It’s been a little over a week since the student radio staff at Georgia State University’s radio station learned of a deal that gives the state’s public broadcasting affiliate control over daytime programming hours on the WRAS analog FM signal. The protest against the agreement has grown steadily in the days since students were told. Here’s a rundown of what’s happened since we last wrote about the situation:
- Tuesday, WRAS staff requested a meeting with GSU President Mark Becker and Georgia Public Broadcasting CEO and President Teya Ryan. As a result of the letter, Becker is meeting with WRAS’s student leaders on Friday.
- At the school’s graduation last Saturday, WRAS supporters staged a silent protest and asked students to decorate their caps with “Save WRAS” stickers.
- Public records requested by Georgia State’s Signal student newspaper show that discussions between the stations’ outgoing adviser and staff at GPB have been ongoing since at least November. The public wasn’t told an agreement was in the works until May 6, after the contract giving GPB use of the WRAS airwaves was signed.
- Today, Student Press Law Center Executive Director Frank LoMonte sent a letter to Becker expressing “alarm and disappointment” with the way the decision was made and announced.
- A benefit concert is planned for tonight to show support for the station.