Lock Haven University’s radio club, WLHU, is under new leadership. Annie Barnhart, a senior in Communication, was elected the new president last month and immediately began working on fixing issues the club was presented with.
“I loved radio club as an underclassman and it made me sad to see it slowly go under, so I guess you could say that’s where my motivation came from. I wanted to make an impact during my last year here on campus,” said Barnhart on being elected.
One of the main issues that WLHU faced this semester was the cutting of evening hours in the radio studio. The club members were no longer allowed to record or go live past 4:00 p.m. due to security issues. However, student workers are now employed in the evening, once again allowing club members access to the studio.
Barnhart credits Dr. Matthew McKeague, Associate Professor of Media and Journalism and WLHU club advisor, for aiding in this success and supporting WHLU. “Matthew McKeague fought endlessly for his students and brought us back to usual. We as a department are so blessed to have McKeague by our side and cheering for our success,” said Barnhart.
Another issue Barnhart sees with the club is the small number of members. There are currently 15 members, but she hopes to increase club participation by promoting WLHU through campus advertisements and increased social media usage.
WLHU Vice President Shannon Louszko also weighed in with her feelings on the current state of the club. She said, “We have an amazing team and extremely talented students, and we are so excited about the new direction we are heading in! We plan to have more shows and get them played around campus.”
Other goals that President Barnhart has for the club include creating a new website for listeners to provide feedback, updated equipment and software, and a possible field trip to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Barnhart stated, “My hopes for the club grow every day. I want to say I successfully helped revive a lost art here on campus.”
Music and radio shows can be listened to through Shoutcast by searching WLHU. All shows air weekdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
For inquiries about joining the radio club, students can contact Annie Barnhart at agb8459@lockhaven.edu, or Vice President Shannon Louszko at srl8545@lockhaven.edu.
