WLUW features new location, more student involvement

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: WLUW features new location, more student involvement : The new School of Communication now manages Loyola-owned radio station : by Anthe Mitrakos, The Phoenix : Issue date: 1/28/09 : --------------------------------------------- : : Enhanced student involvement is now a priority at Loyola-owned 88.7 WLUW, since the School of Communication officially began managing the station on July 1, 2008. : Last spring a WLUW task force decided, among other things, that the station needed to create more opportunities for students to gain first-hand experience in radio broadcasting. : "A key part of our recommendation was to provide the greatest opportunity for student involvement," said Associate Provost Tim O'Connell, Ph.D., who led the WLUW task force. : Plans for the station, which was handled by Chicago Public Radio for the last half-decade, have yet to be set in stone, but its future remains open to possibilities. : Don Heider, Ph.D., dean of the School of Communication, plans to create a new group that will focus its efforts on the improvement of WLUW, including academic programs to increase student involvement. : "Over the next year I will be putting together a new advisory board for the station," Heider said. "My goal is to get students more involved in all aspects of the station, from on-air to behind the scenes work." : Following the spring semester, WLUW's main studio will be relocated to the third floor of the Terry Student Center in Baumhart Hall at the Water Tower campus. : The station welcomed Danielle Basci, who held various positions in radio, including working at NPR-affiliate KCUR in Kansas City, before assuming the role of general manager at WLUW on Jan. 12. Basci stressed the importance of student and volunteer cooperation at WLUW. : "With time, I hope to create an environment where Loyola students, regardless of their major or interests, can get involved with WLUW to gain real-world experience that they can take with them after graduation," she said. : Basci hopes to attract students focused on a range of majors, enhancing both their college experience and WLUW's quality as a smaller station. : "Radio stations run just like any other business in many aspects," she said. "I hope to create positions where Loyola students can hone their skills in areas like marketing, public relations, development, writing, production and management." : WLUW will continue to work with volunteers, many of whom have contributed to the station throughout its existence. : "I'm thrilled to have the support of our non-student community volunteers who have been with the station for many years," Basci said. "There's so much we can learn from them." : As part of WLUW's facelift, the station is broadcasting Loyola Ramblers men's basketball games, a revived tradition that was suspended the last few years. : "We're doing a directed study where students interested in sports broadcasting will be serving as sideline reporters for the games this semester," Heider said. : As a media channel, WLUW plays an important role in the School of Communication, whether it is airing tunes, broadcasting sports events or connecting Loyola to the greater community. : "WLUW as a station has always been a very flexible entity," said junior Ben Baumer, who sat on the station's task force. "It was always my hope that any restructuring reflects the Jesuit mission of integrating students with the community through service and social justice." : WLUW is currently recruiting Loyola students interested in gaining real-world broadcasting and business experience. All inquiries can be directed to Danielle Basci at dbasci@luc.edu.

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