44 planet of the arts / december 1997 THE INSTITUTE he love child of Rob Kozinuk’s expertise and the enthu- siasm of class members Terry Dawes, Wade Thomas, Michael Adamson and myself, Tanya Nemchin, brought RFE to life over two years ago. The transmit- ting class was the brainchild of Sylvia Scott, who brought in Kozinuk to teach while she was on sabbatical. The station is the outcome of building a transmitter and an antenna. A forum for the students to explore transmitting led to regular broadcasts by some of the class members over the course of the term. It was at this stage that I left the Institute only to return recently and find it at the same level. I must admit that I was quite disap- pointed, but not that surprised. RFE remains today in its infant stage despite the fact that it has the space , equipment, technical support and potential to grow. What is crucial now is the effort of dedicated people to take it to the next plane. THINGS WE NEED TO LOOK AT The following are but a few of the issues that need to be addressed in order for RFE to survive, let alone thrive. First and foremost we need to expand the number of people involved and connect them with a larger group of committed cata- lysts with similar visions and desires to make RFE work. Once this group is established, there will be many questions to answer. Should this core group or board be restricted to ECIAD stu- dents? If not, what implication will this have on our responsibility for their actions? Who is responsible and for what? How will RFE be reg- ulated or will it? We need a mandate. We need a reason for being as well as to establish some goals. We need to do this as a community. Do we continue to run as a pirate station (within the laws or out- side of them)? Do we choose a closed circuit station (the station is fed throughout the Institute but does not transmit) like at SFU? Or do we approach the CRTC and inquire about licensing costs and requirements? This is very expensive ($1500 minimum), time con- suming and a lengthy process (it could take years and there is no guarantee that a license will be issued). It also requires a trained HAM radio operator to be present at all times while broadcasting. This option is not to be taken lightly — it could mean the difference between having RFE or not. We need to decide the status of the station. For example, should RFE be a Working Group associated with the Student Union, a pro- ject of Intermedia, or a separate entity of its own, registered as a non- profit organization? This must be researched in depth in order to ensure that no conflict arises later on as is happening at certain col- leges across Canada at the moment. We need to access information through the internet and other college stations in order to research and learn how to start, run and SAMPSON ATION BY NICOLA LLUSTR. maintain a radio station. There are hundreds of radio stations at schools across Canada, why should we be any different? How and why are we different? Emily Carr has a student body of approximately 1,200 and a Student Union budget of $41,000. Simon Fraser University is at the other end of the spectrum with a population of 23,000 and a Students’ Union budget of one million dollars. What impact will our smaller population and limited resources have on the station? I believe that we have a very diverse and resourceful group of people here which will make for interesting programming and cre- ative fundraising. We need to think about funding. Fundraising. Pub Nights. Live music gigs. Student levies. RFE’s budget from our Students’ Union, although a mere $500 for the year, should be used. How will the budget be distributed? It could be dispersed on radios to be placed in common areas around the school so that RFE is accessible. We could invite guest speakers to inform us of their experi- ence in radio or have. artists tell us of how they use transmitting in their artwork. A resource and content library should be started ASAP. The possibilities in each of these areas are limitless and they are all things that need to be established. I cannot address all of the issues in this article. Nor can | answer all of these questions. I am involved with RFE for the experience and learning opportunities and I know that there are others out there at this ART school who must share this vision. This article is a vehicle to cre- ate an awareness of Radio Free Emily and the struggle it has yet to over- come. The more people involved, the easier and more fun it will be. ARE YOU A CATALYST? The reality is that we have a radio station but what good is it if it consists of dead air? RFE is desperately in need of some love, struc- ture and human interaction. This is an opportunity for anyone and everyone interested in the concept of broadcasting in whatever form. Whether your skills and desires are to host a show, to supply admin- istrative or technical support, to design graphics for publicity, or to make contact with record labels, WHATEVER! There is a need, a space, and an opportunity for you at Radio Free Emily. Weekly meetings will be held Thursdays at 12:15 in room 405 in the south building. The direct line to RFE is 844-3893. As individuals we have a certain degree of power. By collaborat- ing we could rule the world, or maybe a radio station... Life or death for RFE? -Tanya Nemchin, Catalyst O) Cooperatively Flourishing In The Community Thing ...continued from page 40 thought it could be better. | do have much optimism about the potential of our world, but if I don’t spend time looking at things I don’t like, somehow | feel as though I'm doing my time on this rock a grave injustice. It’s not enough for me to claw for my little piece of turf and fuck everyone else. You see, I like this community thing. I want to see all these ideas that are going on around me con- tinue to flourish in a cooperative way. Sometimes it takes a little longer, but that’s the kind of world I