Editorial: MSA should provide KCOU with funding

Oct. 7, 2008

Renovations to Hudson residence hall require that KCOU/88.1 FM, currently housed in Lower Pershing, make the move to Schurz residence hall. In order to continue operation, KCOU needs either a new power source installed or adjustments to the old one. Either option would cost upwards of $30,000 in additional funding, but to move the tower is the cheaper option. We think funding the station to keep it running is worth it.

Over the past week, students involved with KCOU have been collecting letters from students, parents and community members pledging support for the station and emphasizing its importance to MU. It is evident by the number of students who have joined the fan page on Facebook, voiced their concerns to MSA representatives and spread news about the issue through word of mouth, text messages and paper fliers across campus that KCOU does have a significant following and should continue operation.

We agree that KCOU is a valuable asset to MU students. The station provides a unique opportunity for students interested in journalism, music, sports, politics, news and talk radio to gain hands-on experience and actually try out the careers they want to practice in the future. And the station itself is definitely improving. This year, KCOU has completely restructured and revamped its system and now works more smoothly, professionally and effectively. As a result, the quality of the shows KCOU produces has increased and involved students are gaining even more valuable experiences. College radio benefits DJs, producers and narrowly-known musicians whose music is publicized on-air and KCOU has more than adequate reason to be here.

If MSA does not agree to allocate additional funding to KCOU, the station would turn to an online-only system. And while students could continue to produce their music, news, sports and talk shows, KCOU feels this would diminish its credibility as a station because anyone can start their own online radio program.

In addition, moving off-air would mean that KCOU would lose its Federal Communications Commission license, which would likely be snapped up right away and potentially impossible to re-obtain in the future. It is important to KCOU that they are able to not only continue producing their programs, but broadcasting them over the air as they've done for over 30 years.

However, it's important that, throughout their efforts to persuade MSA to provide funding for the station to make the move from Hudson Hall to Schurz Hall and continue running, KCOU practice professionalism, respect and accuracy. On the savekcou.org Web site, the tagline reads "student government is trying to kill your radio station," but MSA has not yet made any type of final decision over whether or not they will provide funding for the station.

Much of the literature and Web-distributed messages authored by KCOU members has been overly dramatic, but MSA representatives hold that they are still in the discussion process and are considering the issue with the help of KCOU executive board members and administrators.

If KCOU wants their message and their station to be taken seriously, students spreading information about the situation need to thoroughly research what's actually been discussed so far and verify their findings with MSA officials.

MSA Senate Speaker Jonathan Mays said he has not yet received a formal funding request from KCOU as of Monday night. If someone submits a request by noon today, then Senate committees could review the bill this week. Senate could discuss the bill and potentially pass it as early as Oct. 15. KCOU should concentrate not only on spreading awareness, but also action; the station needs to submit a request as soon as possible for anything to happen.

And when KCOU does submit a funding request, MSA should agree to provide such funding.

MSA felt it appropriate to buy KCOU from the Residence Halls Association in 1997, so they must have felt that it's a valuable and necessary asset for students. MSA should stay consistent with this ideology and protect the program.

Any organization or facility that provides valuable career-related opportunities for students and makes a significant contribution to the student experience at MU deserves to exist and have the chance to flourish, and MSA has the opportunity to help KCOU continue to do so.

They should take that opportunity and allow KCOU the chance to build on the exemplary improvements they've made this year and to fill the airwaves with words and work produced through the dedication, energy and passion of MU students.

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Editorial: MSA should provide KCOU with funding

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