Argyros Forum tunes in to Chapman Radio

For the first time, Chapman Radio is streaming through the speakers in AF the entire time the building is open. Photos courtesy of Chapman Radio

Chapman University students can now hear the sounds of Chapman Radio streaming through the speakers on the first floor of Argyros Forum (AF), following a summer of trial.

While walking through AF, students can hear the likes of Beach House, A$AP Rocky and numerous small “indie” bands as they grab a bite at the Student Union, walk to class or rest at the expansive study lounge. 

For the first time since its founding in 1967, Chapman Radio rang out on the first floor of AF this semester. Now, students can listen to the formerly internet-only, 24/7 radio station in person during the building’s operating hours. 

Freshman film production major Chaewon Suh has enjoyed listening to Chapman Radio in AF so far. 

“I did not know about Chapman Radio before coming to AF for the first time,” Suh said. “I like the playlist, but I wish they would play more K-Pop songs.”

Chapman Radio first started playing in AF after a series of tribulations, according to the music director of Chapman Radio and senior strategic and corporate communication major Gigi Sestito.

“Chapman Radio has been advocating for access to the music in the Student Union for a while now, and finally, we were granted permission to air in AF,” Sestito said. “Our staff members were always saying things like, ‘We have an award-winning radio station on campus, yet they are still playing another station (in AF).’”

Prior to Chapman Radio’s integration into AF, the building was plugged into a generic internet radio station, complete with numerous advertisements. Programming manager for Chapman Radio Bella Gerencser said that the student-run station would often hear complaints about the generic radio station’s selection of music. 

“We would always hear people say it was outdated or that the ads were annoying,” Gerencser said. 

Chapman Radio has previously only been internet-only since its creation in 1967.

It became clear to the Chapman Radio staff that students were not aware of their existence, despite being the second oldest club on campus. 

“Our station is known nationally, yet most students on campus still know very little about us,” Sestito said. “Being played in AF allows us to reach a wider audience of students.”

Over the summer, Travis Bartosh — Chapman Radio’s faculty advisor — worked with Information Systems and Technology (IS&T) to set up streaming the station in the student union. Sestito said they spent weeks trying to figure out the complicated logistical aspects. 

“I knew there would be some sort of technical difficulties when we started broadcasting in AF,” said Bartosh, who also serves as an instructor in the School of Communication. “At first the computer we were running the stream on kept crashing… I worked with IS&T to get a new computer (and) make a few adjustments so it doesn’t power down or go to sleep. Now the stream seems pretty dependable”

Sestito and her assistant, sophomore strategic & corporate communication major Gracie Quaccia, are now in charge of curating blocks of music that play in the student union. 

Self-described as the “living room of campus,” AF aims to provide students with a connection to the Chapman community, and provide programs relating to culture, education and entertainment through its student union.

Operating out of the basement at Henley Hall, Chapman Radio has over 50 live shows and nearly 100 DJs spanning three categories: talk, sports and music.

Furthermore, the station also aims to promote diversity and inclusivity on campus through their music curations. 

Sestito said that they played a five-hour block of music by Latinx artists for Latinx Heritage Month and they will be playing LGBTQ+ artists throughout October in honor of LGBTQ+ History Month. 

Sophomore creative writing major Natasha “Fish” Young is one student that has a live show on the radio Fish hosts her sci-fi psychological horror-comedy radio show “The Fisheye Forecast” on Chapman Radio on every other Fridays at 5 p.m.

Young said the advancement of streaming the radio station in AF is similar to the value of innovation for the station to always create new content.

“Chapman Radio is one of the oldest clubs on campus. However, that doesn't mean they are stubbornly rooted in tradition,” Young said. “I admire the station (for) valuing original content from their students and (the) ability to change with the times. I see the club as the freest creative space Chapman has.”

If Chapman Radio’s recent introduction into AF proves one thing, it’s that in the age of digital music, radio is not dead. For the student-run station’s staff, music is integral to their lives and their experiences at Chapman. 

Gerencser hosts two shows on the station: “You're Not Like Other Girls” every Tuesday at 9 p.m. and “Sewer Rat Radio” every Wednesday at 11 a.m.

“I love Chapman Radio and have been involved since my first semester freshman year in 2020, so it's really exciting to see the growth in just two school years,” Gerencser said.