WQAQ has emerged as an organization with students in mind. Last Thursday, the student-run radio station at Quinnipiac University broadcasted a live one-hour-plus radio show that focused exclusively on the concerns of the student body of this university.

For the first time in recent memory, a broadcast organization on this campus turned its signal over to what the students of the campus had to say.

In just an hour and 15 minutes, dozens of students contacted the radio station led by general manager Mark Langan, to discuss an editorial printed in The Chronicle regarding death of Ricardo “Rico” Petrillo and student responsibility by phone, instant message and live in the station’s recently renovated studio.

It is difficult to describe the atmosphere that late afternoon Thursday. Never before have I seen more energy or vigor disseminated from WQAQ-FM 98.1.

The radio station that regularly reminds listeners that they are listening to “the soundtrack of Quinnipiac” came through loud and clear with their message. Finally a broadcast outlet has been created where students can call, give their name or remain anonymous, and express how they really feel about the campus they call home for the majority of the year.

At a campus where image is everything, WQAQ, Mark Langan and Rick Williams took a major risk — and reaped the benefits. About five minutes into the broadcast I became concerned that maybe students were either not listening or remaining their natural complacent selves but boy did that change by the time 5:15 turned around.

The telephone lines were swamped with eager callers, Steve Geller, president of the Student Government Association, was on-air and topics ranging from Rico’s death to the camera discovered in a Troup shower were at the forefront.

For the first time in my four years at this university, I could hear WQAQ the entire length of the student center hallway loud and clear. Also for the first time in four years, I was never more proud to be a friend of WQAQ.