WRAS offers one-hour simulcast for college stations around the country

From College Radio Day:

On June 2, WRAS, the student-run college radio station of Georgia State University, will lose their daytime FM programming to Georgia Public Broadcasting. In response to this, WRAS invites college radio stations across the country to broadcast a special hour of their programming in support of their fight to stay student-run on the FM airwaves.

For one hour, from coast to coast, listeners will hear the Atlanta-based Album 88.5FM on their local college radio station, as student broadcasters unite to air the ‘We Are WRAS’ program.

WRAS, in partnership with College Radio Day, will produce the program, celebrating the uniqueness and value of WRAS and highlighting all that the radio station has achieved, including their contributions to their campus, community, and many alumni throughout its over 40-year history.

Anastasia Zimitravich, outgoing General Manager of WRAS issued this statement: “To our fellow college stations across North America, we at WRAS humbly ask for your support in this battle to retain our student voice. You can help reverse our University’s decision to trade 98 hours of our weekly analog programming for ‘opportunities’ that are ambiguous and will diminish WRAS’s ability to serve the Atlanta-community. By airing this 1-hour public affairs program, which focuses on the history and legacy of WRAS Album 88.5FM, you can show support for our cause and help spread the word of college radio’s influence. In our changing media landscape, there are frequent arguments against radio’s relevance which we hope to disprove. WRAS-Atlanta asks you, the future broadcasters of America, to help us educate the public on how college radio affects music, media, and opportunities for students.”

College Radio Day, who is organizing college radio station participation for this event, also invites stations to record and send audio statements of support that the producers would like to incorporate into the specially produced simulcast.  Stations are invited to send mp3 audio files, no more than 10 seconds in length, to lori@collegeradioday.com.

“In this hour program WRAS will show just how much of an impact they have made in their 43 year history and why they are going to be missed as a force for college radio in the country,” said Peter Kreten, President of College Radio Day. College radio stations that are interested in participating should sign up here for the program (which they can download and preview in advance of June 2).

WRAS is hoping that as many stations as possible will broadcast the program (maximum length 56 minutes, possibly shorter) at the same time of 1 p.m. EST (10 am PST) on June 2. Stations that wish to broadcast the program at a different time of that day are also welcome to do so.

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Background: On May 6, 2014 WRAS staff were informed of a deal made unilaterally between Georgia State University and Georgia Public Broadcasting that will replace WRAS programming with GPB news programming from 5  a.m. to 7  p.m. daily. Allowing for zero student input in the decision, WRAS staff and a growing chorus of alumni and supporters have expressed strong opposition to the deal. The deal goes into effect on Monday June 2.

For more information please contact Peter Kreten: peter@collegeradioday.com and also www.savewras.com.