4B - The Michigan Daily - Weekend, etc. Magazine -Thursday, February 25, 1999 0 0 Daily - Weekend, etc. Ma The MichiganI WCBN gives students, music lovers a chance to spin discs like the pros Top 1.0 Albums (The nation's top-selling albums for the week) By Cortney Dueweke Daily Arts Writer Are you sick of hearing Natalie Imbruglia every hour, on the hour? Do you know the words to "One Week" for- wards, backwards and perfectly up to speed? If so, you're probably not listening to the University's station, WCBN. Why? Because WCBN boasts a very loose for- mat, unlike most stations where playlists are set and the DJs are required to play a predetermined percentage of a certain kind of music. In fact, the WCBN DJs are allowed to play - and say - basically whatever they want. This freedom causes the station to be a unique mixture of any type of music imaginable, from reggae and pop to punk rock and rap. The Campus Broadcasting Network began as independent radio studios in the basements of East Quad, West Quad and South Quad residence halls around 1950. At that time, none of the stations could be heard outside of the buildings from which they broadcast. In 1952, however, they began to work together and formed WCBN-AM 650. In 1957 the network consolidated its scat- tered studios in the basement of the Student Activities Building - where they still broadcast today. Nowadays, at 88.3 FM on the dial, WCBN has many different types of shows, including news (both network and student-produced), country, bluegrass and international music, as well as sports, pol- itics, gay, and tenants' rights shows. But, the shows that separate WCBN from any other radio station are its many "freeform" shows. "Freeform is mixing all different kinds of music together, and having it follow a theme -having it make sense in one way or another," said University alum and WCBN general manager Erika Sherman. "It's really unique." Nick Farr, assistant general manager and LSA junior, added, "WCBN covers everything. We'll play top 40, oldies, any- thing - it's entirely up to the DJ. Our mis- sion is to reach as many different cultures and play as many different types of music as possible. There's not another station in the world that you'll hear classical music one minute and dirty gangsta rap the next." Being a WCBN DJ is not as easy as showing up and demanding your own show. Every aspiring DJ has to go through a standard process. Those interested meet with someone at WCBN who demonstrates how to use some of the station's beginning equip- ment. After this short training, would-be DJs are required to put together a 45- minute demo tape, which is turned in for consideration by station officials. If the tape is approved, prospective DJs are trained to use the actual FM studio. They sit in with DJs who have their own shows to see what it's all about, and are able to sub for absent DJs. The next step is their own show - but usually in an undesirable time slot, like in the middle of the night. As DJs compile experience at the station their time slots improve - slowly but surely. "Everybody's welcome to come and get trained to be a DJ," Farr said. "The training is easy, but getting to the point where you're a DJ is hard." The time it takes to go from trainee to genuine DJ varies from person to person. Farr said the average period is about one semester. For LSA first-year student Paul Kuttner, it took much less time. At his summer orientation session, he called WCBN to inquire about being a DJ, and he was invited to come to the station and be trained. He made his demo tape a few hours before boarding a plane to return home, and he was offered a show before the fall semester even began. "I just love being on the radio," said Kuttner, whose show airs from 3-6 a.m. 1. Britney Spears, "... Baia More Time" 2. The Offspring, "America 3. Lauryn Hill, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hi 4. 'N Sync, "'N Sync" 5. Dixie Chicks, "Wide Op Spaces" 6. 2Pac, "Greatest Hits" 7. Cher, "Believe" 8. Shania Twain, "Come o Over" 9. Everlast, "Whitey Ford the Blues" 10. Foxy Brown, "China D Source: ubIN Top 10 Books (The week's best-selling hard-cover 1. "The Testament," John C 2. "Southern Cross," Patric 3. "A Man in Full," Tom We 4. "The Poisonwood Bible, 5. "In Danger's Path," W.E 6. "Seize the Night," Dean 7. "Be Cool," Elmore Leon< 8. "A Night Without Armor 9 "Ransom," Julie Garwoo 10. "The Simple Truth," Da Courtesy of Suzuki Suzuki's Grand Vitara has a four-wheel drive system that tops that of Honda and Toyota, the leaders of the mini-ute game. ELEMENTS OF A GOOD WEEKEND IN FEBRUARY: SNODRIFT AND THE SUZUKI ADRIANA YUGOVCH/Daily WCBN DJs Peter Ledly and Aldan Dysart spin tunes during their weekly radio show. They are on the air every Tuesday