See photos of Campus Christmas in the centerspread
friday, dee. 13, 1985
cabrini college, radnor, pa. 19087
vol. xxxii, no. 12 photo by Debbie Ferrar
WCAB aspires a spot on FM dial by Kate Welsh Imagine this: You are sitting at home doing your homework. You turn on the radio to 88.5 on your FM dial, and suddenly you hear WCAB, Cabrini's radio station, on the air. It is just a dream though, right? Well, this dream may soon become a reality. On October 18, 1985, Cabrini College filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for an FM license. If this application is granted, WCAB would be heard not only on campus, but by Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties as well. The application, which was filed by Jerome Zurek, professor of English and communications, will be examined by the FCC over the next year to make sure Cabrini meets the qualifications required for an FM station. Among other things, the station must prove that they will be serving the community, and that they will not be interfering with any other frequencies, (which in Cabrini's case would be WPVI-TV, channel six). According to Zurek, the station would serve two educational functions: It would serve the community by offering cultural and educational programming, and it would also provide training for the students interested in radio broadcasting.
"The radio station is one of the most popular activities in the department," Zurek said. "Last year 60 of the 160 students majoring in communications were somehow involved with WCAB.". Zurek said the idea of applying for an FM license was first brought up by Frank Hogan, radio productions instructor, WCAB advisor, four or five years ago. ''We started talking about it from day one," Hogan said, "You say 'Why today?', I say 'Why not today?'."
help Cabrini get more recognition and become more famous in the Philadelphia area, Cant said. She also feels that it will be beneficial to those interested in radio broadcasting. .''The students will take it more seriously," she said. Commuters are also excited about this new possibility. As it is now, the radio is broadcast over carrier current, which is a closed circuit cable heard only on-campus. If Cabrini were to be granted an FM
'I feel that the station is maturing, and the students are capable of handling the responsibility of an FM station,' -Jerome Zurek, chairperson of English and communication Both Hogan and Zurek believe that the department is large enough, and students are interested enough to go FM. "I feel that the station is maturing, and the students are capable of handling the responsibility of an FM station," Zurek said. Students are excited about the idea that WCAB might be going FM. Bernadette Cant, freshman, is a disc jockey for the station. "I think it's a great idea. It will
Eull c..'~ ..... cancels New York project
•
license, then WCAB could be heard by commuters at home or while driving to and from school. ''I'd like to be able to hear 'CAB on my own radio at home," Donna Angelucci, sophmore, said. "It would help us (commuters) feel more in touch with Cabrini." Since it is currently only heard on-campus, many commuters do not get a chance to listen to the radio station. ''I've never heard it before," Julie Wilbur,
junior, commuter, said. "If it was to go FM, I could listen to the station in my car." WCAB can only now wait, while the FCC processes the application. Cabrini will not know whether they will be granted the FM license until next year when the decision is announced. Villanova is also said to be thinking about applying for the same FM frequency, although they have filed no application with the FCC as of this tim~. Zurek thinks that Villanova is not a threat tp Cabrini. ''They haven't filed an application yet, and the size of the school is not important in this case," Zurek said. Hogan agrees. ''The size of the college doesn't matter. The licensed application determines everything," he said. If Cabrini were to get the FM license, a few changes would have to take place. "The students would have to go through four or five training sessions before they started disc jockeying on- the-air," Hogan said. Also, there is the problem of space. "For the immediate future, we're okay," Zurek said, ''but in the next couple of years, we would need another studio." "We're really pressed for space," Hogan said. "What we need from the school is more room." Alloftheseproblems, however, will come later. The first priority now is getting the FM license. Will that dream come true? Tune in next year to find the answer.
nEllyFollie
' •
by Diane C. Spiro and Katie Welsh For the past few years, Campus Ministry has sponsored a bi-annual work/fundraiser opportunity at the Cabrini Medical Center in New York City during the Christmas break. This year the event has been cancelled. This activity formerly allowed students to gain practical experience by working in the hospital's administrative offices for ten days, and allowed them to earn money for themselves and a charitable project at the same time: One half of the wages earned were donated to the Project Appalachia fund, and the other half was paid to the students. "We received a call from the director of personnel at the Medical Center saying that they have a lot going on at this time and that is why the work project has been cancelled," said Beverly Reilly, director of campus ministry. "It was nice while it lasted, but it was not something that the students were promised," said Sr. Christine Marie Baltas, M.S.C., dean of students. The Medical Center work had been used as a fundraiser toward Project Appalachia, a project which enables students to travel to a town in the Appalachian Mountain region to work with the poor for one week. Although the New York work/opportunity was cancelled, there will be other fundraisers to aid Project Appalachia, Baltas said. ''The project will be alright (financially) because of (funds raised during) Hunger Awareness Week," Baltas said. There are also other activities planned next semester to help raise funds.
Cabrini students provided entertainment for the St. Mary's Christmas Party held last Tuesday night in the Mansion. The band of amateur actors presented a onetime presentation of the Christmas play, "Friendly the Snowman." The character Michael, played by Junior Joe Giuffre, attempts to master the sport of ice skating. He is assisted by Chris Francis, sophomore, on his left, and Lori Pilarz, senior, right. (photo by Monica Palko)