Harvard Lends Money to Radio Station

In a welcoming address to a full house of enthusiastic compers, WHRB President Alexander S. Barylski '96 presented his station this week as an "independent corporation not funded by Harvard at all."

Not quite.

In fact, WHRB used Harvard money to pay for its recent move to gleaming new studio space, despite an earlier dispute with College officials over damage to the station's old digs.

Harvard says the money is only a loan, to be paid back out of revenue as previous alumni pledges pour in over the next few years.

But it was only the rare funding deal that put WHRB in its present comfortable spot and resolved a year of financial and political problems for the station.

How Much?

Neither College officials nor WHRB leaders will talk about the amount of the loan. Faculty Director of Planning Philip J. Parsons says the University neither loses nor makes any money on the loan, because the station is paying Harvard's standard interest rate.

Harvard helped the station because it was the University that forced the move, Parsons says.

"Because of construction on Memorial Hall, WHRB had to meet our schedule. It was in our interest, therefore, to make them a loan," Parsons says. "We're acting as a bank for the station till their fund money comes in."

The pact is an uncommon one, Parsons says. In fact, he's never seen Harvard lend money to a student organization before, he says.

It probably won't happen again, either.

"Loans are something which we would prefer not to do," Parsons says. "This should not be seen as a precedent or a case of special treatment. Since we precipitated their situation, we felt we should help."

Barylski says the radio station will definitely pay back the money. The University will exert no power over WHRB broadcasting, he says.

"Harvard is giving us a loan which will be paid back by revenue and alumni donations," Barylski says. "We have a solid payment plan."

A Bad Year

The loan bails WHRB out after a year of financial and internal strife. And the new offices have allowed the station to begin broadcasting after a summer off the air.

Heavy fundraising to pay for the move brought new tension with the organization's graduate board. Some students feared the alumni would demand too much control in return for the money.

Financially strapped, the station cut programs in rap and folk music, displeasing many staffers. Students saw racial tension developing over the cuts.

Then the station was accused of broadcasting at an illegally high wattage, though student members deny WHRB broke the law.

In May, the reeling station was threatened with a shutdown by College officials.

Staff members made two holes in the walls of the old WHRB offices in Memorial Hall, one while moving boxes and one during a party.

The station had to negotiate with Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III to stay on the air, and "nonessential personnel," happy hours and parties were banned from its offices.

Then, the new offices weren't ready in time for the station to move, and WHRB stopped broadcasting. Barylski says the lull is not unprecedented in the station's 54-year history.

"We've been off the air over the summer in the past," the president says. "We've done summer air but it was never of the same caliber."

WHRB lent its dial frequency to WUMB of the University of Massachusetts at Boston for the duration of their summer hiatus, says Jeremy A. Rassen '95, comp director and former chief engineer for WHRB.

The End of the Tunnel?

But the three-month histus was probably the low point for the radio station. Now firmly ensconced in the new offices, staffers say their organization is on the way up.

And indeed, visits to several packed WHRB open houses this week bear out their comments.

Rather like an underground hospital, the new offices are white-painted and spotless, with no windows and gleaming equipment. Some back areas are still not completely finished, with tools lying around and sawdust on the floor.

"The new location has less character and is more antiseptic," says jazz comp director Duane Plaks '96. "But it's cleaner and our technology is so much better now. Our programming sounds much more professional."

The studio is 25 percent bigger than the Memorial Hall offices and boasts a greater portion of usable space, "which is good because we were cramped," Rassen says.

WHRB now has a live-performance studio, so artists can play directly to the radio audience. A newly beefed-up news department will also broadcast November 8 election coverage.

"We are the only Harvard radio station, so we will have access to distinguished speakers at the University," Barylski says.

The station has patched things up with Epps as well.

"We dealt with the situation to the satisfaction of both the station and the University," says station manager Peter E. Rojas '97.

No special restrictions will be in place for WHRB's new space, the dean says. "Just the regular rules shall apply," he adds.

Rojas says alumni did not impinge on students' management of the station.

"WHRB has always been student-run and always will be," the manager says. "Alumni are in charge of planning. The alumni have not and will not influence programming."

The station also looks to expand its not Harvard listenership soon. Next year, WHRB will move its transmitter from the present site atop Holyoke Center to One Financial Center in downtown Boston.

