Commentary for the Sun: My response on August 17

In the midst of all the turmoil at the College of Journalism and Communications, it is important to know that the *only* one of the media outlets which was not a fiscal albatross was WUFT-FM. People believed in this station and its format and supported it very generously. As the operator of the classicgvl.org website, I have been able to read the great outpouring of support that people have for the station's departed format and the anguish--and anger--they feel now that it is gone.

The station was stolen from the community that loved it! In a matter of weeks, the college destroyed the years of goodwill that the station built up. Why are people so upset? For years we were told that this was *our* station, that the management would be attentive to the desires of the members. We opened our hearts and our wallets. I myself pledged twice a year. My own pledge in that record-setting April drive was $365, and I was planning to repeat that in the fall drive just because of the weak economy. I have talked to many disappointed people whose pledges were more than that. Now it's all going down to a big fat zero.

Of course, NPR is a good thing. Many of its shows are excellent, and even its most banal programming is a cut above the usual commercial offerings. All the same, it is packaged at places far off, and is available all over the country at many different outlets. Please understand that we who loved WUFT-FM, and supported it generously, are now in poverty--not a material poverty, but one that is worse. NPR programming was available in many ways even before the change in programming, but the WUFT music programming that spoke to our own community is now greatly reduced and much harder to get. Recordings do not keep up with the very lively currents in music--yes, even that "dead" classical music.

HD radio is a poor substitute. The HD signal has not been as reliable as the analog signal, and it has a very limited range. The radios are expensive and hard to come by, and the selection is meagre. Internet streaming works all right--unless the network is congested or the web server is down (as it was this weekend).

I get to be truly fatigued with talk radio and desire for the nurturing of the mind that only good music can provide. Good music takes many forms, not just classical. WUFT was not a monoculture, but a wonderful, diverse mix. I know that I speak for many other people when I tell you that I miss the old format greatly and that the new format leaves me cold. It's not a matter of agreement or disagreement with perceptions of the political views of NPR--WUFT's music fans run the gamut of the political spectrum. It is that we want music, not talk.

It kills my soul to know that many of the wonderful people who worked at the station are now laid off. It was all so very unnecessary!! This was the operation that paid its way, and now they have killed the goose that laid the golden egg. This move was extremely foolish.

On June 5, Dean Wright announced that he was beginning "a year-long process" that would be "transparent" and that staff would be "kept abreast of planned changes". I don't know if the whole thing will take a year, but I do know that it has been anything but transparent. The firings last week came out of the blue.

Those of you who favor the change in format should be aware that the change was made stealthily. It does not befit a public station, and it certainly does not befit the spirit of openness that we have come to demand of our government. One would think that a journalism college, part of a state institution, and sponsor of a website devoted to open government, would itself be open. One would hope.

As for me, I hope we can turn the tide. Music and news might be able to coexist, but in any event we demand that the music return.