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Some twenty-five to thirty years ago, a wonderful experiment was unfolding in a most unlikely place. That place was the University of Akron. In the depths of Kolbe Hall, in a few cramped and cluttered rooms, the creativity of dozens of young minds was squeezed through a three thousand watt transmitter and broadcast to an unsuspecting community. It wasn't some weird exercise in the paranormal. It was a unique radio station called WAUP.
Yes, Akron U still has a radio station. It is very well run, getting real ratings and everything. But WAUP was a different animal. It was a student radio station from the graduate assistant station manager down to its many denizens who may or may not have actually attended class. WAUP did have a faculty adviser and a professional broadcast engineer but, day to day, the heavy lifting was done by people driven by nothing more than a love for the medium. No pay for the long hours. Just the intangible satisfaction that comes from something as simple as the perfect segue.
WAUP was far ahead of its time. In those distant days of the Vietnam War, the station was already a haven for diversity. That's not to say everyone always got along in those close quarters. By and large though, there was little time for barriers based on gender, ethnicity or sexual preference. There was air time to be filled and, if you showed the desire and even a little talent, you got your chance.
The station reached its zenith of freedom and creativity during the first half of the 1970s. It is that period to which this web page is dedicated. Before the names and faces fade too far from our memories, we salute the many people whose energy and right-brain wackiness filled 88.1 FM with many hours of brilliant entertainment. |
