WSIA
Encyclopedia
WSIA is a college radio station located on the campus of The College of Staten Island
, part of the City University of New York
. The station broadcasts on 88.9 MHz FM. WSIA is an alternative rock station, with specialty jazz, rock, and urban formatted content, in addition to talk radio.
WSIA transmits to Staten Island
, Brooklyn
, Manhattan
, and Queens
, New York
. WSIA can also be heard in parts of Union County, New Jersey
as well as Essex County, New Jersey
.
's Sunnyside campus. They ran some wire to the cafeteria and started spinning records. These students worked with the College and applied for an FM license. They were granted a construction permit.
In the late 1970s, a new group of students applied to the Student Government and Association for money to commence construction. In 1980 a general manager, Greg Adamo, was hired to handle the daily tasks of the station and coordinate the construction of the station. In early 1981, an agreement was reached to acquire an antenna site on Todt Hill which is noted as the tallest point on the East Coast. Phone lines were eventually installed for the transmitter. The remaining construction of the studio was expedited in the basement of the E Building on the Sunnyside campus. On August 31, 1981, WSIA commenced regularly scheduled programming. It was the culmination of a tremendous amount of hard work by members of the College and students.
For the next 12 years, WSIA-FM languished somewhat invisibly in the E-building basement below the cafeteria at the Sunnyside campus. Few people at the college even knew the E-building had a basement or that The College of Staten Island had a radio station. However, many people from outside the immediate College community had come to realize just what WSIA was doing. With the format in place, WSIA began gaining a reputation for playing music that nobody else on the overcrowded New York radio dial was.
The founding members of WSIA include Ronald Resnick, Greg Cully, Joe Mininni, Karen Cino, and Diane T (Champagne) amongst others.
A number of changes have happened since 1981. The station's offices and studios have been enlarged and improved. In 1985, the College showed its commitment by picking up the salary of the General Manager. Previously, this had been paid out of student fees. The programming has also undergone a number of changes. Yet, students have always been committed to two things. One, to be new and innovative. The other, to serve the Staten Island community. Although WSIA was on the cutting edge in playing news music, the station was not highly promoted by the college. Most of the station’s support was a direct result of its listeners as the station grew in recognition. In 1985 and 1986 WSIA was host to two regional conferences of the Intercollegiate Broadcasting Convention Intercollegiate Broadcasting System
.
In 1993, the College of Staten Island
moved its entire campus to a larger location. This enabled an opportunity for WSIA to obtain a state-of-the-art facility. The facility now houses a 64 track recording studio, multiple broadcast booths/rooms and full office space for its staff. The recording studio also houses musical instruments such as guitars, pianos, turntables, and much more.
Membership at WSIA is open to any student of The College of Staten Island, part-time or full-time. No previous experience is necessary. The studios are located in the Campus Center, right next to the bookstore in Room 106. Just look for the big neon sign, and there we are! If you are interested in becoming a member, ask to sign up for a general workshop.
WSIA’s current programming includes music, news, public affairs discussion, promotions, sports talk, and more. The music department broadcasts live programs catering to various genres of music. The stations music department is noted to have hosted many established recording artist’s in-studio commentary and interviews. The sports department broadcasts many live events such as baseball, college basketball, football, and more. Local bands such as The Delay, Everynightdrive, Cobalt Sky, and Its Not Over have been featured on the WSIA airwaves,
WSIA's program schedule varies by semester. Please check back frequently for updates.