want, so here I am processing. I guess, I don’t like the idea of a ruling elite who decides how all the money gets spent. I know that my family and I are definitely NOT a part of that elite. Peasant that I am, I still have ideals such as: I don’t want to do construction on sub-standard con- dos, or cut down the remaining forests to support my family, or have a house that won't be taken from me if I suddenly can’t pay rent. All these things are coming up for me, and I’ve found that they’re all directly related to my art practice, because (like I said before) if art ain’t bringin’ in the rent, baby, it doesn’t get done. That kills my spirit. That destroys tus reports that I’m reading there isn’t a lack of money. Some people have money. The problem is that there are only about five of them. | think that somewhere along the line, some executive said to himself: “How do we keep this spiral of consumerism and industrial progress going?” In walks Satan. He’s dressed in a suit and looks like the bastard child of ‘cancer man’ and Bill Gates. Totally harmless. “Well gee Bob, competition really seems to do a good job. Things always worked for me if I just keep everyone at everyone else’s throats...” “Sure. Cuts down on the profit margin though, Big Guy. A monopoly is the best market...” | “Well, keep your monopoly Bob. Diversify, spread out let others propel, give the orders — as long as they’re coming from you. Just limit the number of jobs you create. We'll make it a PRIVILEGE to have a job and an income. By God (OOPS!) we'll see who wants to really work for it.” BOOMf. \\ \ Bo pee a ae ILLUSTRATION BY LUCAS GUSTAFSON, my quality of life. (Notice that I didn’t say standard of living, because this has nothing to do with how many VCRs I can buy, but whether I’m a happy per- son, how much time I get to spend with the people that I love...) Trust me, all this is getting down to why I think the school is changing too, just you watch. On the other hand, I don’t want to go on welfare and just do my art. That’s not going to cut it for me either. Also, I see people spending all their time making political statements fighting for rights of people. I tried that and felt bitter really fast. I’m looking for the middle ground here. I want a job doing something that I enjoy and from the prospec- “Well, hard work’s what got me to where I am today...Say what did you say your name was...Hey, where did he go?” Yeah. Hard work and virgin wilderness to rape, not to mention minorities to exploit, and all those imperialist dollars. When I look at the institutions that built this country I see genocide, lying, envi- ronmental savagery, and many alcoholic, dysfunc- tional families. This system is not working and we’re building more jails all the time to house the grow- ing number of desperate unemployed. This isn’t about wanting just a job in the system, but do I want to keep this system going? Just so everyone can have a cell phone and a new car on lease? I’m one of the young people of this country. It’s my responsibility to decide what kind of world I want so that I can go out and make it for myself. It is also my responsibil- ity to speak to my community to find out who wants the kind world that I do and what ideas are out there to get this thing happening. | don’t want to spend my life hacking out a little patch for myself in the corporate world, slowly compromising my time and beliefs to get a piece of this pie: a cell phone and a new car (even though cell phones are pretty neat... AAAAGHHH!!!) 1 do want to spend my life figuring out creative ways to get around all this, to network my commu- nity into a place where people can feel they can breathe easy and take the day off to spend it with their kids or their friends. It's not enough for me to be the one with the competitive edge, because | LIVE IN A COMMUNITY. My community is artists. | want to see my friends working too, because I believe in support systems. The great thing too is that we're stronger as a community. We can work together within this strong community to find out why corporations which have years’ of record billion dollar profits, don’t pay their taxes, or support the arts of the countries that allowed them continued on page 48, see “Discourse” 44 plonet of the orts / december 1997 THE INSTITUTE LIFE o DEAT! tr Radio Free Emily he love child of Rob Korinuks expertise and the enh sas of class members Terry Dawes, Wade Thoms, Michael Adamson and myself, Tanya Nemehi brought RFE to life over two years ago. The transmit ting class was the brainchild of Syvia Scot, who ‘brought in Korinuk to teach while she was on sabbatical. The station isthe ilding a transmiterand an antenns. forum for the students to explore transiting led to regular broadcasts by some ofthe clas members oer the course ofthe term, was at this tage that ft the Institute only to return secenty and find it atthe same level must admit that Iwas quite disp pointed, but not that surprised RE remains today i its infant stage despite the fact that it as the space equipment, technical suppor and potential to grow: What is crucial now isthe effort of dedicated people to take itt the next, plane ‘THINGS WE NEED TO LOOK aT ‘The following are but few ofthe sues that ned to be addresed in order for REE to survive et alone thrive First and foremost we need 19 expand the number of people Involved and connect them with larger group of committed cata lyst with similar visions and desires to make RFE work ‘Once tis group is established, there will be many questions to answer, Shou this core group or board be restricted to ECIAD tu ents? If not, what implication wil his have on our responsibility for hee actions? Who is responsible and for wh lated or wil i? ‘We need a mandate. We need reason for being 38 well a8 to «stablish some goal. We need todo this community, Do we continue to run asa plate tation (within the laws oro side of them)? Do we choose a dosed creat