WMFO 91.5, Tufts' freeform student−run radio station, is kicking off the semester with a fresh new look. The station's main studio, Studio A, has been expanded and repainted, and its vast music collections have been sorted and purged.
"We wanted to make the station more professional and improve the feel and functionality of the studio," junior Jesse Weeks, the facilities director of WMFO, said. The renovations brought the studio's physical condition up to par with the state of its equipment, he added.
According to Weeks, the station —which is located in Curtis Hall — was due for an overhaul.
"This renovation was in many ways a continuation of the upgrade started in 2009. The station has been undergoing a phase of physical revival as much of our infrastructure is over 30 years old," he said.
The project was carried out this year because of the availability of talented individuals, money and time, according to WMFO General Manager Andy Sayler, a senior.
"We felt that this year provided the unique combination of talent and opportunity to ensure that we could successfully complete this kind of project," he said. "We have known that a major Studio A renovation would be necessary for some time … so we decided to undertake it while we had a chance."
The majority of renovations took place over winter break, Weeks said. According to Sayler, the project took about 450 hours to complete, not including prep work or final cleaning.
Weeks is more than satisfied with the completed project.
"The space looks great … and the space on the right for laptops makes it much more functional for the modern college−student DJ," Weeks said. "We have also greatly improved the acoustics of the room versus our recording studio by changing the alignment of the console."
Sayler is also pleased with the station's upgrades and believes that the changes to the DJ desk will in particular increase functionality.
"The project achieved its goals quite successfully," he said. "We also made a lot of necessary repairs to the room's floor and walls to counteract 30 years of wear and tear."
Weeks added that the station's new look gives it a more professional air. The project created a colorful wall−long mural in lieu of the eclectic graffiti and bumper stickers that previously dotted the walls of the studio. All of the stickers were scraped off in the renovation process in order to ensure a smooth new paint job.
"I personally like the renovations," sophomore Nicholas Adolph said. "The old station had character but it always seemed dirty because of all the graffiti."
Adolph, who has co−hosted the mash−up−themed "1−2 Switcheroo" show for three semesters, did not help with the renovations but likes what he has seen so far.
"It's nicer," Adolph said. "Less grungy the old station had profanities and dated lyrics written everywhere, so this is a much appreciated upgrade."
Junior Elliott Engelmann, who has had a show since his freshman year, said that the studio's new layout increases space and facilitates movement.
"The new setup also allows for more movement and space, as the DJ console is now positioned like an island in the middle of the room," Engelmann said. "This makes having guests on your show a lot more comfortable."
He added that while the atmosphere has become more professional, the renovations preserved the station's quirks and charm.
