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| Lou Pickney Marcia Dowell, It has come to my attention that the University of Evansville is considering selling its radio station, 91.5 WUEV. Unless the offer is for an exorbitant amount of money ($15 million or more), it would be a horrible decision to sell WUEV. One of the deciding factors in me coming to the University of Evansville in 1995 was the fact that it had a radio station where students could work and learn the business. Because of my time at WUEV, I was able to procure the experience I needed to learn about radio, ultimately becoming the head of syndication of a nationally syndicated radio show by the time I was 25. I've since been promoted to being a producer for that show. Were it not for WUEV, I would not have had that opportunity. Radio frequencies are a finite thing. The school was fortunate enough to have people in place in the early 1950s to obtain an FM signal that covers the entire Evansville metro area. For the University of Evansville, this is a resource with incredible potential for reaching the community, alumni living locally, and in recruiting students, both in town and from outside of the city. If WUEV is sold, the school will never have a chance to obtain anything like it again. Even with a low-power station, the impact would be severe. The high school students in Evansville who listen to Party Lights, or the modern rock shows, will no longer be reached. The people in the community who love the jazz music played by the station will be in an uproar. Has the school considered the ramifications of displacing this programming, and the negative impact it would have on the people in the city? The 1/31/2006 AceNotes Today noted that, "Currently, there are no academic ties between WUEV and a UE academic program, nor ties with the Center for Student Engagement." That is to the school's discredit. There should be academic ties between the station and the school. The fact that this was included in the release is rather frightening to me, and it seems to lend credence to the rumors that I've heard that this is already a done deal and that the public comment session is merely a sham to quell any potential backlash for the sale. I hope that this is not the case. The University of Evansville is one of only a few dozen colleges and universities in the entire country to have its own full-power FM radio station. That is a mark of distinction, one not to be trifled with haphazardly. I strongly urge the school to not sell WUEV. Lou Pickney |