KCSS 91.9 FM is a student-run radio station located on the campus of CSU Stanislaus. The on-air 24/7 station offers opportunities for students to grow in the career of radio broadcasting or to be involved in campus life.
KCSS Radio Station functions with the help of student volunteers. KCSS provides the students the opportunity to have a time slot on air to conduct their own live radio show.
Student volunteers can choose from a vast range of music genres to play during their show, airing modern rock, hiphop, R&B, reggae, jazz, and more. Students are also encouraged to pick a genre that they are the most familiar with, so listeners can enjoy the show they are running.
If interested, students can walk into the KCSS station on the first floor of Demergasso Bava Hall building and ask to volunteer.
If students are enrolled in COMM 3112 – Radio Production Laboratory, they also have to opportunity to experience first-hand radio work as part of their course activities.
Jennifer Mosqueda (Senior, Communication Studies) shares the knowledge she obtained from the course.
“We had to utilize the equipment brought to our homes to be able to produce for the radio statio. I learned how to set up the equipment as well as knowing how to do segments, recording using the software that he allowed us to use,” she said.
Mosqueda revealed that she is interested in having a career in a radio station or having her voice used for broadcasting purposes.
Greg Jacquay Ed.D, General Manager and a member of KCSS since 1993, also serves as the lecturer for the COMM 3112 course which is offered all year long.
“Students that take 3112 will have an opportunity to experience media production from a lot of different angles,” said Jacquay.
Jacquay continued by stating that students get to experience live broadcasting, vocal coaching, sound mixing, and community engagement all within the course.
The majority of the employees who have a paid position in the station have come from the COMM 3112 course.
Jacquay published a dissertation in 2019, in which he interviewed students who were involved in KCSS and shared their experiences of the work environment in the station.
“I talked to them about their experience in KCSS, and one of the common things they said was one that it was flexible and two that it was fun,” he said.
Matias Garza III, Station Manager and Program Director since 2020, explained that he found the environment in the station between students and managers to be very cooperative.
“The work environment is, I would say, very helpful, you know, whether it’s the students communicating with the managers or the managers communicating with each other, it’s a very helpful environment we have here,” said Garza.
Garza reflected upon his own experience of being a student volunteer at KCSS.
“It makes you feel like you have a larger role on campus. I would say back last semester before I got the position here, I was the student who was asking questions to the managers and talking to the professor, and offering myself to volunteer,” he said.
Garza continued by sharing that as he grew into his manager role he had students come to him for advice, which made him feel like he had a purpose at the station.
Students get to find their own voice by running their live radio show, sharing forms of self-expression, and gaining great knowledge of the works of a radio station.
“I did not imagine myself becoming the station manager before I took the class. Like that wasn’t even something in my mind. I was just taking the class cause I wanted to be more involved on campus. If I was more close-minded to things, I would say that the opportunity wouldn’t come to me,” said Garza.
You can tune in to KCSS Radio at 91.9 FM or go to KCSS.NET and listen to the live player.