First year students, I give you a gift: radio, the capacity to make it, to manipulate sound waves like the light fantastic, and to rock out like you would in your bedroom, except to all of Peterborough. Trent Radio is here, your own not-for-profit community radio station, owned and operated by you, the students of Trent University. The time to act upon this opportunity is now.
From the creative urge that brought you ‘Be in a Band’ and last summer’s hit ‘Write a Book’ comes this year’s blockbuster idea: ‘Be on the Radio’. We promise it will turn out better than that book you tried to write. The point is — here we sit absorbing lots of media: listening to music, watching movies, listening to the radio… it’s a natural urge to want to give something back.
You may have bored your date to tears talking about that band you like, but do you know who wants to hear about it? Radio Land. Trent Radio has no programming of its own. All of what we play is what some student or community member has said “I want to do a show about hardcore, because I understand hardcore better than anyone”, or “I want to do a show about my cat”, or “radio drama?” We believe if it’s something you’re interested in, why, it must interest someone out there in Radio Land, too.
Fulfilling your destiny as a radio wizard is easy. You come in, you fill out a programme proposal (just a form asking what you’re doing) by the deadline, then spend the rest of the school year (sans holidays) talking about your favourite book, your love of horses, or your rock collection. We work around your school schedule and try to make the whole thing as easy as possible.
If you can check your email then you have the technical prowess necessary to be on the radio. If you can talk with your friends then you have the social skills to be on the radio. Even so — if you wanted to communicate with radio listeners through a series of electronic beeps, it can still work — you are still a radio wizard.
I feel like my whole life is being slowly downloaded onto the Internet. Movies, books, music, video games, being social—it’s all online, now. Having everything in one place un-nerves me. Maybe that’s why I collect vinyl records. Maybe that’s why I listen to the radio. And I suppose that’s why it feels so good to get involved in the production of something real, get out there and meet a community of people — strange and interesting people — and just plain get involved.
First year is not too early. Do not turn your back on your destiny, radio wizard. You could be pounding-out your interests through the airwaves, rocking out like you do in your bedroom, except in a nifty studio. (And probably wearing more clothes in the studio than you do in your bedroom.)
If you’re unsure, attend one of the programme proposal workshops being held to introduce you to the magical powers of radio that are yours to claim, and help you through the process of getting your own show:
Tuesday September 10 at the Peterborough Public Library, 7pm
Wednesday September 11 at Sadleir House (your student community centre, 751 George Street North) at 2pm, or,
Thursday September 12 at Trent Radio House—where you can always stop by, anyway—715 George Street North, just down the street from Sadleir House, at 3pm.
You can also get a programme proposal from our website at trentradio.ca. They are all due at Trent Radio House hard-copy on Friday September 13 at noon.
Go now! Imagine, and make your dreams come alive. Achieve your radio wizard destiny and rock out like no one has ever rocked out before.
