University of Virginia Library

Sound And Cents

Radio station WTJU-FM is in trouble.
Under orders from the Federal
Communications Commission to install
suitable equipment—including a new control
panel—the station now faces the possibility of
a shutdown next semester because of a critical
shortage of funds.

Given the stringent, rule-conscious attitude
which characterizes FCC supervision of public
broadcast facilities. Station Manager Doug
McLaughlin's announcement that WTJU is
"on the edge of illegality" points up the
urgency of the situation. Already, a
fund-raising drive is under way.

Depending on contributions from students
and listeners in the community, WTJU has set
a December 15 deadline for soliciting the
$2,000 to $3,000 needed for improvements.
This week, listeners will hear pleas for
financial support on the air. Later, station
representatives will venture into the dorms
and the community making direct requests
for small individual contributions.

In the final week of the drive, remote
broadcasts from various points on the
Grounds will seek to focus listeners' attention
on the need for assistance. Important is that
people realize the University is not likely to
bail WTJU out of its predicament. The
Student Council allocations for organizations
have already been finalized, and a further
subsidy from the coffers of the Student
Activities Committee has been ruled out.

There is every reason to believe that the
fund drive will succeed. Consider: WTJU is
one of the few stations in central Virginia to
offer a strong program of classical recordings.
Its all-right rock broadcasts are a unique
source of entertainment- not only for the
more nocturnal members of the University
community, but for listeners all over the city
and surrounding areas. Finally, as a non-profit
operation, WTJU refrains from littering air
time with an endless succession of commercial
messages, while it provides a variety of public
service announcements.

It would indeed be ironic if such a
consistently fine performance by the station's
management should result in bankruptcy or a
severe cut-back in programming. For $10
contribution, you will receive the station's
program guide, which is published as a service
to the patrons every three weeks. Smaller gifts
are equally important if the special drive is to
succeed. So give.