from 36 a.m. Sunday mornings. "I like having different people come to the studio with me and picking out stuff I've never heard before" Like Kuttner, most WCBN DJs impro- vise on the air. "There's been a lot of times when I've had five seconds left to pick a song and I'll just grab something," said Farr, who doesn't have his own show but often acts as a substitute. Others plan their shows for special occasions. "I did a Valentine's Day show, where I started off playing positive music and halfway through I started playing bit- ter, cynical, insecure stuff," said Engineering senior Jeremy Salmon, whose freeform show "Kingfish Radio" airs Thursday from 3-5 p.m. Requests also influence what the DJs play. "I get about 10 to 15 calls a show," Salmon said. "I'll get more if I suggest a theme to listeners and ask them to call in ideas. I got calls every minute and a half for my beer and alcohol theme show." Sometimes the calls the DJs receive stray from the usual requests. Salmon once had a couple call repeatedly throughout his entire show requesting songs. "I felt like I was providing a sound- track for them fooling around all night," he said. And the listeners are having fun all over the world. Since WCBN can now be heard on the Internet, Salmon and other DJs have also received calls from California and even Scandinavia. Kuttner once had a man call during his show and dedicate a song to a woman. Later the man called back and informed the DJ that the woman he had dedicated the song to was his ex-wife. After hearing the song, she had called him to talk despite the fact that they had not spoken in months. "It was kind of cute," Kuttner said. For the DJs, who range in nature from University students and staff to residents ofAnn Arbor, being at WCBN is all about the music - money is not a factor. In fact, only the general manager, assistant general manager, program director, and development director actually receive compensation for their work at WCBN. "Everyone who is paid was a hard- working volunteer beforehand," Farr said. "Everybody else is a volunteer and does it for the love." Although Farr said the University fund- ing WCBN receives is decreasing every year, the situation is viewed as a positive challenge. "It's not that the University doesn't like us," Farr said. "We recently switched departments, and the administration and the station are trying to find a way to fund us without taking (money) away from someone who needs it more." So, in order to keep WCBN afloat and commercial-free on the air, the station has been forced to become more independent and seek other means of funding, includ- ing fundraisers and selling ads in their program guide. For those who work at WCBN, the experience is very rewarding, both for personal reasons and because of its con- tribution to the music community. "People listen to WCBN because they can listen to music they can't hear else- where' Sherman said. "We're a creative outlet for anything and everything" Salmon said the station gives him the chance to "put good music on the air- waves." "It's one of the best things I've done at this University," he said. Those interested in working at WCBN can contact the station by e-mailing train- ing@wcbn.org. Others seeking more information can visit the Website at www.wcbn.org. Last weekend I had the pleasure of wit- nessing one of the greatest forms of motor racing in America today: The SCCA Pro Rally. The event was dubbed SnoDrift - older Saabs, GTIs, Audi Quattros, and Neons tore through the twisty, ice-covered country roads of Atlanta, MI for more than 12 hours. Pro Rally is one of the few racing events where you eat dinner with the same drivers that crashed their car into the crowd of people right next to you an hour ago. My father and I stayed in the same motel as these guys, and they were as loopy as they drove. They even fixed their cars and changed tires in the parking lot of the motel. This was real racing. I suggest this free event as medicine for anyone depressed by the fact that Nascar is considered to be the foremost medium of racing in' America. Go to www.scca.org for more information. At any rate, this trip to the northern wilds proved a per- REILLY feet opportunity to BRENNAN test Suzuki's recent y_______ offering into the mini-ute game: The Grand Vitara. My father and I took to I-75 for the four-hour jaunt, stopping in Gaylord for lunch at the Sugar Bowl, a terribly outdated restaurant that is a favorite of G.P Brennan for its wonderfully kind and overweight waiters and waitresses. The Grand Vitara is better than it looks. I think of it as more of a cartoon-based transport, ideal for youthful college women but somewhat uncharacteristic of the machismo ethic that I try to convey. My dad and I were avocados