By Massiel Ladron DeGuevara
Staff Writer
Since Pepperdine moved to its Malibu campus, students have had to make due with poor radio reception by either settling with a static-filled frequency or eliminating it all together.
After four years of dissatisfaction and frustration, however, the musical void may soon be filled by Pepperdine’s new radio station, KWVS, if the deadline set by the Federal Communication Commission is met.
In August 2001, the FCC granted the Communication Division a Low Power FM (LPFM) license, that allows Pepperdine to build a tower and transmitter of up to 100 watts for radio broadcasts in the area.
If the tower is not completed by the Feb. 14 deadline, however, an extension will not be granted and construction will have to be terminated.
As a precaution, Pepperdine hired a lawyer to ensure the deadline is met. The principal problem with the construction of the tower is a delay of approval from the city of Malibu.
“The city of Malibu must give its consent to have the transmitter erected,” Broadcast Service Director Wade Brown said. “Unfortunately, Malibu has strict regulations with what can and can’t be built in the city.”
The reason behind building the transmitter off of Pepperdine’s campus, and therefore involving the city of Malibu’s building commission, is the FCC’s regulation stipulating that second adjacent stations, which are radio frequencies close on the FM dial like K-EARTH 101.1 and KWVS 101.5, must be at least 67 miles apart.
Mt. Wilson, home of K-EARTH 101.1, is located 64 miles from Pepperdine, forcing the Communication Division to build its transmitter three miles up the coast on private property.
“The Feb. 14 deadline is approaching quickly,” Brown said. “But we are proceeding as though it will be met.”
The Communication Division has already accepted many applications for DJ positions. Both music and talk shows are planned for KWVS, a newly defined Christian music station.
In addition, professors may host two-hour shows on a variety of topics.
“I think the idea of having professors do radio shows is very interesting,” English professor Dr. Michael Collings said. “It will allow professors to touch on subjects they might not get to in class. Another positive aspect is the type of questions generated and given will be different than those in class, making the show of great value to students.”
As the possibility of professors conducting their own two-hour shows is discussed, student shows have moved forward.
Oct. 28 was the first airing of the radio show, “Go Punk or Go Home,” hosted by Nick Bundra, Robby Mooring and Matt Lallowly.
The three pitched their radio show to a committee last semester and were approved to host a two-hour show on Mondays from 7 to 8 p.m. on channel six.
The airing of the show on channel six is a temporary solution until the radio station opens its doors. Once the station is up and running, it will take precedence over television broadcasts.
The only stipulation for all radio shows, including Bundra’s, is that Christian music be played to promote the university’s mission statement and Christian values.
Faculty and staff involved in the telecom field were the only participants in reaching the decision to make the radio station an all Christian music show.
“A committee consisting of telecom faculty, staff and the head of the telecom division voted on making the radio station an all Christian one,” associate professor Susan Salas said. “Only the people involved in the telecom field voted.”
Students had mixed reactions to the all-Christian policy.
“Although I agree with promoting Christian values I don’t think that Christian music should be the only thing allowed to play,” Bundra said. “We should have a variety, as long as the music played is clean, there shouldn’t be a problem.”
Many students expressed the same thoughts as Bundra.
“As a Christian I enjoy Christian music but I don’t think it should be the only thing being played,” senior Lindsey Wright said. “I think it would benefit the station if a variety of music is played, otherwise the target audience will be very limited.”
Other students disagree.
“It makes sense,” senior Grace Cho said. “This is a Christian school I don’t think it would be appropriate if things like Marilyn Manson were being played.”
November 14, 2002