"The FCC [Federal Communication Commission] has approved the move...which shall decrease our wattage, increase our height and increase our listening audience by a million people," Rassen says.

The fundraising for the move is still ongoing, and though money has been such a problem in the past, Rojas is optimistic.

"Personally I believe WHRB is back on the road to bigger and better things," the station manager says. "I've visited other stations around the country and what we have now is far and away much better."CrimsonJennifer J. BaikAARON C. FIELD '96 stands near a mike in the new WHRB studios in the Pennypacker Hall basement.

The pact is an uncommon one, Parsons says. In fact, he's never seen Harvard lend money to a student organization before, he says.

It probably won't happen again, either.

"Loans are something which we would prefer not to do," Parsons says. "This should not be seen as a precedent or a case of special treatment. Since we precipitated their situation, we felt we should help."

Barylski says the radio station will definitely pay back the money. The University will exert no power over WHRB broadcasting, he says.

"Harvard is giving us a loan which will be paid back by revenue and alumni donations," Barylski says. "We have a solid payment plan."

A Bad Year

The loan bails WHRB out after a year of financial and internal strife. And the new offices have allowed the station to begin broadcasting after a summer off the air.

Heavy fundraising to pay for the move brought new tension with the organization's graduate board. Some students feared the alumni would demand too much control in return for the money.

Financially strapped, the station cut programs in rap and folk music, displeasing many staffers. Students saw racial tension developing over the cuts.

Then the station was accused of broadcasting at an illegally high wattage, though student members deny WHRB broke the law.

In May, the reeling station was threatened with a shutdown by College officials.

Staff members made two holes in the walls of the old WHRB offices in Memorial Hall, one while moving boxes and one during a party.

The station had to negotiate with Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III to stay on the air, and "nonessential personnel," happy hours and parties were banned from its offices.

Then, the new offices weren't ready in time for the station to move, and WHRB stopped broadcasting. Barylski says the lull is not unprecedented in the station's 54-year history.

"We've been off the air over the summer in the past," the president says. "We've done summer air but it was never of the same caliber."

WHRB lent its dial frequency to WUMB of the University of Massachusetts at Boston for the duration of their summer hiatus, says Jeremy A. Rassen '95, comp director and former chief engineer for WHRB.

The End of the Tunnel?

But the three-month histus was probably the low point for the radio station. Now firmly ensconced in the new offices, staffers say their organization is on the way up.

And indeed, visits to several packed WHRB open houses this week bear out their comments.

Rather like an underground hospital, the new offices are white-painted and spotless, with no windows and gleaming equipment. Some back areas are still not completely finished, with tools lying around and sawdust on the floor.

"The new location has less character and is more antiseptic," says jazz comp director Duane Plaks '96. "But it's cleaner and our technology is so much better now. Our programming sounds much more professional."

The studio is 25 percent bigger than the Memorial Hall offices and boasts a greater portion of usable space, "which is good because we were cramped," Rassen says.

WHRB now has a live-performance studio, so artists can play directly to the radio audience. A newly beefed-up news department will also broadcast November 8 election coverage.

"We are the only Harvard radio station, so we will have access to distinguished speakers at the University," Barylski says.

The station has patched things up with Epps as well.

"We dealt with the situation to the satisfaction of both the station and the University," says station manager Peter E. Rojas '97.

No special restrictions will be in place for WHRB's new space, the dean says. "Just the regular rules shall apply," he adds.

Rojas says alumni did not impinge on students' management of the station.

"WHRB has always been student-run and always will be," the manager says. "Alumni are in charge of planning. The alumni have not and will not influence programming."

The station also looks to expand its not Harvard listenership soon. Next year, WHRB will move its transmitter from the present site atop Holyoke Center to One Financial Center in downtown Boston.

"The FCC [Federal Communication Commission] has approved the move...which shall decrease our wattage, increase our height and increase our listening audience by a million people," Rassen says.

The fundraising for the move is still ongoing, and though money has been such a problem in the past, Rojas is optimistic.

"Personally I believe WHRB is back on the road to bigger and better things," the station manager says. "I've visited other stations around the country and what we have now is far and away much better."CrimsonJennifer J. BaikAARON C. FIELD '96 stands near a mike in the new WHRB studios in the Pennypacker Hall basement.