Comments from the petition: Page 9

Please reconsider your decision. I believe it is a mistaken notion that the
change in programming is the most appropriate one for your listeners in this
area. I truly believe that it'll cost the station much more than it stands to
gain. I was very saddened to learn of your decision. I do hope you will
reconsider.
Thank you.

I am deeply saddened by the decision to change the format of WUFT-FM. All of
the wise ones form all cultures in times past and today say that the key to a
rich, full, sane life is balance. Removing classical music (which has been
medically shown to reduce stress) and adding more news (which tends to heighten
our already high stress levels) will take away one of the tried and true methods
many of us have for journeying through these troubled times. If people really
want to listen to more news, that is readily available. But taking away NPR's
excellent classical music programs will leave a huge gap. I am hopeful that you
will reconsider this disturbing decision.

There is plenty of news available on TV, internet, and the newspaper. But I want
my music the same as it was on Classic 98. Also, I want Classic 98 available on
my car radio without buying a digital radio.

As a professor for 35 years, I was discouraged by the continuing dumbing-down of
curriculum. In the face of that, I was delighted to know that Classic 89 still
offered a high standard. Please help Gville stay enlightened. Keep the
music-based format!

I have a digital radio. When listening to music on channel 2 there are frequent
periods of silence (dropouts) in the music. This does not happen on channel 1 in
digital and clearly not on the analog broadcast. Check with your engineers. They
are aware of the problem. How do you Know that listeners turn you off after the
news? Who did the survey research? My car radio is analog. No music in the
car.

I like a combination of talk and music with more music in the mix. What has
happened to the jazz that was on Friday evenings?

I have been a member of Public Radio since 1957 in Minneapolis. This is one of
the few times that I have been sorely disappointed in NPR, and hope for a
reconsideration of this nonsense.

Please keep the old music format.

Dear President Machen, and Dear Dean Wright,
From the day I entered the U.S.A. and started to live in Gainesville and
discovered Classic 89 I was hooked!
Such a beautifully balanced program, built up with knowledge, love, and care.I
bragged about it to my relatives
and friends in the Netherlands, where I come from. I sent them the
program-guide. They were very impressed and
envious! Living here now for more than 20 years, Classic 89 became more than a
super- radio- program. It became
a trusted friend.
Please, let us keep this friend, on a normal radio wave, just like it still is
to-day!

This morning, I plugged in my pocket radio and headed off for my daily walk
around Kanapaha Veterans Park. I walk early - and the music lets me relax and
absorb sights and smells of the woods. All of a sudden, I realized it was the
last day I would be able to count on my radio for the start of my day. After
all these years, how unbearably sad. Tomorrow, if I take the radio, I will be
barraged with all the problems of the day (which I usually gather when I'm home
fixing breakfast).
I am certain you did not consider the effects of your actions when you decided
to transfer the classical music OFF the channel everyone can hear TO a secondary
line on HD, which only a small percentage of people have in their ear, in their
car or in their home.
I beg you to reconsider this change, reinstate the people who have given the
station its flavor and personality, many for MANY years, and return us to the
precious world where classical music reigns - on the ONLY STATION AVAILABLE IN
GAINESVILLE.
Thank you.