Written by: Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to KWOU\u2019s website, \u201cKWOU is a student-run online radio station and has been the sound of (Western) since our humble beginnings in a closet at the Werner University Center in 2010.\u201d Since then, KWOU has moved to Terry House, next to Public Campus Safety, to continue to \u201cblast tunes\u201d and grow their music library. At Terry House, KWOU has a \u201cPAWDCAST\u201d studio available for rent with professional broadcast equipment and soundproofing. Up to four people at once may use the studio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
KWOU has a radio station available for listening and is open for music recommendations. \u201cThe station exists to provide Western students, staff and faculty a chance to share their music and perspectives with the world online 24\/7, 365,\u201d said the KWOU website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Molly Martinka, sophomore at Western, is station manager of KWOU for the 2024\u20132025 academic school year. \u201cI do all of the behind the scenes work when you come in to use the podcast studio, I\u2019m the one you\u2019ll be communicating with in terms of reserving the studio and making sure that you\u2019re all set up to record (for the PAWDCAST studio).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On top of that, Martinka manages the scheduling if students are interested in DJing. She also oversees KWOU as a whole, making sure that anyone coming in to use equipment or get involved understands the rules so the whole process runs smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Martinka herself is in the music scene and devoted to KWOU\u2019s mission. \u201cI\u2019m a singer-songwriter,\u201d said Martinka. \u201cI\u2019ve just always loved music. I\u2019ve grown up making it into a career for myself and I think radio is a big part of that, but there\u2019s such a lack of radio right now. It\u2019s very social media and streaming platform based, and I really think that student freedom of speech is very important.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n