Thursday, September 9, 1976
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
The medium's the
By MICHAEL BLUMFIELD
It's difficult to walk cross-campus without shelling
out a few coins in exchange for a city-based news-
paper. And about the only way to avoid becom-
ing incurably attached to one of the local radio
stations is to leave your stereo back in Buffalo.
Ann Arbor is a small gold mine of media alter-
natives, and before you leave the city chances
are you'll be an avid reader or listener of at least
one.
INCLUDED in the vast array of local mediums are
three student-operated radio stations, the most pop-
ular being WCBN (89.5). This progressive FM sta-
tion is well known for its potpourri of program
offerings, including its "Jazz Around Midnight" pro-
gram, offered five nights a week from 11-3 p.m.
When the station isn't broadcasting a pre-planned
program, the disc jockeys are free to design their'
own format.
"We try to do a synthesis of blues, jazz, rock,
rhythm and even Frank Sinatra," says Chief Ant
nouncer Joan Jarc. "It's a chance to lift radio into
the realm of art. But we try to make every show
entertaining as well."
If you're in the market for year-around classical,
turn your FM dial up to 91.7 and station WUOM.
UOM features lengthy segments of classical, un-
interrupted by commercials, with only occassional
commentary. It's possible to hear a full 90 minutes
of music before the announcer cuts in to tell you
you've been listening to Mahler.
News is a very important component of UOM's
programming, with local jocks dedicating an entire
hour to it twice a day. The station also broadcasts
tapes of complete lectures given locally by visiting
personalities.
ONE OF THE better places to learn about broad-
cast production is at CBN's sister station, WCRN,
located at 680 on the AM dial. No matter how little
you know, they're sure to fit you into their broad-
casting schedule. Witness the case of current disc
jockey Mark Schermer, a graduated senior.
"I walked into the station at the end of winter
term and asked if there was any room. 'Sure,' they
answered, 'just be here this Sunday and you'll go
on the air,' " recalls Shermer. "So I came in, a
guy showed me the layout of the control room
for about twenty minutes, and then said, 'Okay, bud-
dy, it's all yours,' and there I was."
Should visual communications fall more in line
with your interests, don't fail to check out the Uni-
versity Television Center on Williams St. Accord-
ing to director Tom Coates, the center is a starting
point for those who want to learn about he phases
involved in the production of a TV program, from
set design, to text writing to camera work. Intern-
ships are offered and student staffers are on the
payroll.
OUTSIDE OF our own fair publication, a whole
host of other newspapers and periodicals adorn city
news-stands, representing Ann Arbor's varied politi-
cal and social tastes.
The Michigan Free Press, billing itself as "The
people's independent newsweekly" offers what it
terms a "popular" slant to the news. Although stu-
dents are welcomed to join the staff, editor George
DePue finds that "they (students) tend to be too
busy with their studies to do much reporting."
IN THE heydays of the counterculture (1967, a
paper was founded in Detroit called the Warren
Forest Sun, named after two streets that intersect
at Wayne State University.
Page Three
massage'
Due to police harrassment and a strict mari-
juana violation enforcement, the paper moved out
to Ann Arbor four months later. It changed its name
to the Ann Arbor Sun and put out mimeographed
sheets until 1971. Since then the Sun - the Mid-
west's answer to the Rolling Stone - has been
publishing bi-monthly tabloids.
Current publisher David Fenton believes that when
the paper was based in Ann Arbor it was "instru-
mental in spreading the growth of an alternative
culture, helping get the Human Rights Party elect-
ed, and getting the $S marijana fine passed."
When the Fifth Estate, Detroit's only other radi-
cal paper, folded in June, 1975, the Sun saw its
chance and headed back to the motor city. It is
now trying to broaden its appeal to attract a regional
audience.
One publication that remains unique in Ann Arbor
is the woman's newspaper Her-self. The all-volun-
teer staff covers local events of concerns to women,
as well as items of national and international scope.
It was started in 1972 with funds gathered from the
woman's community with the purpose of "giving
journalistic experience to woman," says staff mem-
ber Cheryl Pack.
"WE MANAGE to subsist on our subscriptions and
ads," claims Peck. "Just recently we got a grant
from Local Motion (a community funding group)."
The staff members between 15-30 and has an in-
ternational circulation of 6-7,000, estimates Peck.
On the other end of the political spectrum, the
Ann Arbor News offers thorough but conservative
coverage of city and county political actions. The
paper does very shallow coverage of University
events, however, and tends to flack the administra-
tion's point of view.
Doily Photo by STEVE KAGAN
A disc jockey for radio station WCBN, a progressive, student-run station, gets his show off
the ground and onto the air.
I i
Blues,
Baroque,
Beethoven
and Bronte
By LANI JORDAN
It's one of those first, feverish
nights on campus and you're
looking for entertainment. You
just can't stand another night of
hard liquor and the show you
were waiting for just sold out.
But never fear, there's probably
a book or music store open-and
just around the corner.
In a town that boasts more
bookstores than movie houses,
even the not-so literary minded
h a v e occasionally wandered
through the paperback shelves
at Borders on State Street or
the textbook-lined aisles of the
Michigan Union's 'U' Cellar.
SOME STORES, while carry-
ing a wide variety of books, tend
to specialize in one area.
Oriental Books and Things-its
location (above a store on State
Street) almost as mysterious as
its stock-deals in such oddities
as books on mysticism, astrolo-
gical supplies and fortune telling
cards.
Centicore Books on Maynard
St. stocks a good selection of art
books and also sells art prints
and posters, while Logo's Book-
store on S. University sells both
Christian and Jewish religious
books.
FOR THOSE who prefer their
books broken in, Charing Cross
deals in the sales and purchase
of used and new books, parti-
cularly scholarly books and first
editions.
In a more practical light,
three stores-Follett's, Ulrich's,
and again, the 'U' Cellar (non-
profit and student run, it usually
has the best prices)--specialize
in textbooks and other student
supplies. Textbooks, depending
on the class, may be purchased
new or used. At the end of a
term, books which have become
unbearable to live with may be
bartered back to any of the
three stores * . . if the class is
still being offered and the book's
edition hasn't been changed.
Somewhat removed from cam-
pus but within walking distance
are several 'adult' bookstores
with all the pulp fiction you'll
need to read to improve (or
compensate for) your dormitory
sex life. Along with an ample
amount of graphically illustrated
written materials, these "book-
stores" also feature everything
from dildos to nipple cream.
ALMOST AS diverse as the
bookstores are Ann Arbor's nu-
merous music stores. Many
stores advertise low discount
prices on the latest rock, jazz
and blues records. New releases
appear in the stores before they
receive excessive radio play al-
lowing listeners to enjoy records
before becoming saturated by
them.
Classical music lovers can get
their fill of Bach, Beethoven
and the rest at Liberty Music,
which carries not only the mu-
sic of the great composers but
also obscure recordings includ-
ing "The Coronation Music of
nr e~ Flixheh 71",nl "Ru
Il 4 /
r / A CC // . [
' K ' '' .- yz
V'... ...-.. _gp>t"_" .
k''iiH '' ",
n~: 0$ r CIac fz st L : K
" , may' ." : ,
,, -
TRAILWIS
We carry a full line of jeans, Indian an
denim skirts, backpacks and book bags.
Or hike upstairs for a complete selectior
d Western shirts, overalls,
n of camping equipment.
Eu
nIA(er
I
0 S
t