The first daily, continuous broadcast of Rutgers own radio station was 75 years ago today. WRSU started as, 630 then 680, AM closed carrier (only receivers in the dorms could hear it) station. Students started doing football games in 1954 (WRSU was allowed to carry WCTC's football signal before that). WRSU became over-the-air 88.7 FM on January 27, 1974 and "Knightline" started with the undefeated men's BB team of 1975-76 and continued with football on September 2, 1977.
On June 10, 2023, WRSU celebrates its inaugural WRSU Hall of Fame class as provided by WRSU Broadcast Administrator Mike Pavlichko.
Happy Birthday to my old radio station!
WRSU Individuals:
On June 10, 2023, WRSU celebrates its inaugural WRSU Hall of Fame class as provided by WRSU Broadcast Administrator Mike Pavlichko.
Happy Birthday to my old radio station!
WRSU Individuals:
- Matt Pinfield – a unanimous selection, and a world-renowned rock-radio DJ, MTV host and music executive who got his start at WRSU. Matt currently hosts “New And Approved” Sunday evenings on KLOS 95.5 FM in Los Angeles and hosts the hard rock music show “Power Hour” on AXS TV.
- Mark Chernoff (’74) – legendary New York radio executive, most well-known for his time as Program Director at SportsRadio 66 WFAN during its heyday, from 1993 to 2021.
- Steve Vericker (’81) – Steve was one of the early hosts of “Knightline” – our football and men’s basketball postgame call-in show – and helped establish the show in a day when "talk radio” was still in its infancy. He’s held numerous PR and radio jobs, covering major league sports in the LA area for ESPN, ABC and CBS Radio and most recently advised KCOD at the College of the Desert in the Coachella Valley.
- Herb Sudzin – Herb, of course, is the host of “Sudzin Country” on WRSU for 45 years and counting! Back in the day, he hosted both Saturday and Sunday mornings from 6-10 am. He currently hosts the Saturday edition in the same time slot, while a rotating group of hosts hold down the Sunday show from 6-9 am. Herb has logged more hours on the air than any other DJ in history – we estimate he’s close to 13,000!
- Roger Cohen (’65) – Roger sadly passed away in the summer of 2022, but for many Journalism students from the 70s through his retirement in the early 2000s was a beloved teacher and mentor at what now is known as SC&I. He hosted several Rutgers-related TV and radio shows, and was Journalism & Mass Media Chair at SC&I. I remember him fondly; he sure is missed!
- Harvey Hauptman (’51) – Harvey is one of the most decorated WRSU alums in the news industry. After working at WCTC 1450 AM in New Brunswick following graduation (and doing Rutgers football games with Tony Marano throughout the 1950s) , he was one of the original staffers at WCBS NewsRadio 880 in New York, and was an on-air anchor there for 30-years. He was also the longtime PA voice of Rutgers Football. Harvey also will be inducted posthumously; he passed away in 2017.
- WRSU Founding Members – While many contributed to the birth of WRSU, starting around 1946, hitting the airwaves in 1948, no two were more responsible for the station’s founding than Charles Brookwell and Matthew Zuck. Brookwell was the station’s first General Manager and was responsible for leading the entire effort, from getting funding and securing our first studios in the attic of 12 College Avenue, while Zuck was the Technical Director who got us on the air April 26, 1948.
- The FM Transition Team – Making WRSU a full-powered FM station was a years-long effort that began in 1969 with a survey of students that found they would rather listen to FM radio. (At the time, WRSU was considering a commercial AM license.) Having moved into the then-Rutgers Student Center on College Avenue in 1969 made this all possible. Bob Thomas helped produce the survey. Station Manager Charlie Rapp was highly involved, and Richard Harvey was the technical guru behind it all, assisted byMark Harris and Eric Strassler. Advisors Roger Cohen, Nat Shoehalter and Arnie Zucker are also recognized as key parts of the process.
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