University of Virginia Library

Help WUVA

The Student Council's Organizations and
Publications Committee has released its
preliminary student activities allocations. One
activity which we feel provides a very
worthwhile service, not only to its members
but to the entire University, has had its
request totally rejected. That is radio station
WUVA, a student owned and operated AM
and FM-cable radio station and the second
oldest radio station in Charlottesville.

WUVA has, for the past 25 years, been
entirely self-sufficient and has only once
before requested money from the Student
Council. But a glance at their budget reveals
that WUVA is in financial difficulty, mostly
due to their recent five year struggle with the
FCC to become an "open-air" AM station.
After a long and very costly process, the
WUVA request was denied in favor of WELK.
The legal fees facing WUVA now amount to
approximately $13,000.

What is most noteworthy about the
WUVA case is the fact that they are not
requesting funds for the repayment of their
debts. Instead, they have requested a specific
sum ($5,400) from the Student Council for
the specific purpose of purchasing two pieces
of equipment which would replace old, often
non-functional present equipment. The
equipment is essential for the station's
continued operation.

What WUVA is requesting, in effect, is for
the students of the University it serves to help
them stay in business with what amounts to a
gift. Many other organizations have what they
consider equally valid claims on the limited
resources Student Council has to allocate.
Many have suffered substantial cuts in their
requests. WUVA, however, was not given a
cent, a fact which we feel is unfortunate due
to the importance of their function on the
Grounds.

While we sympathize with the difficult
task facing O & P in distributing its funds, we
hope that the Council keeps in mind the
nature of WUVA's request. For an
organization which has for so long survived on
its own and which provides a vital media
service to the community to fall into jeopardy
for its very survival because the Student
Council will not give it a one-shot, limited-scope
financial boost seems to us an example
of misplaced priorities.

We urge the Student Council to respond
favorably to WUVA's appeal at its meeting
next Tuesday.