Anya Grubber ’16
News Editor
This week, WOZQ, Smith’s very own radio station, held Radio Awareness Week from April 14 to 18. It hosted a number of events located across campus, reminding students of how active and colorful WOZQ is.
Dora Novey-Buttfield ’14, publicity director for WOZQ, headed the events. “The goal of Radio Awareness Week is pretty much what it sounds like.” said Novey-Buttfield, who has been involved with the radio station since she had her first radio show in her first year at Smith.
She added, “[We hope] to bring awareness to WOZQ’s presence on campus and throw events for all students to participate in our organization whether they have a radio show or not.”
Events were held every day last week. They kicked off Friday, April 12 in Scott Gym with a concert by all-girl punk band Potty Mouth, formed in Northampton, who played alongside bands Whore Paint and Drab.
WOZQ provided music on Chapin Lawn several times during the week. On Monday evening, students made temporary tattoos in the Campus Center. On Tuesday, Novey-Buttfield emceed an open mic, complete with student-drawn female rapper coloring pages. The week concluded with an open house and 65th anniversary party held in Davis Ballroom.
WOZQ welcomes students of all class years to host their own radio show, regardless of former experience. Radio Awareness Week was partly an effort to remind students of the opportunity to participate in broadcast production.
“We hope to spark interest in future radio involvement and just bring attention to the fact that we have our very own all-student run radio station at Smith, which is a really special thing,” said Novey-Buttfield. “WOZQ brings a communications platform to students at Smith… [and] provides a chance for people to share their voice, interests, music, opinions, stories, and more in a way in which they cannot in other forums.”
The organization sought to create bonds between interested Smith students with shared interest in music. “Even more importantly, WOZQ brings a space for sharing music and building community around a shared love of music and media,” she said.
“WOZQ just celebrated their 65th birthday, so it is certainly a part of Smith’s tradition and Smith culture,” added Mariel Bell ’16. “WOZQ has changed to reflect the generation that takes hold of its microphones…I think it brings unique and talented women together who share an immense passion for music. [WOZQ] encourages us to be brave and to take control of our lives and, of course, the radio.”
Since this past fall, Bell has had her own radio show, entitled “Muse-ibilities” because “the intention of everything I play is to inspire people as they go through their many ups and downs.”
Bell added, “The best part about having my own radio show is getting to play the music that I love and that inspires me on a daily basis… I love being a part of WOZQ. I have been exposed to amazing new music and new people because of it.”
For more information about how to apply to host a radio show or to listen online, visit http://sophia.smith.edu/wozq.
