When I first came to the University of Idaho during UI Bound and was looking at all the clubs, I discovered that there was a radio station. I was eager to sign up and learn about how to be a DJ. When the school year came along, I was trained and I picked up things fast. I was in awe of all the equipment and what I could do here at KUOI.
A couple of years later, I became program director. My job is to train the incoming DJs. I was nervous because these are fresh faces who are eager to DJ and I didn’t want to mess up and drive them away. However, I kept calm and remembered that I was in their shoes at one point.
Whenever a new DJ comes into the station to be interviewed or trained, I can’t help but see a little bit of me in them. I remembered how excited and nervous I was to DJ. One of my favorite things is seeing their faces light up when they understand how to use the equipment and can have more fun with things.
Then when we start talking about music, I can tell they are passionate. They talk about the music they are into, whether it be jazz, rock and roll or rap. When we found common ground on what music we like, we talk about it forever. I love seeing how passionate DJs are once they are given a chance to play their music.
We offer these new DJs a chance to be themselves and give them an outlet where they can share their music with the world. Once they start DJing, it’s exciting to hear back from them about how much they enjoy doing their show and how they want to learn more.
Whenever I talk to DJs, I always emphasize how much we want them to be here. We are here to answer their questions and work with their schedule to find the best show time for them.
These student DJs are critical for KUOI. We are a student-run radio station. Without them, we are only playing pre-planned music from our “robot”. We wouldn’t have the variety that makes KUOI what it is, a place for students, faculty and community members of Moscow to be themselves.
Ryan Hill can be reached at [email protected].