For WHRW, Binghamton University’s only campus radio station, Homecoming Weekend will commemorate more than its returning alumni.
The station has planned events throughout the Oct. 13 to Oct. 15 weekend to celebrate past achievements and the continuing success of the station, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
One of the planned events is Alumni Radio, where WHRW alumni are paired with active disc jockeys to host shows throughout the weekend.
“Former DJs, people from 30 years ago, even 40 years ago, might show up,” said Richard Bellin, the station’s general manager. “They come on, we put a DJ who knows what they’re doing with them, and they basically do the show like old times.”
In addition to the Alumni Radio program, the station will be throwing a dinner for alumni and opening up the old station headquarters in the Old University Union.
As WHRW gathers to celebrate the past, many are looking to the future. The station is currently attempting to raise funds in order to begin broadcasting over high-definition radio — a first for Broome County.
“We’re starting to raise money for it,” Bellin said. “We’re looking at upward of $75,000. There are no HD radio stations in Binghamton; we’d be the first.”
Many believe the success of the station can be largely attributed to the unusual demographic of the members. Binghamton community members compose a large part of the staff.
“It’s a great place to interact with a lot of different people from all walks of life,” Bellin said. “I mean, we’re not all students, which is kind of a unique thing.”
The station’s connection to the Binghamton community is only one of the attributes that make the station unique.
The station’s free format, which allows DJs to play any genre of music, from heavy metal to Irish folk, is a rarity in radio today.
“At a regular radio station, they’re going to tell you what you can and can’t play,” said the station’s program director Jordan White. “At other stations you have to fulfill your Britney Spears allotment.”
“These days you’ve got Clear Channel radio up the wazoo,” Bellin added, referring to the broadcasting giant that operates 1,200-plus radio stations in the U.S. “You come into WHRW and we’re live. We’re here.”
Station members encourage students to explore the opportunities the station provides on campus.
“If you’re interested in music and you’re interested in sharing music with other people, this is absolutely the place for you,” White said.
“If you come in here, you’re going to learn a lot about music from all the other people who are as enthusiastic about it as you are,” he said. “You’re going to be able to share that with people that are listening and do so in a way that you can’t do at most radio stations.”
For more information on WHRW’s 40th anniversary celebration, visit http://whrw40.com/.