WVUR-FM

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WVUR-FM
City of license Valparaiso, Indiana
Broadcast area 6 miles
Branding "The Source 95 WVUR"
Slogan Indiana's Best in College Radio
First air date September 25, 1966
Frequency 95.1 (MHz)
Format College radio
ERP 36 watts
Class D
Callsign meaning W
Valparaiso
University
Radio
Owner Valparaiso University
Webcast http://webcast.valpo.edu/listen.pls
Website http://www.valpo.edu/student/wvur/

WVUR-FM, The Source 95 is the student-run radio station of Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana. It broadcasts at 95.1 MHz FM.

Contents

[edit] Programming and promotion

The Source 95 is an entirely student operated variety station. WVUR-FM consistently wins awards from the Indiana Association of Student Broadcasters, including Radio School of the Year for the 2005-2006 academic year. The primary programming is music, which includes a standard rotation based on a combination of standard alternative fair and the CMJ Top 200/Indie/College Radio format, other genre specific shows and free-form shows during the evenings and weekends. The station also includes talk with The Morning Show and news and weather with periodic updates throughout all programming, as well as The Evening Source news show. Programming is often preempted by WVUR Sports which broadcasts most Valparaiso University sporting events live. WVUR is the flagship station for the Valpo Sports Radio Network, a four-station entity which carries Crusader men's basketball and Crusader football throughout Northwest Indiana. WVUR also hosts a series of promotional events, including SourceStock in the fall, the annual concert event which has recently headlined large, national acts such as the Plain White T's and Allister. Numerous giveaways and participation in other school gatherings and events is also a concentration of WVUR.

[edit] History

WVUR-FM Service Area Map
WVUR-FM Service Area Map

[edit] Development

In May 1949, a group of students submitted a proposal to the Valparaiso University Board of Directors to build an educational FM radio station in the basement of Guild Hall. However, after ten years without progress, law school student Jack Lawson led a committee to plan a radio station. With the help of DePauw University radio station WGRE, the committee obtained the information necessary to found a radio station. After experimenting in November 1959 with a closed-circuit station nicknamed WPRX reaching only Wehrenberg Hall, President O.P. Kretzmann addressed the student body at 11 p.m. on November 11, 1960 on 600 AM. The low-power station broadcast out of Benton Hall and reached all dormitories except for one.

[edit] FM Radio

Permission was granted in February 1961 to construct a non-commercial educational FM station. Due to legal concerns, the station would have to be turned over from the students to the administration. Though this move sparked heavy opposition, the transition began during the 1965-1966 academic year. On September 25, 1966, the FCC granted a license to WVUR-FM 89.5 MHz The Voice, making it the first radio station in the city of Valparaiso. The studio was still located in Benton Hall, and included a new lounge nicknamed The Penthouse. The studios relocated to Heimlich Hall during the 1970-1971 academic year, and moved again to the Journalism Center on January 11, 1978. On September 24, 1982, a new tower had been constructed atop Brandt Hall, which brought increased wattage and the station's current frequency and name, WVUR 95.1 FM, The Source

[edit] Modernization

In August 1998, WVUR was again relocated to Schnabel Hall. In 1999, the station began web streaming sporting events and plans on webcasting all programming in the future. During the 2001-2002 academic year, the station upgraded to a computer automated system and commenced broadcastinig 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including during most academic breaks. The station also takes request by both phone and through AOL Instant Messenger.

In 2006, a new website was created with several new features, including media from concerts. Podcasting is another goodie on the new webpage which will be soon available. On January 16, 2007, the station added a modern rock/alternative format to complement the current CMJ Indie rotation, with the first official song to play in the new format being Fall Out Boy's This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race.

[edit] External links