Hate speech at WWU forces KUGS shutdown over Thanksgiving

[Rob Piotrowski]

Kudos to the university for keeping a look out for its students, but it sucks that this kind of thing happens. http://as.wwu.edu/kugs/

 

[Bongwater]

I have a friend who attends Western. So it was a shock when this happened last week as WWU is about as laid-back and peaceful as a university campus can get. Apparently the threat went out over some social media thing called YikYak (me neither) and it was pretty disgusting, both going into general racist attacks and mentioning specific people (although I'm not sure if KUGS was also directly mentioned. But why would anyone bother them anyway?)

But that's all anyone knows. The inside details specifically were left out as they are still investigating. But seeing via Google that YikYak is a smartphone app, finding this creep shouldn't be very hard.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

FYI ... they have arrested a 19-year old male who lives on campus (so, presumably, a student). Not a bright future for someone whose family is shelling out $$ to try to ensure he has a good one. It does seem that many feel protected by anonymous postings combined with the culture (inspired by Rush and others) of "I can start verbal fires wherever I want without any consequence". Used to be that broadcasting was a sanity-check on that kind of stuff -- everything either had to be verified, or at least balanced. Now it's a free-for-all thanks to several groups who have successfully chipped away at rules that range from content to ownership -- creating networks of outlets to 'preach' whatever they want to their listener base.

 

[Kelly A]

"I can start verbal fires wherever I want without any consequence". Used to be that broadcasting was a sanity-check on that kind of stuff -- everything either had to be verified, or at least balanced.

Lately it seems to be working for Donald Trump too. (Radio, Broadcasting)

 

[KXA]

Saw this on the news last night. All of the friends and relatives say he's a good kid (in typical fashion). We'll have to see how this all plays out in court.

 

[landtuna]

Apparently the threat went out over some social media thing called YikYak (me neither)...

Yik Yak is a college-oriented texting service.

 

[fordranger797]

Interesting note about KUGS: They regularly sign-off due to the fact that they do not use automation software. A live person must be there at all hours to switch out CD's.

 

[Radio-X]

Interesting note about KUGS: They regularly sign-off due to the fact that they do not use automation software. A live person must be there at all hours to switch out CD's.

Wow...you'd think they are in the olden-days...

I got involved with broadcasting first at my college radio station circa 2002-03. Mind you, this is a school of 4,000 in a town of 6,000. First year I was there, student programming was done by CD's, MiniDisc (news especially!), and a bad 1/8" aux cable for those who had laptops. Rest of the time we simulcasted a NPR class A station 60 air miles away (with only a marginal level of success, I might add). By the end of the year, they had installed an automation computer and spent that summer uploading CDs.

Next year was Winamp on the computer...no automation. Still simulcasted that iffy NPR signal after student programming. A year after I left in 2006, they got rid of the tuner and simulcasted from an internet stream.

However, that was 12 years ago!

Somebody should tell those folks that they could run 24/7 with a $300 computer and ZaraRadio to fire off TOH ID's and sweepers!

And to bring up this gent at WWU: Racism, even at a pretty laid-back liberal-ish school like Western, has been and will be prevalent in a certain portion of the college population. I have found that the more outwardly racist folks in colleges are frequently doing it to get a rise out of people...same type of folks who go streaking or fire bottle rockets out of their butt. They have to have people paying attention to them. It makes them feel complete.

Unfortunately for this 'good kid', he picked an awful time and place to try and get a rise out of people. Considering we are having nation-wide turmoil in regards to race in policing strategies and colleges, this is going to make people stand-up and take notice. And not in that "Aww, shucks, what a crazy kid!" way...

In today's world, this will follow this kid for the rest of his life. Even if he gets acquitted of whatever charges they try and slap on him, there are still plenty of pictures of him in court that will forever come up in a Google search. And considering racism is one of the most taboo subjects in today's America (especially in the Pacific NW), he may find it awfully hard for awhile to get work, get a girl, rent an apartment, etc.

And there is absolutely no way he will be allowed back on WWU or any public college after the legal case ends. Chances are his college days are OVER...try telling the admissions counsellor of another school that you got removed from your last institution (they will ask why!!) for racist remarks

Anyway, here's to 24/7 broadcasting of KUGS! KAOS in Olympia has been doing it for years, why can't they?

Radio-X

 

[fordranger797]

Somebody should tell those folks that they could run 24/7 with a $300 computer and ZaraRadio to fire off TOH ID's and sweepers!

I don't think they want to. The equipment is certainly not outdated by any measure. Students are in control of all music, all IDs, and all PSAs.