Memphis State University - DeSoto Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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shows, such as Spotlight 92 and What ' s Happening on Campus. A three min- ute section called Tell It Like It Is gives students the chance to voice their opin- ions on various issues and is broadcast three times daily. The station also cov- ers local traffic reports. As for sports, 92 FM covers all of the Lady Tigers ' home games. Lastyearthe station followed the baseball team to the Metro Baseball Tour- nament, held in South Carolina. At the present time, McDowell says that the sta- tion is attempting to expand its power to 22,300 watts. The proposal is before the Federal Communication Commission Board, deci- sion pending. ■ All work and no play is not what Markus Atkins finds in his job as disc jockey at WSMS. In fact, he is not only gaining experience for a career in broadcasting, but he also enoys the work. Devin Greaney AH that jazz is what the WSMS staff wants to hear. The staff, which is com- prised of nearly 40 students, is headed by Bob McDowell (center). A few of his sup- porting staff are Cindy Souther, Don Fisher, Letha Smith, Ed Bryant and Donnie Montesi. Serge Samaha Scott Harrison 21 WSMS-92

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Good Morning, Memphis State f a f e 20 WSMS-FM 92, the campus radio station, provides a unique form of music to Memphis listeners Jtvadio. Almost all of us listen to it. From rock to pop, classical to contempo- rary, we all have our per- sonal preferences. Jazz has been one long time favorite that has just re- cently reached the student crowd. The university picked up on this fact and has used it to create a radio station for jazz lovers. WSMS-FM 92 is a 250- watt station, which first came on the air in August of 1979. The station broad- casts with a radius of at least seven miles. General manager Bob McDowell says they try to run the station as professionally as possible. The station is run just like a commercial station in that we have a formatted program, says McDowell. And even though educational sta- tions can legally sign off during Christmas and summer breaks, we stay on the air 365 days a year, from 6 a.m. to midnight. The station ' s format was to be composed of jazz music because of the lack of one in Memphis. The basic charge of an educa- tales of tigers tional station is to provide coverage of something not already covered, says McDowell. We met the need for this music which sud- denly was becoming very popular. The station ' s staff is com- posed of nearly 40 people, mostly student volunteers. Almost all of these students are broadcasting majors who are getting valuable hands on experience. The station uses very current, state-of-the-art equipment which includes a rather large collection of compact discs. McDowell says, The station is a learning lab for them [the students]. Any student interested in broad- casting should not pass up the opportunities offered at Memphis State. Many local broadcasters started ca- reers at WSMS, including Harold Grater of Channel 5, Lisa Hatchett-Spencer of WRVR, and Glen Carver of Channel 3. In addition to profes- sional broadcasters, McDowell says that 92 FM has helped boost the careers of many local musicians. We do what we can to pro- mote local talent as much as possiblef One good example is Memphian Kirk Waylum. We also broadcast one live hour of jazz from the roof of the Peabody every Tues- day night, from 11 p.m. to midnight. McDowell says that the station often invites musicians on both the local and national levels to take part in an on-the-air inter- view. So far we ' ve been able to attract names like Freddie Hubbard and Najee. WSMS has other weekly

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Lounging Lizards Lurk m Unlikely Location The Lounge Lizards are a group of students who for one reason or another gather daily in the U.C. lounge I ' ve got rhythm could be Jackie Clark ' s theme song. The U.C. lounge gives students like Clark a place to relax after a hard day of classes. Devin Greaney page, 22 tales of tigers