SU radio, formerly WRAM student radio, no longer broadcasting due to undisclosed violations

A ‘voice without sound' may best describe Winston-Salem State's student radio station, SU Radio, formerly WRAM.  

Oct. 22, Elvin Jenkins, general manager of WSNC 90.5 FM Radio Station and adviser of SU Radio, took SU Radio off air  because he said the students had violated the station‘s protocol. 

Jenkins refused to disclose the specific violation. "There were violations that called for action to be taken," Jenkins said.

"I pulled them [students] so we could all sit down and rethink policy and procedures."  

SU Radio doesn't require a Federal Communication  Commission license because it is an Internet radio station, wssuradio.media.officelive.com.

It was broadcast Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.

According to Jenkins, a staff contract is in progress with precise stipulations that are in accordance with the FCC.

The SU Radio studio is in the basement of Hall-Patterson.

The mass communications department has operational responsibilities of SU Radio.

Dr. Phillip Jeter, mass communications department chair,  said he is not involved in the discussions about the student radio station. 

"There are always alternate ways to handle these types of situations," Jeter said. 

"But I don't see anything wrong with the way this is being handled because they are taking the time to make sure the appropriate policies and procedures are in place." 

Leah Hightower, SU Radio operations manager, said that there were some ‘in-house' things that had to be addressed.  

Hightower is a junior mass communications major from Greensboro. 

"Eagerness by the staff to produce was the biggest problem," Jenkins said.

"I'm excited to get them back on air because we have a good group of students."

Jenkins said that the SU Radio studio doors are not closed to students because they still have work to be done and need the equipment experience to be competitive in their field.

"Even though we're not on air, we're still making progress toward becoming legit," said Mario Conner, general manager of SU radio. 

Conner is a sophomore nursing major from Charlotte.

The purpose of SU Radio is to broadcast campus-related topics, news updates and play a variety of music.  

The station began in 2007 with three WSSU students and now has increased personnel to approximately 20 people.

Conner said that SU Radio is not an official registered on-campus organization, and it is like a ‘little brother' station to 90.5 FM.

Jeter said that SU Radio is funded by 90.5 FM's operations. 

When the News Argus went to press, wssuradio.media.officelive.com website was up but not operational.