Angelina WagnerHow far can the limits be pushed on Cabrini’s radio station WYBF? To ascertain how far an individual can go on Cabrini’s public radio station, one must understand the rules and guidelines set forth by Cabrini as well as the Federal Communications Commision.
“Cabrini is very persistent in not only following the FCC guidelines, but following the guidelines of being a private institution,” Ryan Norris, a junior English and communication major, said. As host of “Late Night Testosterone,” Norris, and all other WYBF jockeys, have to comply with rules outlined by station manager Krista Mazzeo. If said rule is broken, the student will face several consequences.
Prohibited in Mazzeo’s outline is the use of foul language and drug or alcohol references. Breaking the rule is cause for one-week suspension from the station. A second violation entails immediate dismissal from the station, a failure for the course and permanent dismissal from WYBF.
The station rules complement that of the colleges. Exemplifying this policy would be the case in which the FCC allowed the “f-word” to be used as an adjective. Both Krista and Cabrini’s rules negated that allowance.
Mazzeo’s outline also holds WYBF jockeys accountable for their guests and callers as well. If a guest should fail to abide by the rule, the jockey will no longer be permitted guests. In the event that a caller breaks this rule, the jockey will not be allowed to air callers.
“We’re an open forum for campus discussion. We raise important unspoken issues on campus and say what other radio shows don’t,” freshman English and communication major Dan Squire, a regular guest on “Late Night Testosterone,” said.
One instance involved a band known as The Bloodhound Gang as studio guests. While on the air, the band members tried to coerce females to remove their tops and attempted to bring alcoholic beverages into the studio. While the action was brought under control, Mazzeo still decided to pull the band’s CDs from the stations library.
The station manager dealt with another violation that led to the dismissal of an Eastern University student after violating the guest policy and allowing “obnoxious, demeaning and highly sexual content on his show,” Mazzeo said.
An instance occurred last semester on “The Random Show,” which was hosted by sophomore English and communication major Wayne Mac Dowell and Ray Croce, a sophomore history and political science major. “I have personally pushed two really big limits,” Mac Dowell said. These are the two instances that led to the suspension of the show. The first being “candies for panties,” an escapade that called for females to exchange their underwear for candy. Coupled with the brassiere bartering was a comment where a listener was referred to as a “failed abortion.” These incidents had pushed the limits far enough and thus warranted a suspension.
The violations tend to stem from the same root. “Most of the limits pushed are in regards to foul language and sexual content,” Mazzeo said.
Although pushing the limits often has a negative connotation, there are different ways in which the students at WYBF break traditional standards of radio. Cabrini’s music format is different than that of mainstream radio station. “An independent of any kind will get more recognition on college radio than any other corporate station,” Mac Dowell said.
Rule breaking aside, the Cabrini College radio station has established a platform that focuses on the unknown artist and local music scene rather than stirring up controversy. “We expose a lot, which is more important than pushing limits,” Maro said.
