WUTT, the University of Tampa’s only radio station, is continuing to make its mark around campus this semester.

The radio station is a student ran organization, comprised of a class and volunteers.

The station has more than 15 programs that play a variety of reggae, soca, r’b, hip-hop and heavy metal.

The radio station began in 1958.

According to the adviser to WUTT, Valarie Ingram-Hinkley, the radio station had a frequency.

“During those times, the radio station broadcasted in Plant Hall,” she said. “We had an frequency, and it was on 24 hours a day. We don’t know what happened to the frequency. It may have been sold.”

The radio station’s call letters at the time was WTUN. The call letters stood for Tampa University.

Even though the station was prosperous, disc jockeys like Jerry Krumbholz, Al Walters and George Bollinger went on to work at television stations. As a result, the radio station shut down due to lack of financial support.

Ingram-Hinkley became adviser to the radio station in 2004. She recalls what changes were made.

“When I came it had already become closed-circuit, appearing on 1080 AM and Channel 23,” said Ingram-Hinkley.

She hopes that WUTT will gain a frequency.

This semester the radio station has been broadcasting from sports games.

“That’s something we haven’t done since the 1950’s,” said Ingram-Hinkley.

Professor Ingram-Hinkley said that the station is doing more than it ever did in previous semesters.

“Our challenge is to make the student body more aware of who we are and what we can do. We have proved that we can broadcast from sporting events. I would like to see us broadcast in Spartan Club, by the pool, in the gym and other local areas. That’s something we are working on,” Ingram-Hinkley added.

The station has also an automation system, which is a computerized program that will allow the radio to be on 24 hours a day.

By the end of 2007, the station also hopes to stream live on the web.

General Manager Cristobal Gomez said that he is proud of this year’s team. “This semester WUTT staff and volunteers have done a fantastic job,” said Gomez.

WUTT is located in the nursing center.

It is broadcasted on cable Channel 23 and 1080 AM. The station’s website is http://www.myspace.com/wutt23 and http://www.freewebs.com/wutt.