in the kiwi bin - he's 64 with white hair, has the map of southwestern Ireland on his face, and drives old-man cars like the Mercury Grand Marquis; 44 years his junior, I'm his image, spat. But I balanced out the car by wearing my purple Vans. The fact that the Suzuki claims to have a V-6 under the hood should be a selling point. But like towns in northern Michigan, Pro Rally drivers, and automo- tive journalists, all V-6 engines are not created equal. Weaker than my grades last semester, this thing strains when travers- ing simple hills and climbs. I even lifted the hood during a gas stop to see if it was really a four cylinder in there - nope. When most people think Suzuki, which is rare, they think Samurai and Sidekick. Those unstable weenies are long gone, and comparatively the Grand Vitara is an amazing car. But it takes a lot to go up against this segment's competi- tors, i.e. Subaru's Forester, the Civic- based Honda CR-V, and the Toyota RAV4. To that end, the SGV falls short by price tag. My tester, the JLX+ model, was steep at $21,429. The "+" indicates stan- dard alloy wheels and anti-lock brakes. But, where the Grand Vitara does well is in the ride and handling department. The steering wheel is pretty inviting with a comfortably small diameter and a good weighted feel. But the Grand Vitara could use a bit more around its waist. Normal Brennan highway speeds caused some serious sus- ceptibility to winds. I drove for nearly four hours with two hands tight around the wheel - like I was holding on to the grab bar on a rollercoaster. One must consider that most of the utes in this segment have the very same prob- lems on the highway. It's nothing shock- ingly new; and I guess it's the price you pay for not paying enough. The one thing that surprised father and son alike over the weekend was the amount of interior space that the SGV holds. There was plenty of room for a few duffels, cameras, big boots with red laces, a bag full of oranges that my mom sneaked in, the two laundry bags that I forgot to take out before we left, and two Irishmen known for their hoodwinking and storytelling abilities. The four-wheel drive system that comes optional on the Grand Vitara is damn good for a car of this segment, and is capable in the rough stuff. The two- speed drivetrain is something that should be appreciated -Toyota's RAV4 and the 1999 Suzui GrandVi 8t 3 Base Price: $20999 3 Price as Tested: $21,429 3 ,Enne: 24-valve DOHC V-6 3 Power: 155 bhp @ 6500 rpm 3 Performance: 0-60 In 10.0 sec 3 Torque: 160 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm 3 EPA City driving: 19 mi/gal Honda CR-V cannot go into low range, and the Subaru Forester is an all-wheel drive system. You can shift-on-the-fly up to 62 miles per hour while traveling straight, but I feared the worst and tried to stay under 30 mph while doing so. Atlanta was a nice town, but I didn't want to spend another night eating at Kristie's Country Kitchen. Before one of the night stages of SnoDrift, we were asked to park off the road so an ambulance could pass through in case of disaster. I didn't think the Grand Vitara would be up for a trip through the snow, but a swift toss into 4-low was all I needed. The little sport-utility chugged through two feet of snow and mud in no time. After the rally, getting out of the hole we created was no problem either - we exited while I looked back and saw an old BMW 325ix having difficulty with the snow mound we made in our wake. What makes the Grand Vitara that much more grand from the regular Vitara is not clear, but the GV is a bit more puffed up with lower body effects and fender flares. The Vitara is also limited to a 16-valve four cylinder, while the Grand Vitara gets the 24-valve, 2.5 liter V-6. Is it worth 21K? I'd rather have the Forester any day, or even the old favorite Jeep Wrangler. But, for off-roaders, Suzuki's four-wheel drive is better than a Honda or Toyota, the reigning champs of this market. Also, the V-6, while measly, is the only one of its class and could be less annoying for the long haul. - Reilly Brennan yearns to be a Pro Rally Driver He can be reached at brennanr@umich.edu. 2 off Winter Coats 20% off Hats & Gloves New Porn Star, Doll House New selection of Tapestries New shipment of Glass Do you have a BACHELOR'S DEGREE? We need you! Measurement Incorporated is an educational testing company that hires hundreds of people each yearlo hand-score tests. Bachelor's degree in any field required. Paid training provided. Scorers are hired per project. Projects usually last 3-6 weeks. As a reader/evaluator, you will work in a professional but relaxed atmosphere with many interestingpeople from around Ann Arbor/psilanti area. 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