| reason(s) prohibiting fundraising? (Stacy Woodruff-Bolte) 16 Feb 15:50 EST |
Can someone explain why WUEV is not able to fundraise? I recall this being an issue during my time at WUEV but the discussions never seemed to get around to the real reason behind this situation. Is it general university policy or the tactic du jour for spelling the station's demise? I, too, would be more than willing to send my alumni dollars to the station rather than the university. However, I would like to know why this is not currently possible and what needs to be done to rectify the situation. It seems ridiculous that the university has viewed the station as an albatross for time immemorable, yet will not remedy the situation by allowing the station to become more self-sufficient.
Relatedly, I love the "adopt-a-watt" idea. I do not believe the solution to cutting costs rests in cutting student salaries. I think many of us would have worked at the station on a "volunteer" basis; however, the level of commitment to the station is likely enhanced when students can devote their time to the station and not have to worry about finding money to buy groceries.
| | RE: reason(s) prohibiting fundraising? (Angie Kennedy) 16 Feb 19:01 EST |
I don't know what the exact reasoning was for the ban on actively soliciting underwriting. As far as I can tell, it was simply a means for the University to have absolute control on who represented the administration in the community. But generally speaking there are tons of dollars out there and people are usually willing, even if it means giving a few dollars here and there, to help out something they believe in. Here in Louisville we have three public radio stations that do quite well and there's a high school station in New Albany, Indiana, right across the river and they are never hurting for underwriters. I can't understand how people are so blind to positive PR and a positive relationship in the community. Since I don't live in Evansville anymore, I can't imagine how this ruckus is affecting the University's image in town but from the sounds of it, they got a lot more than they bargained for.
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| | RE: reason(s) prohibiting fundraising? (Amber Wardwell) 16 Feb 18:20 EST |
I remember someone once saying that we were actually paid to run WRN, but I could be wrong. It just struck me as incredibly odd, which is why I remember it.
The adopt-a-watt idea I first heard back in 2000 or so. I don't even recall who brought it up first, so it probably was something that someone read in a manual, as you said, Another.
I completely agree with Stacy, though. I was completely devoted to the station, and worked nowhere else during my time at UE. I worked all but three shows over the time there. I didn't do it for the money, but the money did make it enough so that I didn't have to give up what I loved to pay my bills. My last two years the budget was so bad that they were actually paying students half-time, with actual hours going to Rated G and the late overnight shifts. It was near impossible to find people to cover, and they had no qualms about just not showing up for work. Granted, it happened when they were getting paid, too, but the phenomenon was much worse when they weren't making much, if anything. Cutting student salaries isn't the answer, not if you actually want the station to run in any sort of professional manner.
What I want to know is- if we're just going to butcher the program even more... destroy the integrity of what we all worked toward while in school, allow them to cut even more programming and student involvement just to save a buck...
Well, then why did we spend a week trying to save the place.
We didn't let them sell the place. I'll be damned if I sit quietly and watch them, or us, destroy it.
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| | RE: reason(s) prohibiting fundraising? (Another Alum) 16 Feb 16:20 EST |
I agree with Stacy. What I, we, were told was that the University did not want groups, departments, etc on campus to go out, during a capital campaign and ask for $$$.
They were afraid that, let's say, WUEV would ask a Whirlpool for $500 when the school was trying to get 5 million.
I know Len tried to work with the development office and explained underwriting was a marketing expense and tht the station was not asking for a donation and used advertising at the Crescent as an example.
Again, this fell upon deaf ears. Much like their view on not allowing WUEV to cover mens basketball, they were afraid of the competition and that WUEV would bring in more $ that development or athletics.
The "adopt a watt" is an old National Association of College Broadcasters idea and was in the NACB manual that sat in the station.
Can it work - yes. But we need to know what we will be supporting. I don't want to support the cutting of other programming.
Stacy is right again - why not volunteer? Cut student salaries and the station's expenses covering sports. Get rid of automated programming and go live with volunteers. WRN was free and a great fit overnight. Whatever happened to that service?
| | RE: reason(s) prohibiting fundraising? (Stacy Woodruff-Bolte) 17 Feb 11:05 EST |
I think the points made about WUEV fundraising as competing with overall UE fundraising probably explain much of the dilemma. Unfortunately, at this point I would make their fears realized; as I stated before, I would be more willing to donate solely to WUEV rather than the university.
Angie, your point about support for comparable stations (i.e. NPR affiliates, Pacifica, etc) is so relevant, given WUEV's non-commercial and I would say non-profit status. I know that on-air fund drives lead by students would probably conflict with university policy. However, it seems as though the university has never taken the time to understand what the station means to the Evansville community and the alumni community. Maybe put those fundraising duties in our hands - I don't live in Evansville but if fundraising became a domain of the 'alumni of WUEV,' I would do what I could via phone or Internet. Alternately, create an internship within the development department for someone dedicated to WUEV development. I work in the non-profit sector and skills such as those demanded by development departments are obviously in high demand given cutbacks in government funding. Just a few ideas to simmer on...
| | RE: reason(s) prohibiting fundraising? (Stacy Woodruff-Bolte) 17 Feb 11:10 EST |
One more question if anyone has an answer: where does the Crescent get its funding from? How do the statuses of the two organizations differ? Is it the "academic ties" part or is print considered a more worthy form of media? I in no way intend to bash The Crescent - I would just like to know what differentiates the two when it comes to funding. Can The Crescent raise funds? Are ads sold for money? Any clarification would be appreciated.
| | RE: reason(s) prohibiting fundraising? (Angie Kennedy) 17 Feb 12:42 EST |
I had friends who sold advertising for the Crescent and they had their own student accountant/business manager. I guess you could argue that the academic ties argument would be endorsed more by the Crescent's existence simply for the fact that the mass communication department's journalism program is (and correct me if I'm wrong) geared exclusively toward print media and the telecommunication track focused specifically on television production. It seems like the old argument at my high school...why band members could get varsity letters when it was a class but the show choir (which was strictly extracurricular) could not. Maybe the Crescent gets more attention because of the way the academic program is designed and WUEV is more of an extracurricular. If this is the case then some simple curriculum/textbook adjustments could take care of the problem. I don't know if any Crescent folks can clarify, but the LinC yearbook is paid for through student activity fees. I don't know if the Crescent receives funding that way also.
| | RE: reason(s) prohibiting fundraising? (Amber Wardwell) 17 Feb 15:53 EST |
There is no longer a Journalism emphasis in the Mass Communication program. They did away with it around 2001 or so.
Through December 2002 The Crescent recieved a budget from Student Congress, but most of that was paid back over the course of the year through their advertising dollars earned.
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