WXOU Aims to Transition to Only Digital Radio OU’S Student Radio Leans Toward a Switch to Only Digital Media, Despite Some Backlash from Alumni Page 4
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THEOakland University’s IndependentOAKLAND Student Newspaper POSTVolume 46 l Issue 2 l Aug. 12, 2020 WXOU aims to transition to only digital radio OU’s student radio leans toward a switch to only digital media, despite some backlash from Alumni Page 4 BIOBUTTON OUTCRY ALUM GIVES BACK CAMPUS HEALTH A COVID-19 medical monitor OU alum creates COVID-19 testing Graham Health Center prepares for concerns students, families facility for his community students return post-shutdown PAGE 5 PAGE 11 PAGE 14 PHOTO BY EMILY MORRIS AUGUST 12, 2020 | 2 THIS WEEK PHOTO OF THE WEEK THEOAKLANDPOST EDITORIAL BOARD Michael Pearce Emily Morris Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor [email protected] [email protected] 248.370.4266 248.370.2537 EDITORS COPY&VISUAL Ben Hume Web Editor Meg Speaks Design Editor [email protected] Sam Summers Design Editor Lauren Karmo Campus Editor Sophie Hume Photographer [email protected] Ryan Pini Photographer Liz Kovac Engagement Editor Sergio Montanez Photographer [email protected] Maggie Willard Photographer REPORTERS DISTRIBUTION Katelyn Hill Staff Reporter Jaylon Johnson Distribution Director Autumn Page Staff Reporter [email protected] Lauren Reid Staff Reporter Kimmy Guy Distribution Assistant Dean Vaglia Staff Reporter Meredith Atwell Distributor Bridget Janis Staff Reporter Nico Bassman Distributor Rachel Yim Staff Reporter Amanda Belz Distributor Erika Beechie Distributor RESPECTING A LEGEND Almost seven months after their untimely deaths, the rock painted for ADVERTISING ADVISING Kobe and Gigi Bryant outside of the Oakland Center remains unchanged. Ethan Pierce Ads Director Garry Gilbert Editorial Adviser PHOTO / EMILY MORRIS [email protected] [email protected] 248.370.4269 248.370.2105 Kaitlyn Woods Ads Assistant Don Ritenburgh Business Adviser [email protected] 248.370.2533 10 12 14 UNDER MY UMBRELLA GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME MASK UP, GRIZZLIES Netflix releases season two of the hit Oakland announces all three Free face masks with OU logos VOTE AND CONNECT AT: series, “The Umbrella Academy” esport team rosters available for anyone with a GrizzID Photo/Netflix Photo/OU Athletics Photo/Emily Morris oaklandpostonline.com POLL OF THE WEEK LAST ISSUE’S POLL WILL YOU BE USING THE BIOBUTTON DURING THE HOW MANY OF YOUR CLASSES HAVE BEEN MOVED ONLINE IN SOME FALL AND WINTER SEMESTERS? CAPACITY? A) YES, SAFETY FIRST! B) NO, I DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE 5% 10% 16% 68% A) B) C) D) C) I’M NOT SURE YET NONE, YET JUST ONE TWO THREE OR MORE D) I ONLY HAVE ONLINE CLASSES ANYWAY CORRECTIONS CORNER: In the July 29 issue, The Oakland Post referred to the LGBTQIA+ students on campus as just LGBTQ+ in two instances, while using the correct acronym in two other places. LGBTQIA+ is Oakland’s preferred acronym, and The Post apologizes for the inconsistency. The Oakland Post corrects all known errors of fact. If you know of an error, please email [email protected]. LOOKING BACK AUGUST 12, 2020 | 3 Looking Back: Kresge Library opens 24/7 in 2011 Funding for the hours came from the president’s office, offered are still available. The library plans to reopen to AUTUMN PAGE and according to Lepowski, there was an increase in students on Aug. 17 with limited hours, reduced occupancy Staff Reporter employee wages. Fifteen thousand dollars was added, and and masks required. the library spent a total of $110,000 on employee wages. More information can be found on the Kresge Library In 2011, Kresge Library extended its hours of operation “It’s created a need for more student workers, for sure,” website about requesting books, services like research to 24 hours a day and seven days a week. This is the second Lepowski said. consultations and how the library is responding to the time their hours have changed within a two-year period. Mark Fisher, an elementary education major, said he was COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, Kresge was open 24 hours, but only Monday looking forward to the increase in hours because of his busy through Friday. schedule. The increased hours would give him more time to The change in the hours of operation didn’t extend to spend in the library with his multiple jobs. the Suzanne O. Frankie Café within the library. The cafe’s “The weekend is an excellent time for many students to hours are set by Chartwells, according to Frank Lepowski, study, especially those with Monday through Friday work the former associate dean for the library. days,” Fisher said. “We continually lobby them [Chartwells] for later hours, From midnight to seven in the morning, only students as it seems like students tend to want them later,” Lepowski with OU IDs are allowed in the library for security