A radio broadcast from campus, circa 1942.

WKCR, Columbia's student-run radio station, will celebrate its 60th anniversary with special programming from September 23, the birthday of John Coltrane, through October 10, the birthday of Thelonious Monk. During that time period, WKCR hopes to raise funds to pay for equipment that has been purchased for its new studios in Lerner Hall. The radio station spent the past five years broadcasting from temporary quarters in Riverside Church until moving into Lerner this month.

"We hope that moving into Lerner will increase student awareness and involvement with WKCR, and that more student volunteers helping out will increase our impact in New York City as well," says Eugene Sit SEAS"02, general manager of WKCR. "The new space and equipment will greatly expand WKCR's capabilities.

"Just as an example, in our old studio, we had to use the studio space to store CDs and records, so live performances will be much easier to accommodate in the new studio." Sit also stressed that the new equipment should enable WKCR to solve some of the technical problems caused by old, outdated equipment.

Asked what makes WKCR special, Sit replied, "Compared to most college stations, WKCR is unique in the opportunities it gives to its students. A lot of that has to do with the fact that Columbia's in New York City. But also, if you look at the breadth and depth of our programming, we try to bring the arts to the New York community—or New York's communities—in a way other area radio stations don't."

In addition to birthday marathons for Coltrane and Monk, WKCR's special programming will include highlights from other jazz greats, special sports broadcasts and selections from the best of its classical, American, new music, Latin, arts and In All Languages programming.

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