KLSU broadcasted through Hurricane Katrina, providing a constant flow of information for students left without power or access to news updates.
While working closely with the chancellor’s office, the student-run station broadcasted throughout the entire storm. Station announcers camped in the studio, living off vending machines and food from other student media employees, playing music and breaking news.
Campus maintained power through the hurricane, and Barret Wiley, station manager at KLSU, said they never stopped broadcasting.
Wiley said the hurricane broadcast began when the chancellor’s office contacted KLSU Saturday with information that classes would be canceled through Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Wiley said KLSU was able to get a continual flow of information that they could relay to listeners, even before the University mass e-mails were sent.
KLSU broadcasted hurricane-related information for the week after the hurricane and conducted more than 40 interviews with University and city officials as well as members of the National Guard who were in New Orleans.
“In the past, they would have turned automation on and gone out and had a hurricane party,” Wiley said. “The new KLSU informed the students, campus community and Baton Rouge for that matter.”
Adam Hains, mass communication sophomore, worked through the hurricane and most of the week.
“No other real time media outlets had LSU information on their top priority list,” Hains said.
Wiley said the station received at least three calls from people with questions who said KLSU was the only station they could hear on the radio.
Wiley said the station has continued to receive an increased number of calls from students asking questions about campus and non-hurricane related topics.
Chancellor Sean O’Keefe said conveying information to students via KLSU was the most reliable outlet.
“It was certainly a professional and efficient means,” O’Keefe said.
Neal Mathews, vice chancellor for student life and academic services, said KLSU has proven to be an important link between students and administrators.
“My many thank-yous and compliments go to the staff that provided services way beyond the call of duty,” he said. “I was very proud of our radio station during that time.”
Contact Ginger Gibson at [email protected]