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The latest media coverage of the Save WBRU! campaign:
Emails: Brown prez offered loan to WBRU in bid to avoid FM signal sale.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – The president of Brown University offered the school’s financial support to alt-rock station WBRU and cautioned students about the legal and ethical implications of selling their coveted 95.5 FM signal, Eyewitness News has learned.
In an April 27 email obtained by Eyewitness News, Brown President Christina Paxson told student members of WBRU that the university would financially assist the station if necessary, asking them to “carefully consider the view that the station can indeed be brought back to health.”
“As you know, Brown stands ready to provide the station with a loan that will give you the time to make the necessary changes to the station’s operations,” Paxson wrote. “We have done this in the past, and it has worked out well.”
In the same April email, Paxson also cautioned students against selling the station’s biggest asset: the 95.5 FM signal, which WBRU announced Tuesday has been sold for $5.63 million to a Christian music network, which will begin broadcasting on it Friday.
“I want to raise one additional point,” Paxson wrote. “Which is that the financial assets of the station (mainly the signal) were created through the generosity of generations of alumni and friends of WBRU. I believe that the WBRU Board has an obligation to do all it can to honor the intent of those who have given to the station over the years.”
“I assume the WBRU Board has looked into the complex legal issues associated with a substantial change in the mission of a non-profit organization,” she continued. “But even putting the legalities aside, it’s important to consider the ethical issues associated with taking assets that were given to support a radio station and using them for another purpose, unless there are clearly no other alternatives.” . . .
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – The president of Brown University offered the school’s financial support to alt-rock station WBRU and cautioned students about the legal and ethical implications of selling their coveted 95.5 FM signal, Eyewitness News has learned.
In an April 27 email obtained by Eyewitness News, Brown President Christina Paxson told student members of WBRU that the university would financially assist the station if necessary, asking them to “carefully consider the view that the station can indeed be brought back to health.”
“As you know, Brown stands ready to provide the station with a loan that will give you the time to make the necessary changes to the station’s operations,” Paxson wrote. “We have done this in the past, and it has worked out well.”
In the same April email, Paxson also cautioned students against selling the station’s biggest asset: the 95.5 FM signal, which WBRU announced Tuesday has been sold for $5.63 million to a Christian music network, which will begin broadcasting on it Friday.
“I want to raise one additional point,” Paxson wrote. “Which is that the financial assets of the station (mainly the signal) were created through the generosity of generations of alumni and friends of WBRU. I believe that the WBRU Board has an obligation to do all it can to honor the intent of those who have given to the station over the years.”
“I assume the WBRU Board has looked into the complex legal issues associated with a substantial change in the mission of a non-profit organization,” she continued. “But even putting the legalities aside, it’s important to consider the ethical issues associated with taking assets that were given to support a radio station and using them for another purpose, unless there are clearly no other alternatives.” . . .
"What Killed WBRU: Station Member Speaks Out."
Listeners react to WBRU's pending sale: *
. . . There have been so many people coming out of the woodwork lately since the station went silent. More people my age that anything, saddened as we grew up with BRU. Its like losing a loved one . . . If not for WBRU I would not be in the music business now . . .
-- Rich Roberti
"This truly breaks my heart. I grew up in Rhode Island and have been listening to BRU for 30 years, despite moving to Massachusetts 20 years ago. I love having the BRU Breakfast on weekdays to get me through my 1 hour commute to Hingham. I get my concert news from BRU. I get my craft brew recommendations from BRU. I get new and old music I love that is not available to us on any other FM station in reach from BRU. This is not just a loss for the people Rhode Island, this impact will be felt throughout Southern New England.
There must still be a way to save our beloved BRU?!?!?!"
-- Maria DiCarlo Bertino, North Attleboro, Massachusetts
"If the board is worried about the overall value of the station, why let it go under? Are they going to sell the equipment? Does the signal have value? Something sounds off to me, why let something fail if you are worried about its value. makes no sense. How much money is it losing, each month?"
-- Glenn Anderson, South Kingstown, Rhode Island
"They should open it up to local volunteers. There are so many of us in RI and MA that have radio experience that love the station with the financial turn around plan and a staff that LOVES the station it could be done. So sad and thoughtless. <3
-- Cathy Bowden, Listener
"The awful thing is that this whole conversation is about money. Which is so odd because BRU is a non-profit educational student workshop. Meaning that they don't pay taxes!!! I'm really disappointed in this decision because I sometimes still listen to the station out here in Southern California. I have so much hope for the new generation, but I guess they are going to be just as greedy as older generations. SAD! I guess the board at Brown is just like our President!
All about the money!!!"
-- Justin Matthew, Listener
"Its really sad to see a board of directors with clearly illict intentions use manipulation and shady tactics to sway the students into this decision. Children who graduated in 2015 should not be dictating the future of this institution of Rhode Island. I grew up listening to BRU like almost everyone on here. It was the soundtrack of my youth. It's the soundtrack of my adulthood."
-- Michael Silvia, Art Director, Act Blue
(*) Comments from Providence Monthly.
Recent press on Save WBRU!
WPRI-TV News, Providence:
Former WBRU program director hopes to stop sale, save programming Posted July 24, 2017 |
Providence Monthly:
WBRU's Radio Silence With its signal for sale, Rhode Island’s alternative station could go off the air at any time. Posted July 19, 2017 |