Reflecting on the success of KDUR, Fort Lewis College’s Community Radio station that turned 50 this year (Herald, Nov. 1), Bryant Liggett, station manager since 2009, shared what he found to be cool about KDUR.
He said when he finds himself walking around town, into local businesses and the back of the house at restaurants, and he hears KDUR playing, he thinks of how KDUR for all these years has served as the soundtrack for people’s lives and what an incredible educational resource KDUR is for students and community members.
KDUR kicked off its 50 year celebration on Oct. 23 with a sold-out show featuring Calexico at the Community Concert Hall at FLC. The next celebration is this weekend with the Waco Brothers and Genuine Cowhide, at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Animas City Theatre.
KDUR’s mission, supported financially and physically by the college and community, is appropriate as it “... creates a bridge between Fort Lewis College and La Plata County, offering diverse music, alternative news and local public affairs programming. KDUR provides educational and training opportunities in a professional setting for Fort Lewis College students and community members.”
Learning how to be a DJ and hosting a radio program involves managing the broadcast schedule and the timing of programming, reading underwriting and making station IDs, playing music, learning the technology, how to speak publicly and communicate effectively on air, all suggests there’s a lot more to it than the uninitiated might expect. The return is enormous, too, in the confidence and transferable skills gained from the experience.
Nancy Stoffer, DJ, program director and station manager from 1995-2008, and current host of Page One, airing on KDUR and KSUT Four Corners Public Radio, speaks to what an amazing resource KDUR is for people to find their voice, especially those who historically have not had one.
Indeed, today, KDUR at FLC, a majority Native American serving institution, includes 20 Indigenous DJs and numerous Native programs. DJs with autism continue to benefit from the experience, too; many have excelled on air on their own in the studio behind the microphone.
DJs are an exceptionally cool aspect and the backbone of KDUR bringing to the station the diverse music DJs and listeners alike are exposed to, as Liggett says, “where they like it or not, they are learning something new.”
He says that KDUR has always done what the streaming services do today, recommending songs and new music you may not have heard before and that makes KDUR one of the most diverse stations in the country.
With 60 DJs, aged 16 to over 60, 70% of whom are students, and no experience required as training is provided, the station truly is grassroots, people-powered and diverse, as it has been since Jim Vlasich (who at 80, was present for the Calexico show) started the station as a member of the campus radio club at a small and mighty 10 watts.
Today, KDUR broadcasts at 6,000 watts on two locations on the radio dial: 91.9 FM in town and 93.9 FM in the county, and worldwide at KDUR.org.
From indie rock to West African, Motown and Americana music, independent news and public affairs programming, locally produced arts, environmental and global affairs programs, and much more, KDUR truly offers something for everyone.
Congratulations to everyone who has had a hand in shepherding KDUR through its first 50 years. Here’s to another gem of our community shining for another 50.
