WSOE

WSOE is a non-commercial student-run college radio station based at Elon University in Elon, North Carolina that broadcasts at 89.3fm.[1] The station serves as a creative outlet for students and as a means for students to develop skills for professional broadcast careers. WSOE offers a variety of opportunities in music shows, sports broadcasting, artist interviews, and music technology. The station aims to promote local artists through ticket giveaways, interviews, and playing these musicians' music over the air.[2][3]

WSOE
CityElon, North Carolina
Broadcast areaBurlington, NC
Frequency89.3 MHz
SloganThe Only Alternative
Programming
FormatAlternative
Ownership
OwnerElon University
History
First air date1977
Call sign meaningWonderful Sounds Of Elon
Links
WebsiteWSOE

History

The initial organizational effort to launch a brand-new campus radio station occurred in 1971 guided by student Phil Hawkins. Trepidations expressed by then President of Elon, Dr. J. Earl Danieley, fearing "what the students will say" resulted in the proposal being shelved. It was not until J. Fred Young became president in 1973 that serious fund-raising was started and FCC applications were submitted. WSOE first received their charter from the Federal Communications Commission in 1977.[1][4][5]

WSOE first broadcast on September 29, 1977, with the first full broadcast on October 6, 1977.[6] WSOE's first broadcast was “More Than a Feeling” by Boston, as chosen by then station manager, Bill Zint.[7]

The call letters "WSOE" were originally held by the Milwaukee School of Engineering, but were acquired by the new Elon radio station when their charter was granted.[8] WSOE was the 21st attempt to gain call letter approval from the licensing department of the Federal Communications Commission.[6] The callsign is now used as an abbreviation for "the Wonderful Sounds of Elon". Since then, the station has broadcast to the Elon/Burlington area under the management of students and a faculty mentor. In 2000, WSOE became a member of College Broadcasters, Inc., being one of the first stations to do so.

In the fall of 2005, the station began broadcasting live coverage of Elon University soccer and volleyball games.[9] As of spring 2020, the station broadcasts the majority of Elon Phoenix Women's Basketball games.[10]

During the spring of 2009, the station started its webcast, expanding its range to anyone with an internet connection. As of 2012, the webcast has been available on TuneIn through both their website and mobile apps.[11] WSOE has reported charts to CMJ on and off over the course of its history and has been consistently reporting since early 2013.

The original WSOE studio, newsroom, office, and production room was located across from Harden Dining Hall. The entire station was moved (with the exception of the transmitter and radio tower) over the winter of 1994 into the then newly opened Moseley Center.

WSOE will be moved into the McEwen School of Communications after the construction of its addition, which is planned to be underway in early 2016.[12] The station's transmitter was originally located on the south side of Harden Dining Hall, but after the building's demolition in May 2012,[13] a temporary radio tower was placed on the Moseley Center. The station now broadcasts from a newer cell tower, located just off-campus.[14]

In early 2017, WSOE moved studios from the Moseley Student Center into the basement of the newly-renovated McEwen Communications School. The station briefly ceased operations during the move. The new station included Wheatstone equipment, audio over ethernet, a new studio, a mixing room, and a new scheduling system.

In 2018, WSOE launched its podcasting program, allowing students to create and launch their own podcasts through all major distribution services. The program was created by Joseph Henry-Penrose, Patrick Larsen, and Annie Kalinowski, launching with 5 podcasts.[15]

Format

WSOE is a freeform station. DJs may play whatever legal content they wish during their allotted time. From 10pm to 6am, WSOE broadcasts a late night rotation when DJs are not available. This late night rotation includes jazz, electronic, experimental, rap, hip-hop, and local music from North Carolina and the Triangle.[16]

WSOE has an automated broadcast system using RCS software that schedules all content, allowing the station to broadcast uninterrupted.[16]

Sports coverage

WSOE Sports provides exclusive coverage of Elon University women's basketball. All broadcasts include pre- and post-game interviews and coverage. The station also features many weekly sports talk shows, covering a range of professional and collegiate sports.[17]

News

Elon News Network (ENN) (then Elon Local News) had a weekly news radio show on WSOE called "ELN on WSOE" which has been run by four executive producers in years past: Ryan Green, Brian Mezerski, Mack White Ilana Spiegel and Sarah Collins[18] The Pendulum, Elon's campus newspaper, previously partnered with WSOE as a way to supplement their presentation of news in print with a radio news broadcast[2]

As of 2016, WSOE no longer partners with ENN or The Pendulum, allowing students to own their own news programming.

