OUR VIEWS Consensus Opinion

WREK Radio, 91.1 FM, has been a Tech tradition since 1968. Whether it is broadcasting techno, Hindi music or Tech baseball, students have come to count on WREK for unique programming, both educational and entertaining, 24 hours a day. The station has made many changes recently to better connect with the student body, from moving to a new location in the Student Center Commons to hosting two "Live on Skiles" broadcasts each week. Clearly, the station is in a time of growth, and they are trying to reach a greater number of students, an admirable goal that they should continue to pursue.

However, multiple organizations have approached administrators recently with ways they would like to use WREK. Administrators in turn have brought these ideas to WREK as options they feel could be economically beneficial to the Institute, although the station has been a completely student-run, non-commercial enterprise historically. Atlanta is the seventh largest market in the U.S., and with a station capable of broadcasting at 40,000 to 100,000 watts, the commercial potential is significant. Still, going commercial would limit student involvement in the station, as it would cost WREK more for each staff member. Any move that takes control of Tech's station and its programming out of the students' hands should be firmly opposed.

Another possibility is the purchase of an HD transmitter and digital signal, which would enable WREK to potentially sell 91.1 for a profit. However, selling 91.1 would be difficult, since it is below 92 megahertz, the cutoff for commercial stations. Also, although new technology usually means progress, in this case it may actually restrict the number of students able to listen to their station, since listening to a digital station requires a type of radio most don't have. Implementing this new technology would benefit future listeners, but not current students; today anyone with a boom box from the 1980s can pick up 91.1.

Georgia Public Broadcasting has also expressed interest in buying time from WREK to air NPR programming, but this idea has been met with skepticism because NPR already broadcasts on another signal. WREK is first and foremost a student station, and should remain one. Though all of the ideas for change have potential positive elements, most require a sacrifice of some of WREK's current programming, which is unique and more varied than any other Atlanta station's.

Whatever direction WREK takes, it should be the students who run the station who make the ultimate decision without outside pressure. The station is an organization for students run by students, and it should remain that way.