This past year, WIUX, IU’s student-run radio station was told that its station house is being torn down due to a land swap requested by the IU School of Law. As a result, the station is being forced to move its operations to another location. About a week ago, station leaders along with two of our alumni attended a meeting with the space planning committee presumably to discuss our new space at Franklin Hall. Unfortunately, that was not the case. The space planning committee informed us that we would be moving this summer-- and into an interim space until Franklin Hall is completed. The planning committee also told us that they would come to us with two options for an interim location within two weeks. All of us in our organization were under the impression that we had at least one more year in the mansion.
815 East 8th Street is a place that we have been fortunate enough to call home for the past 40 years. The mansion was provided to us by the University after our original station house, 617 East 8th Street, was burned down due to arson in 1972. Now, unfortunately, it is time for this chapter of WIUX to come to an end. WIUX has had many different locations and call numbers throughout the past 51 years, but one thing about our organization has always stayed the same-- the passion that our student volunteers bring to their work at our station. As we embark on this new chapter of WIUX’s history together, I think about what our alumni did and how they reacted in 1972 when they had to move for the second time in our station’s history. They didn’t stop broadcasting because the times were too trying, rather, they did what us radio people have always done well: play some sweet music, read the news, and talk about sports. Without their resilience and perseverance to continue our station’s excellence, WIUX would not be the organization it is today.
WIUXer’s, this is our time. I understand that change is scary and it is heartbreaking to leave a place that we have grown to love so much. But, it is not our building that makes us who we are. It is all of you who commit your time and your passion to this organization. We know that with the dedication and excitement that you all have exhibited this year that WIUX is only going to continue to grow and be stronger than ever. WIUX is the everlasting friendships and bonds you make with your fellow DJ’s. WIUX is a family. WIUX is and will always be pure student radio. Sarah (our new Station Manager) and I are both looking forward to continuing this proud tradition of community and pure student radio next year, wherever we may be.
Carolyn Suna General Manager, WIUX