In February 2020, WSOE and ENN joined to broadcast coverage of the Alamance County Commissioners forum.[19]

Management

WSOE is run by a board of several executive staff members, a student general manager, and one faculty advisor, not including the approximately 130 DJs who host one- or two-hour shows. All aspects of the station are run by the student executive staff, including bills, music, and most production. The number of executive staff members and the position they occupy have varied over time, but the station has always had a general manager, music director, and program director.[16] WSOE is overseen by the Elon University Media Board, which oversees all student media at Elon including The Pendulum (newspaper), the television station ESTV, the yearbook Phi Psi Cli, the literary magazine Colonnades, and Limelight Records; many of which work closely with WSOE.[3]

WSOE was first managed by Gerald Gibson. Bryan baker took over, leading the station for many years. In 2020, Abby Igoe took over as Faculty Advisor.

List of Previous General Managers (In Progress)
Name Tenure
Brian Koral 1999-2000
Jessica Vitak 2001
Chris Gaylor 2002
Phil Elkins 2003
Travis Lusk 2004
Michelle Tufts 2005-2006
Nikki Wasikowski 2007
Erin Fox 2008
Ryan Sweeney 2009
Sierra Ferrier 2011-2012
Mack White 2014-2015
Matt Sears 2016
Katherine Wolter 2017
Thomas Coogan 2018
Joseph Henry-Penrose 2019
Mabel Kitchens 2020

Community Engagement

WSOE partners with local musicians and labels for live studio sessions. WSOE has also partnered with several festivals, providing coverage of Moogfest, Hopscotch Music Festival, Hangout Music Festival, Merlefest Music Festival, and others.

WSOE has held several fundraises for the Burlington Boys & Girls club over the years. The station previously held an annual "Jingle Bell Rock," with the Burlington YMCA and Bynum Youth Center.[20] The event had student DJs leading activities including card making, ornament decorating, book readings, and a visit from Santa.[20] DJs also organized a toy drive, providing gifts to 65 families in the Burlington Boys & Girls Club.[21] A poker tournament was held on WSOE in 2005, raising $123 for the Burlington Boys & Girls Club.[22]

In 2008, WSOE launched a record label with the goals of promoting local musicians, fund raising for the Alamance-Burlington School System’s arts program, and to give Elon University students experience working with all aspects of music production.[23]

In 2019, WSOE held an interactive program for seven students from the Walter M. Williams High School in Burlington, NC.[24]

gollark: No, I mean, as far as I can see that requires you to have three candidates and no more.
gollark: That would limit you to three candidates.
gollark: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrow's_impossibility_theorem
gollark: Approval voting (basically just what we have now but you can vote for multiple people) is among the less bad ways to vote.
gollark: Maybe? There are other countries with her as head of state.

See also

References
  1. "FM Query Results - Audio Division (FCC) USA". Transition.fcc.gov. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  2. "WSOE makes changes, hopes to draw in new listeners - Elon University's News Organization". Elonpendulum.com. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  3. Feinsot, Ally. "The Pendulum - Elon University's News Organization". Elon.edu. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  4. University, Elon (2006-06-21). "WSOE takes flight | Flickr - Photo Sharing!". Flickr. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  5. Archived October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  6. "#ElonTBT: WSOE hosts first broadcast in 1977". Elon University. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  7. "WSOE's long road to the airwaves". Elon University. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  8. "WIAO Changes to New Call Letters: WSOE to Designate Lake Front Station; More Power Added". The Milwaukee Sentinel and Milwaukee Telegram, August 17, 1924, Part I, p. 14.
  9. "WSOE to Broadcast Seven Fall Athletic Events". Elon University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  10. "2019-20 Women's Basketball Schedule". Elon University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  11. "WSOE - 89.3 FM Elon, NC - Listen Online". Tunein.com. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  12. Bodley, Michael (2015-09-15). "Design for McEwen School of Communications finalized, plans continue to develop - Elon University's News Organization". Elonpendulum.com. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  13. "Harden Dining Hall Remembered | Under the Oaks". Belkarchives.wordpress.com. 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  14. "WSOE looks to increase campus presence with new radio staff". Elon News Network. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  15. "WSOECast at Elon University on Simplecast". Simplecast.
  16. "WSOE 89.3 » About". Wsoeelon.com. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  17. "Sports – WSOE 89.3". Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  18. interview with Mack White, General Manager
  19. "Elon News Network, WSOE 89.3 tag-team coverage of candidate forum". Elon University. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  20. "WSOE hosts second annual Jingle Bell Rock". Elon University. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  21. "Toys Needed for the Boys and Girls Club". Elon University. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  22. "WSOE 89.3FM Poker was a Success". Elon University. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  23. "Announcing WSOE Records! Interviews April 14–17". Elon University. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  24. "WSOE launches interactive program for local high school students". Elon University. Retrieved 2020-04-10.

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