WESU 88.1 FM Launches Spring into Summer Pledge Drive, Riding High on a Successful Record Fair and Program Season

MIDDLETOWN, CT — With a successful spring record fair in the rearview mirror, a newly elected board of directors preparing to take the helm from graduating seniors, and Wesleyan’s Reunion and Commencement just one month away, WESU 88.1 FM student and community volunteers are turning their attention to the station’s Spring into Summer Pledge Drive.

Station staff and volunteers remain grateful to the donors whose generosity made the fall appeal a success. These Radio-Active patrons are an integral part of the WESU legacy and help ensure the station’s longevity.

The student and community supported station’s spring program schedule has been in full swing since early February and will conclude in the coming weeks as Wesleyan’s academic year draws to a close. More than two dozen new DJs — added after completing the station’s fall training program — have joined the spring schedule, keeping live programming running until 3am nearly every night. With over 100 student and community volunteer DJs on air each week, alongside public affairs programming from NPR, Pacifica, and independent sources, WESU offers an extraordinarily diverse schedule that attracts discerning listeners near and far.

WESU has also enhanced its daytime public affairs offerings by adding four hours of specialty news programming from Pacifica Radio, heard weekdays between 11am and noon. New additions include Capitalism, Race & Democracy, Law and Disorder, and Middle East in Focus, among others. Returning favorites such as Food Sleuth Radio and CounterSpin from FAIR are also back in the 11am block. Founded in 1949 as an alternative to commercial media, Pacifica promotes peace, justice, and cultural understanding through independent, listener-supported radio. WESU has been a Pacifica affiliate since 1999. The full spring program guide is available at wesufm.org; listeners may also request a copy by mail at programguide@wesufm.org.

WESU’s Annual Spring Record Fair was a resounding success, drawing hundreds of vinyl enthusiasts to Wesleyan’s Exley Science Center on April 18th. More than 31 vendor tables offered music in all formats, along with memorabilia, books, and more from dealers across the Northeast. WESU’s new Free Prize Wheel delighted patrons of all ages. The WESU Board of Directors extends its gratitude to the vendors, patrons, and volunteers whose hard work made the event possible, as well as to Wesleyan University for its continued support.

“In addition to being great community events, the station depends on proceeds from the spring Record Fair to kick off our pledge drive,” said WESU General Manager Ben Michael.

Thanks to donations already received this calendar year — including proceeds from the record fair — WESU has raised over $3,000, roughly 10% of its $30,000 goal. In addition to support from Wesleyan University, alumni, and a grant from the City of Middletown, the station relies on the communities it serves to help close the gap before the fiscal year ends on June 15th.

Listeners can support WESU at wesufm.org/pledge, where they’ll find a secure donation link and a link to the station’s online shop featuring t-shirts, mugs, hoodies, and more. Recent donors will also receive a pledge form by mail, and the station will send email updates throughout the drive.

About WESU 88.1 FM Established in 1939 in Middletown, Connecticut, WESU is one of the oldest noncommercial radio stations in the United States. Funded by Wesleyan University, community grants, and generous listener support, WESU offers a diverse mix of news and public affairs programming Monday through Friday, along with freeform student and community volunteer broadcasts on weeknights and weekends — spanning rock, hip-hop, jazz, electronic, soul, funk, blues, and innovative public affairs programming. Listen to WESU online here . All WESU programs are archived temporarily and available to stream for two weeks from their air date. Just click on a show in the station’s program guide and look for the play button!