By Pleshae McPhee, Copyeditor
The Christmas spirit is in the air, and so are the airwaves of WLSL 92.7 radio. On Thursday Dec. 9, 2021, from 4 p.m.-6 p.m., the holiday spirit was turned all the way up at the “Rockin’ Around the Tree” event hosted by WLSL 92.7, the Saint Leo University campus radio station. Students, faculty, and members of the Saint Leo community gathered to share in cookies, cocoa, and carols courtesy of the station.
Organized by current Saint Leo communication majors, the event stemmed from a class project that tasked students with relaunching the campus radio station. One of the organizers, KJ Ryan, a junior majoring in communication studies, said that the event set out to encourage students to become more involved with the resource through internships, employment opportunities, and even volunteering.
“We did this for Fundraising and Campaigning, and we partnered with the radio station to launch a campaign to raise awareness and to do that, we are hosting this event,” said Ryan. “We wanted to bring awareness, get the students involved, and the event is actually a tactic to bring the students out.”
Ryan also explained that the event sought to highlight that the radio station can be a great resource for any type of student in any type of major at Saint Leo.
“We are looking to get student engagement and really bring awareness to it,” said Ryan. “It’s a great activity, we have a great station, and we have great resources for our students. Even if they are not a communications major or even a business major, they can use it as a hobby, which I think is really exciting. That’s what we want to do here today.”
The event featured Christmas music courtesy of the campus radio station, and an inflatable snow globe that attendees could take photos in. Additionally, there was an informational booth equipped with brochures where radio station student workers educated students interested in getting involved in the programs that the station provides.
Guests were able to enjoy hot chocolate, holiday treats that included gingerbread cookies and candy canes, and were gifted a free WLSL 92.7 t-shirt by downloading the Live365 app that has the campus station available 24/7.
Earnest Alexander, a junior majoring in hospitality management and tourism, said that he had not heard about the radio station until the event, but he enjoyed coming out.
“I mostly enjoyed being in the snow globe with one of my friends and took a picture with him,” said Alexander. “I have not heard about the WLSL 92.7 radio station before and I’m interested.”
Students were able to sign their name, leave contact information, and propose song requests and podcasting ideas for the station.
For more information on getting involved with WLSL 92.7, students can reach the Radio Advisory Council and station manager, John Mouw, at john.mouw@saintleo.edu. Students can also visit the campus radio station in the Tapia School of Business on the first floor.
