Rec Center opens new radio station purely for students

SFA Campus Rec administrators have revamped the Rec Center’s atmosphere for this semester with the new “Axe ‘Em Jacks” radio station. 

The radio station is customized for the student’s ear and can be heard on continuous loop in campus recreation facilities.

A company called Neptune, an Internet-based hub that designs radio programs, runs the station.  Neptune specializes in broadcasting playlists for public venues such as water parks, ski lodges, golf clubhouses, doctor’s offices, retirement homes and auto-repair shops. The Rec Center uses the Neptune FIT U program, which caters to workout facilities.

Kati Van Dunk, the promotions and sponsorship coordinator for Campus Rec, said Neptune was chosen because it offers complete control of the playlists. 

 “Before, the playlists weren’t very consistent,” Van Dunk said. “The songs would jump from something really upbeat to something sad and slow.”

With the new set up, Campus Rec administrators can select songs to ban from playlists or have certain songs play at specific times. All music tracks are edited for content.

“Now, we can just say, ‘I want 40% pop, 30% rock, 20% rap and 10% country.’ The people at Neptune FIT U will put something together,” Van Dunk said. 

The Rec Center is the only place where people can listen to the station. It is not KSAU affiliated and cannot be heard in the car or online. 

Axe ‘Em Jacks radio also broadcasts updates on Campus Rec events, the SFA Way and the SFA Wellness Model. All this information is given to Neptune and their DJs present it. There are no student DJs.

Campus organizations can, however, obtain advertisement space on the station. Even if you just have an unexecuted advertisement idea, Neptune can help bring it to fruition. Any interested parties should contact Kati Van Dunk at (936) 468-5844, or e-mail her at vandunkkl@sfasu.edu.

jcleveland@thepinelog.com