A student-run on-air radio station will be revived after about 40 years of dormancy after an application for an FM radio license was approved Thursday.
Faculty were inspired to apply for the station because many of them got their journalistic starts in radio, said John Schmeltzer, journalism professor who oversaw the application.
One of those faculty members was Joe Foote, Gaylord College dean.
Foote started working for his local radio station when he was a 16-year-old in high school, Foote said, he worked as a DJ and a journalist.
Foote’s experience with radio gave him a place to fit in and belong when he became an OU student and joined the staff of the KUVY student radio station — even though he came from a small town and small high school, Foote said.
“Being as lost as I’ve ever been in my life, that radio station — KUVY — that was my anchor,” Foote said.
Foote met many life-long friends working on the station and it is exciting that students will have the same experience for professional development today, Foote said.
“Radio is an exciting culture, by any standard. It’s a zany place, but it keeps you hopping,” he said.
The station will allow students to experiment and gain experience, along with The Wire, the college’s online radio station, Foote said.
Some students agree.
"I think it's a great opportunity to keep expanding OU's radio station and all the opportunity of students to go to a larger audience," said Jamison Short, advertising senior.
Students shared their name suggestions for the radio station.
"OU OnDemand," said Anastasia Malouf, religious studies junior.
"Sooners Station," said Raigan Davis, business marketing freshman.
"The Boomer Sooner Station," said Paige Earley, public relations sophomore.
