To the Editor:
I can’t say that I was surprised by the recent slew of articles in The Poly raising alarms over the existence of community members at WRPI, since similar articles were printed while I was a student at RPI in the early 70s. I was the first RPI graduate of the combined law program with Albany Law School.
WRPI is, of course, a student-controlled radio station, though the license itself is held by the Board of Trustees. Only students may be voting members, and only students may be elected to the various offices that oversee the operation of the station.
The most surprising thing about the latest articles in The Poly is the timing. WRPI probably has the highest number and percentages of student members and DJs in its recent history (if not ever). Successful outreach efforts have been made in recent years to attract more students. Trying to fit more DJs into the schedule does, of course, lead to more conflict over getting the times of your choice.
I must take strong exception to a number of statements made about the role of Hudson Mohawk Independent Media Center, of which I am a founding member. While IMC is a community group with no official ties to RPI, much of the core leadership of the group is composed of students, faculty, and alumni of RPI. This is particularly true of our video unit, which has large participation from the electronic arts department of RPI. The students and faculty see the IMC as an opportunity to further their professional development, get real life experience while giving back to the community, and fulfill their vision of why they are involved in video to begin with. Other leaders include a recent RPI Ph.D. graduate in radio and the head of the Ecological and Economic Values Program within the Science and Technology Studies Department. While IMC has had a show on WRPI, and I certainly publicize its work on my show, IMC itself, however, does not play any major role within the station.
Over the last two decades, through my work as Director of the Hunger Action Network, I have done interviews at many college radio stations throughout the state. I have always been impressed by the high level of professionalism at WRPI compared to other college stations. Community members play a major role in this, not because they are any more qualified than the students, but because they help maintain a sense of culture and history that endures while students graduate every four years or so. My next-door neighbor was a long time member of the development office at RPI. She told me that the two major reasons cited by alumni in donating to the school are the hockey team and WRPI. I know my own appreciation of WRPI greatly increased once I graduated and became aware of how the larger community valued WRPI for its diversity, both in music and its political coverage. “Democracy Now,” with Amy Goodman, of course, is the principal reason most community members listen to WRPI, but once tuned, many stay to listen to the other shows.
WRPI is different than other student clubs because the airwaves are owned by the public, and as a noncommercial station, it is required to be operated in the public interest, not just for the benefit of students. WRPI has done an excellent job in serving the public interest over the last 50 years. It is the one unit at RPI that has most fulfilled the university’s goal of communiversity.
Some observers complained that the views expressed by some of the community members are too progressive, not reflective of mainstream student opinion. One would expect that an academic institution such as RPI would understand the value and importance of freedom of speech and thought. However, at a time when two-thirds of Americans oppose the war in Iraq, providing coverage of the peace movement is in reality mainstream.
The long time motto at WRPI was “no hands on the wheel,” meaning the students and community members are able to choose their own music and public affairs topics. The importance of WRPI is highlighted by the increasing corporate ownership of the media in the U.S. following the relaxing of ownership rules of the FCC. Democracy cannot exist when there is no opportunity for a free debate of the issues. Much of the views heard on WRPI are no longer tolerated by the corporate owners of commercial radio and television.
I have had a show at WRPI for the last six years. One of the best things about the experience has been the opportunity to interact with the dozens of students who had shows either before or after me. We have always gotten along very well, and I trust that they have found our interaction as rewarding as I have.
Mark A. Dunlea, Esq.
Alumnus ’75
