We're back! SU Radio returns

After months of being off the air, Winston-Salem State's student radio station, SU Radio, is back.

SU was taken off air October because of student violations but has been fully operational since Feb. 22, said James Benton, program director of SU.

Benton is a junior mass communications major from Raleigh.

SU is streamed via the Internet and is only available on campus.  The site is suradio.net.

In January SU held a student interest meeting. 

Leah Hightower, SU's new general manager said, "Since I first was involved with the radio station many things have changed. 

We definitely have more publicity now, and more students are interested in the station."

Hightower is a junior mass communications major from Greensboro.

According to Benton approximately 30 people attended the SU interest meeting; however, Benton said a lot of people backed out after the initial meeting.

"The more serious people add up to about 10 students."

For students to be a part of SU they must apply.  Applications pertain to show ideas and positions.  The members of the SU executive board train and evaluate applicants.

The general manager of 90.5 WSNC Radio Station and SU Radio chief adviser Elvin Jenkins said he is excited about the changes.

"We have a new general manager, Hightower, and program director, Benton. 

They are committed and active. Even when SU Radio was down, they were in the station almost every day working hard to get SU Radio back up."

Jenkins advises students on broadcasting and technical issues. Jenkins said that there is always room for more students if they are interested in SU Radio.

"We are always searching for programming ideas. If students want to produce or obtain skills to do political [public] affairs or a spoken word program then do it. SU Radio is only limited by the imagination and creativity of students," Jenkins said.

SU programs broadcast from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., Sunday through Friday  with music all day Saturday.

This semester SU programs include sports, gospel, talk, and morning shows as well as preset music hours. 

Benton said that "Quiet Storm," a talk show airing from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday is the staple of SU.

Benton said that SU shows are seasonal and change by semester.  

The development of staff and shows for the next academic year will begin at the start of the fall semester.