Four University radio organizations will host BG Unites, a 24-hour broadcast starting Thursday, to raise funds for the relief effort of the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.
The overnight broadcast will begin Thursday at 1 p.m., and representatives from WFAL, WBGU, the BG Radio News Organization and BG Radio Sports Organization will be on the steps of the Education Building at 2 p.m., accepting donations and interviewing passing students live about the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Money raised will be donated to the American Red Cross, according to Kelli Bowditch, Operations Manager for WFAL. The stations aim to raise at least $5,000, she said.
The group plans to schedule interviews with student leaders and athletes and is currently trying to secure an interview with University President Sidney Ribeau, Bowditch said.
To keep the crowd awake through the night, a disc jockey will play dance music for listeners both from the broadcasting area and over the airwaves from midnight to 6 a.m. The location of the broadcast through these hours has yet to be decided.
The event will return to the Education Building’s steps at 9 a.m. and will remain there until the event ends at 1 p.m.
Bowditch said the fund-raiser will help unify the campus and the community. “We really want to open it up to everybody,” she said. The stations plan to visit several local businesses today, to hang flyers and to urge owners to broadcast the event.
“We want to show the community that there are (campus) radio stations out there, and we are working for a good cause,” Bowditch said.
The group of stations have not worked together on any major event in Bowditch’s three years at WFAL.
“It’s uniting the radio stations, which is a good idea,” she said. “We’ve been waiting to do something like this.”
The immediate need for disaster relief forced the group of stations to plan the event quickly.
The group came up with the idea on Sept. 14 and gave themselves less than a week to prepare, said Andy Evans, news director for WBGU and WFAL.
“It would normally take a few weeks, and we’re trying to do it in a few days,” Evans said.
The stations are offering air time to get student organizations involved: “If organizations want to help in any way, shape or form, we’d let them get the word out about their group over the air,” she said.
To place a donation, call BGRNO at 372-2354, WFAL at 372-8658 or WBGU at 372-8657. Organizations wishing to participate in the event are also encouraged to call those numbers.
The stations will accept cash, bursar and check donations. Checks are to be made out to the American Red Cross with “disaster relief” written on the memo line.
To send a message about the terrorist attacks over the radio or to request music, listeners can either attend the event or call WFAL at 372-2418 or WBGU at 372-2826.
