WESU

Sharing music. Teaching and advocating for sexual health and justice. Protecting the environment. Tutoring children. Wesleyan students are known for incorporating their own personal passions into work benefitting the wider community. A group of deeply involved students shared their civic engagement experiences at the latest Virtual WESeminar held on March 29. The conversation was moderated by Abigail Maymi ’22, Jewett Center for Community Partnerships Civic Engagement Fellow. Speakers included Annika Shiffer-Delegard ’23, Wesleyan Reproductive Advocacy and Legislation (WRAL); Blythe Guecia ’23, Adolescent Sexual Health Awareness (ASHA); Sam Multer ’23, Traverse Square After School Program; Imogen Frazier ’25, Food Rescue; Sarah Bank ’23, WESU Radio; and Lily Krug ’24, Sunrise. They spoke of…

Wesleyan's community-based radio station, WESU 88.1 FM, celebrated its 80th anniversary on Dec. 8 with a Free Form Jubilee. The event, held in the Daniel Family Commons, featured special musical performances and talks by local dignitaries. Established in 1939, WESU began as one of the first student-owned and -operated radio stations in the country. That fall, Wesleyan freshman Arch Doty Jr. began broadcasting his homemade 1-watt AM transmitter from his Clark Hall dorm room. Eighty years later, WESU is among the largest student groups on Wesleyan’s campus, uniting nearly 150 student and community volunteer broadcasters. The event featured Noah Baerman,…

Throughout 2019, WESU 88.1 FM has been celebrating 80 years of community service on air and in the community. Established in 1939, WESU began as one of the first student-owned and -operated radio stations in the country. That fall, Wesleyan freshman Arch Doty Jr. began broadcasting his homemade 1-watt AM transmitter from his Clark Hall dorm room. Eighty years later, WESU is among the largest student groups on Wesleyan’s campus, uniting nearly 150 student and community volunteer broadcasters. "WESU’s mission is to provide a unique mix of public affairs and free-form community programming to listeners throughout the Connecticut River Valley…

For two hours every Saturday—and any early morning or late night shift available—Middletown resident Franco Liseo fills the airwaves of WESU 88.1 FM, with Italian music. His specialty is the sounds from the ’60s and ’70s; "Love songs," he says. "When I left Italy, I left with the music”—and he's been doing this for 30 years. The Saturday show is special; he broadcasts with a co-host, Lucilla Caminito, the daughter of a childhood friend, who Skypes in from Melilli. These shows feature contemporary music that Caminito chooses and sends to Liseo (whose DJ name is "Francaccio") via the internet, YouTube,…

This year, students in Associate Professor of History Jennifer Tucker’s class, Seeing a Bigger Picture: Integrating Visual Methods and Environmental History, had an opportunity to share what they learned in an unusual format. They produced an hour-long radio program, which debuted on WESU 88.1 FM on Memorial Day. It will air again on the station this summer, and can be heard on wesufm.org or on SoundCloud. The course introduces students to key landmarks in the visual history of environmentalism and environmental science, from the 18th century to the recent past. The class studies the power and the limits of visual…

WESU 88.1FM, one of the oldest non-commercial radio stations in the United States, is currently hosting its Annual Fall Pledge Drive through Nov. 24. "WESU is a unique radio station with a mix of talk and free form music programming, and we depend on your support to keep it this way," said WESU General Manager Ben Michael. "If you value media that encourages listeners and broadcasters to dig deep, ask critical questions, and appreciate diversity, support our pledge drive today!" In addition to Michael, the service WESU provides is made possible by more than 150 student and community volunteer broadcasters and two…

WESU 88.1 FM recently kicked off its 2016-2017 season with a new and improved fall program. With a mixture of both new and old radio shows, the fall programming boasts a diverse blend of news and public affairs from NPR, Pacifica, and other independent and local media sources. Changes to their fall programming include, the addition of a much anticipated daily public affairs program from Pacifica called “Rising up with Sonali,” which brings progressive news coverage, rooted in gender and racial justice, to a wide audience. They also will pay tribute to Jim Mascia, a cherished, late co-host of “Best of Living Naturally,”…

WESU, Wesleyan’s radio station, is hosting its annual Spring Record Fair in Beckham Hall on April 10. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., vendors from across the greater Connecticut area will be selling rare records and CDs. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to not only browse through hundreds of records, CDs, posters, and T-shirts, but also enjoy WESU DJs spinning vinyl live. WESU is one of the oldest noncommercial radio stations in the United States. It offers a diverse mix of news and public affairs from NPR, Pacifica, and independent and local media sources on weekdays; weeknights and weekends…

WESU, one of the oldest college radio stations in the country, kicked off its new spring season this week with new and old shows, hosted and produced by more than 100 dedicated community members and Wesleyan students. This season, the station will host several events for the community, including the annual Spring Record Fair in April. WESU also is celebrating many birthdays this year: “Caffe Italia,” which plays Italian music, news and culture, is turning 10 this year and airs from 7 to 8 a.m. every Saturday. Also, “The Vault,” featuring techno music with DJ Anton Banks, is turning 20 this year and is airing every from 9:30 to…

With $7,000 additional dollars still needed to reach its goal, WESU 88.1 FM is continuing its annual Fall Pledge Drive. Listener contributions will allow the station to continue to offer its unique blend of programming, including The Moondog Matinee, playing “oldies” every Saturday morning for nearly 40 years, as well as to support locally produced public affairs shows like Think Twice Radio, a Connecticut “watchdog” media show, and new music shows like Black Music Matters. (more…)

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WESU 88.1 FM is holding its annual Spring Pledge Drive to support another season of community-driven radio. The station aims to raise $20,000 this spring to close out a capital campaign that started at the beginning of 2014, when the station kicked off its 75th anniversary year. Meeting its pledge goal this spring will allow WESU to complete some much-needed studio updates, including an audio mixing console in the air studio, as well as other technical improvements that will strengthen infrastructure and better accommodate live in-studio performances. These upgrades will also enable WESU to broadcast from remote locations. (more…)

Wes Students Share Civic Engagement Experiences

WESU 88.1 FM Celebrates 80th Anniversary with Free Form Jubilee

WESU Celebrates 80 Years of Community Radio

Liseo, Hardigg ’90 Share WESU Connection Spanning 3 Decades

Environmental History Class Produces Radio Program

WESU 88.1FM Radio Hosts Fall Pledge Drive

Public Affairs, Progressive News Coverage New to WESU 88.1 FM’s Fall Programming

WESU Hosts Spring Record Fair April 10

Italian News, Talk Shows and Techno on WESU’s Spring Season

WESU Fall Pledge Drive Continues

WESU Radio Hosts Annual Community Record Fair

WESU Holding Spring Pledge Drive