WYBC finds a wealth of opportunity in move

Yale's radio station sees leaving Hendrie Hall as a chance to expand on success.

Hendrie Hall has accommodated WYBC since the station's inauguration in 1942, but our connection with the building will be terminated at the end of the school year. There is a public assumption that Yale University no longer wants to be associated with WYBC, as Yale was able to find space for all offices located in Hendrie other than WYBC. Thus, it seems as though the University chose to neglect WYBC.

The reasons behind Yale's decision not to help WYBC's moving process are uncertain, or at least not public. It could be that it feels WYBC can afford to fund its own space, that University officials are sick of rescuing our organization time and time again, or perhaps because there isn't a lot of available office space in downtown New Haven to house such a large student organization as ourselves. It is well known that Yale University Properties has little space available for expanding academic departments. Nevertheless, instead of bickering over Yale's decision, WYBC should embrace the situation as an opportunity to develop stronger relationships both with the Yale College Dean's Office, the greater New Haven community, and, perhaps more importantly, strengthen internal relationships within the station.

Out of Hendrie, but not Yale

Moreover, Yale should never totally break its affiliation with WYBC, and vice versa. Why would Yale turn its back on one of their most valuable undergraduate organizations, an organization that the University once depended on for broadcasting live news reports during World War II? Today, WYBC is an incredibly important link between Yale and New Haven and, should Yale decide to invest interest, could be a great asset in improving Yale's relationship with New Haven.

By looking through a narrow glass you may only see that the University is evicting us from Hendrie Hall. Many fail to realize, however, that the University (albeit indirectly) has given WYBC a window of opportunity to redefine itself and heal old wounds. Yet this window comes with an obnoxiously large price tag, which also causes many students to question the motives behind the University's decision. Yes, the cost of the move is a daunting proposition, and always has been since we were first notified about its possibility; cost, however, is the only daunting issue.

Uncertain funds and bright prospects

WYBC is unique among college radio stations. Only a handful of other college stations have commercial licenses, but most of those also have other funding, such as endowments, and many are not forced to compete in the marketplace to survive. During the last decade, WYBC FM has recovered from bankruptcy and grown to an extent where it has become continually competitive in the New Haven market with a weekly audience of 50,000 listeners.

Additionally, with the recent acquisition of AM 1340, the amount of student involvement has dramatically increased. All the students whose shows were cancelled due to the agreement with WPLR have since graduated, and attendance at the fall and spring training classes has soared to over 60 students eager to help the AM station achieve its full potential. Furthermore, the freshmen and sophomores now affiliated with the station have not experienced any of its previous instability and can foresee a promising, exciting future. This new enthusiasm from within WYBC has not been well publicized but brings a wealth of new talent. With two radio stations, one with no programming limits and the other that broadcasts within the guidelines of a tight, professional format, students and community volunteers have an opportunity to learn first-hand what radio is like. With the prospect of a new well-equipped facility, even more student interest will be generated creating an even stronger organization. Thus, the move can only aid the AM station in increasing its steadily rising listener base. The same may be said for the FM station, because its professional product can finally be mirrored by a first-class facility that accommodates it.

It's all about attitude

A refreshed attitude is the most important consequence of the impending move. WYBC's outlook on its own future has been drastically altered in the last two years. It might be cliché, but WYBC really is in a winning situation. With a partnership between Cox Communications and Yale University that combines the greatest minds in radio and academia, WYBC should be the best college radio station in the country. These assets are exactly what WYBC needs to build upon, and that growing process has already begun. With significant changes for the training manual and management currently being drafted by the current Executive Board in conjunction with the Dean's Office and Board of Governors, there is no reason to believe that the best of our past cannot be the worst of our future. What could be a more appropriate time to implement significant changes at WYBC, than in coordination with a physical alteration of its image? I believe that the best is yet to come for WYBC. Rather than scorn the University for what seems like an aggressive move to oust Yale radio, a new Yale broadcasting company will enter not only a new home, but a new era also.

Andrew Goodwillie, JE '01, is station manager of WYBC. WYBC Training Director Leslie Kane, JE '01, contributed to this article.

Graphic by Hyura Choi. Photos by Livia Demarchis.

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