Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - While Charles Darwin's theory of evolution rocked the scientific community when it was first published nearly 150 years ago, a very different kind of evolution has been rockin' in its four decades of operation at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

The UWP student radio station--The Evolution, 91 FM WSUP--celebrates its 40th birthday in February, and will mark the occasion with a celebration Thursday, Feb. 26 in Pioneer Crossings of the Pioneer Student Center. Festivities will begin at 5 p.m. with live music, food and presentations throughout the night. Alumni as well as students are encouraged to attend.

WSUP, the oldest student-run radio station in the UW System, began operation on Feb. 25, 1964, and has offered an educational experience for students as well as a service to the community ever since.

"It's an educational experience first and foremost," 2003 station manager Angie Drake said. "You can screw up, and you will learn from it. That's the point."

Delivering music, news, sports and weather to the community, students learn how to work within a team to make the radio station operate.

"People have to learn to work together to figure things out," Drake said. "It's as real-world as you're going to get at a college radio station."

It's the hands-on experience that past and current students find extremely valuable. Communication technologies professor George Smith has served as general manager of the station 25 of last 27 years.

"I know alumni who had been members of the executive staff for radio say it was the single most important experience in their college career," Smith said.

It has definitely been an integral part of Drake's university experience.

"For me, it's defined my college career," Drake said. "I came for television originally, but this has made me realize that radio is my passion. I don't know what I would have done without WSUP."

And while many students get involved in order to complement their traditional broadcasting education, you don't need to be a communication technologies major in order to work at the station. The staff runs the full gamut of majors, and many work at WSUP simply because it's an enjoyable experience, said Laura Lohfink, who will serve as station manager in 2004.

"There's something for everybody, on and off the air," Lohfink said. In addition to the voices you hear on the radio, other students work compiling music, contacting businesses to coordinate publicity, developing promotions and other behind-the-scenes activities.

The experience at the radio station prompted student Mark Bubb to change majors. "I was originally in the engineering program," Bubb said. "WSUP was just something that was really fun to do. Six weeks later I picked up broadcasting."

Bubb, a junior, now serves as music director at WSUP. He hopes to work for a music industry label in either promotion or artist relations, and said working at the radio station has helped him improve his interviewing skills.

"You learn how to deal with people pretty quickly," Bubb said. "Interviewing is big. You get over the 'Oh, my gosh, it's a band' thing pretty quick."

For a new freshman, talking on the air can be a bit daunting at first.

"It takes a while, but it's enjoyable once you get used to it," freshman on-air jock Kendall Fruin said.

The station tries to stay ahead of the curve with industry standard equipment, though with the smallest budget among UW System radio stations, it can be a challenge. "Typically we squeeze two to three times the life expectancy out of our equipment," Smith said. " Our programming has evolved over the years. We've always been fairly cutting edge in our use of technology."

In addition to digital editing software, an automated computer system for playing music was installed in summer 2002, replacing the use of compact discs. On-air jocks still talk live, and the station still utilizes CDs for specialty shows and as back-ups, but all general format music is played straight off the computer.

Technical operations director Phil Moldenhauer is excited about a renovation of the production/public affairs studio. A new soundboard is being installed in that room, as well as a flat screen monitor and new microphones.

WSUP is one of the largest campus organizations at UWP. Smith said they consistently average 60-65 students participating every semester. This past semester, Drake said, between 70-75 students were on staff.

"There's a socialization process. I think it helps a lot of our students adapt to college life," Smith said.

And for broadcast majors, it can serve as a springboard into a successful career in radio.

"I think a significant factor in the excellent placement we've had in the broadcast major is the radio station," Smith said.

"You can put this on a resume and people will recognize it. It's a very well known student station," Lohfink said.

But the best thing about the campus radio station? For Lohfink, it's " the people who work there."

Surely, it's the hard work and dedication of many people over the years that has made WSUP a success for four decades.

You can listen to the WSUP radio station in the Platteville region by turning your dial to 90.5 FM, or visit them online (http://www.uwplatt.edu/wsup).