Comments from the petition: Page 11

The choices of "Talk Radio" are numerous. Choices for classical music are
nil.
I am sorry you are going the way of the rest of radio. I have always listened
to opera and jazz programs on 89.
The digital radios are too expensive for me.

As Director of Instrumental Music at Santa Fe College, it is my duty to help
preserve the only existing radio outlet for classical music in the Gainesville
area. Without this resource, both our music students and our concert audiences
will be robbed of a valuable resource that not only enhances their educational
opportunities, but also elevates them artistically. Gainesville is home to the
nation's third largest public university. The removal of this precious asset
from our daily experience will leave a gaping hole in the cultural landscape of
our community while sending a damaging message about our leaders' commitment to
the fine arts. Our students and citizens deserve better.

I have been an avid listener of WUFT-FM for 30 years. I am not happy with the
change in programing. Over the years, my pledges were made during Prairie Home
Companion or Morning Edition, but I always made comments in support of the
locally produced programs such as Soul Circuit and Nothin but the Blues as well
as Opera at the Met. You have removed an important part of our culture,
community and uniqueness by changing to a news-based format. You have also
removed the PUBLIC aspect of the radio station. All of my aquaintances at work
and in my community are very dispeased the change in programming. I will not
support the program change with my pledge dollars and my radio dial will be
tuned elsewhere.
My daughter grew up listening to classic music because WUFT-TV was the station
we always played at home. At 17, she has an appreciation of classical music of
many genres thanks to the classic format of WUFT-TV. This is a very positive
thing for the arts in general if the young generation has exposure to the
programs such as classical, soul, blues. These are all important genres.
Please return them to them to our radio station.
Please re-install the locally produced programs (specifically Soul Circuit,
Caravan, Nothing but the Blues, Classic Give-away with Agnes) and Opera at the
Met to WUFT-TV. Classic 89 was PERFECT as it was!

I am so happy to see that the fight continues! Power to the people!

I think Dean Wright should be fired for misuse of public funds ($10,000/ month
for a consultant when we are in the midst of drastic budget cuts?!!!), as well
as his ill-advised changes to the Classic 89 format. Just a thought-
is it still public broadcasting when the public is not consulted prior to major,
sweeping changes to "our" station?
Keep Classic 89 the way it is!

I was very disappointed this morning when I turned the radio on and discovered
some talk program instead of the classical music I was expecting. Please bring
the music back!

I have been a contributing member since the FIRST Spring drive, with my only
absence the one year in 1995 I had been unemployed. As soon as Classic 89
initially went on the air, the presence of classical music in the area added
greatly to the charm of the wider Gainesville community.
Now that I live in Dixie County where the availability of good music is severely
limited, Classic 89 assumed greater importance, making it's loss even more
meaningful.
Please bring back at least some of this music.

Very disappointing.

For the "flagship" University of Florida to be cancelling WUFT's music-based
format is embarrassing.
Greed and ignorance are sad partners in a deal such as this one.
VALUE has more meaning than just the numbers on your paycheck.

Since WUFT-FM is the only UF station that is making money, why are you wreaking
a good thing?
My husband and I have conributed to WUFT for many years. But you can be sure
that if the FM station is radically changed, those conributions will cease. We
are probably not alone in those feelings and so you may be in the situation of
killing a goose that has laid a golden egg.
Think twice about what you are doing. Annoyed customers and their money may
NEVER come back.