[wideminded]

I was shocked to hear recently that WCAL has been sold to MPR. My son went to St. Olaf college, where WCAL is located. As he is interested in radio, we went on a tour of the station. The situation was sadly similar to that at many campus radio stations. WCAL was one of the earliest radio stations in the country. Years ago college radio stations were places where students could participate and learn about radio. But as with many other college (and even high school) radio stations, over the years things at WCAL had become "professionalized" to the point that all work at the station was done by a staff and there was no room for students to participate in any way in the station operation.

Nevertheless, WCAL played marvelous classical music which could be heard very well in Minneapolis. They also broadcast services from the St. Olaf College chapel and some campus musical programs. The station manager (who got his start as at student before the "professionalization"), told us that WCAL had resisted becoming a full MPR station because MPR had the following demands:

1. The college would have to surrender the station's FCC license to MPR.

2. The college would have to deed the building in which the station was located to MPR, despite the fact that this building is located in the middle of the St. Olaf campus.

Apparently the college eventually decided to give in on these points. I haven't heard St. Olaf's side of this yet, so perhaps there are some advantages to the college and they didn't completely give away the farm. It's a great college with a Lutheran focus. It's true that the station wasn't offering much to the students, although it did give the college more of a presence in Minnesota.

[gas_dr]

I am an ole myself, and I was stunned to hear WCAL was being sold. There is a long letter written to alum stating the St. Olaf position. I graduated in 1994, and think that St. Olaf was perfect for me. Sadly, now, however, I am afraid it is going by way the liberal vein of the ELCA. I subsequently have stopped my financial support because of the official policy it has taken on many social issues.