Don't think this has been posted
http://news.rice.edu/2015/02/12/ktru-to-...d-of-year/

Getting a radio transmitter again is certainly a nice opportunity. We can only hope that this time it will be used to transmit programs of, about and for Rice, rather than than esoterica that is irrelevant to the university.

(06-11-2015 09:36 PM)ChicagoOwl (BS 07) Wrote:  Don't think this has been posted
http://news.rice.edu/2015/02/12/ktru-to-...d-of-year/

For the win... 96.1 FM later this year/5 mile radius.

(06-11-2015 09:41 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  Getting a radio transmitter again is certainly a nice opportunity. We can only hope that this time it will be used to transmit programs of, about and for Rice, rather than than esoterica that is irrelevant to the university.

what's the esoterica you're referring to?
seems like the programming's been just fine:
http://www.ricethresher.org/arts_and_ent...bc9cf.html

(06-11-2015 10:29 PM)ChicagoOwl (BS 07) Wrote:  

(06-11-2015 09:41 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  Getting a radio transmitter again is certainly a nice opportunity. We can only hope that this time it will be used to transmit programs of, about and for Rice, rather than than esoterica that is irrelevant to the university.

what's the esoterica you're referring to?
seems like the programming's been just fine:
http://www.ricethresher.org/arts_and_ent...bc9cf.html

None of it seems to be relevant to Rice.

(06-11-2015 09:41 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  Getting a radio transmitter again is certainly a nice opportunity. We can only hope that this time it will be used to transmit programs of, about and for Rice, rather than than esoterica that is irrelevant to the university.

I'm reminded of the (odd, yet understandable) regulation that broadcast stations in Canada must include some specific percentage of "Canadian Content".

Because of that regulation, the Canadian-based SCTV created Bob and Doug MacKenzie. Their very existence on the show poked fun at the absurdity of the regulation. On the other hand - were it not for that skit - many of us wouldn't know that SCTV actually was Canadian-based, like so many other great things from Canada like Geddy Lee, touques, and back bacon.

I'd suggest that George host a weekly show on ktru about.... rice.
If it's pitched right and given a regular spot (even if tucked away on a weekend morning when the kiddos are sleeping in) it could be an effective sounding board for university-centric content. If I were station manager I'd love to have some quality Rice content on the airwaves.

Like the Canadians, who feel overwhelmed in their own culture by all things from south of the border, so often Rice must feel as a major university in a large city that at times seems to forget we're here.

But just as the University asks us to help keep Rice... Rice,
I also strongly support making sure that we keep ktru... ktru.

Getting back on standard FM is a big step back in that direction.
I'll hang up now and continue to listen, from points further north than the old signal ever reached, via the "I heart radio" app.

(06-11-2015 11:24 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  

(06-11-2015 10:29 PM)ChicagoOwl (BS 07) Wrote:  

(06-11-2015 09:41 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  Getting a radio transmitter again is certainly a nice opportunity. We can only hope that this time it will be used to transmit programs of, about and for Rice, rather than than esoterica that is irrelevant to the university.

what's the esoterica you're referring to?
seems like the programming's been just fine:
http://www.ricethresher.org/arts_and_ent...bc9cf.html

None of it seems to be relevant to Rice.

I'm personally fine with them playing underexposed, non-Rice music. My understanding is that's what most college radio stations do. If they broadcast some sports, all the better.

It is great having it back. In the dark ages, I had a roommate who broadcast through the electrical system of the old wing in Hanszen College. He played classical music, almost exclusively. The signal would not even reach the new wing, and the electrical system in the new wing would not pick up the transmission. The hours were scattered, depending upon his work load and availability.

In true Rice fashion, he called the station KRAP.

(06-12-2015 08:10 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  I'd suggest that George host a weekly show on ktru about.... rice.
If it's pitched right and given a regular spot (even if tucked away on a weekend morning when the kiddos are sleeping in) it could be an effective sounding board for university-centric content. If I were station manager I'd love to have some quality Rice content on the airwaves.

