It’s money WBGUFM lacks — not commitment, ambition or ideas.

The 2004-05 school year welcomed a 3 percent increase to new students on campus. Along with new students came nearly 30 new student organizations. As a result, the University has struggled to provide funding for about 150 groups on campus — their only option was to cut funding from most student organizations, including WBGUFM.

Stephen Merrill, operations director, and other staff members realized the station faced a problem. The cost of maintaing a radio station is extremely high and Merrill admits that the cost of necessary technology keeps rising.

Consequently, WBGUFM has taken it upon themselves to raise the money in order to continue their programming.

Responding to the crisis, WBGUFM has created a Community Involvement Campaign. This will be the first time they have ever put on an event of this kind.

The campaign will be a two week on-air fundraising event beginning Feb. 20 and ending March 2. During this time staff members and volunteers will be taking calls from listeners who wish to donate to the station. Gifts of appreciation have been created to show the station’s gratitude for people who donate. These gifts range from stickers, buttons, CD’s, Vinyl records, T-shirts, sweatshirts and more.

The station is asking for support from businesses through trade-outs or donations. In return for their support they will receive thanks over airwaves and on their Web site.

Some local businesses have already offered their support, including Pollyeyes and CR Music Exchange. Easy Street Cafe has also offered their venue for the Tony Monaco Trio concert which Merrill said “will be the two week wrap-up party.”

Throughout the two week span, WBGUFM will also be hosting a raffle in the union. Tickets for the raffle are $5.

“The winner of the raffle will most likely be recieving gift certificates from each business that is contributing to the campaign,” Anna Marie Geraci, fund drive co-director said.

Geraci adds that all donations are going to be bursarable.

“Anyone who donates through bursar will have to come to the union and do it because we can’t accept P00 numbers over the phone,” Geraci said.

The financial support recieved will go towards ongoing equipment upgrades.

Broadcast engineer Jim Barnes said much of the equipment WBGUFM uses is too old.

“The remote transmitter probably dates back to World War II,” Barnes said. “It is in really bad shape.”

“The serial number on the transmitter is so old that no one knows where it came from,” Geraci added.

According to Barnes, replacing the remote transmitter could cost over $5,000. And that this device is very important to radio stations and hard to function without it.

Barnes isn’t worried because he believes the station is capable of raising the money on their own.

“That staff is wonderful,” Barnes said. “They are always asking how they can help. They try very hard to do things on their own.”

WBGU 88.1 FM has been playing in Bowling Green since 1947. Their commercial-free programming schedule includes indie, metal, punk, jazz, urban, electronic industrial, gothic, experimental, blues, country, world, specialty and more.

Businesses that are interested in participating can make personal arrangements through the fund drive co-directors. Two lines have been created for listeners to call into the station to make a pledge. The toll free extension is 1-88-7-WBGUFM and the local number is (419) 372-4836.