The History of Student Radio Stations at Ferris
FERRIS INSTITUTE - FERRIS STATE COLLEGE - FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
WHFR - WFRS - WRKX - WFSU - BULLDOG RADIO
 

See our historical photographs on the Pictures page.

The history of student radio at Ferris is broad and contains many highs and lows, with which we are about to share with you. The information on the history was given to us via emails from station alums as well as research done from the Ferriscope yearbook and historical archives. If you have anything to add or correct to our history, please let us know by visiting the Contact Us page. History written and researched by former President and General Manager Zack East.

1957 Helen Ferris Hall residents Fred Richter and Bob Blair built a small carrier-current transmitter from old radio parts, with help from their fellow students and advisors in the T&I Radio and Television labs out of the AV Building (now IRC). The station, dubbed “WHFR,” (Helen Ferris Radio) was broadcast from the third floor laundry room of Helen Ferris Hall on a frequency of 1050 KHz, only accessible to students living in the same hall. Broadcasting was done with the help of fellow electronics technicians in the building and using records from each of the residents. The station was on the air from 6 PM to midnight daily with a staff of 8 students, and also received teletype news bulletins from WBRN.

1958 The Electronic Technicians Organization, along with Fred Richter, began the campus’ first all-dormitory station, “WFRS,” the Ferris Radio Service. They built a new transmitter from parts of the old transmitter from the former “WHFR.” The studios began their move from Helen Ferris Hall to the Terrace Level of Masselink Commons (now the Telecommunications Department). The frequency for broadcast changed to 730 KHz.

1960 The Station begins using advertising to outside sources as well as campus departments and organizations to fund the operations. A contract was made with the Auxiliary Services department to advertise events, and “WFRS” ashtrays were a popular sight on campus.

1961 Station studios and offices move from Masselink to the newly built Student Center (not yet the Rankin Student Center).

1962 Donald Rankin, of which the Student Center was later renamed, begins service as coordinating dean and advisor to “WFRS.”

1963 Frequency changes to 560 KHz, and broadcast times change to 4 PM to 2 AM.

1964 Radio remotes begin for weekend dances. Most were held in the dome room, where DJs from the station served as emcees.

1967 “WFRS” celebrates its tenth year in operation.

1968 Policies and transmission time change drastically, 7 AM to 2 AM.

1969 Began correspondence with 400 stations to establish a network of resources for perspective DJs wishing to make a career out of radio. The station begins using “wires” from UPI Teletype Corporation.

1970 Broadcast time increased to 19 hours daily. New transmitters are implemented all over campus.

1972 The station moves from the Student Center, rededicated as Rankin Student Center, to the Prakken Building.

1978 After years of adequate operation but dwindling interest and funds, “WFRS” changes its name and frequency in January to “WRKX” (Rocks), 670 Khz. A 250 watt transmitter was installed to make sure coverage extends to all of the residence halls, replacing the individual carrier-current transmission system (a transmitter in each building that uses the electrical system to broadcast).

1980 “WRKX” begins the apprenticeship program for students interested in being DJs and working with the station.

1982 The station changed formats from the ever-popular “all the music you like to hear” to progressive rock, sponsored by the College Music Journal (CMJ). They featured new acts to the rock and roll scene before the commercial stations.

1983 AOR, or Album Oriented Rock, begins airplay on the station.

1984 After a station remodeling during the summer, the station nearly faced disaster. A transmitter, circuit board, two broken turntables, and a cart machine were all in need of replacement. The Broadcast Electronics Technology department loaned “WRKX” the money it needed to operate for the new year. The frequency was changed yet again to 1330 KHz after a Chicago station was interfering with the signal at night.

1989 After funding problems, not enough advertising revenue, and dwindling student interest, the “WRKX” program took a decline. At this time, the station was reorganized, the AM transmitters were removed and sold away, and equipment was replaced with newer tape players and CD players, as well as professional turntables.

1990 At the beginning of the year, the station, using the newly bought equipment, began broadcasting on the new campus cable television system, which reaches all 19 residence halls at Ferris. The new station would be called “WFSU,” (Ferris State University), and began broadcasting on Channel 10. The station moved back to Masselink Hall, where it began as “WFRS,” in a small windowed room in the Telecommunications complex.

1992 In order to make money to establish the 15 year goal of FM radio at Ferris, “WFSU” began a new unit to the organization: Live DJing. The station purchased two professional turntables, with portable coffin, and a mixing board. The new Mobile unit was a huge campus success.

2000 Citing a need for newer and better equipment, “WFSU’s” DJs put in a request to the SAFAC student fund for new professional Mobile equipment. The request was approved and a new coffin with digital CD players, a new mixer board, Peavy amplifiers and speakers, and some lighting equipment was purchased. The services have since increased with the better quality of equipment.

2003 The year of change began for “WFSU” began in August, as the station transitioned the name to “Bulldog Radio-WFSU” to prepare for the new and exciting venture into FM radio broadcasting. The studios saw the addition of two computer systems, one controlling automated music when DJs are gone, and the other controlling the video feed on the campus cable channel 22. The group’s numbers also increased dramatically from 8 students from previous year, to almost 20 students.

2004 to Today The call letters “WFSU” (the legal call letters belonging to Florida State University) were replaced with the more suiting and legal “Bulldog Radio” title.

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