WSIA ON-AIR SCHEDULE AS OF 07/2011
Mondays:
12am-10am-Music
10am-1pm-"WSIA Monday Midday Show" with Chris Soriano
1pm-4pm-Jack Cobb
4pm-7pm-WSIA Drive Time Monday LIVE with Liz Hansen
7pm-10pm-The Bandbox with Anthony Pierno
10pm-12am-Music
Tuesdays:
12am-1pm-Music
1pm-4pm-DJ Dev
4pm-7pm-WSIA Drive Time Tuesday LIVE with Chris Soriano
7pm-10pm--"Crazy Nights" with Miss Melinda
10pm-12am-The Emilio Sparks Radio Experience
Wednesdays:
12am-2am-The Emilio Sparks Radio Experience
2am-1pm-Music
10am-11am- WSIA News Block for Veteran's Affairs
1pm-4pm-Jack Cobb
4pm-7pm-WSIA Drive Time Wednesday LIVE with Anna Tardogno
7pm-10pm-The Vault with Chris Soriano
10pm-12am-Music
Thursdays:
12am-10am-Music
10am-11:30am-WSIA News Block
11:30am-1pm-Music
1pm-4pm-Mike Squillaro
4pm-7pm-WSIA Drive Time Thursday LIVE with Chris Soriano
7pm-10pm-"All 90's" with Anna Tardogno
10pm-12am- "My Night Off" with Jack Cobb
Fridays:
12am-2am- "My Night Off" with Jack Cobb
2am-10am- Music
10am-1pm-DJ Ari T
1pm-4pm-Schizophrenic Radio with Ms. Melinda
4pm-7pm-WSIA Drive Time Friday LIVE with Andrew DiLorenzo (July 8th-Sept.2nd; Eric Vega Giordano returns on Sept. 9th)
7pm-10pm- Music
10pm-12am-"WSIA Friay Night Dance" with DJ C
Saturdays:
12am-2am-"WSIA Friday Night Dance" with DJ C
2am-10am-Music
10am-1pm-Dr. J
1pm-3pm-Music
3pm-4pm-The Warmup Show with Chris Soriano
4pm-7pm-The Roundtable
7pm-12am-Music
Sundays:
12am-7am-Music
7am-10am-The Kol Isha Show
10am-1pm-The Rockin Rebbetzin
1pm-12am-Music
Christine Dempsey - WHYY
Joe Mininni - Former Meteorologist WNBC and WNYW
College of Staten Island
The College of Staten Island is a four-year, senior college of and is one of the 11 senior colleges in the City University of New York. Programs in the liberal arts and sciences and professional studies lead to bachelor's and associate's degrees. The master's degree is awarded in 13 professional...
, part of the City University of New York
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
. The station broadcasts on 88.9 MHz FM. WSIA is an alternative rock station, with specialty jazz, rock, and urban formatted content, in addition to talk radio.
WSIA transmits to Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, and Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. WSIA can also be heard in parts of Union County, New Jersey
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
as well as Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
.
History
In the mid 1970s, a group of students interested in radio gathered in a broom closet in the C Building of The College of Staten IslandCollege of Staten Island
The College of Staten Island is a four-year, senior college of and is one of the 11 senior colleges in the City University of New York. Programs in the liberal arts and sciences and professional studies lead to bachelor's and associate's degrees. The master's degree is awarded in 13 professional...
's Sunnyside campus. They ran some wire to the cafeteria and started spinning records. These students worked with the College and applied for an FM license. They were granted a construction permit.
In the late 1970s, a new group of students applied to the Student Government and Association for money to commence construction. In 1980 a general manager, Greg Adamo, was hired to handle the daily tasks of the station and coordinate the construction of the station. In early 1981, an agreement was reached to acquire an antenna site on Todt Hill which is noted as the tallest point on the East Coast. Phone lines were eventually installed for the transmitter. The remaining construction of the studio was expedited in the basement of the E Building on the Sunnyside campus. On August 31, 1981, WSIA commenced regularly scheduled programming. It was the culmination of a tremendous amount of hard work by members of the College and students.
For the next 12 years, WSIA-FM languished somewhat invisibly in the E-building basement below the cafeteria at the Sunnyside campus. Few people at the college even knew the E-building had a basement or that The College of Staten Island had a radio station. However, many people from outside the immediate College community had come to realize just what WSIA was doing. With the format in place, WSIA began gaining a reputation for playing music that nobody else on the overcrowded New York radio dial was.
The founding members of WSIA include Ronald Resnick, Greg Cully, Joe Mininni, Karen Cino, and Diane T (Champagne) amongst others.
A number of changes have happened since 1981. The station's offices and studios have been enlarged and improved. In 1985, the College showed its commitment by picking up the salary of the General Manager. Previously, this had been paid out of student fees. The programming has also undergone a number of changes. Yet, students have always been committed to two things. One, to be new and innovative. The other, to serve the Staten Island community. Although WSIA was on the cutting edge in playing news music, the station was not highly promoted by the college. Most of the station’s support was a direct result of its listeners as the station grew in recognition. In 1985 and 1986 WSIA was host to two regional conferences of the Intercollegiate Broadcasting Convention Intercollegiate Broadcasting System
Intercollegiate Broadcasting System
Intercollegiate Broadcasting System is an organization of over 1000 non-profit, education-affiliated radio stations .Founded in 1940, IBS is headquartered in New Windsor, New York, with a legal office in Washington, D.C., and frequently represents its members with FCC negotiations, copyright...
