Claire Montgomery
Senior News Writer
The current student management team of WOO 91, the campus radio station, has been strategizing how the station will remain a vital part of the campus since it was announced that a switch would be made from radio broadcast to webcast only.
The general manager of the station, Sam Royer ’19, commented, “In my three years on the management staff, one of WOO 91’s main priorities has been working to increase our presence on campus and building more of a culture, and we plan to continue that even more so this year.”
Royer added, “We are working on getting WOO 91 played in different areas both on and off campus to keep people listening. The switch to streaming will certainly have an effect on our off campus listenership and we want the Wooster community to still know we’re alive. Transitioning into a student organization will affect technical things like budgeting.”
Royer continued that once WOO 91’s capacity as a student organization is fully recognized, they “plan on collaborating with different downtown organizations like Lucky Records and [Wooster’s] farmer’s market.”
Laney Zuver ’21, assistant manager, added “We will be searching for ways to better our online streaming capabilities. Working with the Internet and streaming will broaden our horizons and serve as an adequate training resource as radio as a medium continues to transition onto the Internet. We will also have more time to dedicate to events and publicity. We really will be working to keep the station relevant! We also have a community outreach leader on our staff so that we can stay relevant to the larger Wooster community as well.”
The station’s assistant music manager, Neva Derewetzky ’20, also commented on maintaining the station’s familiar presence on campus. Derewetzky said, “The station is trying to coordinate even more collaboration events with groups to help get the campus together. We’re trying to be an even bigger part of the Wooster community this year … I want to help keep WOO 91 at the level of quality it was before and to help push forward in improving it as a station.”
Royer added that even though WOO 91 is changing, the community centered around the station has rallied and seems excited about the possibilities the change offers. Royer said, “I do feel that the transition to streaming has brought together the WOO 91 staff and DJ’s in the way that was missing before. At our recent all DJ meeting, student DJ’s came together to talk about their shows and interests with enthusiasm that I haven’t seen at any other meetings.” Royer continued, “At the meeting, Nate Harling ’19, who has been a WOO 91 DJ’s for a few years now, came up with the idea to have a 24 hour radio event on the last day before the administration takes the tower down and WOO 91 goes off the radio airwaves. I hope to see …the transition in general bring students together to celebrate WOO 91’s historic past and exciting future.”