KSYM ready to rock, roll into annual pledge drive

KSYM 90.1 FM, this college's alternative radio station, begins its 16th annual pledge drive March 1, nearly a month earlier than previous drives.

The event is occurring earlier this year to allow adequate planning time because of Easter, spring break and income tax time.

The pledge drive is a one-week opportunity for the public to make financial donations to the station in return for premiums such as CDs, shirts and gift certificates donated by legions of local businesses. For their donations, the businesses will receive on-air mention.

With help from 40-50 local guest disc jockeys representing a myriad of media, the station expects to raise at least $40,000 to cover licensing fees, news feeds, equipment repairs and broadcast-tower maintenance, Joey Palacios, KSYM program director, said Monday.

In 2008, the station received about $40,000 in pledges, and despite the recession, $45,000 was raised last year.

Adapted from the motto printed on U.S. currency, "In Music We Trust" is the slogan for this year's drive, adorning the newly designed Web site www.ksym.org, as well as the baseball-style T-shirts given to donors in exchange for pledges. There are three additional shirts being offered this year designed for KSYM shows: The Lush Life, The Casbah and Mainstream 120.

DJs Crystal Stone of Magic 105.3 FM and Quinn of KISS 99.5 FM, along with San Antonio Express-News reporter Melissa Ludwig and "Uncle Matt," a columnist at the San Antonio Current, will be donating their time on air as guest DJs.

Originally from the Philadelphia area, Stone will be participating in her second KSYM pledge drive. She said Monday that her experience last year was "exciting and more fun than expected."

Palacios said the pledge drive "is what we put the most planning into, and though it's one week of organized chaos, everything is now coming together, and I feel confident about this year's pledge drive."

Ideas for this year's drive developed in early January, and fervent planning followed. About 14 general office staffers and 36 DJs and faculty members participated in the planning and execution of the pledge drive.

DJs are expected to seek local businesses willing to donate premiums such as gift certificates for goods or services. Restaurants are asked to donate food for staff and guest DJs during the pledge drive and will receive on-air mention for their participation.

KSYM has been broadcasting since 1966, and began holding pledge drives in 1994. The station receives minimal funding from the college, and when new equipment and repairs were necessary, the pledge drive was launched, John Onderdonk, radio-television-film professor, said Wednesday.

Pledges allow the station to survive, giving students hands-on media education, as well as providing the city an alternative to commercial radio. KSYM has been awarded "Best Music Radio Station" by the Current every year since 2004.

Donations currently are being accepted at www.ksym.org, and at the KSYM office on the second floor of the Longwith Radio, Television and Film building.

For more information, call the station at 486-KSYM (5796).