Penn State radio station fighting new administration-appointed adviser

For its student radio station to receive much-needed financial support from the university, administrators at Pennsylvania State University have said they want to appoint a financial adviser — creating a controversy over who controls the student-operated station.

Just weeks after the death of WKPS 90.7 FM Adviser Bob Zimmerman, who normally negotiated with administrators, student managers are waiting to see if the university will renew funding of the station, said WKPS General Manager Brandon Peach.

Prior to 2005, when its funding contract with the university expired, WKPS received $50,000 annually from the university.

Since university funding ceased in 2005, the station has stayed on the air through private underwriting and other fundraising, but mounting operating expenses and the need for new equipment prompted the latest request to the university, Peach said.

Peach said that he was told by Vicky Triponey, vice president for student affairs, that the university would only fund the station if an adviser is appointed to control the station’s spending, which he says would effectively challenge the station’s autonomy.

“We’re not willing to cede our independent voice to the university’s interests,” Peach said.