WIUX kicks off Fall Pledge Drive

WIUX 99.1 FM, IU’s student-run radio station, is asking for donations.

They began their sixth Fall Pledge Drive Monday that will run until Nov. 19.
The drive is part of an effort to fund the staff’s undertaking of an entire station renovation and purchase of sound processing equipment.

“WIUX has a long and rich history at IU,” said senior Kat Coplen, the public relations director and chief blog editor of WIUX. “We’re working on a renovation and updating for the next generation.”

While previous pledge drives have taken place during a weekend or week, this fall’s drive is different because it is two weeks long. Donors must make pledges online instead of via phone.

“Since the drive is going on for so long, we are only taking donations online to help make the amount of work we have to do, since we are all full-time students, more reasonable,” said senior Taylor Peters, business operations director of WIUX.

The goal for the drive is $5,000, which will cover most of the sound processing equipment — freeing up funds that WIUX receives from IU to go towards the renovation.

“We’ve got a pretty limited budget every year, and a lot of that has to go towards consistent operational costs,” Peters said. “The extra money we are able to raise helps us to continue to move forward in quality.”

In an effort to attract listeners and pledges, WIUX has a number of events planned for the week, such as a VIP show in the station Friday. The in-studio performance will be from the Chicago-bred group Cains & Abels. To be there, fans must indicate interest to the show via the online form and be one of the 25 donors who donate at least $10 by 3 p.m. Friday.

Ben Kweller, who will be performing at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Saturday, will also have an in-studio performance with Julia Nunes. Kweller and Nunes’ air time will contain two acoustic sets and interview-style questions with the musicians.

“There is a game Saturday, so the time is not confirmed yet,” senior and WIUX general manager Ryan Patena said. “It’s a good problem to have two popular programs. We like to bring interesting and high-caliber performers into the studio for students and
listeners.”

Coplen said pledging is important because it allows WIUX to keep the content fresh.
“Pledging allows us to update technology and give the listener the best quality of music, news and sports they could ask for,” she said. “WIUX is an amazing organization.”

HOW TO DONATE
Donations can be made online at www.wiux.org/pledge/.