Eckerd student radio station named fourth best in nation

The Princeton Review has named WECX, the student radio station at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, the fourth best college radio station in the United States. The station also holds the top position for any campus in Florida. The ranking comes after a major overhaul of the station's infrastructure and programming last year.

The station is located in a small studio on the Eckerd campus. Vivian Codiga, a co-general manager, was in the studio on a rainy October afternoon when The Beatles played over the monitors. Codiga, a senior studying business management, said her parents shaped her musical taste. She plays classic rock frequently, including the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac, which she notes many Eckerd students enjoy.

Taj Sorensen, the other co-general manager, said the exact founding date of WECX is unknown, though it has been active since the 1980s. Sorensen, a marine science senior, described the station as the largest club on campus. She noted that the station now has 84 DJs, a record number that required the addition of new Saturday shows.

Sorensen said the ranking was a surprise. She explained that The Princeton Review sent emails to random students asking them to vote on their favorite aspects of their colleges. Eckerd students voted heavily for WECX. Sorensen attributed the high ranking to the station's recent renovation, which expanded its reach and attracted more student hosts.

Sorensen hosts a Sunday night show called "Taj's Punk Happy Hour." She said punk music is deeply embedded in her family, citing her father's love of the Sex Pistols. She joined the station's board four years ago specifically to create a space for that genre.

The station also covers contemporary music. Bergen Hembree, the assistant manager and a junior anthropology major, said the board tracks upcoming album releases. They host listening parties for new music to keep the programming current. Hembree stated that the station plays a wide variety of genres, claiming there is no style of music that is not represented on WECX.

The most recent listening party was for a new Harry Styles album. Hembree said the club approach helps the station stay connected to current trends while maintaining its diverse lineup.

WECX currently broadcasts over the internet at WECX.org. Sorensen said the station lost its FM broadcast capability when a hurricane destroyed its antenna. The team is working to launch a mobile app in the near future to improve accessibility for listeners.

In the same Princeton Review list, the student radio station at the University of South Florida was ranked 25th in the country.