I have made exactly that offer, and it was politely declined because those running the station were not interested in programs about Rice -- even 30 minutes per week. Nothing in the press release above suggests that the current KTRU leadership would be any more receptive, or that they even contemplate Rice content as an objective.

More generally, if the only way a Rice radio station would deign to allocate even one slot a week to programs about Rice is for an alum who graduated decades ago to staff it, well, that pretty much captures the irrelevance of the station and the entrenched myopia of its leadership.

(06-12-2015 08:10 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  I also strongly support making sure that we keep ktru... ktru.

Why? For most of its recent history, KTRU provides virtually no value for Rice -- certainly nothing commensurate with the resources it receives (including blanket-tax funding, an office suite, and a full-time professional manager). There are a dozen other student organizations that, given remotely comparable resources, could make an exponential difference in Rice's profile and impact. Every dime that goes to KTRU as currently constituted instead of one of those organizations or other academic programs is a genuine opportunity cost.

The fact that uselessness has been tolerated for decades is not a reason to continue to tolerate it, fund it, support it, or expand it.

For reference, does anyone else know how much time other college radio stations generally dedicate to programing relating to or relevant to their home institution?

My biggest gripe with KTRU has always been how uneven their programming has been, which generally makes it pretty difficult to listen to.

The bottom line as far as I can see is that the staffers at the old KTRU spent years making sure the station was irrelevant. If the station is, in fact, supposed to be an asset for the Rice community it should strive to be relevant rather than completely irrelevant.

To me, that means the eclectic programming should remain with certain exceptions. The station should be staffed with Rice students and should be managed by Rice students with the understanding that the station is an asset of the Rice community. Speeches and programs on campus should be presented by the station. I personally would like to see sporting events and Shepherd School performances presented and/or archived.

There are a lot of hours available for programming. A few of those hours should be relevant to the Rice community.

(06-12-2015 09:37 AM)georgewebb Wrote:  The fact that uselessness has been tolerated for decades is not a reason to continue to tolerate it, fund it, support it, or expand it.

Why? Seems to work in DC.

Radio these days is (imo) under serious attack from the 'speed' of life today. I just don't see that radio, without an internet presence is a viable tool because people can't (or don't) schedule their lives around the 5pm news or the 3am 'indie' broadcast. They want the 5pm news at 7:15 and the 3am indie at 3:22pm. The internet can provide that.

I'm not complaining about live radio broadcasts... but there SHOULD be content about and regarding Rice. Every single away game... even live comments and updates on things like track meets could and should be available on the internet if not the broadcast... reviews of art exhibits and classes (esp glasscock type classes) and calendars of events everything that people used radio for in the 1950s needs to still be there, but captured and available to be listened to when we can. It doesn't even have to be JPs play by play... I might actually enjoy 'virtually' sitting in the stands with some 'friends' talking about the game or track meet or tennis meet or having them talk candidly about an art exhibit or play or whatever else. All Rice, or at least Rice area (museum district, zoo, med center, westu) centric.

(06-12-2015 09:57 AM)Houston Owl Wrote:  The bottom line as far as I can see is that the staffers at the old KTRU spent years making sure the station was irrelevant. If the station is, in fact, supposed to be an asset for the Rice community it should strive to be relevant rather than completely irrelevant.

To me, that means the eclectic programming should remain with certain exceptions. The station should be staffed with Rice students and should be managed by Rice students with the understanding that the station is an asset of the Rice community. Speeches and programs on campus should be presented by the station. I personally would like to see sporting events and Shepherd School performances presented and/or archived.

There are a lot of hours available for programming. A few of those hours should be relevant to the Rice community.

Simulcast President's Lectures and Baker Institute Events.

(06-18-2015 01:06 PM)I45owl Wrote:  Simulcast President's Lectures and Baker Institute Events.

yep... and podcasts for people who want to listen later.

