Comments from the petition: Page 23

I have been listening to public radio's classical programming for several
decades.I would never consider living in an area where I could not hear Public
Radio's classical music. For the past 7 years I have lived in Alachua County and
have immensely enjoyed WUFT's classical music. I was quite distressed to learn
via the Gainesville Sun that the classical music would be dropped so that
listeners can listen to more "talk" radio.
I found it very unfortunate that listeners were given 3 weeks' notice that the
music would be silenced.
And Dean Wright's pompous comment about listeners, if they were serious about
their classical music, would have to pay $70 for an HD radio were equally
distressing and revealing.
Now we find that Dean Wright has hired UF alumna at the tune of $10,000 a month,
and $69,000 a year to consult with on programming and other issues.
Now we have more talking heads with not much vital information to impart. And
sigh, we have more of the unskilled journalism students slaughtering the English
language daily.
This is not what I have contributed money to WUFT to hear. I was told my
contributions were tied into programming but that was a lie.
I will contribute no more money to WUFT until after classical music is
restored.
I live 30 minutes from downtown Gainesvile. HD radio does not work in my home
for picking up WUFT's classical channel. I have talked with neighbors who report
the same blackout of programming. The HD channel is also not received on an HD
radio in my neighborhood or during the commute. And the HD channel is not
available at work either, so I guess I am expected to do without classical
programming if I want to remain in the Gainesville area.
That raises the very serious question; do I want to remain in the
area?
Sigh, maybe not. Enjoying classical music on the radio is a simple but valuable
pleasure to me and I have enjoyed it for decades. To have it vanish overnight
with no notice (I don't think 3 weeks is adequate notice)and for no good reason
is unacceptable.
I will be active within this community to restore classical music programming.
Should that goal fail to materialize, it will be time to move on and leave this
cow town with a University.
Dean Wright should be ashamed to have violated so many listeners' desires.
Instead he seems to express a rather condescending, ignorant and heartless
attitude. Perhaps his fate will be akin to the fate of the former Medical School
Dean.

I have donated money regularly to WUFT and I have volunteered there as well. I
will do so no longer, until the classical music returns and hopefully the
Journalism Dean leaves. I enjoy NPR programming, but not at the expense of
classical music. To give the general public a few weeks' notice that they are
going to lose the classical music is an appalling and callous decision and the
Dean's subsequent statements on this topic are reminiscent of "let them eat
cake".
Where I live (25 minutes from downtown Gainesville) HD radio does not pick up
WUFT's HD2. WUFT HD radio is also unaccessible in a vehicle where I live, and
anywhere near where I live. Beyond that, on different work days I use different
work vehicles depending on the route, and the cost of installing HD radios on
several vehicles is excessive, especially when you consider how ineffective the
radios are if you are more than a few miles from the tower.
So my options of listening to classical music now are limited to listening at
home a couple hours a night on the computer.
Perhaps the lay offs could have been averted if only the Dean had been laid off.

We miss classical music on Classic 89! Less talk, more Bach!

What is happening to Gainesville's cultural diversity? Bring back our music!

Please restore 89.1 to its previous classical music/talk format. The new format
is tiresome and there seems to be a lot repetition of programs.
Gainesville is a cultural community and the new format reduces the radio
programming to a run of the mill endless talk radio show. You have fired most
people. If money is the issue, you are going to lose a lot more since many,
many of your listeners will not support the new format.
Thank you,
P.S. What the hell were your thinking????????

We have listened to this station for years while we work. Now since it is gone
our workshop is much more quiet. Please bring back our music! It has such a
positive power on our lives.

One of my favorite traveling companions is gone. I could often count on Classic
89 to keep me company on the roads around Florida. Those who want SOME
alternative to rock, pop, country or talk radio now have nothing. What a shame
for WUFT that monies that would have been set aside to contribute to Classic 89
will now be directed to padding my classical music and jazz collection.

I no longer have reason to listen to your station. I miss the music, especially
the opera.

We were one of the very first contributors to WUFT FM, when the station first
went on the air. We need daily access to classical music programming and
learning; it forms the background to everything we do. The HD programming lacks
individuality and the HD radio itself is only borderline quality; no way near a
satisfactory substitute. The constant talk radio format adds only frustration,
confusion and irritability. We don't listen to radio anymore, and will not
resume our previous regular, generous financial support until Classic89 is
restored.

I have been a supporter of public radio for thirty years because it provides a
balance of classical and world music and high quality news and information
programming. This new format of talk only is unbalanced and off-putting. I
regret that I will not be continuing as a supporter of Classic 89 if they
continue to follow this new format.