The Summer Orange - May 26, 1983
Off
the record - Editorial
Alyson Rice
for the Summer Orange
With all the controversy at WAER-FM88, between format changes and staff firings, nobody has taken into consideration the fate of the record library.
The record library, which contains over 25,000 records, has taken years to build and has helped make WAER what it was.
Station Manager David Anderson has said to his former senior staff that he plans on giving the record collection to the largest donor. He has been saying all along that he is only looking out for the best interest of the station however, an act such as this would be irrational and not in the best interest of the station.
In the past, when formats have changed, the record library has remained, even though the records were not being used at the time. By saving all the records, the collection has given WAER the diversity it needed to play any type of music its format demanded.
If Anderson does give away the record library, he will destroy any possibility that the station will change to any other kind of format, except the format he is advocating now.
To assume this would be disastrous to the station, should it in the future decide to change its format or once again be diversified.
Anderson may have the right to donate the record collection to the largest donator but he does not have the right to take away the future of a station that has been operating under student direction for 37 years.
Past generations of Syracuse University students have taken care not to destroy the collection of records by giving away the ones they did not need. There is no reason why the future generations of SU have to set aside their education because of one man's decision.
The record library is an extremely important part of any radio station, professional or student, and the quality of the station depends on the diversification of music they can play. Whether the diversification be in jazz or rock, the record library must be maintained and kept up-to-date.
Anderson must take into consideration that his format might not last forever and if it does not, the station must have a record collection to turn to, for use in its new format.
Without a record collection, a radio station is almost worthless.
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Last Modified October 14, 2005 |