WMUC Radio: UMD’s Student-Run Radio Station
By Adelia McGuire
November 25, 2023
Image Credit: Photo by Jacob Hodgson for Unsplash
The University of Maryland's WMUC radio station is a perfect outlet for students to channel creativity while connecting with a network of young artists.
The student-run noncommercial station first began in 1948 and has become a core piece of UMD’s culture.
Aidan Appelson, a senior biology major at UMD, is the station’s current general manager. WMUC is welcoming to all and is made up of creative and independent thinkers, according to Appelson.
“We have very strong LGBTQ plus representation, which I think we really pride ourselves on. I definitely like to think of this place as a safe space and I think to many people it is as well.”
The radio station hosts general body meetings two times a month. Located directly above South Campus Dining Hall, station doors open to the campus community and prospective members of WMUC are invited to participate amongst current staff.
“I think one of the best ways to get involved and see firsthand how open and welcoming of a community we are is with our [GBM’s] general body meetings,” said Appelson.
WMUC provides a diverse selection of roles and opportunities to accommodate an array of interests and talents. Most members aspire to DJ for WMUC which allows them to share their music taste on the radio for an allotted period of time. Positions within the station’s communications, IT, live music, and music department are available for application for those looking to grow their involvement.
The various roles are all alike in that they are operated by a lively community of avid music enthusiasts.
“If you want to meet people that are like minded when it comes to their passion for music, I definitely would say that this is one of the more happening spots on campus,” said Appelson.
Grace Fetters, a senior psychology major at UMD, is a video manager for the station. Fetters says that WMUC offers limitless creative freedom regardless of what you want to be involved in.
“There's so many different things to do and so many different teams to join that no matter what your interest is, you're going to find something that you like, like engineering, music, organizing social media. There's really something for everyone,” said Fetters.
Jake McInturff, a senior information science major, currently holds the position as one of the student record librarians that manages WMUC’s record collection. The library contains over 10,000 vinyls and holds one of the largest record libraries on the East Coast, according to McInturff. The impressive number plays a large component in attracting UMD students to WMUC.
“As people feel more and more out of touch with the world and the music they listen to, more and more people are getting into physical media, whether it's vinyl or CDs or anything. The library itself attracts a lot of people,” said McInturff.
The radio station is unique in its encouragement towards artists to express their distinct individual music taste’s. WMUC strives to feature passionate students who are knowledgeable about the music industry and eager to share tracks with the ears that the channel reaches. McInturff described the environment of the station as one that allows people to reinvent themselves while sharing culture and passion.
“WMUC itself is one of the last bastions of authenticity and that's how it helps people get in touch with their creative side because everybody that's there is insanely cool and welcoming,” said McInturff.
For students at the University of Maryland, WMUC is a great opportunity to delve into the arts culture on campus while working in an accepting and eclectic environment.
The student-run noncommercial station first began in 1948 and has become a core piece of UMD’s culture.
Aidan Appelson, a senior biology major at UMD, is the station’s current general manager. WMUC is welcoming to all and is made up of creative and independent thinkers, according to Appelson.
“We have very strong LGBTQ plus representation, which I think we really pride ourselves on. I definitely like to think of this place as a safe space and I think to many people it is as well.”
The radio station hosts general body meetings two times a month. Located directly above South Campus Dining Hall, station doors open to the campus community and prospective members of WMUC are invited to participate amongst current staff.
“I think one of the best ways to get involved and see firsthand how open and welcoming of a community we are is with our [GBM’s] general body meetings,” said Appelson.
WMUC provides a diverse selection of roles and opportunities to accommodate an array of interests and talents. Most members aspire to DJ for WMUC which allows them to share their music taste on the radio for an allotted period of time. Positions within the station’s communications, IT, live music, and music department are available for application for those looking to grow their involvement.
The various roles are all alike in that they are operated by a lively community of avid music enthusiasts.
“If you want to meet people that are like minded when it comes to their passion for music, I definitely would say that this is one of the more happening spots on campus,” said Appelson.
Grace Fetters, a senior psychology major at UMD, is a video manager for the station. Fetters says that WMUC offers limitless creative freedom regardless of what you want to be involved in.
“There's so many different things to do and so many different teams to join that no matter what your interest is, you're going to find something that you like, like engineering, music, organizing social media. There's really something for everyone,” said Fetters.
Jake McInturff, a senior information science major, currently holds the position as one of the student record librarians that manages WMUC’s record collection. The library contains over 10,000 vinyls and holds one of the largest record libraries on the East Coast, according to McInturff. The impressive number plays a large component in attracting UMD students to WMUC.
“As people feel more and more out of touch with the world and the music they listen to, more and more people are getting into physical media, whether it's vinyl or CDs or anything. The library itself attracts a lot of people,” said McInturff.
The radio station is unique in its encouragement towards artists to express their distinct individual music taste’s. WMUC strives to feature passionate students who are knowledgeable about the music industry and eager to share tracks with the ears that the channel reaches. McInturff described the environment of the station as one that allows people to reinvent themselves while sharing culture and passion.
“WMUC itself is one of the last bastions of authenticity and that's how it helps people get in touch with their creative side because everybody that's there is insanely cool and welcoming,” said McInturff.
For students at the University of Maryland, WMUC is a great opportunity to delve into the arts culture on campus while working in an accepting and eclectic environment.