Thursday, January 25, 2001
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 3
KJHK tweaks format to increase audience
By Sarah Smarsh
by Sarah Smarsh
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
KJHK listeners will soon notice changes on the airwaves.
The station, 90.7 FM, modified its programming plans for the spring 2001 semester. The changes affect the type of music KJHK plays, as well as the manner in which the music is presented.
Three of about 12 songs played per hour will now be from "more recognizable" acts, said Phil Cauthon, KJHK graduate teaching assistant and one of the orchestrators of the modifications. Cauthon said another three songs per hour would come from lesser-known artists, and the rest of the hour would be filled with music of the disc jockey's choice.
The station has traditionally played predominantly underground musicians or "indie bands."
Cauthon said the station would maintain its role as "the sound alterna-," but research conducted by a class last spring revealed a narrow audience and the need for change.
"All the research says that a majority of students don't know KJHK's call numbers." Cauthon said.
He said part of the station's mission was to serve an audience including the bulk of University of Kansas students and the Lawrence community.
"We're basically playing it because we know it's what people want," he said.
Cauthon cited Radiohead and P.J. Harvey as examples of music acts that would be included in the new rotation.
"It's not gonna be Britney Spears," Cauthon said. "You're never going to hear that on KJHK."
Gary Hawke, KJHK general manager, emphasized the changes would not alter KJHK's college rock atmosphere.
"It's not a format change," Hawke said. "What we've done is tweak our existing format."
Chris Eckert, Topea senior, has worked as a KJHK DJ since the fall of 1998. Eckert said the change wasn't a big deal.
"Essentially, what we're trying to do is let people who don't listen to KJ on
regular basis know that we play music they've heard of," he said.
Lisa Altenhofen, Chapman junior, said she welcomed the changes.
"I think if this is worked into the station subtly and not in an overpowering way, it would be a good thing," Chapman said. "It would cause them to get more listeners."
Cauthon said the new rotation would be at full force by spring, once the station fixed computer problems and recognizable artists issued new releases after the post-Christmas lull.
The station has made other changes to build a larger audience. Caution said employees would build a relationship with listeners through community service and
better promotions.
Cauthon said the biggest goal was to improve the station's coherence with improved professionalism among DJs and better flow between programs.
"We tried to lump special programming together so there's minimal audio whiplash." Cauton said. "Motown Stax,' a soul music program, will glide into 'Can You Dig It?', a funk program, which will move into the hip hop program 'One.'
"It'll be that soundtrack to people's lives — that isn't a schizophrenic soundtrack."
KJHK program director Emily Cowles, Overland Park senior, said a completely smooth flow from one program to the next was impossible on such an eclectic station.
"I think people know there are so many special programs and such a variety of music they play that they're not going to be completely shocked when they hear something different," Cowles said.
Caution agreed the music's variety should remain paramount.
"One of the best things about college radio is that you get it all," Cauthon said.
—Edited by Sydney Wallace
Station's changes not drastic
Continued from page 1A
KJHK program director, is among the station's most experienced DJs. She said the changes were justifiable and in the station's best interest.
"The main goal of any radio station is to get more listeners, and that's what we're trying to do." Cowles said.
Increasing audience size is a vital goal for the station, which learned from a survey last spring many students were not satisfied with the station's music or presentation.
"The KJHK board is concerned that KJHK is neglecting its audience by not responding adequately to these problems." Caution said. "This semester we've taken the first steps toward remedying these shortcomings."
The KJHK board mandates funding for the station from the School of Journalism — funding that amounted to $80,000 for the 2002 fiscal year.
"I haven't seen anything to indicate that that's the intention of Phil or Gary (Hawke, general manager)." Eckert said.
As for charges that current program changes could mean the beginning of more serious changes, Eckert disagreed.
Ty Haas, Olathe senior and KJH music director, said the controversy stemmed from the station's difficult mission of catering to a diverse campus and community.
"We're trying to take what everybody likes and lump it all into one room," Haas said. "That's always going to be hard."
But Haas hopes listeners will remain loyal.
"I want students to love us as much as we love it," Haas said.
— Edited by Megan Phlobs
— Edited by Megan Phelps
The University of Kansas will get a $2.26 million improvement starting next fall.
Building repairs planned
The money will be used to make fire code and electrical augmentations to several buildings, upgrading campus lighting and the campus power plant, and making street repairs.
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Rv Cassio Furtado
The Board of Regents allocated $8 million to the six Regents universities for fiscal year 2002. The University of Kansas will receive $2,257,600.
James Modig, design and construction management director, said the University had prioritized some projects, such as fire code improvements in Burt, Dyche and Nichols halls, the Hall Center for the Humanities and Watson Library, and electrical improvements to Summerfield Hall.
The University will also improve its power plant, allowing it to run on both natural gas and fuel oil. The power plant currently runs on natural gas.
Modig said the city asked the University to add another source of fuel to its plant due to possible shortages of natural gas during harsh winters.
Construction on Memorial Drive is scheduled for the summer of 2002. Modig said the University would concentrate on the portion of the street west of the Campanile.
The money allocated by the Regents is proportionate to the size of each institution. The University has 5,532,785 square feet, or 28.22 percent of the total area of the six Regents' institutions, so it will receive 28.22 percent of the $8 million.
Kansas Board of Regents repair fund
The Kansas Board of Regents allocated $8 million to state universities for 2002. The University of Kansas receives $2,257,600. Here is a list of some ways the University plans to spend the money.
Fire code improvements $409,000
Electrical improvements $112,000
Street improvements $178,000
Power plant improvements $100,000
Campus lighting Improvements $100,000
Source: Kansas Board of Regents
Source: Kansas Board of Regents
Kyle Ramsey/KANSAN
Modig said even though this was a fair way to allocate money, the amount the University would receive was not enough.
"We have a lot of facilities deteriorating," Modig said.
Modig said if any emergency situations came up during the academic year, the University would reallocate funds from one of the planned improvements.
Douglas Riat, facilities operations director, said prioritizing improvements would help with this decision.
"But they're all pretty necessary," Riat said. "We have lots of projects that still need funding."
—Filled by Margo Phlores
Roommate luck can easily vary
by Cymila Malakara
Kansan Staff Writer
By Cynthia Malakasis
writer@kansan.com
Zemler, Shawnee sophomore, came to the University of Kansas last spring and had to deal with what he described as "a lousy roommate match" in McCollium Hall.
Matt Zemler is satisfied with his roommate in Ellsworth Hall, but life wasn't always that way.
The current application asks potential residents about smoking preferences and whether visitors of the opposite sex would bother them. Had Zemler answered the questions, he might have been spared the
"We just couldn't get along at all." Zemler said. "He would smoke and listen to rap music all day long, and I avoided going to my room as much as possible. My grades suffered because of it."
Zemler did not fill out the standard questionnaire the department of student housing includes in its on-campus housing application.
smoking problem.
However, Zemler said a more substantive personality questionnaire was fundamental for the student housing roommate-matching process.
Megan Haas, Wichita freshman, said she didn't have roommate problems but agreed a more in-depth survey was necessary.
"My roommate and I became friends and are thinking of living together again next year," she said. "But because it worked out for me it doesn't mean it works for everyone."
But Ken Stoner, director of student housing, said no survey or personality test could guarantee two people would like each other.
"We're just doing the very basic match things, such as smoking or non-smoking." Stoner said. "It just comes down to the individuals who live together."
—Edited by Sydney Wallace