Memorial University (MUN) in St. John’s, NL is the latest Canadian post-secondary institution to de-fund its campus and community radio station, 93.5 CHMR-FM.
At a meeting of the Memorial University Students’ Union (MUNSU) on Wednesday evening, the board of directors passed a motion indicating that by June 1, employees assigned to CHMR “shall no longer spend their paid working time on broadcasting.”
The motion leaves the future of CHMR uncertain as it doesn’t preclude the station from continuing to operate independently.
Facing a nearly $300,000 deficit, Station Manager Rhea Rollman told the meeting that she had approached the MUNSU board with a five-year plan for independence from student union funding in December, however that proposal was rejected, according to a report by student-run paper, The Muse.
On-air since 1987, the potential loss of the station has resulted in a wave of support from the local music community, alongside those who credit CHMR-FM with giving them their start in broadcasting, including CBC Radio host Tom Power, retired VOCM Open Line host Paddy Daly, and OZ FM (CHOZ-FM) personalities Hugh Campbell, Stephen Lethbridge and Robert Shawn.
CHMR-FM is just the latest campus and community station to lose institutional funding, following a vote earlier this month by University of Ottawa students not to restore the student levy supporting 89.1 CHUO-FM. The station is still operating online, but is no longer on campus.
The future of Fanshawe College’s 106.9 The X (CIXX-FM) also remains uncertain, following suspension of its Broadcasting – Radio & Media Production program. CFRC 101.9 FM on the Queen’s University campus has additionally faced challenges, going through a tense, narrowly-won approval process this past fall.
