Fifty Years of WONY

College radio is an almost perfect example of a vehicle for cultural transmission (definition: the process of passing on culturally relevant knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values from person to person or from culture to culture). W.O.N.Y is the college radio station at the State University of New York at Oneonta.
Keep It Locked: 50 Years of Transmission In the spring of 1962, a group of freshman led by Gary Sparaco did what many of us have done: they went looking for a place where they fit in and where their talents and passions would be useful. And when they didn’t find that place, they created it. W.O.N.Y is Red Dragon Radio, SUNY Oneonta’s college radio station. Fifty years after it’s birth, W.O.N.Y is still going strong and breathing life into our campus and the greater Oneonta community.

Keep It Locked: 50 Years of Transmission

In the spring of 1962, a group of freshman led by Gary Sparaco did what many of us have done: they went looking for a place where they fit in and where their talents and passions would be useful. And when they didn’t find that place, they created it. W.O.N.Y is Red Dragon Radio, SUNY Oneonta’s college radio station. Fifty years after it’s birth, W.O.N.Y is still going strong and breathing life into our campus and the greater Oneonta community.

W.O.N.Y Group PhotoNovember 12th, 2011Terri Bonney Almost fifty years after Gary Sparaco and his friends started the radio club in the spring of 1962, W.O.N.Y is still going strong.  We broadcast on 90.9FM on terrestrial radio and also at wonyfm.com on the internet.  Each DJ has an eclectic musical taste, and no two of us are the same.  While we mainly broadcast music these days, we are an active club on campus that sponsors concerts and fundraisers.  We also send students to the College Music Journal conference in NYC every fall.  We here at W.O.N.Y consider ourselves a family; coming together despite different opinions, backgrounds and musical taste.

W.O.N.Y Group Photo
November 12th, 2011
Terri Bonney

Almost fifty years after Gary Sparaco and his friends started the radio club in the spring of 1962, W.O.N.Y is still going strong.  We broadcast on 90.9FM on terrestrial radio and also at wonyfm.com on the internet.  Each DJ has an eclectic musical taste, and no two of us are the same.  While we mainly broadcast music these days, we are an active club on campus that sponsors concerts and fundraisers.  We also send students to the College Music Journal conference in NYC every fall.  We here at W.O.N.Y consider ourselves a family; coming together despite different opinions, backgrounds and musical taste.

1963 Yearbook PhotoOneontanSpring 1963Alden Room, SUNY Oneonta The year after Gary Sparaco and his friends founded the radio station, the club was already well on its way to becoming one of the most popular student clubs on campus.

1963 Yearbook Photo
Oneontan
Spring 1963
Alden Room, SUNY Oneonta

The year after Gary Sparaco and his friends founded the radio station, the club was already well on its way to becoming one of the most popular student clubs on campus.

Stock Photo of Student in StationStudent AssociationNo Date

Stock Photo of Student in Station
Student Association
No Date

Stock Photo of Student in Record LibraryStudent AssociationNo Date

Stock Photo of Student in Record Library
Student Association
No Date

Newspaper ClippingState TimesFebruary 13, 1979W.O.N.Y Archives This is an editorial written by a W.O.N.Y DJ, Robert Conte, discussing what his view of the radio station’s resposibilities to SUNY Oneonta’s campus and the greater Oneonta area. In this piece, he talks about how the purpose of W.O.N.Y is to serve Oneonta by providing the campus and the surrounding area with news, music and outlets for personal opinions to be expressed.

Newspaper Clipping
State Times
February 13, 1979
W.O.N.Y Archives

This is an editorial written by a W.O.N.Y DJ, Robert Conte, discussing what his view of the radio station’s resposibilities to SUNY Oneonta’s campus and the greater Oneonta area. In this piece, he talks about how the purpose of W.O.N.Y is to serve Oneonta by providing the campus and the surrounding area with news, music and outlets for personal opinions to be expressed.

Newspaper ClippingState TimesNo DateW.O.N.Y Archives“Why college radio?” In a plea for advertising spots on W.O.N.Y, the author of this piece gives a great example of the fact that W.O.N.Y is the voice of the younger generation and how W.O.N.Y is moving into a larger audience among community members - making it a great way to get your businesses name out there.

Newspaper Clipping
State Times
No Date
W.O.N.Y Archives

“Why college radio?” In a plea for advertising spots on W.O.N.Y, the author of this piece gives a great example of the fact that W.O.N.Y is the voice of the younger generation and how W.O.N.Y is moving into a larger audience among community members - making it a great way to get your businesses name out there.

Stock Photo of Student in StationStudent AssociationNo Date

Stock Photo of Student in Station
Student Association
No Date

Stock Photo of Student in StationStudent AssociationNo Date

Stock Photo of Student in Station
Student Association
No Date

Newspaper ClippingsState TimesFebruary 15, 1977W.O.N.Y ArchivesIn the 70’s and 80’s, W.O.N.Y broadcast debates for the Student Association executive board canidates live on air for the rest of the SUNY Oneonta campus. The debates related directly to the student issues on campus, and broadcasting them on W.O.N.Y was the perfect way to get the information to the rest of the campus while making the greater Oneonta community aware of campus issues.

Newspaper Clippings
State Times
February 15, 1977
W.O.N.Y Archives

In the 70’s and 80’s, W.O.N.Y broadcast debates for the Student Association executive board canidates live on air for the rest of the SUNY Oneonta campus. The debates related directly to the student issues on campus, and broadcasting them on W.O.N.Y was the perfect way to get the information to the rest of the campus while making the greater Oneonta community aware of campus issues.