Comments from the petition: Page 6

At present there is already too much talk on the WUFT-FM classical music
programs. I want to hear MUSIC, not a lot of talk about the music. A short
introduction, say a max of 15 sec, is OK -- but a 1 to 15 minute dialog on it is
too much!!! I guess that I will continue exclusively with XM radio.

A university town needs classical music that is conveniently and inexpensively
accessible to the general public. It is part of the University's responsibility
to the community to provide this music. HD radios are not cheap--if they can be
found in town at all.
I am a fan of classical music and pay very little attention to the Afro-pop,
Celtic, folk, and jazz that WUFT-FM also played, but I know that they, too, are
not conveniently and inexpensively available to the public. Providing these
diverse musical types is again part of the University's cultural
responsibility.
It is a great disappointment to me that the University is permitting this music
to be shifted to HD which is not easily available. I know that I will never
contribute another penny to WUFT-FM while this situation continues.

Like many others, I feel downright betrayed that the format we've supported
faithfully for years has been completely scrapped w/o any input from its
listeners. Classic 89 was (and still is, for a few more days at least) one of
THE best things about living here. I don't want to wake up to standardized,
nationalized McRadio; I want to wake up to Richard Drake and his erudite, often
amusing, always enlightening comments about the great music we're hearing.
McRadio can be gotten anywhere: on the Jax station and on the internet. It's not
hard to find. A homegrown forum for supporting music and the arts IS
increasingly hard to find, and it makes no sense why we're scrapping it when the
appreciative audience is definitely there. Classical music is a necessary
cultural resource that should be kept available to everyone. None of the
explanations advanced by the either the current or former journalism deans
computes. To those who snicker and say, "aw, just stick in a CD and shut up,"
who among us could afford the vast selection of CDs Classic 89 has? How many
composers have I "discovered" as a result of listening to the great programming
on this station? Why can't the news-talk junkies who aren't getting enough of a
fix on Classic 89 and don't feel like turning on the Jax station or accessing
the Internet be the ones to have to purchase an HD radio instead?

The decision to drop the current format of what has always been known as
"classic 89" was done in a highhanded manner and against the wishes of those of
us unhappy to be required to purchase a digital radio to receive former
programming.

I am not only a UF faculty member, but a long term financial supporter of
WUFT-FM and the UF performing arts programs. The only reason my husband and I
contribute to WUFT-FM is the classical music programming. If the format change
goes through, we are done as contributors. There is talk radio everywhere but
only one source of classical music in this area. If WUFT-FM does go to
all-talk, we will take the money we contribute and use it for a subscription to
satellite radio, which does still program classical music.
And please don't tell me to get an HD receiver. I already have one that I
received as a gift for a donation to WUFT-FM. It doesn't work in my car!

PLEASE DO NOT DISCONTINUE GOOD MUSIC!

Dean Wright and whoever else was involved in this decision seem to have done it
by the seat of their pants and not thought out the real consequences to the
listening public. Thinking that this was a done deal, I decided to bite the
bullet and buy a digital radio. Guess what? I cannot find Dr. Wright's vaunted
$75 model anywhere in Gainesville stores. Radio Shack has models for $130 and
$150. I went to Best Buy because there was comment in the Sun about their having
$50 models. I went there last night and none of the staff knew what I was
talking about; one staff member said they had other models that would plug into
cars with MP3s, etc. or "your home entertainment center." I have a 1991 auto
and a dinky stand alone 19 inch tv and a boom box. So much for that. Come Monday
no more classical music and I was one of those who did stay with the station at
9am; I listened where I volunteer and many of the customers said how grateful
they were to hear "good" music.
At this point I must say I am damned annoyed that I have to be a Charles Proteus
Steinmetz to get a radio that is compatible with expensive or in my case
non-existent technologies. So much for having any old cheap FM radio and just
turning it on.
As to having more talk shows, BASTA. I already have an FM antenna [and my car
radio too] to pick up the Jacksonville NPR station--if that was what I wanted to
do. An antenna comes with most radios or you can use olde rabbit ear tv
antennas, much cheaper than buying a digital radio.
I also am not impressed with the argument that the college's students will help
fill the gap in local coverage. It's painfully obvious many of them can't even
bother to read their copy before they go on air; the mispronunciations are often
and ghastly. What does it say when one of their so-called star interns is nailed
for plagiarism. I used to help Jean Chance with her Fact Finding classes: Good
Lord. It was obvious from their thought processes and efforts that very, very
few would ever make competent investigative reporters. Theirs was the Barbara
Walters approach: Everyone will be glad to spill their guts and will not run
away from me or despise me for being a member of the 4th estate.
In sum,I consider this a breach of trust; I was there at the beginning and
pledged money and time to help Classic 89. What we had was a good balance: news,
jazz, folk, Prairie Home Companion, some public affairs programming, and great
mix of classical music. I shall miss greatly not being able to hear Richard or
Dana or Agnes or Henry any more.
Re: this all NPR talk programming. You all know the acronym TMI. You got
it.

The proposed "exciting" change from classical music to chat radio is not at all
a welcome one. The option to purchase an HD radio in order to receive classical
music programming is not feasible in these economic times.

The apparent contempt for Classic 89's long-time supporters is really
breathtaking.

It is a wonderful gift from the University to have classical music available at
all times, especially when I am driving. I am not pleased that the College of
Communications and Journalism wants to drop music and make WUFT-FM a station on
which student-led local government news and National Public Radio talk shows
would be aired. It seems to me we have enough of that sort of thing. At
present, WUFT-FM is the only place where we can listen to good music without the
purchase of a special car radio which with its cost and installation would be
fairly expensive. This is an expense which some people (especially at this
time) cannot afford.
In a letter to the editor in the Gainesville Sun on Friday July 31, Jeff Knee
suggests that UF's College of Fine Arts take over the direction of WUFT-FM.
This would give those students opportunity to develop skills in planning and
executing programs related to their field. Jeff also suggests that the students
of communication and journalism could practice their skills by planning and
executing programs on the other two radio stations owned by the University.
This seems like a good idea to me.
I will add that, if the change is made and we cannot get classical music on
WUFT-FM after October, we will seriously rethink our contribution to that
station.