Many KUOI employees enter the station looking for a part-time job at a place they know little to nothing about. They exit with lifelong friendships and professional experiences to carry throughout their career.
This year marks 75 years of not only KUOI broadcasting, but 75 years of hard work and dedication from countless staff members and DJs. KUOI’s first broadcast was Oct. 29, 1945.
These last 75 years have not been easy. KUOI.org features a lengthy history, written by Ben Kluckhohn, detailing all the controversy and pushback station managers and staff endured over the years.
“KUOI has had to suffer incompetent station managers, hostile student governments, FCC regulations, budget cuts and interfering university officials,” the history stated. “It has also been the source of inspiration and joy for both listeners and staff…”
Despite these challenges, the station still stands. Greg Meyer, who served as station manager in the 80’s, said despite the “political firestorm” of his time, the staff never gave up. It wasn’t difficult for them to persevere because they were so committed to what they were doing, he said.
Keeping History at the Forefront
This history, the good and the bad, is one of former station manager Linzy Bonner’s (2015-2018) favorite things about the station.
“I get chills for how much love went into that space, how hard people had to work to keep KUOI going and how hard they have to continue to keep going,” Bonner said.
Linzy Bonner | Courtesy
One of Bonner’s favorite historical events was from April 1974. That month, the Black Student Union took over KUOI and broadcasted for hours to convince the administration to meet their demands. Those demands included hiring minorities in admissions, financial aid, athletics and faculty positions. No action was taken against the Black Student Union students because nobody from KUOI disagreed with what they were doing.
Meyer said he appreciated students understand the history and hard work of those who came before them because of the many difficulties they dealt with.
Racheal Guenthner | Courtesy
KUOI, unlike the other two branches of student media, Argonaut and Blot, does not change its logo to keep tradition. Argonaut and Blot regularly redesign their logos.
Different Managers, Different Influence
Different station managers have shaped the station in their own ways. Some redefined KUOI’s mission and others enhanced the existing mission.
Chris Foster is cited as defining the KUOI mission going into the ‘80s. He felt KUOI was an alternative to mainstream radio, as it remains today. The mantra of KUOI is “where diversity reigns,” rather than just playing top-40 music.
Foster wanted programming that students controlled because he felt they deserved value for their money. He formatted the station like NPR, with interview shows and different music every night.
“People were listening for a purpose, not just because they found it on the radio,” Foster said.
Foster said he always knew KUOI would continue for years after he left.
Former Station Manager Chandra Gair said in a message, “The best thing about KUOI is “its alternative nature and fresh, youthful spirit, as well as the fact that it attracts some very creative people.”
Dedication to Broadcasting
Like Gair and other KUOI employees, Anthony Saia began working at KUOI without fully realizing what the station was. Once he started working, he never wanted to leave.
“If you’re in, you’re all in,” Saia said.
Saia was station manager twice, once as an undergraduate and once as a graduate student. Saia can’t boil down his time to any one favorite memory or accomplishment because there are so many, from getting KUOI to start participating in College Radio Day, to working with Vandal Entertainment to get Childish Gambino to play at Finals Fest before he became popular.
KUOI is a place for people who may not have a place on campus, Saia said.
Brian Spenst | Courtesy
Saia described KUOI as an alternative form of education you can’t get in the classroom.
“You may be reaching one person, but you don’t care because it’s your time to share your voice, your experience and your music,” Saia said.
KUOI in 2020
KUOI’s staff and DJs continue to work as hard as ever, despite the challenges of 2020 and COVID-19.
University of Idaho faculty members, students across a multitude of majors and community members all serve as DJs. One of those community members is former station manager Leigh Robartes, who hosts Paradise Ridge and a Dead Mule 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays.
Robartes took over after a KUOI manager controversy. The DJs at the time were okay with the transition because they felt he understood the mission at the time—KUOI is not a Top-40 station and should be open to everyone.
Robartes has not stayed the whole time since he left UI. He got a few jobs in other places, but eventually made his way back to Moscow. He decided to come back and stay involved with the station because the type of programming is what he is most interested in.
KUOI’s vast physical music library allows for lots of music exploration, Robartes said. Former music directors and librarians have written reviews and noted FCC violations on stickers, placed on the front of albums. This helps current and future employees continue discovering music. Robartes said he’s still discovering underground music from the year when he was station manager.
Luis Torres | Courtesy
The shows Robartes puts together have changed a little bit in the time he’s been here. He’s added some more experimentation with mixing, like adding soundbites from political events or whatever is culturally relevant at the time without overwhelming the show.
“A community without college radio or community radio isn’t a good community to live in,” Robartes said.
Thousands of KUOI Alum, Thousands of Experiences
This overview does not do justice to the individual experiences of all current and former staff members. The station has been shaped by these people as much as the station has shaped them.
“The fact is, the station shaped me much more than I could ever have shaped it,” Gair said. “As it reaches its 75-year milestone, I hope it continues to allow students an opportunity to explore a variety of music and, by extension, other art forms.”
Nicole Hindberg can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @HindbergNicole.