On a given Tuesday night at 8 p.m., in Room G02 of the Marvin Center—an 8-by-10 control center packed with CDs from Adele to ZZ Top—junior Saeed Barhoush sits in front of a soundboard, adjusts his headphones and clears his throat. A red “On Air” sign blinks.
“Welcome back, you’re listening to WRGW,” he says, signaling the start of “The Schoolyard” on the George Washington University’s official radio station. The two-hour hip-hop-focused program features interviews with up-and-coming rappers, in-studio performances and banter among Mr. Barhoush and his co-hosts, students Jamila Ker and Nick LaPalme.
In addition to being one of the most popular shows on WRGW, “The Schoolyard” is also a prime example of the student-run station’s philosophy: take independent and knowledgeable students, train them to use the studio’s equipment, give them a time slot and let them be creative.
“It’s interesting with college radio, because when you look at terrestrial or commercial radio, they’re all focused on one genre,” Mr. Barhoush said. “With WRGW, we cross so many genres, and I think that’s why we have a good following.”
General manager and longtime WRGW devotee Paula Mejia agreed, saying the formula has made them a “campus media organization to be reckoned with,” housing seven departments including music, news, sports, talk, production, operations and marketing, and offering 77 programs.
Play-by-play coverage of Buff and Blue sports; high-profile interviews with guests such as former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas; and a variety of music interviews and performances, from rapper Fat Trel to violinist Kishi Bashi have made WRGW a home for more than 250 students with varied tastes and interests.
The station has also incorporated new programming over the past year, pulling in a maximum of 200 listeners for buzz-worthy broadcasts and boasting more than 1,000 followers on Twitter and Facebook.
Recent initiatives—a bi-monthly, sold-out open mic showcase at Baked and Wired, partnerships with nearly 30 campus organizations, ticket promotions through 9:30 Club and Fillmore Silver Spring and an upcoming April 22 concert with Deerhunter at Sixth and I Historic Synagogue co-presented with local universities—have increased WRGW’s campus and community recognition.
“In the past year alone, our presence on campus has grown exponentially,” said sophomore Greg Hughes, assistant news director and co-host of “2Greg(g)s 1 Show.”
“We’ve gotten our name out there more than ever through events like Truckapalooza and the upcoming Deerhunter show,” he added. “Our membership has grown significantly over the past few years, and we’re starting to get some increased attention from the administration and the Student Association.”
There is even a plan to replace the 25-year-old soundboard. A relic older than most of the students, its technical issues can sometimes hinder the broadcasts.
“Every year the staff here tries to take this place one step further,” Ms. Mejia said. “Everyone here wants this to be a better, more professional organization.”
The station provides two sessions of training for all incoming members, covering all the bases, including programming, software, on-air etiquette and FCC regulations. More than 60 students received training this semester alone.
Additionally, sophomore and music director Michael Lindle compiles monthly music chart lists that DJs rotate into their broadcasts. The lists reflect current trends in music geared to the university community and are based on the College Music Journal’s charting information.
Ultimately, WRGW is an outlet for energetic and focused students who just want to have their voices heard.
“WRGW has provided me with an opportunity that makes me honestly believe I made the right decision coming to GW,” said Bryan Albin, associate sports director and co-host of “Half Jewish Sports.”