Communications students may have seen the new “On Air” sign hanging in a new window in the main hallway of Loomis Hall – that belongs to WBWC 88.3 “The Sting” radio station.    

During this past summer, Loomis underwent construction on the east side of its main hallway. Some computer labs and a study lounge were removed to make room for the student-run radio station’s new home.  

Joseph Tarantowski II, the director of broadcasting, said the radio station had been on the second floor of Strosacker Hall since the mid-1980s. After the University administration decided to reorganize the Union last year, Tarantowski and the station were asked to relocate.  

“I was never part of the decision,” Tarantowski said of the move.  

The next tenant of The Sting’s former space has yet to be determined as the University is still planning out the Union’s redesign.  

Tarantowski saw the relocation as a way to modernize and fix the problems they faced while working out of a building that was designed before the advent of computers.  

“I tried to put the most positive spin on it.” Tarantowski said, “Although it was, and still is, a huge amount of work.”  

During the summer, members of the radio station moved 60 years worth of material from the Union to Loomis. Members are still unpacking and deciding what to keep.  

WBWC’s student operations director, Anthony Fusco, had mixed feelings when he heard the news of moving to Loomis after working for two years in the Union.  

“I was a little nervous because I was like ‘Man, we gotta pack all this stuff up,’” Fusco said. “But at the same time I thought it was cool because it’s like we get to start over and we really have a chance to make the space ours.”  

In addition, Tarantowski said he asked for rooms in Loomis adjacent to the station to use as a recording studio, something they did not have in the Union. Their goal is to create a recording studio for students in technology and audio production classes. It could even be available to the Conservatory of Music or the Department of Theater & Dance, Tarantowski said.  

“I’ve never seen the resources of the [Department of Communications Arts & Sciences] as strictly being Department resources, but they’re campus resources.” Tarantowski said. “I think it’s best when students from a wide variety of disciplines and backgrounds work together.”  

Tarantowski said Strosacker Hall was considered to be the center of student activity, and the station’s location helped them be part of campus life. However, as years passed and student habits changed, the Union has lost that essence.  

“So the neat thing now is we’re right here in the middle of Loomis where people are walking by all the time.” Tarantowski said. “I think … some of the people … might not have realized that they have a radio station that services not only the campus, but the community.”