Journalism and Mass Communication school? The worst is you failed to properly research the case at hand and set up a situation for students to get mad for false reasons. (Continued…)
Michael Covington
posted 3/01/07 @ 6:41 PM EST
Have any of you actually used the FCC's web site to file or renew anything? As a licensed ham radio operator, I have, and it didn't seem to be 100% reliable. (Continued…)
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