WPPJ’s presence on campus was contentious for years, with a never-ending battle of where the station could play. This article from Oct. 20, 1983, is just a glimpse of how things used to be and the jukebox that only made the problem worse.
“It was an administrative decision,” Charles Quillin, dean of students said when asked about the jukebox that now has a place in the Snack Bar.
According to Dean Quillin and Director of Resident Life, Janet Evans, it was their decision to put the jukebox in the Snack Bar.
Quillin said that the Snack Bar does assist in the overall budget of the college and when Evans asked if a jukebox could be put in the Snack Bar, Quillin said that it could.
When asked why the jukebox was put in the Snack Bar when the college radio station, WPPJ- Radio, broadcasts into the Snack Bar, Dean Quillin said, “The radio station is in there at my pleasure, so is the jukebox.”
Quillin also stated that he felt that both could co-exist and the decision on which to listen to would be up to the visitors in the Snack Bar. Besides that, when the jukebox isn’t on the radio station still stays on.
Ray Eichler, general manager of WPPJ, said ha wasn’t too happy about it because it takes away the listeners in the Snack Bar.
“Most of our listeners in the Snack Bar are commuters and when the jukebox is on we’re cut off the air,” he replied.
Also, Eichler said that he didn’t know anything about it until he walked into the eatery and saw it there.
To make up for the listenership loss, WPPJ is now allowed to broadcast its product during meal times in the cafeteria. United Student Government gave the station $300 to purchase four speakers.
