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Thursday, March 28, 2024
The independent student publication of The University at Buffalo, since 1950

WRUB Strives For Perfection

Deep within the Fillmore Center of the Ellicott Complex on North Campus hides a group of talented individuals with a common goal of providing listeners with underrated music. These students work for the WRUB radio station, the only student-run radio station at the University at Buffalo.

WRUB is owned by Sub-Board I, Inc., a non-profit student service corporation funded by the mandatory student activity fee that all UB students pay each semester. WRUB also funds itself by offering on-air sponsorship for local businesses and organizations, and its DJs staff parties, dances, and club activities for additional revenue.

The station was created in 1978 but gained more popularity in 1993, when WRUB was redefined and rebuilt. During the 2007-08 academic year, the station was under poor management and "the future of the station seemed dark," according to its website. However, WRUB was rebuilt again in the following years and welcomed a flood of new ideas, staff, and DJs.

WRUB broadcasts in two ways: through its website, wrub.org, and media players such as iTunes or Winamp. However, there seems to be a stigma associated with Internet radio, according to Sierra Chevrestt, a senior sociology major and the general manager at WRUB.

"If you have the option of putting your iTunes on shuffle, tuning into Pandora, or listening to wrub.org, what are you going to do?" Chevrestt said.

As the general manager, she administrates the communication between the station and Sub-Board I, Inc. Chevrestt began her WRUB career as a DJ in October 2007 with two shows per week from midnight until 2 a.m. She was promoted to promotions director and became the general manager this past October.

Although a great deal of hard work is put into the training and maintenance of DJs at the station, WRUB is still working on increasing its popularity. The process of training DJs has changed this year; instead of solely teaching how to use the equipment, the station is working on improving speaking skills and confidence on-air. In addition, WRUB is receiving new equipment that should increase the quality of the shows. Chevrestt hopes that in years to come, the 10 to 40 listeners that tune into the station per day increases dramatically.

WRUB and SA's entertainment department have established a close working relationship recently, according to Chevrestt. They've helped WRUB DJs gain interviews with the Spring and Fall Fest artists. Additionally, WRUB has ties to Lasertron, a laser-tag and go-cart interactive entertainment center. The station gives out free tickets as contest prizes to UB students.

The station hosts a variety of different shows, ranging from coverage of every men's football and basketball game, "Peevo's Playhouse," interviews with local artists and music departments hosted by Steve Tripi, hip-hop, and more. For a complete list, visit wrub.org.

"We like what we do, I like what I do," Chevrestt said. "If we didn't, we wouldn't do it. We're here for the students; [whether that means] the DJs, the students tuning in, or the students getting free Lasertron passes. Sub-Board is all about serving the students, and so are we."

E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com


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