Thread: KTAR station banned on ASU campus buses

Relevance shown in the comments at the link. The station is conservative.
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KTAR station banned on ASU campus buses
31 commentsby Maxine Park - Apr. 11, 2008 09:18 PM
The Arizona Republic
A popular local radio station has been temporarily banned from being played on buses running eight routes on Arizona State University's campus after a student complained twice about hearing offensive material.

George Gravley, a spokesman for Coach America, said ASU asked the company, which is contracted to run the routes, to prohibit bus drivers from playing News/Talk 92.3 KTAR-FM.

He said the ban is a temporary order that will allow ASU to investigate the complaint filed twice by the same student, who said he was offended by what he heard on KTAR.

The first complaint was filed in October and after nothing was done, Gravley said the student filed a follow up complaint this week. That's when Coach America officials were asked to ban the station.

Russ Hill, the director of News, Talk, and Sports for KTAR said they consider this to be a violation of free speech. ASU officials could not be reached for comment.

"It's ironic for an institution that has the Walter Cronkite school attached to it, to ban a radio station from broadcasting differing viewpoints," Hill said.

KTAR sent a letter to Coach America asking them to rescind the order.

"We've worked hard in this community for over 86 years and it just seems really hypocritical," Hill said.

Gravley said it's not his company's decision and that ASU is expected to make a permanent decision soon, adding that drivers could be prohibited from playing radios all together.

Hill said that ever since people began learning about the ban, the station has been flooded with calls of support.

"We've received many calls from ASU students who say that they're shocked and appalled by this," Hill said.

Despite all of this, Hill believes the situation can be resolved soon.

"We've been the broadcast home for ASU athletics for more than two decades and we even have people on staff who are professors there," Hill said. "KTAR has a great connection with ASU and it just seems like someone made a wrong decision."

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... n0411.html

Welcome arizonagirl.

So much for diversity of ideas.

Related article from KTAR's site


by KTAR Newsroom

News/Talk 92.3 KTAR-FM has issued a letter to the company that operates buses on the campus of Arizona State University, asking the agency to rescind an order it gave to its bus drivers on Friday to stop playing KTAR-FM on its buses.

In a memo distributed to bus drivers who operate on the campus of Arizona State University, the agency called on them to immediately cease broadcasting News/Talk 92.3 KTAR-FM on the overhead speakers. No other radio station was mentioned in the memo. The memo stated that some students found some of the views expressed on the station offensive.

"There are students at ASU that find the views of some of their professors offensive," said Russ Hill, Director of News, Talk, and Sports for KTAR. "Universities normally pride themselves on exposing students to different perspectives and ideas. In this case, students at Arizona's largest university are now being subjected to a selective ban on certain viewpoints. This is a violation of free speech on the ASU campus."

Coach America has contracts with state and city governments to provide bus service. Its vehicles are therefore extensions of the government.

A bus driver who works for Coach America told KTAR-FM, "Just because one student doesn't like what he heard on KTAR doesn't mean all students should be banned from listening to it."






news.ktar.com/?sid=804602&nid=6 -

EMAIL DIRECTED AT BUS DRIVERS ORDERING BAN:


Apr 12th - 2:57am


E-Mail from Bus Director to ASU Shuttle Drivers
April 11th, 2008 @ 5:13pm

To: all ASU shuttle drivers
Date: 4/10/08
Subject: radio station

Effective immediately, radio station 92.3 is not to be broadcast in any ASU shuttle bus. There have been several complaints made by students to the ASU Transportation Department regarding the content of the music and programming being played by this station. It has been deemed to be offensive and distasteful.

While on duty, only a very generic station should be aired or, ideally, the radio need not be played at all.

Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Fred Seibel





LETTER FROM KTAR TO THE BUS COMPANY IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN PDF FORMAT AT THE KTAR SITE. I JUST WASN'T ABLE TO GET IT TO COPY HERE.

Does anyone know what kind of station KTAR station is. I know the article said it is a popular local radio station. But what was so offensive?

One person out of how many others makes a complaint and they go to all this trouble?
I hope the others tell this student to shut up and sit down!

I wish I knew what "1' person found so offensive to shut down all buses from listening to that radio station.

That reminds me of "1" person calling New York City to complain about a Christmas tree, and all of New York City bans Christmas trees forever. Whats the matter with people?

DONT LISTEN IF YOU FIND IT OFFENSIVE. PUT YOUR FINGERS IN YOUR EARS.

STOP TRYING TO STOP FREE SPEECH.

one person complains.... oh hog wash

602-437-3484
800-777-3484

I saw the answer in the Ramos post in the General discussion forum. Glenn Beck is played on KTAR. It was a liberal supporter or illegal immigrant that was offended.

What about the rights of the people who WANT to hear the station??? Aren't their rights considered? OR, just the rights of people not to be offended by anything they hear no matter how many others it offends!

Ridiculous!