Ex-DJs take steps to impeach program director

By Sumit De

PATRICK MCGARVEY/YH Program Director Emad Abdelnaby, DC '99

"We're doing this because the General Board is very dissatisfied with how Emad has conducted his job as program director," General Board memeber Rajeev Mutterja, SM '00, said. "Not only has he not done what we expected him to do, but the manner in which he did it was quite questionable."

Mutterja was referring to the change in format that WYBC underwent on Mon., Dec. 15, in which the "Frequency" music format was dumped without prior notification to the General Board. Over 40 disc jockeys, mostly students, were notified that they could either change their programming or give up their shows completely.

The petition to impeach Abdelnaby was signed by 25 percent of all WYBC members, as stipulated by the station's bylaws. In order to remove Abdelnaby, three-quarters of all WYBC members will need to vote for the motion.

"I don't think we will impeach him--but we will definitely try," former Frequency format head Christine Michalopoulos, TC '98, said. Membership to WYBC's General Board is retained by anyone who became a member at some point during his or her time at Yale. Unfortunately for those supporting Abdelnaby's impeachment, the very vocal group of students who attended the General Board meeting on Tues., Mar. 31 represent only one-third of the students eligible to vote in an impeachment proceeding.

"I am disappointed that it is coming to this. I learned a lot when I became program director. I can honestly say there won't be any large programming changes from now on, regardless of what happens," Abdelnaby said.

According to Mutterja, during the November election, Abdelnaby guaranteed that he would not enact sweeping programming changes. But circumstances have changed considerably.

"He saw things evolve and took the initiative to give WYBC better training and service to our listerners," General Manager Mike Corwin, SM '98, explained. "I think in the long-run our changes will be good for many Yale students and Yale broadcasting."

But the ex-DJs leading the impeachment proceedings don't want to see these changes take place. "We do not want to install any drastic changes. If we get the chance to put in a new programming director, we will try to go back to the old format--so that all different types of music get a chance," Michalopoulos said.

In the General Board's first meeting of the year on Tues., Mar. 31, the Board of Governors, the Executive Committee, and members spent two heated hours discussing the future of the radio station and the impending purchase of the WNHC radio station.

Financial considerations have been a key issue in the fray between the mostly student-run Executive Board and the General Board. Many WYBC station members contend that the purchase of the AM station WNHC will not automatically open up programming time for students, especially those who were displaced by the December programming change. This belief stems from unconfirmed reports that a newly proposed contract with WPLR, which owns WYBC's advertising sales, will lead to more "consistent" programming with fewer types of music.

Abdelnaby believes that the purchase of WNHC will strengthen WYBC's standing in the marketplace. He indicated that student complaints regarding the possibility of WPLR's greater control over WYBC does not spell the end of variety for student DJs. "I think there will be more flexibility than they think," he explained.

According to Board of Governors Chair Ken Devoe, SY '69, who made a special appearance at Tuesday's meeting, financial considerations must take precedence over concerns about variety at this point in WYBC's existence. "The programming change was necessary in order to make the station survive in this marketplace.... The programming that they had was not going anywhere--there were no listeners," Devoe said. "Undoubtedly, the recent programming changes and the purchase of WNHC will expand opportunities for WYBC and students in the future."

Corwin noted that the Executive Board had entertained several different options before seriously pursuing WNHC and changing the program format.

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