EXCHANGE: Celebrating Radio at the University of San Francisco

In this photo of November 29, 2018, Justin Burns records the first episode of his podcast at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill. WCSF 88.7 FM, the radio station of the university, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. (Geoff Stellfox / Herald-News through AP) minus
In this photo from November 29, 2018, Justin Burns records the first episode of his podcast at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill. WCSF 88.7 FM, the university's radio station, celebrates its 30th anniversary … more
Photo: Geoff Stellfox, AP
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Photo: Geoff Stellfox, AP

In this photo of November 29, 2018, Justin Burns records the first episode of his podcast at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill. WCSF 88.7 FM, the radio station of the university, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. (Geoff Stellfox / Herald-News through AP) minus

In this photo from November 29, 2018, Justin Burns records the first episode of his podcast at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill. WCSF 88.7 FM, the radio station of the university, celebrates its 30th anniversary … more

Photo: Geoff Stellfox, AP

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) – For the past 30 years, WCSF 88.7 at the University of St. Francis in Joliet has entertained listeners in the county of Will and around the world.

About 25 people, most of them students of the USF, volunteer their time to broadcast music, shows and sports from Fighting Saints. It is a station primarily run by students in which they do everything from deciding the music line to providing their talents to the air and promotions.

The station actually started as the WCSF Radio Club under Richard Lorenc, an Associate Professor of Communications and Media Arts at USF, in 1978 as a current station. It could only be heard in the campus dormitories through a 10-watt transmitter that students could plug into a wall outlet.

The station actually started as the WCSF Radio Club under Richard Lorenc, an Associate Professor of Communications and Media Arts at the USF, in 1978 as a current station. It could only be heard in the campus dormitories through a 10-watt transmitter that students could plug into a wall outlet.

The station then obtained its educational FM radio license, and the students made their first transmission on September 5, 1988, Lorenc said.

"It's about learning first," Lorenc said. "That's why we offer radio classes. (Students) take radio classes and earn a place at the station."

Now the station is a robust operation with students creating their own programming, especially now with digital media. They record podcasts and broadcast online, which has given the station international exposure.

WCSF has earned a reputation for presenting its listeners to new artists. Anthony Musiala, manager of the WCSF station, said they receive dozens of records from emerging artists each week.

"(The promoters) know that we are one of the avant-garde stations that are playing these new artists," Musiala said.

One of the station's most popular programs is the Christmas Spirit, 24 hours a day of commercial-free Christmas music, which runs from Thanksgiving through January 2. It has been a tradition for the last 25 years.

Bob Zak, the general manager of WCSF in 1993, thought that Christmas music was missing on the radio at that time and decided to start the program. Since then, he has retired, which shows a challenge to get a rotation of more than 4,000 songs.

"It takes a lot of work, a lot of planning, a lot of good quality automation to keep the station on the air 24 hours a day," said Don Burke, director of programming for the Spirit of Christmas. "We Choose Every Song"

The Christmas Spirit has become a staple, Burke said, to the point that he will receive calls on a live request, a show that he performs on Sundays at night with long-time listeners.

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Source: The (Joliet) Herald-News, https://bit.ly/2AzuGQW

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Information from: The Herald-News, http://www.theherald-news.com/

This is an AP-Illinois Exchange story offered by The (Joliet) Herald-News.