Offical Press Release
Press Release
For Immediate Release 17 January, 2008
University of Waterloo Radio Station's Survival is in Jeopardy
CKMS-FM Radio Waterloo, the campus and community radio station based
on the University of Waterloo campus is in danger of going off the
air in September 2008, as a result of a student referendum to remove
all student funding.
The Federation of Students, at a council meeting held on Sunday
January 13, passed the following motion: “BIRT the Federation of
Students approve the following question for referendum,: 'Do you
support the removal of the $5.50 per term fee for CKMS, the campus
community radio station at the University of Waterloo, effective the
Fall term of 2008?'” The referendum is to be held concurrently with
the 2008-2009 Federation of Students Elections some time in February.
CKMS-FM has been broadcasting from the University of Waterloo campus
since October 15, 1977. Programming on CKMS-FM is produced by
volunteers from both the University of Waterloo and the Kitchener-
Waterloo community. CKMS-FM can be heard on the FM dial at 100.3
throughout the Waterloo region.
Station Manager Heather Majaury says, “The irretrievable loss of CKMS-
FM to the campus and community would leave a huge void. Voices that
currently have access to the airwaves would be silenced: students,
students groups, individual community members, and community groups.
For example, The Chinese Student Association, The Aboriginal
Students' Association, The World of Chamber Music (produced by the
Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Society), multicultural groups
(Latin American, Portuguese, Indian, Arabic, Islamic); not to mention
the tremendous amount of independent music and genres heard no where
else on the local dial.”
“CKMS right now is the only radio station in Canada to be delivering
(or slated to be delivering) student-driven entrepreneurship content
and speaking in general it is the only the radio station that UW
students have easy access to, therefore there is strong collaboration
potential with programs such as media studies and speech
communication.”
Dmitri Artamonov, UW New Venture Pathways
"CKMS-FM has provided information, insights, and cultural moments
that are unique within our community. It is the university's voice
for the community.”
John English, Executive Director, CIGI (Centre for International
Governance Innovation)
“CKMS has been instrumental to Athletics. Without their partnership,
we would not be able to provide all our broadcasts of Warriors
Athletics to our audiences. Their technical expertise has been
critical to the success of our broadcasting productions.”
Chris Gilbert, UW Athletics
"As a University of Waterloo alumna, I can honestly say that I
wouldn't be where I am today without the welcoming, supportive and
leaning environment of CKMS... It may sound cheesy, but CKMS really
is one microcosm of our great, bit country -- the University of
Waterloo included. Harmonious diversity doesn't get any better than
this!"
Caitlin Crockard
Regional Music Producer, CBC Radio, and proud alumna of UW and CKMS
"As a volunteer programmer at CKMS, and UW alumna, I am able to give
something back. On my weekly show, called 'The First Sound', I play
percussive music from around the world. Since percussion is the
oldest music besides singing, and has always been 'unplugged', it is
also the music of the people. UW is truly multicultural, but this
isn't reflected in the music local commercial radio stations play. UW
students from all over the world can tune in to CKMS and hear the
music of their homelands, whether they're from Asia, Africa or the
Middle East. You can't put a price on that."
Kat the Drumming Diva, host of The First Sound, Mondays from 6-7:30 pm
For further information, please contact:
Heather Majaury, Station Manager
CKMS-FM Radio Waterloo
phone: (519) 886-2567 ext. 202
email:
stationmanager@ckmsfm.caBill Wharrie - CKMS Tech. Coord.
tech@ckmsfm.caLabels: station info
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