Varsity Radio at Victoria

by Gary Lewis

Are you helpless in a wasteland of AM pop. What do you do when left with a 'choice' of listening to the inane chatter of health food and aborted fetus talk back on on Radio Windy or the top 20 teeny-bopper, juke-box noise of 2ZM over and over again.

There are alternatives and the possibilities are virtually infinite but tightly controlled by political bodies and government departments. Unlike North America where every university has its own 50 watt FM educational radio station broadcasting in stereo, New Zealand has some way to go.

Changes must come and just as TV eventually arrived down here, so too will FM come to be.

Don't despair. This year the Post Office issued temporary licenses to Radio B in Auckland and 3XB in Christchurch to broadcast during orientation from their respective campuses. Low powered, non-commercial stations; they transmit alternative and progressive music, campus and public affairs as well as orientation week information programmes to an audiences of grateful students.

Wellington is devoid of such a facility, Until Now. The Victoria Radio Club has been formed. Plans are already underfoot to take Windy off the unions PA system and play the music you really want to hear. Next year the club hopes to go on the air. With your help its going to work. This is one of the few institutions where complaints aren't necessary. All you do is get in to it yourself.

Pretty soon students will realise what they have missed and a reletively cheap operation will bring pleasure to millions (except women with unwanted pregnancies perhaps, whose situation isn't helped by smart men like you - typesetter). At this stage religious and political programmes are just not on. Fair enough. Rock, Jazz, Classical, Ethnic, whatever you demand, you'll get. To give you some idea of what is envisaged but subject to change imagine listening to a show of the type "2ZM does on Sunday nite crossed with your favourite indulgences.

Its quite a thought... I think it deserves everyones support.

Well, there's the rhyme, now heres the reason - the cost will be limited to the payment of record royalties and rights. Records are free as are generous offers of help and services, its good solid student initiative at work. Even the quality of reproduction will be improved when the club begins its service to the cafe only.

Yes, Murray Forgie will be but a forgotten nightmare as August sees a constructive effort to do something about our environment and quality of lifestyle.

In a way this is total community radio. Yours....

Only a name has to be thought of. Suggestions are welcomed.

Talk about a worthy cause, Trev.