station (the station is fed throughout the Institute but doesnot transmit like at SFU? Or ‘do we approach the CRTC and inguite about Heensing costs and requirements? This is very expensive ($1500 minimum), time con suming anda lengthy process (t could take years and there is no rsatrained HAM radio operator to be present at ll tmes while broadcasting. This ‘option is not to be taken lightly ~ it could mean the difference between having RFE or not We need to decide the status ofthe station, For example, should RFE be a Working Group asocated with the Student Union, pro ject of Imermedia, ora separate entity ofits own, registered 38. non nt This must be researched in depth in order to ensure that no conflict arses later on a is happening at certain col guarantee that license willbe issued), also rq profit organ leges across Canada atthe moment. Wie need to access information through the internet and other college stations inorder o research and learn how to stat, run and ‘maintain a radio station. Thee are hundreds of radio stations st school across Canada, why should wee any diferent? How and why are we diferent? Emily Carr has a student body of approximately 1.200 and a Student Union budget of $41,000, Simon University sa the other end ofthe spectrum with 3 population of 23400 and a Students’ Union budget of one million dollars, What impact wil our smaller population and limited resources have onthe station? betive that we have avery diverse and resourceful group of people here which sill make for intresting programming and ere- tive fundraising We need to think about fanding. Fundraising. Pub Nights. Live rus gigs. Student levies. RFE budget fom our Stents’ Union, ah mere $500 forthe yea, shouldbe wed How wil the budget be distributed I could be dispersed on ‘adios tobe placed in common areas around the school so that RFE accesible We could invite ues speakers to inform ws of thir expe ence in radio of have artists telus of how they use transiting in ‘heir artwork A resource and content brary shouldbe started ASAP. The possibilities in each ofthese areas a limitless and they aeall ‘hings that need tobe established. cannot address al f the fasesin this article Nor can Lanse all ofthese questions. am invohed sith RFE for the experince and his ART school who mus shire this ison. This atc isa vehicle to ce ateanawarenes of Radio Free Emily and the struggle it as yet to oer ‘come. The more people involved the easier and more fun it wll be learning opportunites ant know that there are others out there [ARE YOU A CATALYST? The reality is that we have a radio station but what good i iit ‘consists of dead ai RFE is desperately in ned of some lve struc n interaction. This san oppo very intrested i the concep of broadcasting in whatever form. Whether your kills and desires ae to host a show to supply admin: Istrative or technical support to design graphics for publicity, orto ‘make contact with record lnbels, WHATEVER! There i a ned a space, and an opportunity for you at Radio Free Emily, Weekly metings willbe held Thursdays at 12:15 in room 405 in ‘the south building. The direct line to RFE is 84-3893, As individuals we have a ce ture and humm nity for anyone and in degree of power. By cllborat- ing we could rue the world, or maybe radio tation, fe or death for RFE? Tanya Neneh, Catayt B Cooperatively Flourishing In The Community Thing thought about the potential of our world, but if 1 dont money. Some people have money The problem spend time oo feel as though I'm doing my time om this rock & ave injustice I's not enough for me to claw for sad wo himself “How do we keep this spiral of my ltl piece of tue ad fack everyone else You se, ke this community thing. I want to secall hes ideas that are gong on around me con tinue to louis na cooperative way. Sometimes it fs the kind of word 1 ‘want, so here Iam processing I guess I dont lke takes lite longer, but th the idea of a ruling elite who decides how al the money ges spent know that my fi and fare efntely NOT apart ofthat elit. Peasant that Lam, I still hive ideals such as: 1 don’t want do consruction on sub-standard con dos, or cut down the remaining forests to support mak. ny fai 1me if | suddenly cat pay sen. Al these things are yrhave a house that wont be taken from ‘coming up for me, and ve found that they're al the orden icectly related to my att prac ‘aid befor) if art aint ring’ in the ent, baby, i doesnt get done. Tha ils my quality of fe (Notice tha I didnt say standard because (like 1 spit. That destroys could be better. do have much optimism — tus reports that 'm reading there fant ack of ngat things don ike, somehow | is that there are only about ive of them. think somewhere along the line, some executive consumerism and industrial progres going? tn walls Stan, He deste in asuit and looks like the bastard child of cancer ‘mas apd Bl Gates. Toul arms “Wal ge Bob compton rly scm to do a good job Things bays worked for mei jst ep everyone at cveryone ce’ throats, “Sure. Cts down on the prof mari though. Big Gu A monopoly ithe best. “Wel ep your monopoly Bab Divers spread out et oer propel give log as they re coming from ou. fst imi the mumbe fabs you eae, Wel make it PRIVILEGE to have jb and an income. By God (OOPS) BOOMs, well se who wants o relly work fori “Wil, ard work’ what got me 0 cll phone and nev car on lease? Im one of the nity 0 a place where people can fel they can ‘of living, because this has nothing todo with hove ‘many VCRe can buy, but whether I'm a happy per Son, how much time et spend withthe people that hy I think the school is changing to, just you love.) Trust me all his i geting down to watch, ‘On the other hand, don't want ogo on welfre and just do my art That's not going to cut it for me ther. Also, sce people spending all thei ‘making politcal statements fighting for rights of people. I tied that and felt biter relly fst. Fm looking forthe middle ground here | want a job