I thought the students protesting President Alexander Gonzalez’s inauguration were out of line. If the expression on the president’s face was any indication, he seemed to think so, too.

Then I read Nick Birren’s article in the news section. I did a little more research into why the student-run radio station was one of the weakest programs in the university system and I began to realize I should have joined the protest.I spoke to Rafael Chavez, station manager of KSSU, and I sensed his commitment to helping students and improving the communications department. “This is supposed to be a premier campus, but how can you have a premier communications department with three watts,” he said.

I am sure all the students know the classical channel on your stereo, KXPR 90.9 FM, or the jazz channel KXJZ 88.9 FM. These two stations are operated by a subsidiary of Sacramento State, Capital Public Radio Inc., and they cater mostly to the older and more sophisticated crowd of greater Sacramento.

Over the last few years, CPR has grown immensely and into quite a lucrative business for Sac State. An article last year by Ann Reed in the Capital University Journal said the budget of the nonprofit company is close to $5 million. CPR had underwriters topping $1 million, and boasted over 24,000 subscribers to its programming.

KSSU 1580 AM caters to the students of Sac State. KSSU is allotted 3 watts to broadcast under the agreement with the university, so it cannot interfere with the rest of the programming CPR offers.

The university owns the FCC broadcasting licenses that CPR uses to make millions of dollars. The problem is one of those educational media licenses originally belonged to the students, and now the students are being shut out of the broadcast business. A couple internships and part-time positions seem to be the best opportunities CPR and the university can offer. They even offer those positions to the public.

UC Davis has its own radio station at 90.3 FM, whose broadcasts are thousands of times more powerful than Sac State. If the administration wants to be a destination university, then it had better make it compelling for prospective students. We have government, journalism, marketing, communications and other majors that would benefit tremendously from experience in a student-operated radio station.

Barbara O’Connor from the communication studies department, who signed away student control of the radio station when she was department chairwoman, referred to a stereotype of student radio as guerilla or rebel radio in Nick Birren’s article. Could Gonzalez have the same negative attitude about the ability of his students to run a good radio program?

Sac State will create a new management agreement with CPR early next year. Associated Students Inc. has formed an ad-hoc committee to assist the students who are spearheading this movement to increase the watt output level and opportunities offered through CPR. When a new contract is signed, the students will be able to tell if corporate interests are overriding educational interests.I realize there is pressure to get contributions for the new Recreation, Wellness and Events Center. The $10 million contribution from Alex Spanos has made that task a lot easier. And, I do not oppose corporations donating the rest and having their logos hanging down from the rafters. With big names like Honda and Comcast, it appears there is a lucrative chance at bankrolling the RWEC through sponsors in the CPR. However, the primary concern of any decision-making should be the instructional benefits for students.

The power to improve the situation for the student radio station rests with Gonzalez and the Sac State administration. Communications needs to be improved on campus, and having a student-operated radio station with more power and opportunities will certainly do that.