TCNJ

18 The College of New Jersey Magazine WTSR moved to another basement, this time in the Brower Student Center, for most of the '80s. Toward the end of the decade, communication professor David Rogosky (known to students as "Dr. Dave") pushed for WTSR to be seen not just as a club, but also as a lab where students could build professional skills. When Kendall Hall renovations started, Rogosky lobbied for new studios and WTSR's return to the building. FOR US, WTSR WAS ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC. To be a DJ, you had to take a test to get an official FCC license. At the time, the Trenton nightclub City Gardens brought in a lot of bands. So the alternative bands, the punk bands — they all came into town. We would get them down to the radio station, and a lot of times it was before they even made it big. College radio was really a way for bands to get their start in the music business because they'd get kind of a cult following from kids like us who liked new music. We would get College Music Journal every week, and we would see who was hot on college radio. The record companies would send us albums of bands to promote, and then our music director would listen and put a little star on the side of the album or make little notes like "This is the best song." Music MiX I INITIALLY GOT INTO WTSR BECAUSE OF SPORTS. I was the color commentator at football games. For anyone that followed Trenton State sports, that was the way to hear about the game until it was in the newspaper the next day. There were some outstanding games back then. I'd travel with the team and we'd broadcast live. The only thing we needed was a phone line. We had a little case that looked like a black box, and we'd hook it into the line. We'd connect our microphones and headsets and call right into the studio on a special line. And someone there then put it on air. breakiNG NeWs "I was DJ the night of December 8, 1980, when John Lennon was shot. The UPI teletype machine rang five bells, which designated extreme importance. I made all the breaking news announcements that night. A number of people called the station to see if it was real news. They were, of course, very upset." PETER WAYNE '83 LAURIE STECKY EVANS '86 Station manager, DJ TERRANCE McCARTY '83 Program director, DJ A Flock of Seagulls Adam Ant Beastie Boys Butthole Surfers Depeche Mode Elvis Costello Graham Parker Ministry November Group Red Hot Chili Peppers R.E.M. The Clash The Cure The Hooters

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