By: Laura Lane
Merrick Radio broadcasts music and student-produced shows 24 hours a day for anyone with a computer, but it wasn't always like that.
When it started out, Merrick Radio was a form of amusement for Calhoun juniors Brian Brush, David Kopec, David Nelson, Amir Riven, Evan Sachs and Andrew Starr, who are all friends. Operating out of Sachs's basement, and then from Kopec's home, the group soon realized they might have something that others would enjoy hearing.
"We were always debating everything, politics, music, even board games," Kopec, the station's general manager, said. "We thought we could use Merrick Radio to express ourselves in a public forum and encourage others to express themselves too."
But Kopec said he never imagined the Internet radio station would take off and become so popular. Its initial success led members to approach David Seinfeld, Calhoun's principal, to ask if they could move the operation to the school. Seinfeld agreed, and social studies teacher Doug Smestad and Sal Salerno, a Calhoun drama teacher, came on board to help.
"We never thought it would be a school organization," Kopec said. Having a home base at Calhoun increased the radio station's visibility. "We've had 20,000 visitors this month alone on our Web site. And local bands keep submitting music to us to get airplay on our show."
And Merrick Radio has become intertwined in academia at Calhoun too. When Salerno began teaching a new media class this year, he was so enthusiastic about Merrick Radio that he included it in his hands-on approach to leaning technology proficiency.
"Merrick Radio began with the most primitive tools on all levels. It's amazing now," Salerno said. "The kids are very bright, top-notch people who are very energetic and independently motivated. They really get this stuff together."
Merrick Radio has become a popular club at Calhoun. And new programs have been added this year, like David Nelson's "Awesome Nelly's Smile Hour," which showcases live music from local bands that Nelson interviews.
Members have been able to record events, like a Calhoun football game. Using time delay they broadcast it on Merrick Radio.
And Salerno is looking to broaden the Internet station's capabilities. He's been exploring Web sites for Pod casting, which would allow people to download shows onto their Apple iPods, enabling them to listen to them again and again.
"Right now, we have two shows on each day during the week, and at other times, Merrick Radio plays music randomly," Kopec explained. "But we have had some technical hurdles."
One such hurdle was a district policy that blocks all external ports but the Web for security reasons. As a result, not only can't students play games on the computers, but they also can't hear Merrick Radio in any Central High School District school.
Salerno is seeking to remedy this glitch by obtaining a dedicated Internet connection through Cablevision. He isn't sure when this will happen, but everyone remains hopeful it'll be soon.
Merrick Radio is also trying to get a music broadcast license. This way the station can play more than promotional material and music from unsigned bands. The license would enable Merrick Radio to play music you'd find on any radio station. And recently getting the green light from Calhoun's principal to expend budget monies should help Merrick Radio get that license soon.
Even though the Calhoun funds were a big help, students working on Merrick Radio are continually involved in fund-raising. Nelson, in charge of public relations and fund-raising, sells review class CD's, to help students study for their finals, and the group has held bake sales too.
Although he plans to go to college for pre-law, Nelson said he loves hosting a radio show. "I'd love to pursue radio and broadcasting and run my own show," Nelson said, who said he joined the club to have fun. But what has been surprising to Nelson is how Merrick Radio has evolved. "I just never thought it would be where it is now. Merrick Radio has become such a big part of the community," he said.
To check out Merrick Radio, log onto www.merrickradio.com.
