At some point last year, Rissa Rogus and Elizabeth Kim stumbled upon a cardboard box in the WUOG music room. There was nothing particularly unusual about that. WUOG—the University of Georgia’s student-operated radio station—amasses boxes like outdated paper clips.

However, there was something about this specific box that caught their attention, prompting the two music directors to unwrap it. What they discovered was a treasure.

The meticulously organized records and CDs inside featured a first pressing of Substance, a renowned two-record compilation from New Order. Other rare finds from Blondie, David Bowie, Fugazi, and more—icons of alternative music—were also included. A handwritten note was tucked within as well.

Written in flowing cursive on a piece of notebook paper, Lars Gotrich identified himself as a former WUOG staff member. In 2008, while WUOG endeavored to clear out its studio located atop Memorial Hall in preparation for its move to the Tate Student Center, heaps of records and CDs were discarded due to lack of space in the new archive.

Gotrich AB ’05, who is now affiliated with NPR Music, was appalled. He salvaged a box of music from the trash and took it back home. In 2023, he sent it back.

Gotrich felt guilty about taking everything without consent, and although none of the artists in the box would fit today’s WUOG playlist—they are too mainstream for college radio these days—he wished for the station to reclaim its music.

“One wonderful aspect of radio is the emphasis on physical media,” remarks Laura Duncan, WUOG’s program director. “We have turntables; we possess CD players and vintage cassettes in our archives. We provide a valuable environment for this media to be utilized, and even if people tune into us online, they still receive that sensation of physical media and connection.”

The classification of music termed “alternative” is constantly evolving, yet the essence behind it remains lively. WUOG is currently 52 years old but is far from settling into complacency.

Come as You Are

For as long as she can recall, Katie Sawyer has adored music. She held the position of drum major in her high school band, so upon arriving at UGA, she searched for a space to share her passion for music with others. Thus, in her first semester on campus, Sawyer participated in an interest meeting at WUOG and has not looked back since.

“There’s something uniquely special about this station,” states Sawyer, a fourth-year major in entertainment and media studies. “I needed to have this as part of my existence.”

As a freshman, Sawyer learned the ropes to become a DJ and adopted the on-air name DJ Muppet Man. (All 132 WUOG DJs use aliases.) She then ascended to the position of internal affairs director before becoming general manager in 2024. Sawyer manages the station’s 17-member executive committee along with its staff of over 300 individuals.

“Just like me, everyone here is incredibly passionate about radio, music, and Athens as a whole,” shares Sawyer, who dedicates between 20 to 30 hours each week to station duties. “I fully anticipated some of the pressures associated with the role, but I truly didn’t foresee how enthusiastic everyone is to assist.”

Shiny, Happy People

The most enthusiastic WUOGers (pronounced woo-AWG-ers) are Sawyer’s 17 deputies on the executive committee. They lead initiatives in programming, outreach, operations, digital media, and archiving. They also draw strength from their peers.

“I arrived here and discovered my community,” expresses William Sealy, a third-year double major in business and history. As WUOG’s community outreach director, Sealy spearheads efforts to reconnect with station alumni nationwide.

Over time, WUOG’s alumni outreach has had its ups and downs, but since the station’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2022, the current staff’s initiatives have encountered considerable success.

Present staff regularly engage with alumni through social media groups and face-to-face interactions. For instance, former staff return to campus to host hour-long shows where they “seize the airwaves” to play both classic and contemporary hits. Alumni also participate in WUOG-sponsored events such as concerts and panel discussions, providing ample opportunity to share their stories.

 

Love Shack

WUOG 90.5 FM first transmitted on Oct. 16, 1972. Since that time, it has remained one of the most significant college radio stations in the nation. Members of R.E.M. served as DJs, as did 2000s super-producer Brian Burton, better known as Danger Mouse.

Athens was a pivotal hub of the alternative music surge, and WUOG both mirrored and propelled that movement. Yet, the station has consistently offered more than merely a jukebox. It has provided coverage of news, sports, weather, and campus events. Moreover, it has amplified the voices of countless students.

For 36 years, WUOG operated from Memorial Hall. For the students who worked there, the location became a sacred space. As shabby as it was cherished, WUOG’s headquarters resembled a living room from a 1970s sitcom, and the staff took pride in it.

Fashion and musical trends evolved through the years,but WUOG consistently maintained its distinctiveness. That distinctiveness, that rebellious spirit, is something WUOG graduates continue to cherish. However, they also recognize that circumstances evolve.

