WERW
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WERW is a student-run radio station at Syracuse University, operating on 1570 AM carrier current. It can be heard all across the university campus and in adjacent areas of the city of Syracuse.
[edit] History
The station was formed by the largest student-run organization on campus, University Union, after a controversy involving the other student-run station, WJPZ. WJPZ had incorporated as an independent entity broadcasting Top 40 music in a simulation of a professional radio station, in order to provide communications students attending the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with vocational training. It started, like WERW, as a carrier current AM station, but began broadcasting with 100 watts on 89.1 FM on February 2, 1985.
However, the type of music being provided by WJPZ was not pleasing to the primary audience able to hear it, that is, the students on the university campus. The station did find some favor there and amongst Top 40 fans in the surrounding community that could hear it. However, there were protests among many university students who wanted the station to reflect more "diverse" programming, including a three-day sit-in at the station's studios by the Student Afro-American Society in the autumn of 1986.
The concept for the station was originally conceived of in October of 1986 when University Union Concert Board Director Fred Feldman and Creative Board Director Will Morrison were approached by SU freshmen Pete Wesenberg, Kyle Rosa, and Shane Francis, who also wanted to start a radio station. The original turntables and records were those of the University Union members.
In response to the student complaints, and the new team in place, the University Union organization established WERW in January of 1987. For its first year, it broadcast out of the control room of HillTV (then UUTV) for a limited broadcasting schedule, and was heard only on cable television (WJPZ earlier had a similar arrangement). After that, WERW did establish its own studio, but was heard only through television monitors until the AM carrier current set-up was established in the 1990's. The station programs an ecelectic format similar to many other college radio stations in the USA, with blocks of programs featuring underground rock music, world music, folk music, occasional news, and some political or public affairs programs.
[edit] Staff
Aaron Siegel, Local Music Director
Adam Carpinelli, World Music Director
Adam Gold, General Manager
Alex Borst, Ad Designer
Andrew Restuccia, 20 Watts Editor
Dave Moore, RPM Music Director
Jackie Cutrone, Promotions Director
Jake Berman, Assistant Program Director
Jason Goldberg, Production Director
John Martin, Assistant Music Director
Justin Smith, Music Director
Kyle Corea, Jazz Music Director
Malaka Gharib, Marketing Director
Mark Hamer, Corporate Liaison
Matt Fastow, Hip-Hop Music Director
Mike Benedetti, Hard Rock Music Director
Sarah Rois, Webmaster
Sarah Seib, Assistant Music Director
[edit] Staff Alumni
Past WERW General Managers include:
Adam Gold (2005-Present)
Joe Giordanno (2004-2005)
Sharon Timure (2002-2004), currently at Island Def Jam Records
Jason "Poingly" Glastetter (2001-2002), currently at CMJ
John Vacanti (2000-2001), currently at Fuse TV
External Link: WERW Website
