1340 on your radio dial

Dartmouth's WDCR, largest of student-run commercial stations, marks the completion of its first 25 years

His eyes are trained on the bright red display of the digital clock as it counts off the seconds. At 5:58:05 he depresses a button marked "RAISE" on a panel to his left. Three seconds later a red light goes out and he pushes a green button, on the board in front of him.

"Good morning. This is WDCR radio in Hanover, New Hampshire. WDCR is. owned and operated by the Trustees of Dartmouth College, broadcasting at a power of 1,000 watts daytime, 250 watts nighttime, on a frequency of 1340 kiioherts, as authorized by the Federal Communications Commission. Studio and offices are located in Robinson Hall on North Main Street in Hanover. All of us here hope you have a good day of good listening with your radio station, 1340, WDCR."

Every morning just before six, that announcement is broadcast to Dartmouth students and residents of the Upper Valley within a 30-mile radius. But on March 4 this routine sign-on was a special event, as WDCR began its 26th year of service. There have been many changes at the station over the past quarter-century. What began with a group of students sending a signal over the college electrical lines to dormitory rooms is now the largest AM- FM commercial college radio station in the country. WDCR, an NBC affiliate, and its sister station, WFRD-FM, have the largest record library north of Boston, boast of a formidable news and sports department, and often lead the regional market in listenership. What is perhaps most impressive of all is that the stations are entirely student-run and completely self-supporting.

A general manager leads the six-member directorate, which also includes the business manager, programming directors for each station, the technical director, and the news director, each serving a one-year term. This year's general manager is Dan Daniels '84 of Pawling, N.Y. The directorate is in charge of day-to-day operations, and together with a board of overseers and staff members, they also make the decisions that will shape Dartmouth Broadcasting over the coming months and years.

Under the leadership of programming diector Lenwood Ivey '84, WDCR strives to be fast-paced and informative without sounding abrasive. Running a "tight" show presents a challenge to the disc jockeys, who have to balance a rotation of popular contemporary music, commercials, and features. A good disc jockey can time his show to the second and still sound relaxed and friendly to the listening audience. Along with its regular weekday programming, the station also broadcasts most of the major Dartmouth sports events and a variety of special interest shows. Many times during a year, the station will go out into the community for remote broadcasts of important events, such as the homecoming parade, the opening of the Hanover Winter Games, or the Uppet Valley Home and Trade Show. It is this community involvement that has given the station a large following among residents of the Upper Valley as well as on campus.

VV"FRD-FM went on the air in 1977, and from the start its major interest has been music. Programming director Robb Cutler '84 divides the station's day among rock, classical, and jazz. Each type of music has its devotees. The station does not restrict itself to recorded music. It frequently airs live concerts offering a wide range of music. Its recent affiliation with the ABC Contemporary Radio Network has served to give the FM station a stronger identity as distinct from WDCR.

Having two distinct station personalities benefits staff members and listeners alike. For the latter, there is the obvious advantage of a wider choice of programming. For the stations, there is the advantage of being able to give students the opportunity to do different types of shows and broadcast different kinds of musicWorking together, the two stations bring unusual diversity to a rural area.

For the students interested in Dartmouth radio there is a great deal more than being a disc jockey. In fact, only relatively few get that job. Staff members interested in journalism, however, have plenty of chance to get first-hand experience. For example, an important news story breaks on the Dartmouth campus. A news department reporter happens upon the scene, finds out what happened, and rushes to the newsroom to tell her co-workers. One student begins making phone calls. Two more speed to the site. It is a sensitive story and vitally important that all the details be correct. When all the facts are in, one of the reporters hurries into the studio, just in time for the first newscast of the afternoon. Other local media already know about the story, but WDCR/WFRD is the first to bring it to the public.

Members of the news staff also gain valuable insight into the workings of local and national politics. For each election, the award-winning Dartmouth Election Network broadcasts up-to-the-minute results and analysis, not only on the College's two stations but also on affiliated radio stations around New England. News Director John Landrigan '84 began setting up the organization for coverage of the next New Hampshire presidential primary just weeks after the winners of the 1982 general elections took office.

