.HE A Reply to John Paquette's statement and similar complaints
			     by Lowell Gilbert, civilian

      I   would   like	 to   address	station   policy   in  my

administration,  especially  as  regards  its  ramifications  for

future	policy.   A  major concern, as in most years, was format.

Despite the significant amounts of  yelling  and  screaming  that

happened,   the  fact  is  that  very  few  real  proposals  were

presented.  Of the few (very few) systems which were  brought  up

besides  the  one  that  was adopted, none were ignored, although

many were abandoned in the process  of	reaching  a  "compromise"

(look it up if necessary).  This compromise eventually became the

current variation on the previous format.  Anyone who  claims  he

was  not  listened  to is lying to avoid admitting that he had to

give up some of what  he  wanted.   I  can't  imagine  how  these

meetings could have been more democratic, unless maybe I had tied

people down to the couches in  Studio  "B"  and  forced  them  at

gunpoint  to  discuss format.  On the other hand, many people are

still complaining, despite the	fact  that  not  merely  was  the

format	development  process  open, it possessed a marked lack of

diversity of ideas.  I say, tough.  Given  the	maximum  possible

opportunity  to  contribute  to the process, anyone who failed to

put views forward deserves  to	be  told  only,  "you  lose."  Of

course,  if  they  wish  to  correct  this,  it's never too late.

Available options include taking any constructive suggestions  to

the   executive   committee   or   the	general  membership,  but

complaining does no good at all.  See my  notice  on  "How  Radio

Rensselaer works" for advice on how to bring up suggestions.

      The station is hurt more by people  who  actually  DO  some

useful work for the station, but take a lot more from it, than by

the much-maligned "slugs," who although not very  helpful,  don't

really	hurt  the  station very much either.  Saying that "things

are bad" is pointless -- it is not just your right  but  in  fact

your  responsibility  to  improve  them.   I have never said that

everyone should be expected to like everything.  However, if  you

DON'T  like  something, either come up with a better idea or shut

up.  In no case is there a legitimate reason for bitching.

      Personal conduct is not a new subject but deserves separate

discussion.   On  the  other hand, I would like to point out that

the possible description  of  stereotypical  station  members  as

"misfits" is not necessarily derogatory.  I am proud to not be an

amorphous part of the great unwashed.  Ideally, what  makes  WRPI

"different"  is  an atmosphere that is literate and intellectual,

at least compared to most of RPI.  If  this  makes  us	dangerous

radicals,  so be it, but I hardly consider it immature.  I am not

expecting you to necessarily agree with my  politics,  choice  of

fiction, or underarm deodorant, but only here at the station have

I found  people  who  even  want  to  think  about  such  things.

Actually I don't care to discuss deodorant, but put that aside as

"satiric purpose." If you don't want  to  be  "different,"  fine.

Not  everyone  can  be.   But  I  resent  being called "immature"

because I am actually just "different" from you.

      Finally,	I  deeply resent several implications implicit in

John Paquette's recent statement.   I  am  thrilled  that  he  is

against  immature  behaviour  and  yelling at each other, but the

underlying implication that I should  agree  with  him	on  other

things	because  he  is the voice of reason is ludicrous.  One of

his most unfair statements is the claim that much  of  the  music

played	by  WRPI  is deliberately offensive in an attempt to "get

even" with the  rest  of  the  world.   I  am  insulted  by  this

characterization,  since I like the music that I play on the air,

I get good feedback on it, and I feel very  strongly  that  I  am

sharing something positive.  If John doesn't like it, he can talk

to me about music,  try  to  find  out	what  I  like  about  the

particular  pieces, try to show me his problems with them, and so

on.  He should not refer to anyone as offensive just  because  he

doesn't  like  the  things being played.  That implication is the

most childish thing that I have heard of in the station in  quite

some  time,  especially for someone who is trying to score points

for maturity.  In addition, John complains that station  meetings

go  on	and  on.   As the person who ran all the meetings he ever

saw, I take great offense  at  this,  especially  since  he  also

claims that he didn't get a chance to air his views.  Do you also

complain about how boring elections are because nobody ever  told

you what the candidates stand for?  Or aren't you registered?  In

other words, either put up and shut up, or do something about it.

If  I  can make just one point in this statement, that is it.  If

you don't like something and don't do anything about it, you  are

causing  the  problem.	 Be  a	solution instead, and make things

better.


			     Be well,





			     Lowell Gilbert
			     past president, Radio Rensselaer
			     December, 1984