Music is all around the campus of Elizabethtown College. From the Marketplace, to the Jay’s Nest, and even outside the Baugher Student Center (BSC). However, where does it come from? Located in the Communications Lounge in the Steinman Center is where WWEC 88.3 lives. WWEC 88.3 is the College’s student-run radio station.
WWEC celebrated its 62nd birthday this year. The radio station first went live in February 1963. The station itself has come a long way ever since then. From using CDs and a CD player to playing music digitally. The station would be nowhere without the board members.
Madie Cannon, a junior counseling psychology major, is the station manager. She has been on the board for three years and oversees the station as a whole and makes sure everything is running smoothly.
Jenny Chrupcla, a public relations major, has been on the board for one year and serves as the Public Relations Director for WWEC. She makes sure the image of the radio station lives up to expectations.
Logan Zimmerman, a senior digital media production major, is the DJ director. He has been on the board for three years and he is essentially in charge of creating the schedules of the showtimes and training the new DJs.
Aidan Howell, also a sophomore digital media production major, is the Assistant DJ Director. This year is his first year on the board and he helps with programming.
Avery Ruth, a sophomore journalism major, serves as the music director. She accepts or disapproves of the songs that students recommend for the station.
There is a lot of creative freedom that comes with being a DJ at WWEC. You are able to play the songs that you would like or even do themed shows. There is also the opportunity for you to just do a talk show, just music or half and half. It all depends on what your preferences are regarding being the DJ. You can also do shows with your friends. You can have up to three other people in the booth with you and contribute to your show. It is your show to do the things that you would like to do, obviously while following the rules.
Not only do the people on campus listen to the radio, but people outside the campus can listen too! The web player helps people who are not in the Elizabethtown area to listen to the live shows or the prerecorded shows. Additionally, people in the Elizabethtown area are able to tune in to the radio on their very own car radios. It gives you a chance to connect with so many groups of people.
One of the most common misunderstandings with WWEC is that you must be a communications major in order to become a DJ. Not true. WWEC has 48 DJs this fall semester and all of them are different majors and different years. There are DJs ranging from education to psychology and everything in between.
As a first-year public relations major, I am beyond thankful that I stepped out of my comfort zone and signed up to be a DJ. I remember vividly touring the DJ booth during my open house and the accepted student’s day and I knew it was something I was going to be doing. I have done not only themed shows, such as 80s rock and 2000s pop, but I also have days where I play whatever songs I connect to during that day. This experience has also helped me with learning to publicly speak. You have the idea that people are listening to you, but essentially, you’re talking into a black mic with no one in the booth with you.
If you are interested in being a DJ for the spring semester, make sure you are on the lookout for sign-ups on WWEC’s Instagram (@wwec_88.3).