The talent, initiative, and professional know-how of the more than 100 students making up the WDCR and WTRD staffs is tremendously impressive. This is nowhere more evident than in the technical department. Under the general direction of technical director Joel Margolese '85,the staff keeps more than $1OO,OOO worth of audio and transmitting equipment running reliably. Sometimes there is a crisis to handle. On a cold afternoon in the middle of February, a transmitter problem has knocked WFRD off the air. Two members of the station's technical staff are on their way to the tower located on top of Craft's Hill in West Lebanon. They have just started up the access road when they see the road ahead is covered with a sheet of ice. Even with four-wheel drive, it will be impossible to go any far- ther. There's nothing to do but walk. Half an hour later, they arrive at the top of the hill. It does not take long for them to find the problem, and they quickly fabricate a new part that will keep the station broad- casting until a replacement can be ordered. After making sure WFRD goes back on the air with no problems, they head down the hill to the car.

The technical department also has duties that go far beyond setting up football broadcasts and cleaning the heads of tape machines. It has responsibility for operating the stations legally under FCC regula- tions, and it makes sure that both stations produce the best possible sound quality. Electronics wizards and novices alike get experience operating, repairing and often building state-of-the-art equipment. When WFRD was granted its license in the seventies, the technical department built the entire studio almost from scratch. More recently, WDCR moved from its old on-air studio, which had been in use for more than 20 years, into a new facility designed and built by undergraduates on the technical staff. With the installation of a new solid-state transmitter last January, WDCR became the most technically advanced radio station in the Upper Valley.

Improvements in the facilities of the stations have only just begun. Continued commercial success has made it possible for recent directorates to plan on replacing, over the next several years, most of the outdated equipment still in use. By the end of this year, WDCR and WFRD will be linked to their respective networks through a digital satellite communications system so good that the announcers at the network headquarters in New York City will sound as if they are speaking from the next room.

As has been true for the past 25 years, the stations owe their success to the dedication of the students who run them. Although they receive no pay, station mem- bers spend countless hours on the third floor of Robinson Hall, making WDCR and WFRD professional, entertaining, and informative. They come for the excitement and the fun of working in radio, but what keeps them there is a special camaraderie. Among the entire staff there is a sense of unity and even family. That spirit brings to Dartmouth Broadcasting a rare quality that perhaps only Dartmouth students could generate.

WDCR Will Celebrate With Events in May

Many celebrated alumni of WDCR will be returning to Hanover next month to take part in the station's two-day "Silver Jubilee" birthday party. Invitations to the May 13—14 celebration have gone out to 700 former staff members, whose contributions to the success of WDCR in its first 25 years will be the focus of the anniversary program.

Among the well-known radio personalities who will take part in seminars, a forum on media ethics, and other events are James Rosenfield '52, executive vice president of CBS Radio and TV; George Herman '41 of "Face the Nation" fame; Robert Hager '60, NBC reporter; Bill Beutel '53, ABC newscaster; John Gambling '51, WOR Radio personality, New York; Lester Smith '39, WOR Radio political commentator; and Bill Moyes '7O, president of The Research Group.

"Our Silver Jubilee celebration will in large part be a tribute and an expression of thanks to our alumni," said Station Manager Dan Daniels '84. "We want to show the people who created this place, people like Dick Krolik '41, Dick Harris '58, Ron Kehoe '59, and so many others I don't know of, that we are grateful and that we feel strong ties with those who founded and nurtured what has been for us a uniquely rewarding experience."

General Manager Dan Daniels '84 and Acting Business Manager Anita Butler 84 checking onthe station's finances.

New Director John Landrigan '84 filling the spot of anchor man for the famed "DartmouthElection Network" last November.

WDCR Program Director Lenny Ivey '84 running a show from the new AM studio now inoperation in Robinson Hall.

Technical Director Joel Margolese '85 at Studio Master Control.