WIDB History Chapter 14

Stuff Finally Happens

   One night around halloween, 1969, Jerry, Howie and Dan were hanging around in the 9th floor end lounge at Schneider (close to the former site of the WLTH studios). This was the "Executive Committee" chosen by the Student Radio Station Board of Directors. They had to decide the call letters of the new station. When Jerry had submitted his original proposal 18 months before, he stated the call letters of the new station would be "WLBH." This was based on the initials of Jerry's girlfriend at the time the proposal was authored.
   For many years, no one knew the reason why these call letters were changed. As Jerry's efforts wended their way through the bureaucratic bowels of the university, the project was always called "Student Radio Station." That was the name that the university gave it. It persists, in some ways, to this day. That's still the name on the account, that was the name on the ballot in 1972, that was the name on the "sign" the university erected to show where the "Student Radio Station" was located. Imagine for a moment if the station was never known by any other name. The station ID would say "You're tuned to the Student Radio Station." Think what the logo might look like. The stationery. The business cards. The T-shirts. What would it be like to call a record rep, or a news source, when they ask your station call letters, you say "Student Radio Station." If they call back, the phone gets answered "Student Radio Station." How about listing it high on your resume, for that first job out of SIU?

   The point is that the university had an attitude about student efforts. WSIU was the "University Broadcasting Service." But WLBH immediately became the "Student Radio Station." Jerry wisely let this pass at the time, as he figured postponing the ultimate decision would end up involving future recruits and gain more support. He was right. Since the Board of Directors had empowered the "Executive Committee," (Howie, Jerry and Dan) to determine the call letters, the three of them ended up in the end lounge in 9th floor Schneider. None of the pirate call letters (WLTH, WBHR, WSDR, WSEX) were considered. This was to be a new station; something consistent with the new image of a campus wide station. They chose WIDB. For years, there has been speculation of the origin of the call letters. Jerry, and Howie claimed that they "could not divulge" why WIDB was chosen. When WIDB was in the "lower level" of Wright I, the prevailing dogma was that it stood for "We're In Da Basement." In the 15th Anniversary Reunion Shirt, designed by Brian Colon, other variations were suggested, including "Wild Irresponsible Drunken Buffoons," and "We've Inspired Dedicated Broadcasters," not to mention, "When In Doubt, Bullshit."

   Despite Jerry and Howie maintaining secrecy all these years, Dan Mordini, the third member of the group finally broke the silence. Dan disclosed: "I'm going to be anti-climactic, but WIDB stood for nothing more than 'Inter-Dorm Broadcasting.' I suggested it, Howie nodded, said it was easy to say. Jerry basically shrugged and said OK." By the November, 1969 Board meeting, the new call letters were official. Now the station had recognition, an identity (call letters) money, a board of directors, and an embryonic operating nucleus. It had taken two years.

end of Chapter 14