Community Radio Matters! WESU Fall/Winter Appeal
https://www.wesufm.org/pledge
WESU/88.1 FM’s history of service is a compelling illustration of Wesleyan’s investment in and connection to the region that we call home. Our community radio station is an institution that brings together over 100 content producers whose broadcasts serve listeners on and off campus here in Middletown, and are renowned throughout Central CT and southern MA. The station’s internet stream keeps WESU connected to audiences all around the country and beyond! There may not be a better example of the University’s connectedness to the surrounding community than WESU!
Community Radio Matters! It is not a stretch to say that some of the world’s most revered genres of music were first broadcast by nonprofit and educational stations -like WESU. Commercial stations have typically been more concerned about risking profits than furthering culture and providing platforms for new and untested forms of music, -such as “alternative” rock, heavy metal, and rap. Volunteer-run stations like WESU also serve the needs of marginalized listeners seeking once-popular forms of music that are becoming less accessible, like R&B and Rock ’n’ Roll from the 50s and 60s. Then, there are many specialty programs that present views, news, culture, and art that could not be amplified without WESU.
The service WESU provides is indeed multifaceted. WESU student and community volunteer staff are empowered to harness this traditional form of media to pursue their own educational and cultural interests. Broadcasters serve listeners and gain important experience and skills that can open doors and lead to postgraduate opportunities for students. WESU is proud to serve the area’s Italian American and Spanish-speaking residents through unique specialized programs, and the station has a long history of serving the region’s Caribbean American population as well as listeners seeking other marginalized genres like blues, jazz, folk, and world music. Let’s not forget about the thousands of public service announcements that educate listeners about events, concerns, and emergency services 24/7 – 365 days a year. Thanks to financial support from the Wesleyan University administration and student government, alumni, and listeners like you, WESU accomplishes a whole lot with its modest budget and staff.
Please consider celebrating this important community institution by supporting our Fall/Winter Pledge Drive! Listener and community support makes up nearly one-third of the station’s operating budget and every donation makes a difference. To stay on track and keep up the good work, WESU needs to raise $25K by midnight on New Year’s Eve. You can help the station reach its goal with a donation, or by purchasing station merchandise at www.wesufm.org/pledge
