At 2pm on October 16, 1972 WUOG signed onto the air for the first time at a frequency of Rooftop 90.5 MHz with 3,200 watts. Five years later our power was boosted up to 10,000 watts. With the exception of a period of time in 1981 (February 18th to April 6th) when the station was shut down, WUOG has operated for 18 to 24 hours each day (with the occasional technicolor staff-related sign off here and there).
1981 shutdown
In 1981, WUOG was shut down for a number of weeks. After the silence, the station went back on the air, and a few staffers were rehired. Others were dismissed permanently.
Many conflicting stories about the shutdown remain in circulation. One common assumption suggests that the shutdown occurred in response to FCC violations, although no surviving documentation proves this. A number of other theories exist, involving everything from drugs and illegal pranks to creative differences. After so many years, very little can be established conclusively.
The ‘81 shutdown has been absorbed into the mythos of WUOG. Reliable evidence has vanished, the accounts have distorted, and the parties involved disagree on major points. We’re not sure what happened, and many of our current volunteers weren’t born then. We regard the controversy with a certain fascination and pride, as part of our rebellious left-of-the-dial legend. However, we are not here to speculate on the past or to rehash old arguments, but to serve the station as it exists today.
Our station has always courted strong reactions and thrived under difficult conditions. We’ve never tried to please everyone, and we’ve never succeeded. But all of our volunteers and listeners have helped shape WUOG’s unique personality, and set us far apart from any other radio station anywhere. We are proud of our past and excited about our future.
After another upgrade in power,we signed on at our current 26,000 watts at 11am on January 11, 1994. For more info, check out the WUOG page on Wikipedia.
Check out these older editions of Airwaves, WUOG’s semesterly publication:
And if you’re a WUOG alum, we want to hear from you! Check out our Alumni Section to find more info about signing up for the alumni listserv and more.