reasons. said. “It’s a work in progress.” “We have a very close working-relationship with the This hour change didn’t include holidays and special Oakland University Police Department, they do frequent dates — the library was still closed on those days. walk-throughs,” Lepkowski said. OU Student Congress’s commitment to students’ The last time the library changed its hours since 2011 was needs resulted in the previous change. They worked with back in early March due to COVID-19 concerns. While it administration to increase access to the study space. was recommended students used the remote services, the “Based on that success, we’ve approved a subsequent library was open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. request to move to a 24/7 operation at the library,” said to 11 p.m., and 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. on Saturday and Gary Russi, former university president. “Any time we’re Sunday. Then another hour change came not long after able to make additional funding available for resources that that, closing the library until further notice because of will help OU students succeed, we’re both obligated and COVID-19 shutdowns. OAKLAND POST ARCHIVES pleased to do that.” With the upcoming fall semester approaching, the library This photo, featured in the 2011 Oakland Post, showcases a When the library switched to 24 hours, five days a week, is still closed to students but is offering remote service. This student using Kresge during their new hours. the library found that there were 30,000 night visitors also includes the medical library and the Writing Center. throughout the entire year. Books can be requested and most of the services usually The Oakland Post is looking for a LIFE & ARTS EDITOR Responsibilities Skills necessary Contact • Manage a team of writers • Writing experience • [email protected] • Attend weekly budget meetings • Knowledge of AP Style • Send three writing samples and a resume • Attend weekly editor meetings • Teaching/mentoring ability • Edit stories and be available • Good communication skills and during Monday/Tuesday punctuality production • Positive attitude and hard- • Produce at least one story per working spirit week 4 | AUGUST 12, 2020 CAMPUS WXOU aims to transition to only digital radio DEAN VAGLIA said. “I ended up also discovering that it might not be Staff Reporter the only solution for us.” One solution Thompkins considered is repairing the WXOU is Oakland University’s student-run FM radio transmitter core and upgrading the tower. The upgrades station, but that could change very soon. and repairs could lead to WXOU’s FM signal becoming The Oakland Center-based radio station is considering stronger, allowing OU students to listen in through terminating their FM broadcast operations in favor of a genuine radios. However, the decision to reduce or to full move to online broadcasting. Plans to end the FM enhance WXOU’s FM capacity is not set in stone. operations began last year under then-General Manager One possible reason for delays is a group of WXOU alumni Caitlin Flora, who cited excessive costs and a changing that are vocally against ending the FM signal. industry as reasons for the move. “A lot of [the alumni in opposition] were around “When I took over as general manager, I found that we when WXOU first got the FCC license to broadcast, were constantly fighting falling into a deficit just from paying which was a really big deal for the station at the time,” all of our necessary bills and payroll,” Flora said. “One Thompkins said. “A lot of them have personal ties, particular bill that was causing most of our monthly costs was personal connections to the tower and the transmitter, our bill to AT&T to maintain our transmitter.” and they do not want to see it go.” WXOU’s transmitter is located north of campus Thompkins mentioned part of the alumni’s opposition around Lake Orion and costs the station about $4,000 to the move could be that they were not given the full per month to maintain. The transmitter allows WXOU information about the move, especially in regards to how to broadcast on the 88.3 FM wave, though the broadcast much the transmitter costs WXOU. strength tends to be weak. DONGFU HAN | OAKLAND POST ARCHIVES Whether WXOU sticks with the airwaves or embraces “If you have ever tried to tune in on campus to WXOU, WXOU, Oakland’s campus radio station, is considering a the web, the station is especially expanding podcasts. you have probably noticed that you do not get our station,” switch away from the FM signal. WXOU has won college radio “Last year we decided we wanted to make sure podcasting Flora said. “You might get static or another 88.3 FM with station of the year 3 times was a focus of the radio station going forward,” Brendan a larger signal reach.” Triola, WXOU’s first-ever podcast director, said. Many on-campus listeners opt to tune in through the ending FM operations became the option Flora pursued.