WVFI
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
WVFI[1] (Voice of the Fighting Irish) is an internet-based student-run radio station at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana. As of 2005, WVFI had 145 DJs from The University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College (Indiana), and Holy Cross College (Indiana). They broadcast from suite 200 of the Lafortune Student Center.
Contents |
[edit] Executive Board
WVFI is a student organization, funded by the Student Activities Office (SAO) at the University of Notre Dame. It is governed by an executive board comprising about 8-12 DJs.
[edit] Current Executive Board
| Station Manager | Carolina Surla |
|---|---|
| Assistant Station Manager | Claire Smither |
| Mindset Editors | Chris Wodicka M. Riley Saunders |
| Music Directors | Sean Hoban Christine Nguyen John Siegel |
| DJ Relations | John Flinchbaugh |
| PR/Events | Chad Lavimoniere |
| Web Director | Samuel Banina |
| Graphics Design | Kate Napleton (fall) Meaghan Garvey (spring) |
| Sports Director | Rok Kopp |
[edit] Format
WVFI was originally broadcast as 640 AM on a carrier current signal, which was transmitted through campus power lines to dormitories on campus, and broadcasts could only be received by AM radios plugged into dormitory power outlets. As personal computers and other devices became more popular and demanded more power, the strength of carrier current signal diminished significantly. Around 1998 WVFI switched to a RealAudio format and stopped broadcasting an AM signal. WVFI initially broadcasted only over the local area network at Notre Dame. In 2000 WVFI began broadcasting globally over the Internet. After a series of software and hardware issues WVFI began broadcasting with a Windows Media Player signal in the fall of 2003.
[edit] Schedule
WVFI's broadcast day currently begins at 9:00 a.m. UTC-5, ends at 2:00 a.m. UTC-5, and is broken up into programming blocks.[2]
[edit] Concerts and Events
In the mid 1990's WVFI partnered with the Notre Dame Student Union Board ("SUB") to bring bands like The Smoking Popes and the Archers of Loaf to perform at Notre Dame. WVFI also independently brought other bands to campus, including Trenchmouth and the pop-punk group Cub.
In the spring of 2001 WVFI hosted the first "Irishpalooza" concert event. The event was held outdoors on north quad, and the bands performing at the event included Clark and Wafflehouse*. In 2002 the event was renamed "Quad Rock" and Hey Mercedes was the headlining act. In 2003, the "Quadrock" performers included Small Brown Bike, Completing the Square, and the Choir Invisible.
WVFI subsequently formed a partnership with Legends of Notre Dame and began hosting two to four concert's per year. Other past performers who have played for WVFI include Ted Leo and the Pharmacists (November 2005), Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (September 2005), The Unicorns (November 2004), Enon (April 2006), Matt and Kim (October 2007), David Bazan of Pedro the Lion (2003), Owen (2003) and Margot & the Nuclear So and So's (February 2006).
[edit] In-Studio Performances
The WVFI studios at 200 Lafortune Student Center feature a recording studio where artists including Ted Leo, Space and Noise Productions (including Josh Hensley of the Rutabega), and Clark have performed. Ted Leo's May 2000 performance at WVFI occurred just before the release of "The Tyranny of Distance". The set included "Dirty Old Town", "Timorous Me", "Stove by a Whale", "Under the Hedge", and "You Always Hate the Ones You Love." MP3s of this performance are widely available on filesharing networks.
[edit] MINDSET
In the spring of 2000 WVFI board member Adam Frick began MINDSET, WVFI's webzine. Jon Alvarez and Tim Bradley were the first MINDSET editors, and worked to develop the format and content of the site. Interviews conducted between 2000-2003 included Ted Leo, Sweep the Leg Johnny, Lou Barlow, Q and Not U, Mates of State, Dashboard Confessional, At the Drive-In, Mojave 3, and Clark. Much of this content currently appears to be missing from the MINDSET website, however some of it is still available in archive form on Archive.org. MINDSET has been published in printed form multiple times, however it remains primarily a webzine.
[edit] Trivia
- Ted Leo was a member of the WVFI Executive Board during the 1992-1993 school year.
- The song "Out of Step '88!" from Ted Leo's first solo album tej leo(?), Rx / pharmacists samples a conversation between Ted Leo and Chris Infante (bassist for Chisel) recorded from an October 1988 WVFI broadcast discussing, among other things, hardcore and the phasing out of vinyl.
- Steve Sostak of Sweep the Leg Johnny (Southern Records), Check Engine (Southern Records), and ZZZZ (Polyvinyl Records) is a former WVFI dj and was station manager for one year.
- Artists including Spike Lee, Ozzie Osbourne, Ted Leo, Sweep the Leg Johnny, Hot Hot Heat, and the Jealous Sound have recorded station ID clips for WVFI.
- WVFI broadcasts all Notre Dame football games, basketball games, and other major Notre Dame sporting events live.