“I’m thrilled by what they’re undertaking,” states Jennifer Griffith ABJ ’86, MA ’92, PhD ’01, a former WUOG staff member throughout her entire undergraduate experience and now a faculty member at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. The current team initially contacted her during the 50th anniversary commemoration, and Griffith now checks in from time to time.

“The students exude so much passion,” she adds. “They approach things differently than we did, and you can’t force them to conform to our methods, but I’m learning to embrace that,” she chuckles.

Transmission from building rooftops and smoke-filled control rooms are relics of the past. “Enjoy yourselves,” Griffith advises. “Pursue what you wish to pursue. This is your domain now.”

Fresh Journeys in Hi-Fi

While WUOG’s Memorial Hall studio wore its dirt like a medal, the station’s Tate Center area is luminous, spacious, inviting, and well organized.

Student workers come and go seemingly without pause; they take breaks to grab lunch, study, or simply socialize. The elevated stage in the corner features bands every Tuesday evening for the Live in the Lobby concert series. At other times, it serves as generous space to unwind.

“I spend a lot of time here,” remarks Megan Dawson, a second-year public relations student and WUOG’s director of external affairs. “Between classes, I’ll drop by the lobby to chat with others or complete my assignments. It doesn’t feel like a job or a significant commitment because I enjoy it so much. This is where I want to be constantly.

Anyone who asserts that radio is fading away has never been to the studio. And every staff member brings their unique viewpoints with them. In today’s environment, a variety of tastes maintains WUOG’s alternative vibe.

“We have individuals who are obsessed with hyper-pop and others who appreciate 1930s labor protest music,” says Sealy, citing two of WUOG’s more unusual genres.

While alternative music enthusiasts have enjoyed bending rules historically, WUOG does maintain one key rule. DJs are prohibited from playing any artist who has appeared on the Billboard 200 album chart or has over three million listeners on Spotify. Occasionally, underground artists may rise above their WUOG playlist status. Chappell Roan is a recent case in point.

We all recognize that we have a responsibility to raise up lesser-known voices.” — Katie Sawyer, WUOG general manager

This Must Be the Place

While the lobby serves as the station’s center of activity and the booth showcases its flair, the archives represent WUOG’s core essence. Its shelves boast thousands of carefully organized records and CDs, many of which are irreplaceable.

“There were numerous local bands who sent us CDs in the ’90s and then just disappeared,” explains local music director Rissa Rogus. “We’re the only ones who possess a copy of their music, and that’s an incredible privilege.”

But that’s not the sole treasure stored in the archives.

On a low shelf at the back lies a box of journals, many of which date back decades. Ultimately, these journals will be forwarded to UGA’s Special Collections Libraries as part of the new WUOG Collection, which will encompass decades of playlists, program guides, promotional content, and correspondence.

For years, DJs have jotted down their musings or sketches in these journals, each pertaining to a specific year. Much of the content isn’t suitable for a family publication.

“We’re still making the same jokes,” states Elizabeth Kim. “It truly makes you feel like you belong to something profoundly significant and exceptionally special.”

Once in a Lifetime

With thousands of records and CDs cataloged in WUOG’s archive, what is the favorite of the executive team? The consensus is clear. It’s a first-edition copy of Talking Heads: 77, the band’s iconic debut. WUOG’s copy went missing, and throughout the years, the album has developed a nearly mythical reputation.

“I recall during my freshman year, people were discussing it as if it were this legendary artifact, and then I went and discovered it,” shares Elizabeth Kim (right), a fourth-year double major in English and journalism. “Where did you uncover it?!?!?” inquired her astonished co-workers.

“It was located in the Talking Heads section.”

Perhaps the most delightful aspect of the discovery was a humorous WUOG critique from that era that was stored with the record. “The beats are groovy. The vocals could use some work.”

Later that autumn, Kim embraced her newfound prominence at the station and dressed as Talking Heads’ frontman (and vocalist) David Byrne, complete with the oversized suit from the concert film Stop Making Sense.

“I think we overlook how vital radio is,” she notes. “It’s fascinating to ponder that something we handle now and place on the shelf will spark excitement two decades from now.”

Entities in the Material World

In 1979, a motley crew of radio staff formed their own band, naming themselves the Wuoggerz. At times, there would be over a dozen members on stage playing a wide array of instruments, achieving varying levels of success. One member, drummer Bill Berry, possessed considerable skill. He would soon become a part of R.E.M.

Despite their talent, the Wuoggerz earned an opportunity to open for The Police at the Georgia Theatre. The band was so taken with the Wuoggerz performance and the audience’s response—principally comprised of musician girlfriends and other acquaintances—that The Police invited them to open for the remainder of their southeastern tour.

The Wuoggerz had to decline. They had morning classes to attend.

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