TCNJ

21 SUMMER 2026 radio persoNaLities TO SOME CHAGRIN but true to the medium, WTSR has aired its share of ridiculousness over the years. Student DJs often adopted charismatic personalities and dared to push some envelopes, engaging listeners with everything from milk- chugging and dill-pickle- eating contests to prank calls to florists in an attempt to order poison ivy. One prank that became legend was Leperthon of 1997 — a three-hour, on-air farce of the Jerry Lewis-type charity benefits. Conceived by a student DJ who went by the name "The Paragon of Excellence," the fake fundraiser for leprosy included live calls to auto body shops, Bath and Body Works, and nail salons to ask for donations. "I was definitely one of the more extreme personalities of the era," says The Paragon, "but Leperthon totally matched my show, and I knew just how far I could go and it would still be in good taste." GiviNG baNds facetiMe UNDERGROUND IS THE RADIOTHON of the past two decades. Less concert and more studio session, the concept was to bring underground bands to Kendall's basement to coordinate audio and video recordings of their songs. "We started out with one band in the room and recorded it with a single camera," says advisor Kevin Potucek. Now, it is a semiannual event in collaboration with Lions Television. Ten bands invade TCNJ's TV studio over the course of a weekend, and each band plays three songs in front of a live audience. Performances are recorded using six cameras and live audio switching, then promoted on Underground's YouTube channel. "It really aligns with what the station has always been about," says Potucek, "which is discovering new music and new bands." Music MiX Alanis Morissette Jesus and Mary Chain Live Nirvana Pearl Jam Remy Zero Smashing Pumpkins The Dambuilders The Prodigy The Turncoats Ween sLoGaN sHift WTSR's original slogan was simply "The Alternative." But by the mid-'90s, the station wanted something that better represented the diversity of its program- ming. There was an on-air contest with more than 400 different entries received. The winning slogan, "Open Your Mind," encouraged listeners to be open to music not typically found on commercial radio. The student who wrote it, Lucan Salfred-Ingh '99, was offered a guest DJ spot. "I never claimed my spot," he says. "But I am available now if there is a '90s hour." "Wesaidwewere creatingagolden ageforstudent-led radio,and lookingback, Ibelievethat." Paul Alfieri '97 The Paragon of Excellence and Paul Alfieri Name one of these two bands from Underground sessions for a chance to win TCNJ swag. TOP COURTESY OF GREGG SAVARESE, PAUL ALFIERI; BOTTOM ROCK JENNINGS, BLAKE MODRI

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