Summer 2005 - John Brown University

JBU Sells KUOASOLDJohn Brown Sr. in 1949dience, and it provided the studentswith another occasion forlearning the ropes of broadcasting.In 1970 KJBU was revived whenstudents replaced the transmissionlines and joined the IntercollegiateBroadcasting System.According to Arnie Mayer ‘66,JBU associate professor of broadcasting,KJBU “was a complicatedmethod of transmission to threedorms on campus. Each dorm hadits own transmitter that broadcastthe signal through the 110v powerlines. There were times whentransmissions interfered with eachother and created an annoyingwhistle effect in the audio. Thesystem was old, problematic, andneeded replacement.” In 1995, anew “through the air” low-powerstation, KARQ or Q16, replacedKJBU and broadcast at 1600 on theAM dial. At 10 watts, the station’sprogramming is available to theentire extended campus and thesurrounding nearby residential areas.The station is only on the airwhen students are enrolled in BeginningRadio Practicum, whichgives the students experience inpicking music and designing radioprograms.KLRC, named after the Learningcontinued on page 20After extensive consideration, JBUagreed to sell KUOA to CherokeeBroadcasting, Co., owned by Deweyand Mitchell Johnson. JBU andCherokee Broadcasting signed an assetpurchase agreement and time brokerageagreement on December 21, 2004, andthe transaction was completed at the endof March 2005.“It was a difficult decision for theboard of trustees because KUOA hasbeen an important part of the historyand support of JBU,” Dr. CharlesW. Pollard, University President said.“However, after weighing the pros andcons carefully, the trustees accepted therecommendation of the administrationand were unanimous in their decisionthat selling the station was in the bestinterest of the university.”JBU purchased KUOA in 1935.University founder John Brown Sr. usedthe station to expand his radio ministryand to provide broadcasting training tostudents at the university, which it diduntil the early 1970s. But JBU studentshave not been significantly involved inKUOA operations for about 30 years. Inthose decades, the station was operatedprimarily as an endowment asset of theuniversity rather than as part of JBU’seducational program. In recent years,the station did not provide an investmentreturn for the endowment. In the courseof reallocating endowment assets intoinvestments with higher potential forgrowth, the board of trustees reviewedthe status of KUOA. The decision tosell the station was in keeping with theirreallocation strategy.JBU has continued its strong broadcastingprogram through KLRC, itsDove Award-winning, contemporaryChristian radio station, which was startedin 1983. Students working at KLRCparticipate in live remote broadcasts,promotions planning, concert coordination,production, and new programcreation.“We have enjoyed great successwith KLRC,” said Sean Sawatzky ’96,KLRC station manager and formerKUOA station manager. “KLRC isa non-commercial station, which isbetter suited to our educational and ourprogramming goals.”KLRC is financially self-sustainingthrough contributions of its listeners.Support for the popular FM stationis demonstrated each year duringSharathon when KLRC solicits andreceives pledges to satisfy its operatingbudget.“In many ways, KLRC fulfills JBU’smission today in the same way as KUOAserved the university 30 or 40 yearsago,” Pollard said. “It trains students; itpromotes the gospel; and it is financiallyhealthy. Through KLRC and our finebroadcasting department, JBU remainscommitted to educating students whowill shape the broadcasting industry forGod’s glory.” ■John Brown Bulletin Summer 2005 11