PRESS RELEASE:
At 8:00am CST on Nov. 30, student-controlled programming at KTRU 91.7fm in Houston was abruptly brought to an end by the administration of Rice University. This was done in response to a protest by student djs of
increased athletics broadcasting on KTRU. The incident in question was the broadcasting of music over the second half of Nov. 28th's basketball game. While not all djs agree with this course of action, it is clear that the majority believe that Rice athletics has no place on KTRU. KTRU has been controlled and run by the students of Rice University since its inception over 30 years ago. However, the consolidation of the radio market has increasingly left Rice athletics with fewer broadcast options. Over the past few years, the student management of KTRU has grudgingly ceded air time to Rice athletics in the hopes of reaching an acceptable compromise. Unfortunately, in the last few months the athletics department has proceeded to continue to push for more air time with the backing of the Rice administration.

KTRU holds an educational license from the FCC, and the students of KTRU take that concept very seriously, believing we have a role in the education of the audience as well as ourselves. We play a diverse assortment of music, focusing on underexposed genres and artists. We fail to see the educational value of broadcasting mainstream athletic events. In addition, the proposed increase in athletics programming is essentially being mandated by the administration of Rice University, with little to no regard for the traditions or opinions of KTRU.

We are sad to see this occur, but we believe in student control of KTRU. As one of the last bastions of free radio, we will continue to fight for what we believe.

Dennis Lee
Operations Manager
Hip-Hop Director
KTRU 91.7fm
hiphop@ktru.org
dlee@rice.edu

For more information on the history of KTRU:
http://www.rice.edu/projects/thresher/issues/88/00.10.27/current/feature/index.html

To express your concern, send comments to:
KTRU 91.7fm
Rice University
6100 S. Main St.
Houston, TX 77005