WSKB 89.5 FM COLLEGE RADIO
FACULTY ADVISOR'S PAGE

Dr. Michael Filas, Associate Professor of English

From left: Colin Jalbert (2012), Winston Taylor (2011), Brendan Mehu (2012), Mike Quinlan (2011), Karen Renda (2012), Andrew Johnson (2011), Emily Thomas (2012), and Jimmy Hewitt (2010), all (except Jimmy) members of the 2010-1011 Executive Board, shown here in New York City attending the CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival. Photo taken by Michael Filas, October 2010.

Welcome! You can use this page as a portal to WSKB LIVE STREAMING!

Or, you can click here to visit the official WSKB website.

Current News: The latest development is the new web page developed by Emily Thomas, now housed on our own university server, which, after years of changing our look and url every year, should stabilize the look and layout of our web presence. Also stop by the station on the third floor of Ely to see how the DJs are decorating the place.

Brief History: I have been Faculty Advisor to WSKB since 2003. Typically the largest student club on campus, WSKB is operated by students who elect an Executive Board to lead in that responsibility. Executive Board members design the programming, schedule the shows for student DJs, run all promotions, comply with FCC regulations for broadcasting, maintain an active constitution and operations handbook, and put on live musical performances and events both on and off campus. Not everyone wants that level of involvement. Any student with an interest can attend the DJ meetings, learn the basic rules and how to work the equipment, and have a show on the radio. Along with the heavy emphasis on various types of music, in recent years the station has had a growing interest in WSC Athletics and sports talk radio, with students sometimes broadcasting live coverage of football and basketball games.

In the 2009-2010 academic year, WSKB moved into its awesome state-of-the-art new studio on the top floor of the renovated Ely Hall tower. We also completed an upgrade to online streaming this year, and now play on Macs and Windows machines worldwide. Expansion plans include opening a second studio in downtown Westfield and broadening daytime shows to include talk, news, and community radio programming. So, keep checking back with WSKB for updates.

It is a pleasure to advise students in the radio club and to share their comaraderie and pleasure in music, sports, and being part of campus life. The names and faces change year-after year, as do the musical tastes and fashions. But it is always amazing to see the radio students work collectively to operate the station well (no small task), practice effective leadership, and collaborate with each other, with college administrators, with Student Government, with FCC regulators, and with the community to manage a broad range of personalities, challenges, and issues. The other great part is how darn popular the club is, always with a full schedule of shows featuring students sharing their music, jokes, sports, and other interests. In the 2010-2011 school year, Professor Mark Nimkoff (Communication) joined the station as a much needed second faculty advisor. Welcome Mark!

Generally, students get involved and get on the radio beginning in fall sememster, even if the schedule of shows sometimes is reset at the beginning of spring semester. Elections for the next year's Executive Board occur in spring.

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to email me: Michael Filas.

If you prefer to contact the student who is General Manager of the station, please email Andrew Johnson. He is the contact for all incoming PSAs, music submissions, and most student inquiries about becoming a DJ.

If you have a question regarding WSKB financial matters, or general inquiries about student government or student clubs, please contact Barb Hand.

Thanks for checking in and keep on listening to WSKB!

last updated: January 13, 2011