Stony Brook University’s own radio station, WUSB 90.1FM, celebrated 40 consecutive years on the air last month, looking back on a rich history of entertainment, news and public service.
WUSB has been staffed by over 2,000 volunteers since its first sign-on, remaining a voice in the campus community while playing acclaimed artists and inviting newsmakers, public figures and educators to participate in live broadcasts.
“For forty years, WUSB has been a source of continuous programming and served as a leader in college radio,” said Jeff Barnett, Stony Brook’s Interim Associate Dean of Students.
The university hosted an award ceremony and anniversary brunch on June 25, honoring Stony Brook supporters, listeners, administrators, and alumni staff. The anniversary milestone was officially reached for WUSB 90.1FM two days later.
Ranked No. 6 Nationwide
BestColleges has ranked WUSB as sixth best college radio station best in the nation. The key to this success is the effort and dedication of the radio station team. Some, such as Norman Prusslin, Faculty Advisor and former General Manager of the station for 28 years, have been involved with WUSB since the station’s origin forty years ago.
“The dedicated team of students, volunteers, faculty and staff and community members continue to introduce us to new music and new ideas,” said Barnett. “Generations of Seawolves have found WUSB to be a safe haven for the creation and experimentation of inventive and independent music.”
Located on the second floor of West Side Dining on Stony Brook University campus, WUSB transmits its signal from a tower located at Bald Hill in Farmingville. The signal reaches beyond Long Island to the southern part of Connecticut.
Staying in tune
The radio station also provides vital on-campus hands-on experience for students and has led to employment opportunities in major US media outlets such as Sirius Radio as well as a variety of other public relations, communications, media, music and journalism careers.
Isobel Breheny-Schafer, Assistant Director of Student Media and General Manager for WUSB and recent awardee of the 2017 Distinguished Four-Year Broadcast Advisor by the College Media Association, is looking forward to improving the WUSB volunteer training program. “WUSB fosters broadcasting skills, but also leadership, civic responsibility, journalism, communications and more,” she said.
WUSB station can be heard on Long Island on your FM radio at 90.1 and 107.3FM, and on the internet via WUSB 90.1 FM Stony Brook, NY | Radio Free : Long Island
Video by Carrie Blank
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