.
In 1993, the College of Staten Island
College of Staten Island
The College of Staten Island is a four-year, senior college of and is one of the 11 senior colleges in the City University of New York. Programs in the liberal arts and sciences and professional studies lead to bachelor's and associate's degrees. The master's degree is awarded in 13 professional...
moved its entire campus to a larger location. This enabled an opportunity for WSIA to obtain a state-of-the-art facility. The facility now houses a 64 track recording studio, multiple broadcast booths/rooms and full office space for its staff. The recording studio also houses musical instruments such as guitars, pianos, turntables, and much more.
WSIA Today
WSIA serves as an outlet for breaking emerging artists to the mass public. The station and its studio is a learning ground for students and aspiring broadcast enthusiasts alike. The station is operated by an all-student Board of Directors and employs a General Manager and Chief Engineer. The station’s general manager is Philip Masciantonio. The station’s Chef Engineer is John Ladley.Membership at WSIA is open to any student of The College of Staten Island, part-time or full-time. No previous experience is necessary. The studios are located in the Campus Center, right next to the bookstore in Room 106. Just look for the big neon sign, and there we are! If you are interested in becoming a member, ask to sign up for a general workshop.
Current Programming
Since the early days, programming has undergone a number of changes. Despite the growth of the station, the students remain committed to using the facilities in new and innovate ways. The station remains a beneficial and influential outlet to its listeners and sponsors.WSIA’s current programming includes music, news, public affairs discussion, promotions, sports talk, and more. The music department broadcasts live programs catering to various genres of music. The stations music department is noted to have hosted many established recording artist’s in-studio commentary and interviews. The sports department broadcasts many live events such as baseball, college basketball, football, and more. Local bands such as The Delay, Everynightdrive, Cobalt Sky, and Its Not Over have been featured on the WSIA airwaves,
WSIA's program schedule varies by semester. Please check back frequently for updates.
WSIA ON-AIR SCHEDULE AS OF 07/2011
Mondays:
12am-10am-Music
10am-1pm-"WSIA Monday Midday Show" with Chris Soriano
1pm-4pm-Jack Cobb
4pm-7pm-WSIA Drive Time Monday LIVE with Liz Hansen
7pm-10pm-The Bandbox with Anthony Pierno
10pm-12am-Music
Tuesdays:
12am-1pm-Music
1pm-4pm-DJ Dev
4pm-7pm-WSIA Drive Time Tuesday LIVE with Chris Soriano
7pm-10pm--"Crazy Nights" with Miss Melinda
10pm-12am-The Emilio Sparks Radio Experience
Wednesdays:
12am-2am-The Emilio Sparks Radio Experience
2am-1pm-Music
10am-11am- WSIA News Block for Veteran's Affairs
1pm-4pm-Jack Cobb
4pm-7pm-WSIA Drive Time Wednesday LIVE with Anna Tardogno
7pm-10pm-The Vault with Chris Soriano
10pm-12am-Music
Thursdays:
12am-10am-Music
10am-11:30am-WSIA News Block
11:30am-1pm-Music
1pm-4pm-Mike Squillaro
4pm-7pm-WSIA Drive Time Thursday LIVE with Chris Soriano
7pm-10pm-"All 90's" with Anna Tardogno
10pm-12am- "My Night Off" with Jack Cobb
Fridays:
12am-2am- "My Night Off" with Jack Cobb
2am-10am- Music
10am-1pm-DJ Ari T
1pm-4pm-Schizophrenic Radio with Ms. Melinda
4pm-7pm-WSIA Drive Time Friday LIVE with Andrew DiLorenzo (July 8th-Sept.2nd; Eric Vega Giordano returns on Sept. 9th)
7pm-10pm- Music
10pm-12am-"WSIA Friay Night Dance" with DJ C
Saturdays:
12am-2am-"WSIA Friday Night Dance" with DJ C
2am-10am-Music
10am-1pm-Dr. J
1pm-3pm-Music
3pm-4pm-The Warmup Show with Chris Soriano
4pm-7pm-The Roundtable
7pm-12am-Music
Sundays:
12am-7am-Music
7am-10am-The Kol Isha Show
10am-1pm-The Rockin Rebbetzin
1pm-12am-Music
Notable alumni
Champaine - WBLS program host for 25 yearsChristine Dempsey - WHYY
Joe Mininni - Former Meteorologist WNBC and WNYW