(06-12-2015 10:46 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(06-12-2015 09:37 AM)georgewebb Wrote:  The fact that uselessness has been tolerated for decades is not a reason to continue to tolerate it, fund it, support it, or expand it.

Why? Seems to work in DC.

nice.

(06-11-2015 09:41 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  Getting a radio transmitter again is certainly a nice opportunity. We can only hope that this time it will be used to transmit programs of, about and for Rice, rather than than esoterica that is irrelevant to the university.

I have a different view. KTRU is a student enterprise, not an alumni or academic enterprise. It is a volunteer enterprise; 90+% of the resources required for running the station are provided by unpaid students. The university can put on all the special promotional and educational programming it wants to a far, far larger and more targeted audience by web "broadcast" without KTRU. Let the students broadcast what is of interest enough to them to show up and volunteer their time, not what non-volunteers allegedly want.

Sure, I'd "like" for KTRU to broadcast Rice baseball games so when I'm out of reach of an internet connection (an increasingly rare event) I could listen to the game. But I'm not volunteering at the station.

(06-11-2015 09:41 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  Getting a radio transmitter again is certainly a nice opportunity. We can only hope that this time it will be used to transmit programs of, about and for Rice, rather than than esoterica that is irrelevant to the university.

I like the esoterica, personally.

What I'd like even more, though--and what might suggest a means of adding Rice relevance--would be esoteric music accompanied by extensive commentary related to the music.

For example, a show about British progressive folk might include tracks by the band Comus. The DJ or an invited commentator (perhaps a Rice academic or a musician of the genre) might explain that Comus was a short-lived acid folk band of the '70s for which a cult following developed in the '00s and which regrouped 40 years later. The commentator might define acid folk, might explain where it falls in the timeline of the development of progressive folk and progressive rock, might reference bands influencing or influenced by Comus, etc. The commentator might talk about instrumentation, chord progressions, song structure, etc. Sure, a lot of people won't like Comus's sound, but they might like to learn about the historical context of the band, the mythological references in the song lyrics, etc. Maybe Comus is not included in a show about British progressive folk but a show about classical mythology in popular music (because Comus is also a lesser-known figure of Greek mythology).

(06-22-2015 03:08 PM)Hardball Owl Wrote:  

(06-11-2015 09:41 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  Getting a radio transmitter again is certainly a nice opportunity. We can only hope that this time it will be used to transmit programs of, about and for Rice, rather than than esoterica that is irrelevant to the university.

I have a different view. KTRU is a student enterprise, not an alumni or academic enterprise. It is a volunteer enterprise; 90+% of the resources required for running the station are provided by unpaid students. The university can put on all the special promotional and educational programming it wants to a far, far larger and more targeted audience by web "broadcast" without KTRU. Let the students broadcast what is of interest enough to them to show up and volunteer their time, not what non-volunteers allegedly want.

Sure, I'd "like" for KTRU to broadcast Rice baseball games so when I'm out of reach of an internet connection (an increasingly rare event) I could listen to the game. But I'm not volunteering at the station.

You've stated what you think KTRU is (after decades of deliberate irrelevance by a small clique and indifference by nearly everyone else). I've argued for what it could be (given a genuine vision). The desires of student volunteers are not fixed; one of the whole points of teaching is to orient young minds toward challenge and excellence. Moreover, KTRU uses the university's radio license; has a full-time manager, dedicated office space, and blanket-tax funding; and is the ONLY broadcast asset owned by Rice. It makes no more sense for that asset to be useless to Rice than it does for the OEDK or Athletics to be useless. Responsible leadership would not let the OEDK drift into cliquish irrelevance, nor should they with KTRU.

To paraphrase President Leebron: Radio is not the most important thing a university does, but it's important enough that if you're going to do it, you should do it well.

On the other hand, if you were to get rid of the staff support, office space, blanket-tax funding, and university broadcast license (among other things), then I'd agree: at that point, let the club run amok.