On the campus
of the University of Kansas in Lawrence, sits the “shack” on the
hill better known as KJHK. Since 1975 KJHK- The Sound Alternative- has given
exposure to underground, obscure, and local groups that would never be heard
on top 40 radio.
KJHK
The Hawk is a student run radio station that is non-corporate, non-commercial,
and insists on providing its listeners with diverse programming. KJHK remains
a leader in the world of college radio by becoming the first
station
to broadcast its music 24/7 over the Internet. You can visit the KJHK website
at www.kjhk.org.
I
tuned in to KJHK before I became a student at KU, but it was during my time
at the University that I became an avid listener. This is what prompted my first
visit to the shack.
The
first thing you notice when you step through the door are the posters; a graffiti
of different musical artists and genres. Every inch of space is devoted to the
music that KJHK DJ’s have played throughout the station’s existence.
Endless CD’s and records fill the shelves, bins, and drawers crammed into
the small room.
If
you dare to descend down the narrow spiral staircase, you encounter even more
stacks of records and a secondary studio. The main studio is a tiny space with
multiple desks that contain the equipment needed to broadcast live radio including
microphones, a
soundboard,
turntables, telephones, and a computer. The walls are filled with thousands
of CD’s stacked on shelves from floor to ceiling. The space is cramped,
but extremely cozy at the same time.
KJHK has a set schedule of programming that changes each semester. The bulk
of what is played is called “rotation” which is considered to
be the heart and soul of the station. These shows feature the newest music
of today mixed in with each DJ’s personal taste in new and old music
in a variety of genres. NEXT
