Grooms reaches students by radio waves

Like most college students, listening to the radio just dosen’t do it for Georgia College & State University sophomore Brian Grooms.

The mass communication major from Conyers, Ga. does what many college students only dream about doing. Grooms is a radio disc jockey for WGUR 88.9 FM, GC&SU’s student-run station.

The station is open to all students, and faculty advisors help to provide opportunities to learn about radio station management and production.

Some students are trained and fill disc jockey shifts while others participate in live remotes and organize other events. Grooms has his own live, one-hour show that is broadcast three days a week.

In addition to his responsibility of “spinning records,” Grooms also serves as program director. He and the executive staff of the station plan concerts and book bands for the station’s promotional events.

Next year, Grooms will assume the position of station manager, a spot currently filled by Kyle Burger. His duties will include running the station meetings and planning concerts while dealing with all of the perks and nuances that may arise.

Grooms is excited about the opportunity to “run the station” as the general manager, and he is especially looking forward to bringing new programs to the station.

“Currently, we are looking to have two concerts in the fall and two in the spring,” Grooms said.

WGUR 88.9 FM has been an excellent source of hands-on experience for students like Grooms who have a concentration in telecommunication. His campus experience has also led to his being hired by Z97.7, a popular local radio station.

Susan Westfall, assistant professor of mass communication, assisted Grooms in finding a job with Z97.7, and according to Grooms, it was the “perfect time” for the job search since the station had one empty position.

Currently, Grooms is working in production and often reads voice scripts over musical backgrounds. He is training to do live remotes for the station and hopes that eventually all of his hard work will lead to a job as a manager for a large-market radio station.

Grooms is interested in music by Michael Bolton, Anberlin, Copeland, Over it, Spitalfield, Mae, Butch Walker, Sevendust, Incubus, Senses Fail, Sugarcult, Switchfoot, Relient K, Matchbook Romance, Fall Out Boy and From Autumn to Ashes.

Grooms, thankful for being blessed for not having “microphone fright,” can now reflect on his high school days as a disc jockey for special events and realize just how far his childhood dreams have carried him.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Apr 29 2005. Filed under Other. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry