On Oct. 7, over 700 student radio stations in more than 50 countries will come together to celebrate World College Radio Day 2022.
World College Radio Day organizers explain that they use this day of unity every year to spotlight a deserving issue. According to the organizer’s founder Dr. Rob Quicke, a professor of communication at William Paterson University of New Jersey in the United States, the theme for 2022 is Voices for Peace. “This year’s event is happening amid much conflict and tension in the world,” says Quicke. “We want to come together to say people of all countries should be able to live free and peaceful lives without the threat of war and violence.”
Quicke adds that events in Ukraine are at the forefront of students’ minds in the global college radio community.
“Earlier this year, during the early days of the invasion, our organization reached out to student radio stations in Ukraine to offer our support and to hear how they were doing. The response we received back from the Ukrainian students was very moving. We could hear from many of them who, at that time, were living in bomb shelters or in circumstances where their everyday lives were disrupted. The war abruptly halted their university education. The great sense of uncertainty and fear many experienced at that time has only continued as they wonder how the conflict will end.”
Fellow students worldwide broadcast these messages on their campus radio stations. “It was a powerful and emotional reminder that student radio has an important role in broadcasting the voices of the youth and is an outlet for people who perhaps wouldn’t be heard anywhere else,” says Quicke. “This year, we will use our voices and radio stations to promote peace over war.”
Singer/songwriter and UNESCO Peace Laureate Julian Lennon is the organization’s official ambassador this year. Like his father, Lennon is a humanitarian and human rights activist, and he has recorded a version of “Imagine” for the people of Ukraine. Participating stations will broadcast the song as part of the commemoration and celebrations.
Quicke is encouraging people to tune into their local college radio station on Oct. 7 to hear what they are doing to celebrate the critical medium of student radio, which gives students a place to start their careers and provides an important outlet to say that which needs to be said.
More information on World College Radio Day is available here.