College Radio Broadcasting Stereo Signal

Gloucester County Times, April 1, 1977

By DEBBIE WOODELL
Times Special Writer

GLASSBORO — The voice was Barry Manilow’s. He was singing “It’s a Miracle.” And to WGLS radio staffers with their eyes on broadcasting careers, the song was particularly apropos.

Their “miracle” was that, after countless delays and carefully planned preparations, WGLS, Gloucester County’s only radio station, began operating with a stereo signal Thursday in its new studios in the Savitz Learning Resource Center at Glassboro State College.

Although Thursday was the official ribbon-cutting day (actually the “ribbon” was a piece of magnetic recording tape), plans for the new operation began in spring 1975.

Faculty advisor Mike Donovan and former station manager Jim Servino began making an intensive study, which took nearly six months.

“We designed the entire program,” said Donovan, itemizing completely and giving price estimates. Although people at the station wanted to go for a long time, the budget ($8,000 annually) was much too small to purchase such elaborate equipment, said Donovan.

WGLS finally submitted an application for a grant from the Student Government Association’s (SGA) capital improvement fund, and the station was awarded $50,000 for the new facilities, which include main production and conference studios.

Donovan said construction began in October in what used to be the Curriculum Development Council offices in the library.

Since the initial grant was approved, WGLS obtained an additional $7,500 for the purchase of additional equipment, including a remote board.

“The station staff must remember WGLS has a very real responsibility to serve the county.”

In addition to Donovan, other college dignitaries attending opening ceremonies included communications department chairman John Collins, board of trustees president Tevis Goldhaft, Dean of Humanities Armand Vorce and assistant faculty advisor Mike Desillets.

College President Mark M. Chamberlain and SGA president Greg Bosow performed the ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Then Barry Manilow told Gloucester County it was a miracle.

In an interview that followed, Chamberlain told the audience he was proud of everyone involved in the project, from maintenance to Philadelphia station WPBS’ engineer Frank Hogan, who was hired to install the equipment.

“The station staff must remember WGLS has a very real responsibility to serve the county,” Chamberlain said.

Station manager Larry DiBona said another addition to WGLS’ new sound will be an expected power increase from 250 watts to 500 watts, the maximum the station’s license will allow.

“We’re expecting approval from the Federal Communications Commission within the next week or two,” said DiBona.

“With the boost in the power the volume will double in our present coverage area (a 21-mile radius) and extend the radius two more miles.”

Donovan said the new facilities allow the communications department to begin more extensive practice work on the old equipment.

“More students are becoming seriously interested in broadcasting as a career,” he said, “and with practice studios available, the experience will be invaluable.”

“We don’t have an academic program in radio yet,” he concluded, “but the learning facilities are a good start.”

WGLS GOES STEREO— Ted Walters, disc jockey at the Glassboro State College radio station, flips another tune on the turntable. Times photo by Dave Stauffer