Giving the Hopkins community an opportunity for musical expression and a constant source of entertainment, WJHU radio has been expanding its presence on campus since its creation decades ago.
Sophomore David Shi, one of the DJs who hosts a show titled “Built to Chill,” described the significance of having a college radio station.
“A school radio station is important because it allows students an additional outlet for self-expression,” he wrote in an email to The News-Letter. “On insular college campuses like Hopkins, it can be difficult to find opportunities for your opinions to be heard, especially on topics such as music.”
The organization currently has over 80 members including DJs, writers for the WJHU Blog and members of the Executive Board. DJs broadcast from a studio on the first floor of McCoy through their website wjhuradio.org.
Programming Director Hana Chop, who handles the roster, booking concerts and communications with DJs, described the evolving nature of the organization on campus.
“I think this year has been particularly exciting with growing WJHU as a presence on campus,” she wrote in an email to The News-Letter. “Given our history beginning in the ‘80s as Baltimore’s biggest public radio station, we thought it would be great to bring an actual FM frequency back to the station, so we’re currently in talks with the administration to get a short-wave radio antenna installed on campus. In addition, we’re working to do more programming on and off campus with listening parties, concerts and more.”
Chop also commented on the concept of creating a full FM frequency for the station.
“It would be dope if we could be a full-fledged FCC-licensed FM station again but we’ll settle (for right now) with getting a short range FM signal, hopefully by the end of the semester,” she wrote. “There are a lot of regulatory issues and costs associated with FM radio stations so that’s not something WJHU’s student organization budget is able to afford — we’re always looking for more funding opportunities.”
Another facet of the organization is the creation of concert events for Hopkins students and the Baltimore community. The group will present two concerts this spring semester. The first is a collaboration with MICA SoundArt, which will be at The Crown on March 25. It will feature local musician TT the Artist, who performed in a WJHU concert last spring, and several Japanese noise bands. The second concert will take place on April 29 and will feature Hak from Ratking, Jaguar Pyramids and Gloss Gang.
According to Chop, students interested in becoming involved in the group can sign up for a show slot at the beginning of each semester or attend the weekly executive board meetings in the McCoy Radio Station.
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