TODAY

In a world of mp3’s and satellite radio, it’s no wonder that many Sacramento State students don’t know much about the student-run radio station on campus.

With a staff comprised of nearly 60 students and volunteers this semester, the station has worked toward building crucial partnerships that focus on improving the station, said Robert Young, KSSU station manager and Sac State media communication graduate student.

“Making friendships has been beneficial since our policy is to make connections not just on campus, but with the local community,” Young said.

He said this semester, the staff at KSSU continues to work on making the station more community-based and accessible to those who are interested in listening to a broad mix of music as well as talk and sport shows.

With the community in mind, KSSU recently joined in a partnership with the El Camino High School radio station KYDS, which can be heard on 91.5 FM.

Now listeners can tune in to KSSU Disc Jockeys on 91.5 FM between the hours of 4 p.m. and 7 a.m. to hear rebroadcast shows, which were played live on KSSU’s 1580 AM station as well as online at kssu.com, according to Young.

El Camino High School senior Natalie Ferri said the partnership has provided her the opportunity to learn from the KSSU DJs and staff and also has created a greater variety of on-air content to the KYDS audiences.

“It’s been fantastic working with KSSU,” Ferri said. “They are all a really fun group to hang out and work with.”

Ferri said the partnership is even more beneficial, considering prior to KSSU’s rebroadcasts, the airplay on KYDS would stop at 3 p.m., which is when school let out at El Camino.

Now with KSSU/KYDS partnering with KYDS, audiences can listen to 91.5 FM past the old 3 p.m. cut-off time.

KSSU fans are also happy to have the chance to hear their favorite radio shows played on an FM station as opposed to the weaker 1580 AM signal which often can’t be heard at certain distances from the campus.

“I’m glad to hear (KSSU) finally gets some airplay onan FM station,” said Alex Montoya, who is a Sac State junior liberal studies major. “Maybe the administration will allow the station to get more funding and make it possible for KSSU to get a stronger signal of its own someday.”

Young said in addition to the KYDS partnership, KSSU staff are still working on improving the station for next semester and also have plenty of events in the works.

One of the main events set for the spring semester is “Frequencies of Love,” which is tentatively scheduled during early February, according to Liana Winternitz, KSSU assistant manager and Sac State sophomore communications major.

“Frequencies of Love” is a benefit concert designed to raise funds for the victims of the Southern California fires.

The event is also sponsored by UNIQUE Programs and there are plans for “major artists” to play live in the university ballroom, Winternitz said.

“The idea is to hold a fundraiser linking schools, including other state schools and UCs, to broadcast shows and have callers make donations in honor of the So. Cal fires,” Winternitz said.

She said KSSU has received lots of interest from other university-based radio station who plan to participate in the fundraiser, but many are not yet confirmed and won’t be until next semester.

Young said students who are interested in being a part of KSSU during the spring semester should go to the KSSU website and apply for a spot or call or emailthe station. Sac state students can also earn internship credits if they are communications, business, or journalism majors, according to Young.

“We’re a free format station open to students with opinions, sports fans,” Young said. “We play a wide range from death metal to light jazz.”

Lana Saipaia can be reached at [email protected]