I remember it very clearly: I was a freshman, I had butterflies in the stomach and sweaty palms, and I was constantly clearing my throat while waiting for the big moment. No, it was not my first date. Actually, there was nothing overtly sexual about the experience. It was my first of two guest appearances on a WQHS radio show called Delicious Pimpin', which was later renamed Babble On.
Two of my closest senior buddies broadcasted their prerogatives across the airwaves to a loyal audience of maybe a dozen. Pimpin' tips included such "party tricks" as "how to get a freshman Quad chick into the sack," (two cans of Schlitz and a shot of Popov) and mottos like, "If it's good to you, it must be good for you." It was a rewarding experience, inasmuch as I liked the concept of being on the radio -- even if only a couple of other Stoufferites were listening.
Nevertheless, the engaging radio personalities of Brett "The Space Cowboy" and Dan "The Gangster of Love" projected an air of success: Macedonians were listening; interns were busy with the phones and fetching coffee; members of the Federal Communications Commission were bound and gagged in the closet.
Ironically, the FCC is responsible for the creation of WQHS. In the 1970's, the FCC took over the University's WXPN because it was "devoid of competent leadership" and created WQHS as a student-run radio station. But, far from having interns, coffee or even listeners -- much less any in Macedonia -- WQHS broadcasts from a tiny closet in WXPN's Spruce Street building.
"The people that are passionate about the station and their shows have to do a lot of their own work, which is rewarding, but at the same time, discouraging to new DJs," says College sophomore Daniel Rainer, a DJ at WQHS. "This semester we're hoping to reorganize to make the opportunity for someone to have a show more available." As promotions director this year, Rainer will be able to put his money where his mouth is. That is, if he can get into the building: administrative problems last year kept his Penn Card from being accepted there.
Sure, the only listeners are friends of DJs, or word-of-mouth pickups, and becoming a DJ is not easy. But, for Rainer, and presumably all the DJs on WQHS, the experience is rewarding and worth the hassle. "Of course I enjoy it," Rainer said, "I get to talk for two hours and play dope hip-hop. I went through training at the station and had the chance to share music I love with friends. But, last year at least, our listener base was basically limited to a small amount of people. The station was exclusively available on channel two of Resnet." Rainer also feels that "there are upsides to the radio station being low-key at the moment. There is a greater opportunity for anyone interested to have a show."
The sound quality is poor at best. The programming is not that polished. But for a devoted few, their quest for self-expression outweighs the stagnating listening pool. When you've hit rock bottom, you can only go up, right?
