I was notified of this issue via a friend who lives in Houston. I never have been to Rice University but in 1998, I was involved in a very similar issue with UNLV’s radio station.

Basically, UNLV felt that the student station, which was totally independent of UNLV’s budget, was not in keeping with the image of the university. And UNLV demanded a format change to their traditional programming of indie, jazz and variety, to a mostly all jazz format. This caused Student Government to withdraw funding after nearly 20 years. UNLV made similar claims of lack of listeners and that the station would become a money making tool for UNLV.

The students and community members who DJed the evening and overnight spots were barred from KUNV and replaced with an NPR satellite feed of jazz.

Ultimately the students, community and UNLV Administration fervently argued over issue in front of the stations licensee, the Nevada Board of Regents, through 2002. In the short term, the student side of the debate all but won. However with no one willing to enforce a “re-change” of format, UNLV had the upper hand, in the form of time and attrition. The station remained as is… It never became a money making tool for the university. In fact it was quite the opposite.

The passion and quality of Rice Alums likely gives you better leverage than we had with ours. I really hope KTRU doesn’t become another college radio statistic. You guys where given as an example of “the way things ought to be” during our fight with UNLV.

Donald Hickey