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By Rob Beatty ’21
During my freshman year, I had no intentions of joining a group. I was unaware Salem State even had a radio club (the station fittingly hidden in the basement of the Ellison Campus Center). But a friend knew somebody on WMWM’s e-board and wanted to get involved. With such a vague connection, I was not expecting to enter one of the biggest parts of my career at Salem State University. As the meeting kicked off and people began introducing themselves, I thought, “Oh! Here are my friends. Here are the people I want to spend my college time with.”
Since then, I’ve begun my own radio show, “Batcave Salem”; DJ’d live events; was elected as music director; flew to California to see a band discovered from the show; and more. Three years into WMWM and I have only become more passionate. On- and off-air, my most interesting times at SSU are spent with friends from the station.
During my radio show, my co-host and I are lucky enough to have friends stop by and jump in. This always evolves into something worth listening to: a whining contest over Bauhaus versus Joy Division; an almost physical confrontation on which type of dog is the best (a Corgi, obviously); or an improved live rendition of Shakespeare's least esteemed play, “Snow Dogs.” Everyone throws out suggested songs to play and by the end of the show, listeners have a multitude of new songs to explore. Afterward, we often make a trip to Forest River Park, where we laugh at the mistakes we made on-air and the funny ideas that arose from all the ridiculous stuff we said in the moment.
Along with the fun, I am also slowly realizing that the station is a tool for us students. Along with having a platform for student voices, the club is always looking for social media support and news reports (hello, media and communication majors) and technical help (speaking to you, music technology students).
WMWM offers a quirky and diverse community that places a spotlight on the great aspects of Salem. You can hop on and play your favorite tunes or just speak. Listen to local jams or 30-minute ambient tracks. You’ll hear groups stuffed into the recording booth lively battling politics, and drive-time sports shows. Some people are recording punk bands live, while others are reading poetry in such a manner that you find yourself reading poetry again. WMWM is part of the Salem and SSU community. There is something for everyone, which is why I am proud to be part of WMWM.
You can listen on 91.7FM online at WMWMSalem.com. Current president Annabelle Dionne is planning a live show centered around on nonconformity that is set to happen on campus in March.