By Kyle Virden
Staff Writer
The SE radio station recently underwent extensive renovations, according to Dell McLain, chair of art, communication and theatre and director of theatre.
The renovations were paid for with a donation from Texoma Broadcasting in the amount of approximately $100,000, said McLain.
According to McLain, the SE radio station now has a 99-year lease with Texoma Broadcasting, at one dollar per year, for the SE radio station’s antenna to be on top of their tower.
McLain said, “I am so grateful to Texoma Broadcasting, Mr. Tidwell and Mr. Wheeler, for their tremendous support of our program.”
McLain said many others around campus contributed to the new station and he is grateful for their help and support.
The main expense of the renovation was the new antenna, which cost $45,000. According to McLain, the new antenna is mounted at a different location than the old one in order to provide better reception.
The new and improved broadcasting range now reaches well into Texas and Oklahoma, said McLain.
The radio station also added a new ADA compliant studio facility. Improvements include updated programs, electronics, a new emergency alert system and updated integration software.
The updated integration software allows the main computer to be accessed by the DJ’s computer, which controls airplay, said McLain.
The log computer monitors interactions and generates Federal Communication Commission compliant logs.
According to McLain, there are two new production booths, which allows students in one room to work on fundamentals of the radio station, and staff to work in the other.
McLain said, “This brings to an end two years of struggle to get the radio station back on air. It all began when a vandal damaged our old tower east of Durant, and we had to relocate.
During that time we ran off of a very weak tower that was mounted on the top of Choctaw and Chickasaw towers, so we are very pleased to have the station running at full power again.”
According to McLain, this upgrade and re-launch of the radio station is but one component in their plan over the past five years to rethink the Broadcasting Program here at SE.
McLain said, “Our focus is not to just think of students as audio or video technicians, but instead as full-on content creators with the ability to message effectively through media. We believe this is the future that awaits our students, and the radio station is a great training ground.”