October 30, 2014 The Swinging Bridge

MAKING (RADIO) WAVES: A Spotlight on Pulse FM Karla DeJesus STUDENT WRITER

“My dream of being a Radio Announcer/DJ is coming true, and I haven’t even finished my first semester of college yet,” said Cormier.

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VMM 90.7 Pulse FM is Messiah’s digital radio station, where live announcers vibe behind the microphone. Pulse FM, an entity of The Pulse, broadcasts 24-hour programming, but every day from 1 p.m. to 12 midnight, student DJ’s host talk shows and pick the music for the campus and surrounding community. According to the station manager, Jackson Skinner, WVMM has 27 shows produced by 35 DJs. Their mission is to play uplifting music, free of cursing and sexual overtones. Any student is eligible to DJ. The sole requirement is to participate in just a simple training session. Emily Cormier and Mikaela Mummert, MCT (Media, Culture and Technology) communications majors, are first-year students who host MC Country on Thursday evenings from 7:00-8:00 p.m. Both see radio in their future and decided to host together.

Following MC Country is sophomore Shekie Olagunju, a Nigerian international student majoring in public relations with a Chinese minor, and Malaysian student Angeline Leong, a first-year english major. They host Music Travels, which features music from countries other than the U.S. The song selections are usually in a foreign language. Olagunju and Leong then explain the lyrics and educate listeners on culture.

For example, being on the air helps Mummert overcome talking too fast. “It’s great experience and will definitely help anyone who wants a future career in radio by just learning the basics,” she said. Leong gains confidence through co-hosting and says the radio is a good forum to help her public speaking skills. For Angeline, “it’s sort of like reaching out to try connecting to people through radio waves, and I love it.” Join the team by emailing Skinner at JS1706@messiah.edu. or listen to a show and favorite DJ by going to http://pulse. messiah.edu/pulsefm/dj-schedule/.

News 3

// IJM Asks, “How Many Slaves work for you?” Continued

man trafficking and slavery. It also supports the International Justice Mission, a U.S. based non-profit established to rescue and assist human trafficking victims worldwide. IJM, as a nonprofit, focuses on rescuing victims, bringing criminals to justice, restoring survivors, and strengthening justice systems. As a chapter, IJM organizes alternate chapels and host events such as their annual “Stand for Freedom,” in which students stand in shifts for 27 hours to show solidarity with the 27 million who are enslaved around the world. This semester, they also hope to begin volunteering at a truck stop nearby where trafficking occurs. The chapter meets bi-weekly on Thursdays at 7pm in the Agape Center. To learn more about becoming a chapter member, email Laurie Ruby at lr1236@messiah.edu

“There is not a lot of exposure of international music to campus,” says Olagunju. “I decided to be the middle man and connect Messiah College to cultures and great music they may not have otherwise known.” Aside from educating, being a DJ can help students on a more personal level, such as with research, planning and social network skills. The opportunity also bolsters self-confidence and aids in overcoming personal hurdles.

A “NOTE”-WORTHY NEW GROUp begins on campus Tara Kleinmanns STUDENT WRITER

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With a program and faculty reflecting Messiah College’s reputation for academic excellence, Messiah’s M.M. in conducting enhances your abilities as an effective music educator and conductor. • Three specialized conducting tracks: wind, orchestral, choral • Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) in conducting • Emphasis on summer and online coursework, designed to fit the schedules of busy professionals • Coursework designed to be instantly applicable to your everyday work setting • Small class sizes that ensure personal attention

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see anew

ou may hear a few more songs being sung on campus this year. A new a cappella group on campus has emerged. While the group has yet to decide upon an official name, it is quickly becoming a popular pastime for students with a passion for singing purely for enjoyment. Two freshmen--John Morrone and Ellie Rhoads--established the group initially. They found themselves in the same first-year seminar, and when they discovered the fact that they shared the same enthusiasm for a cappella, they decided to pursue the passion and start a group. “We weren’t worried about the turnout because we knew of so many students interested in singing with a group like this,” they said. The group attracted much interest from students on campus and currently averages about 15 to 20 students at each rehearsal. These rehearsals take place every Monday and Wednesday from 4:00-5:30 p.m. in the High Center. The group also features a fairly tranquil atmosphere, in which members learn different harmonies and rhythms to enliven modern songs. As it is not yet an officially school recognized

club, it provides students with more leniency than something like concert choir, and provides a place for them to sing strictly for personal satisfaction. “I think the group is going great so far!” said Kelsey Bechtel, a freshman and member of the group. “The student leaders are very passionate about what they do. It seems like the rest of the group is following along well.” As a member of the group, Bechtel also referred to the time spent singing as a refresher. “After a long, stressful day of classes, singing just lets everything out. It’s so relaxed, but at the same time we work hard to make everything sound great,” she added. As far as performances are concerned, the ac appella group plans on future Coffeehouse debuts as well as treating students in various residence halls to Christmas caroling this year. Membership is still open to all students, however, there is a particular need for male voices. If this is of particular interest, John or Ellie can be contacted at jm1713@messiah.edu or er1261@messiah.edu. Messiah College students can most certainly look forward to some exciting new music from this a cappella group this year!