University FM Radio Station Broadcasts from Villard Hall
By MARGIE GIGLIO
Emerald Staff Writer
Broadcasting from an eight -
foot tower atop Villard Hall
comes KWAX, the voice of the
University.
It is 4:30 p.m. now and time
to go on the air. Senior Ken \
Wade is ready. Listen:
“Good afternoon! Welcome to!
another day of broadcasting from
station KWAX. quality FM ra
dio for the University and Eu
gene. As always, KWAX is dedi
cated to offering the very best
in entertainment and informative
programming. We offer music
suited to your individual tastes
and a variety of educational pro
grams.
In Yillard Hall
“KWAX is owned by the Ore
gon State Board of Higher Edu
cation and operates on an as
signed frequency of 91.1 megacy
cles with studios located on the
third floor of Yillard Hall.
“KWAX will broadcast between
the hours of 4:30 p.m. and mid
night, Monday through Friday.”
Entirely student operated,
KWAX strives for a “sound of ex
cellence.” According to Ken
Hobbs, program director. "KWAX
caters to those listeners who
don’t find what they want in other
stations.”
Originally named KOAC-FM,
the station began in the early
1950’s as an educational sen
ice for the University. The name
KWAX was christened in 1953.
Unlike other radio stations,
KWAX promotes good music ra
ther than personalities.
‘Total Sound’
“We try to push a total sound
instead of an individual,” stress
ed Hobbs.
But more unique is the pro
gramming. Special programs, edu
cation. news, and entertainment
compose the program schedule.
“Jazz of the 50's,” narrated by
Bill Willingham, associate pro
fessor of the Division of Broad
cast Services, is presented every
Tuesday at 8 p.m. Complete plays
are broadcast once a month.
Wide Range
In education, “Special of the
Week” provides a discussion on
a wide range of subjects. “George
town Forum,” also presented
weekly, has a panel from George
town University in Washington,
D.C., discuss important national
issues. Along the same line is
“Northeastern Faculty Talks,"
where the faculty of Northeastern
University in Boston discusses
current problems.
News is broadcast from 5:30
p.m. to 6 p.m. nightly and for
15 minutes at 9:30 p.m. Following
the 9:30 p.m. news is an Ed
ward P. Morgan commentary.
News on the University sta
tion, however, is uncut.
According to Hobbs, the aim
is to give the whole unbiased
view, rather than bits and pieces
of news events.
Uncut Speech
When Vice-President Hubert
H. Humphrey spoke at the Uni
versity, KWAX was the only sta
tion to present his entire speech.
Diversity is thfe objective of
KWAX entertainment. Jazz, clas
sical, folk, and popular, but not
rock ’n roll, music is played.
Bill Cosby might even get into
the act on “Funniest Thing,” an
hour of comedy presented every
Thursday evening.
Though personal commentar
ies are aired, political objectivity
is maintained by the campus sta
tion.
“Because we are the arm of the
Oregon education system,” ex
plained Hobbs, “we take no poli
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Continually expanding its pro
gram format, KWAX plans to
broadcast freshman home football
games fall term and University
rugby games during winter term.
Though now using a 10 • watt
transmitter, the station hopes
to begin operating a 250 watt
transmitter in the near future. It
would then service the greater
EugencSpringfield area.
IN ever iLSirnuu ur
cause it is KM radio? To remedy
this, KWAX will soon broadcast
an evening show from the SU.
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