KCOU, MSA work to overcome conflicts

The radio station's budget had decreased 8.8 percent.

By Jeneen Garchow

Published June 3, 2009

Correction appended

KCOU's new staff is looking to overcome last year's struggle for an FM transmitting tower and troubles with Missouri Students Association by planning new coverage, partnerships and internships.

Due to complications with engineering, KCOU had to delay its return to FM radio, but plans to be up and running by June 22.

The radio station's proposed budget for the 2009-10 school year is approximately $32,500, KCOU General Manager Jonathan Hutcheson said. The new budget is a reduction of 8.8 percent from the previous year's total budget.

Hutcheson ascribed the budget reduction to the placement of KCOU's new broadcast tower.

"This had to do, in part, with supplemental funding, to allow for our FM broadcast tower to be relocated across campus," he said.

MSA President Jordan Paul had a different explanation for the budget cuts. He attributed the budget reduction to the rough relations between MSA and KCOU last year, calling it probation.

Despite the shrunken budget, KCOU will now offer mobile DJ services and expand coverage of campus and community events. KCOU will add coverage of MU men's basketball and broadcast games on-demand on its Web site.

KCOU is also working to create an internship program that Hutcheson hopes will be launched in the fall. The radio station will also expand existing partnerships with Columbia music venues The Blue Note and Mojo's.

Paul said he is happy with the direction KCOU is taking and the MSA-KCOU relationship has improved since last year.

"They're as good as I've ever seen them," he said.

Relations between the radio station and MSA have improved since the leadership of both organizations changed at the end of the 2008-2009 school year, Paul said. He added a change in the reporting structure for MSA's auxiliaries -- the creation of a second chief of staff -- also helped.

The MSA Senate voted to create the second chief of staff position earlier this year, and Joe Fessehaye was chosen to fill the role. The second chief of staff works as a liaison between Paul and the nine auxiliaries, one of which is KCOU.

Even as KCOU plans to expand programming and partnerships, the radio station still faces fiscal shortfalls.

"Finances are always an issue and we are constantly looking for more funding, both short- and long-term," Hutcheson said.

KCOU has received, through funding requests, a large portion of the money necessary to move into the new student center in 2011, KCOU News Director Theo Keith said. The radio station will continue to pursue additional funds to cover the cost.

"Last year, we had to spend so much of our time and money on the new tower and transmitter," said Keith, who was the business director at KCOU last year.

With the tower and transmitter issues resolved, Keith said the radio station will proceed to resolve technology issues. KCOU has applied to the city of Columbia for a grant that would allow the radio station to purchase broadcast news equipment.

"We're sorely in need of new soundboards to replace two that were installed before I was born," Keith added.

KCOU will also increase their focus on promotion this year. Funding dollars will be spent on banners and a tent, Keith said.

Additionally, the radio station will increase its presence at Summer Welcome this year.

"We will be maintaining a strong presence throughout most of the Summer Welcome sessions, which is not something we have done in the past," Hutcheson said.

This year, KCOU staff will be handing out stickers, playing music and signing up entering MU freshmen to work at the station, Keith said.