KAMP broadens horizons

Starting in mid-February, KAMP will play music 24 hours a day while campus-based clubs and organizations post free public service announcements on the screen, said Chip West, the student radio adviser.

The 1570 AM station started looking to broadcast on TV screen after a fruitless FM frequency search in December, he said. The 200 student DJs have since tried to extend their broadcasting range, including creating an Internet site with real audio clips.

"The majority (of student-run college radio stations) are in the same predicament," he said. "Instead of taking no for an answer, we are looking for more ways to get our name out."

KAMP will likely enter dorm rooms over TV Channel 3 or 7 - a decision expected to be finalized by Jan. 22, according to Residence Life assistant director Steve Gilmore.

Every room with a television in the residence halls will be able to tune into KAMP except the Babcock and Corleone dorms because they have a different cable provider, he added.

Students voted in March 1997 to pay KAMP $1 each semester for five years, hoping to expand the station's one watt of broadcasting power.

The project will cost KAMP about $7,000-10,000 to purchase equipment, West said. The optional fee, approved by the Arizona Board of Regents, will cover the cost of the equipment, he said.

"We're working hard to be frugal with our money so students can get more bang for their buck," West said.

Next semester Arizona Student Media plans to begin another student-run channel to broadcast news programs or movies, he said.

Students would be in charge of developing, editing, filming these programs. Many final decisions have not been made yet, Arizona Media Director Mark Woodhams said.

"The success of the endeavor will depend on the initiative of the students," Woodhams said.

Business economics and finance freshman Emily Bauman said she thinks KAMP broadcasting on television is good just as long as it doesn't cost students any extra money.

"With tuition hikes the last thing I want to do is pay for a blue radio screen," Bauman said. "If they can pull it off and not cost us any extra it would be a worthy idea."

Communications junior Bobby Fendley said he thinks it is a positive idea.

"Anything to make people recognize that we have a student radio (station)," Fendley said. "The dorms are a good place to start."