Comments from the petition: Page 41

Since Dean Wright didn't remove me from WUFT-FM's mailing list when I expressed
my concerns about the format change(I received, not one, but two requests to
contribute during this pledge drive), I guess he still isn't listening. Just so
it's clear, I'm not listening either (to WUFT, that is)!!!!

I had four radios all tuned to Classic 89. I woke up to Classics at Sunrise,
listened to the news programming on the way to and from work, and enjoyed the
Saturday operas and the variety of Sunday afternoon programming of kinds of
music genres, from organ recitals to Across the Prairie and On the Bridge. I
enjoyed the sense that some of these programs were hosted by local experts, and
I always found Agnes Klauder's strange pronunciations of titles and composers
both entertaining and educational. I felt that this was a local station in which
I participated.
I usually sent in my pledge without calling it in because there were so many
programs I enjoyed and which I wanted to support. Of course, I have no intention
of contributing to a radio station which now has left a big gap in my life. Like
so many others, I am both sad and angry.
Now I am rediscovering my CD collection, which has many memories attached. My
husband and I have started going to the Met Live HD broadcasts at the Regal
Cinema, which seemed an extravagance when I could enjoy the music for free on
the radio. I even figured out how to get my old radio to wake me up to a
cassette tape (it is pre-CD) and found some good ones at the Friends of the
Library sale.
I still miss the stimulation of Classic 89, the sense that there would always be
something new to discover or some surprise in hearing an old favorite. It would
be nice if you could bring it back, but I understand that it is necessary to
break any business that works in order to pay management its retention bonuses.

I am a retired legal secretary. Still spend a great deal of time on my computer
and it was always such a pleasure to listen to classical music, along with a bit
of news, etc., while sending messages to friends and relatives.
Now, the same "news" is on quite a bit of the time - nothing "new" about it,
except that I thoroughly miss my music!!!

I can just imagine what my friend, Doris Bardon, a founder of WUFT-FM, would say
if she was still alive. Doris was appalled when she moved to Gainesville to find
that there was no local classical music station and she did something about it.
I am proud to join the campaign to restore this cultural treasure to our
community.

There are many news/talk radio stations.
This was the only station in Gainesville that gave us wonderful classical and
jazz music to enjoy. Bring it back.

It is unbelievable to me that a prestigious institution of higher learning like
the U.of Florida would not have a public radio channel that offered a well
rounded format of classical and other music as well as high quality news/talk
information segments. I have always thought universities were places for
students and the community to come so one's outlook and scope of knowledge could
be broaden - to have a chance to be exposed to a wide range of thoughts, ideas,
and art forms perhaps never before considered. I recently moved here from
Salisbury, Maryland and for years financially supported the U. of Salisbury's
diverse public radio station. I had hoped to do that for the U.of Florida also.
I can not in all good conscience support a station that offers only news/talk
any more than I would consider donating to cable television news channels where
the daily news is repeated over and over ad nauseum. I know I read that
donations are not needed by the University to support the radio channel, but
please reconsider your decision to eliminate classical music on a channel that
is at least available to the majority of Gainesville residents. While I know
this may sound very grandiose, having a diverse radio station that includes
classical music does far more to advance ideas, society, civilization, and our
understanding of others than constant talking could ever hope to do. I first
learned of this concept in the book "Civilisation" by Kenneth Clark which was
reviewed on a public radio station long after the PBS television channel
broadcast the series. This conflict in Gainesville made me read the book again
and reflect on how important works of genius are to all of us. Again, please
reconsider.

We have some further questions about the format change. The "Powers that B"
rationalized that up to 70% of listeners would turn off their radios when the
classical music programs started. This is a meaningless statistic, without
knowing the statistical range of listeners?, age group?, sample size?.Was this a
National Survey? Local Survey?
During the previous membership drive one of the KEY selling points was that we
had the only station that aired classical music part of each day. What
happened?
When was the CLOSED DOOR decision made? Was it a year ago? Longer?
Finally, it seems that your decision does not follow guidelines of the Sunshine
State Laws.

The decision to switch formats deprives our community from radio exposure to
classical music. It should be reconsidered. There are many opportunities for our
citizens to become better informed on most issues, and for that reason it seems
to me that the greater loss is the lack of any over-air source of classical
music.

How I miss Bill McGlauphlin's Exploring Music!

Classical music provides a wonderful calming effect in this hectic world. Talk
radio simply makes tensions worse. I have lived in Gainesville for 8 years and
have sent in my financial support for public radio and television yearly.
Sadly, however, this year I am not renewing my support in protest to the loss of
classical music (and jazz too). You decided our views were not worth listening
to and now your station isn't worth listening to.